Do you remember the saying “can’t see the wood for the trees.”
Looking back, I had a great number of “tree” removals by events leading up to Sunday. The events lead me to realise that the Spirit is moving amongst us, as it was in the time of Isaiah and Jesus. Both were trying to remove trees from the peoples’ eyesight.
My week began with a formal presentation by our Bishop outlining the teaching of Pope Francis in his letter Laudate Si’. During the outline he stressed the “See, Judge Act” methodology of the current Pope…joy to my ears and I hope to those that can remember, Cardijn and the YCW.
I was asked to lead the Liturgy for a youngish man who had spent the past 30 years without his legs in our home, Bethlehem, in Bendigo. Modern society dismisses such people easily. Michal turned that around by discovering he had a gift for calligraphy, sold over 7000 copies of his house blessing, discovered his relationship with the Lord Jesus, and became one of the most valuable residents.
Being my Jubilee year, I was asked to attend the Friday night dinner organised by the Knights of the Southern Cross. 430 attended, with quite a mixture of the under fifties. They gave the Archbishop $87,000 to assist the Seminary.
On then to the formation weekend at Holy Cross Templestowe for TEAMS. Married couples from Darwin, New Zealand, South Australia, NSW and Victoria were in attendance. There were many young marrieds (under thirty and forty), people from many different nationalities and all connected by ZOOM with the Cebu couples.
To end Saturday, I was asked to assist at a Confirmation ceremony in Mitcham. 500 people turned up at 1pm, with a further 500 at the 3.15 session. What struck me were the names. Some first names being Shanelle, Kari, Alessio, Anique (guess there is going to be a whole new page of names in the Book of Saints) and surnames Zhang, Kurukulasutiya, Pigeault, Kovacevic. There was a Smith and a Brown.
All over those days the words of Isaiah, “I am coming to gather the nations of every language”, let alone the response, “Go out to all the world and tell the Good News”, or the sorrow in Jesus’ heart in reminding the chosen people that they had not fulfilled their mission, all kept eating away at my trees.
The Spirit is at work. Remember Paul’s words, “You can’t chain up the Spirit”.
Yes, there will be new weeping and grinding of teeth. Old orders will pass. We rediscover the real wood and its message. We keep proclaiming Jesus is the way the truth and the life.
“Behold, I am making all things new”. The work of creation continues. You and I are called to be a part of that new creation.
Mons Frank
