Term 2 Week 15
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13-20 MAY
EASTER TIME |
Sunday
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SUNDAY 13th May
Feast of the Ascension Mark 16:15-20 ‘I am with you always’ – the Paschal Mystery is the life of the pilgrim Church Teacher Background Throughout all of Jesus' ministry, he taught his disciples how to live and love just like him. As they walked from town to town, Jesus used parables to explain his messages, healed many people who displayed faith in him, and challenged cultural and societal norms that failed to uphold the dignity of all people. In today's Gospel, Jesus "graduates" his disciples from being students (disciples) to being teachers (Apostles), challenging them to "Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). This meant that Jesus wanted the disciples to tell everyone they met about what they had learned, heard, witnessed and experienced during their time with Jesus. Most importantly Jesus wanted the disciples to proclaim to everyone the incredibly good news, that Jesus was alive, so that all who heard might also believe in Jesus and live and love just like him. On this same day, confident in the ability of his dear friends to spread the joy of the Gospel and to carry on his work, Jesus ascended into Heaven. It is from his seat in Heaven, that Jesus worked with the disciples as they began their mission of forming the early Christian communities. From this same seat, Jesus continues this work but supporting us, as we, just like the disciples, carry out the mission of all Christians to spread the Good News of the Gospel. Reflect... Take some to journal...
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Monday
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Feast of St Matthias
Today is the Feast of Saint Matthias. There is not a lot of mention in the Gospels about the disciple Matthias other than he was elected to replace Judas as the one of the Twelve Apostles. Matthias reportedly followed Jesus throughout his entire ministry but for reasons unknown, he remained mostly in the background both as a disciple and even after he was elected as an Apostle. What we can learn from Saint Matthias, is how to be a humble servant of God, joyfully spreading the Good News and following Jesus without needing to have a spotlight shining on our efforts. It is enough to do all we can to "love one another" as today's Gospel asks of us, and to do so quietly and humbly without seeking attention, recognition or anything else in return. We may not know many stories of what Saint Matthias said or did, exactly how many people he converted or healed, or how big an impact he had on the communities he supported. What we do know, is that in his own way, he dedicated his life to following in the footsteps of Jesus and this commitment inspired many to continue his work. We too, are called to dedicating our lives to following in the footsteps of Jesus in our own way. Prayer Activity: Make your own prayer card for Saint Matthias.
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Tuesday
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Gospel of John 17:9-11
''I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you." Prayer Activity: Jesus showed us many ways of praying and in today's Gospel reading, he shows us the power of putting the needs of others before our own.
How will your prayer best support them in their time of need? |
Wednesday
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A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 20:34-35)
"You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” Reflection: Teresa of Avila (1515–1582) Christ Has No Body Christ has no body but yours, No hands, no feet on earth but yours, Yours are the eyes with which he looks Compassion on this world, Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good, Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, Yours are the eyes, you are his body. Christ has no body now but yours, No hands, no feet on earth but yours, Yours are the eyes with which he looks compassion on this world. Christ has no body now on earth but yours. St. Mary MacKillop was a wonderful example of how to use all that we have to "give" in everything we do. St Mary MacKillop |
Thursday
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Today's Gospel reading from John 17:20-26.
It reminds us that Jesus' sacrifice on the cross for us is the perfect expression of how great God's love is for us. "Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me. I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them". (John 17: 20-26) Reflection: No Greater Love - Fr Rob Galea Prayers of Gratitude: One of the best ways we can express our love for God is to acknowledge all that can be thankful for.
-I am thankful for the smell of rain as I walked outside of my house this morning. It always smells so fresh and clean and I know that we really needed rain. -I am thankful for the taste of my salad sandwich I had for lunch today because I know that my mum took the time to make it for me. -I am thankful for the sound of my friends laughing because they made me laugh too. -I am thankful for the softness of my dogs fur because I always feel so loved in the morning when I feel him curled up next to me. -I am thankful for seeing my Dad get ready for work this morning because he is starting a new job and I know he is really excited about it. |
Friday
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A Reading from the Gospel of John 21:15-19
Jesus Reinstates Peter When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep. The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”. It was not long before this conversation, that Simon Peter had denied Jesus three times. Now, he had the opportunity to replace each denial with an "I love you". It was not words however that Jesus was really asking for, it was actions. Jesus was making sure that Peter was ready to follow him even though it would ultimately lead to his death. Examine of Conscience:
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