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Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 18 July 2021

What a week for shepherds, be they civic or religious!

Take a moment to add your addition to these:

#the riots in South Africa

# the enormous floods in Western Europe

# the scandals unfolding in Brazil

# the growing Covid crisis in Indonesia…and elsewhere

# the decision about the Tridentine Rite by the Pope, these and many others make our fifth lockdown in Victoria seem “small beer”.

Where are the shepherds?

What are they doing?

Against the big picture we are alerted to the ancient warning, “Doom for the shepherds who allow the flock of my pasture to be destroyed and scattered” in Reading One.

Then we are given another idea in the gospel. Tired, weary, seeking solitude. He, nonetheless, “took pity on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd.”

We are often given for reflection the baptismal “priest, prophet and king” line. Sometimes we add “shepherd” with a small “s”. We are all called to be shepherds, in our family at our workplaces, when leading the flock on the sporting fields let alone at the supermarket. We are part of a Church that invokes the name of Jesus, hence, we must be concerned about the spiritual and physical hunger of all people today. For many see our need today to be of crisis proportions. Let us deal with what we can at our local level.

There are some words from Pope Francis in the book “Let Us Dream.”

“We have to see clearly, choose well, and act right”. Echoes of another shepherd of blessed memory.

Crises have come and been met before by our predecessors. As he set himself to teach them at some length so, too, must we.

Mons Frank

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 4 July 2021

It was his home. He was the carpenter, the son of Mary…and a member of a large family group. We know them. We know all about him.

But they could not handle his wisdom and mighty works. Nazareth had never produced anything startling.

Perhaps, for the first time, Jesus experienced what the great messengers of God had experienced down the long history of God’s people, powerlessness…he could not compel acceptance. All the great experiences that we have recalled these past weeks were of no consequence here in his own village, amongst his own family. Sometimes that happens to members of our own family, of our own village. A member goes travelling, or off to the big city or to a higher place of learning and can never settle back home, can never again feel acceptance ‘at home’.

The role of the prophet, or the bearer of news asking us to do something new, e.g., vaccinate for a fresh disease, no matter how many needles we have received from our dentist or taken willingly to achieve a ‘high’, that news is often met with scepticism and refusal. Likewise, when deeper reflection on the word of God invites us to get involved with a ‘good work’. Such news can provoke a “why me?” response.

Yet we need prophets.

We especially need prophets of the true God to remind us of the Good News.

We need people among us to exhibit wisdom and work mighty deeds.

We need such people who keep proclaiming and, sadly from our point of view, keep proclaiming despite rejection. Jesus sadly moved his mission from Nazareth at that time. He now concentrated on his new family. But he continued to exhibit wisdom and perform mighty deeds.

This week try to identify a person in our Church community and one in our Civic community who is in the mould of the prophets of old. Hold them in your prayers…we need them even, if like the master, they suffer rejection in their own home.

Mons Frank

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 27 June 2021

Illness and death.

Two constants in our lives; often the cause of solid questions…Why me? Is it fair? Response to these trials is often not unlike community, let alone individual, reactions when a waste dump is proposed “Not in my backyard!” Nonetheless, we all have to deal with the twin realities.

Our teaching today is part of a series of manifestations of Jesus’s power revealed in the past few weeks by Mark.

Power over chaotic nature…crossing to the Gentile shore.

Power over the demons in the Gentile land.

Power over sickness and death, crossing back to the Jewish shore and next week, the lack of faith in his home town.

Too much to consider in one week, but a challenge to be explored privately.

Illness and death are still with us.

So, what is to be learned from today’s accounts?

Obviously, Jesus exhibited great love for the afflicted women…and he did not let the social mores and customs of the Jewish law prevent him from allowing his clothes to be touched or to take the hand of the dead girl. The latter, almost a ‘death’ sentence in those times for a male.

Further, we note that the number twelve is used in both narratives. We see those healings reflect Jesus’s concern for the wellbeing of the community. He restores, to both women, their life-giving capacity. Both can now bring forth life from their bodies. Both can resume their honoured place in their communities.

Faith can exist in difficult situations.

For some reason, our society is under great pressure when questions of life and death arise. Four States have now legislated ‘dying with dignity bills’. Sadly, all have passed abortion provisions. Some are reluctant to provide adequate palliative care funds. Our Gospel illustrates a different approach. It is our duty now to find a way through this morass, as early Christians overcame the less than noble practises about life in our early history.

Faith still exists and can prevail in our times.

We can still bring wholeness and dignity to our communities.

Mons Frank

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time 20 June 2021

“…and there were other boats with him”.

The sudden storm on the Lake in Galilee was not uncommon then, as now. The fishermen were aware and knew what to do. We presume that they set out at night willingly; all weather reports must have been favourable. Suddenly, unexpectedly and in the dark, they were hit hard. Distraught, fearful and on the point of despair, anger was rising in their being. We presume that the other boats had crew and people feeling the same.

It occurs to me that their situation is not unlike ours in Australia. Initially, COVID-19 caused much panic amongst us all. Certainly in Victoria, the confusion continues. As we slowly emerge from lockdown four, dragging more or less willingly our sister states along; they are wanting our spending power but scared of our presence, there is evidence of more and more anger, distrust and a feeling of enough is enough.

Our scientific age with a plethora of experts, proposes answers to our health but so far has not allayed the fears of many. The ancient cry “do you not care? We are going down” is not prefaced by the word “Master”.

We do have a good health system. We do have competent nursing staff and competent doctors just as the disciples had a great teacher and relatively good boats.

But…

We have set out on our voyage happily. We have tried to build on the hand -me -downs of the earlier generations. We have been mesmerised by the gains and gifts of recent science. (Our priestly retreat this year was conducted on Zoom). Maybe, we have just got on with the sailing and let the Master gently go to sleep. We, like the fisher-folk, know what we are doing!

But…

Our biblical history is replete with accounts of our ancestors making hay and then finding the silos empty because of their wastefulness. So, too, our Church history. Then they turned to their God. We have the boat with the sleeping Jesus. If we awake him and implore his assistance, not only will our boat reach the shore safely, but all those other boats sailing with us.

Mons Frank

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 27 June 2021

Illness and death.

Two constants in our lives; often the cause of solid questions…Why me? Is it fair? Response to these trials is often not unlike community, let alone individual, reactions when a waste dump is proposed “Not in my backyard!” Nonetheless, we all have to deal with the twin realities.

Our teaching today is part of a series of manifestations of Jesus’s power revealed in the past few weeks by Mark.

Power over chaotic nature…crossing to the Gentile shore.

Power over the demons in the Gentile land.

Power over sickness and death, crossing back to the Jewish shore and next week, the lack of faith in his home town.

Too much to consider in one week, but a challenge to be explored privately.

Illness and death are still with us.

So, what is to be learned from today’s accounts?

Obviously, Jesus exhibited great love for the afflicted women…and he did not let the social mores and customs of the Jewish law prevent him from allowing his clothes to be touched or to take the hand of the dead girl. The latter, almost a ‘death’ sentence in those times for a male.

Further, we note that the number twelve is used in both narratives. We see those healings reflect Jesus’s concern for the wellbeing of the community. He restores, to both women, their life-giving capacity. Both can now bring forth life from their bodies. Both can resume their honoured place in their communities.

Faith can exist in difficult situations.

For some reason, our society is under great pressure when questions of life and death arise. Four States have now legislated ‘dying with dignity bills’. Sadly, all have passed abortion provisions. Some are reluctant to provide adequate palliative care funds. Our Gospel illustrates a different approach. It is our duty now to find a way through this morass, as early Christians overcame the less than noble practises about life in our early history.

Faith still exists and can prevail in our times.

We can still bring wholeness and dignity to our communities.

Mons Frank

Pentecost Sunday 23 May 2021

Sometimes things simply happen!
Sometimes we say coincidence!
Sometimes we may even hint that the Spirit is at work!
Sometimes we judge that the Spirit is at work!

Consider the Jewish people from all over the then-known world were gathering in Jerusalem for the Feast of Shavuot. A most holy time in their civic and religious calendar. Initially, a time of thanksgiving for the first fruits of the wheat harvest but was transformed, in time, to recall the giving of the Law to Moses with the implied revelation…God loves you, diverse, unruly, stubborn and full of failure as you are.

What the reading tells us today is that what we call Pentecost happened that year when diverse, unruly, stubborn and separate people from all over the then-known world, all came to Jerusalem to remember their history. To their surprise, and that of the gathered followers of Jesus, the bar was heightened by the gift of the Spirit. They heard for the first time that the same God loves even Jews and Proselytes, Cretans, and Arabs. And we celebrate the same feast this week with the competing sounds of rockets on Jerusalem and bombs on Gaza. How the Spirit must weep!

We also celebrate this week the beginning of the Ignatian Year, celebrating the cannonball that put Ignatius of Loyola on his back for a long recuperation and eventual conversion. Now, 500 years later, we marvel at the contribution Ignatius made in reminding our world that God loves us.

Teresa of Calcutta, to the observation that her work was but a drop in the ocean responded that the ocean was made up of many drops! I add…and some drips! As others have added their drop to the message of God’s great love for us and his desire for the creating of peace and harmony, perhaps this Pentecost Sunday we can cheerfully commit ourselves to adding our drops to the great ocean of love, peace, and truth that the Spirit has invited us to contribute to our world…and if you are feeling a little down, remember, many drips make a drop!

Happy Pentecost

Mons Frank

The Fifth Sunday of Easter 2 May 2021

In recent years, Bendigo has replanted vines and is now the centre of the Heathcote Bendigo wine region with over fifty different vineyards. It is a return to the glories of the 1870s and 1880s. The mining boom of the late nineteenth century also saw the decimation of the forests surrounding the city. For a time, until the city fathers acted, the city became a dust bowl. Today we are surrounded by luxuriant vines and many, many native and imported trees. The leaves in both sectors are brilliant in their colours, this year, perhaps, a comment upon a wet Spring and a dry Autumn. The leaves are beginning to drop. A slight breeze brings out the blowers and brooms. Some just allow the leaves to rest where they fall. An initial pruning to be followed by the vine dressers and the tree doctors. Today’s parable is more easily understood by those who have eyes to see!

It is easy to say that a good pruning is essential for the vine, we do not easily accept that you and I need a pruning every now and then.

The pandemic is a case in point.

Many resisted and resented the restrictions we all suffered…and it is slight consolation to be told “look at India”. All in some manner or other have been cut off from meaningful relationships and familiar support. Do we expect goodness to be experienced because we have been pruned?

I was reminded at a recent St Vincent de Paul festival that following the excesses of the French Revolution, Paris was swept by a cholera outbreak. At one time, 1,300 people were dying every day. In the midst of that tragedy, someone challenged Frederic Ozanam, “What is your Church doing about this?” And, as they say, the rest is history. The forerunner of Vinnies was established.

We are called to bear fruit. So, we must remain part of the vine. We must expect a friendly pruning every now and then.

His word “abide” is important. It fundamentally means to stay in touch, remain part of me, draw life from the True Vine. And produce the fruits of the Spirit.

Mons Frank

The Fourth Sunday of Easter 25 April 2021

Can you remember the last time Good Shepherd Sunday and Anzac Day fell on the same day?

In his letter Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis uses these words: “Each day offers us a new opportunity, a new possibility. We should not expect everything from those who govern us, for that would be childish”.

The juxtaposition of both days, Anzac and Good Shepherd, offers us an opportunity to reflect upon the appeal of those who sent us to war and that of Jesus who asks us to be like him…a shepherd and a good shepherd.

Both appeals demand a response. Both, strangely, can have the possibility of death for a cause. Until the powers that be start acting like bad shepherds, we have choices, we have new opportunities, we have new possibilities.

At the end of the day, various forms of remembrances are commemorated. One is associated with a sense of loss. A loss which seems present whilst families and relatives and even governments remember. All do so for varying reasons. Not all of which are pure.

The other celebrates with great joy, with hymns of praise and shouts of jubilation. A Saint is born. A fellow human has accepted the opportunity, the possibility, and practised being a good shepherd.

The call to war is not always sounded for upright reasons. Our history is littered with examples of power-hungry despots eager to impose their will on others. They demand that the people go to battle. Sometimes the cause is just. The good shepherd, on the other hand, offers us a different call. This call builds on those often presented to our people dating from the time of Abraham, Moses and Isaac. We are offered the fullness of the long-offered gift; that call presented today is to be a good shepherd. Some might prefer to be a good Samaritan. Both have the same author.

Let our self-interest, nor our temptation to return to Egypt, block us from accepting this gift.

So, this week we strive yet again to make acts of self-sacrifice for our wellbeing and for the greater good of the community. That spirit will link us to the deeper truth of both days. We will both seize the opportunity and accept the possibility…a better world will be achieved.

Mons Frank

The Third Sunday of Easter 18 April 2021

“Peace to you” or, perhaps, the more familiar liturgical usage, “Peace be with you”, has been on my mind these past days.

The expression comes up regularly in the Resurrection story. It often comes from Jesus when the atmosphere in which he appears is full of alarm, fear, meeting behind closed doors, confusion, and bewilderment.

From a purely human perspective (and we might just take a little moment to imagine ourselves in their situation), a most horrible, angry, searing time of cruelty, betrayal, and violence towards Jesus. Not just that of the soldiers, simply doing their job (as no doubt that will be the excuse in Myanmar), but the connivance and hypocrisy of the spiritual leaders of the people as well as that of the Roman officials.

You can well imagine the disciples muttering “What’s going on?” and even using some language known only to the fisherfolk!

Now their insecure world is tipped upside down again…Resurrection!

In the middle of this they hear the words, “Peace to you”. He must be joking. Peace in these times! He must be joking.

What does he mean? What is he offering?

No wonder he chided them!

Later they would remember and put to writing, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you.”

Still, what does this mean? What are we given?

Many are the realities of our time with all sorts of violence but, like Jesus long ago, our gift today to the broken world is peace.

Peace in our hearts,

Peace in our dealings,

Peace in our relationships.

I think that peace in this context means you don’t have to be alarmed or distressed provided you have committed yourself to he who is the way the truth and the life.

What do you think?

Let us strive to be active people of peace this week!

Mons Frank

The Second Sunday of Easter 11 April 2021

Do we move from safety to security?

Or is it from security to safety?

The Gospel this week begins with the chosen ones meeting behind closed doors, “for fear of the Jews” as John puts it. Closed doors were not an impediment to Jesus!

Despite all the walking and talking and instruction they had received, despite all the information brought to them by Mary Magdalene, let alone the reports of Peter and John, they gathered, locked up. That seemed to be the best option.

What do you think when, and perhaps only occasionally, you travel by train, perhaps by tram and the conductor or the automated voice reminds you that you ought “be mindful of the gap”. So, you leave the safety of the carriage for the security of the platform or vice versa. A gap has to be overcome.

Thomas did so in moving to “My Lord and my God!” All the Apostolates had to make that leap and each of us must do so, and some of us, even daily.

Fear has to be replaced by peace.

Peace arrived at, leads to service.

Service to others brings change, and in time belief…

That process is a wonderful affirmation of “Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.”

I hope your Easter Octave has been fruitful and that you have been energised in recalling and celebrating the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Mons Frank