Good afternoon,
“We know that the burdens some people carry are enormous and we often stand back in amazement at how they cope. So what is the secret? The yoke, that wooden frame that ties two oxen together to carry the plough as a team, means that the weaker ox is helped by the stronger. Jesus uses this image, familiar to his hearers, to suggest that with help we can carry what we need to carry, alone we become weary.
We live in a world that places great value on independence (and how we all value our independence!) so that often we do not seek help or even use the help that is freely available. Sometimes this is because we want to hide our vulnerability, sometimes we find it hard to ask or we don’t know how to ask or who to ask. Our message today is clear. If we remain connected to Christ and avail of his help, we will be able to walk steadily and confidently to meet the challenges life gives us.
What do you need to seek help with? Let’s not underestimate God or the people around us!” Sr. Brigid Murphy CP, Sisters of the Cross & Passion, Melbourne
These words from Sr Brigid bring home to us the need for connection, belonging and community. Let us see it is people who bring mana and when we come together we create opportunities for God to bring ‘joy’ into our lives and the lives of others. Compassion and forgiveness are at the heart of any common life and when these are active people’s burdens are made light and then a focus can be how can I serve and help others.
What Does Advent Mean?
Advent means “arrival” and signifies the start of an event or the arrival of a person. In Christian communities around the world, Advent refers to a four-week season of remembering and celebrating the arrival of Jesus on Earth. It’s a time to reflect on the unexpected nature of Jesus’ humble birth and join in the anticipation of when he will come again to reunite Heaven and Earth once and for all. Advent and its four themes:
THIRD SUNDAY – JOY (The Shepherd’s Candle) Sunday, December 15
The third candle of Advent symbolizes Joy. As we continue to approach Christmas Day, our joy grows more and more. It takes us back to the joyful anticipation of the shepherds who journeyed to see Jesus
in Bethlehem, even before the wise men. On this third Sunday of Advent, which the Church calls “Gaudete Sunday,” meaning rejoice or praise, we light the third candle and rejoice like the shepherds. For this reason, it is called the “Shepherd’s Candle,”
and its colour is pink, the liturgical colour for joy.
https://youtu.be/vR_sI9lkowA?si=p4LQ3dZwHg2T_qxj – Brooke Ligertwood – A Thousand Hallelujahs –click on link
****Each Sunday in Advent there will be a short paragraph such as the one above
speaking to the theme of each Sunday and an accompanying reflection song.
Have a good week – God go with you, Blessings, Paul
Scripture Reflection: What, then, shall we do?’
Third Sunday of Advent Year C 15 December 2024.
O God, who see how your people faithfully await the feast of the Lord’s Nativity, enable us, we pray, to attain the joys of so great a salvation and to celebrate them always with solemn worship and glad rejoicing
LECTIONARY READINGS
First reading: Zephaniah 3:14-18
Responsorial psalm: Isaiah 12:2-6
Second reading: Philippians 4:4-7
Gospel: Luke 3:10-18
Link to readings – click here
This Gaudete Sunday begins with a resounding ‘Rejoice!’: a joyful and energising call for jubilation that echoes throughout the readings. We are full of joy in the Lord because he is very near. Our Advent journeying and anticipation is nearly over. We are preparing to celebrate both the coming of the Christ Child into our world, and the wonderful promise of the Good News that God is always close at hand.
The prophet Zephaniah (First Reading) proclaims a jubilant God already in our midst: a God who saves, strengthens, calms and protects us with love; a God who dances and sings alongside us. This joyful image of God is so fundamental to our Advent hope and longing that a responsorial prayer from the prophet Isaiah replaces the Psalm, encouraging us to: ‘Shout aloud and sing praise, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel!’
Paul’s letter to the Philippians (Second Reading) opens by encouraging us always to be joyful in the Lord. Through prayers of thanksgiving, we will come to know the true peace that rests in Christ Jesus. John the Baptist (Gospel) was grounded in his certain belief of the coming saviour who would bring, joy, peace and justice. He dedicated his life to calling people to repentance, so that they might be better able to respond and believe in the Good News. John was so rooted in Gospel values that many thought he himself was the Christ
Paeroa Passionist Family Group Gathering:
Thirty six years and still going strong. Thanks to Maggi and Charlie Gribble for their commitment and dedication to PFG’s. Footsteps & Cornerstone Family Group were invited to the home of Judith & Michael Barker in Te Aroha, especially designed house which can accommodate wonderful hospitality with beautiful Art works, set in virgin forest on the slopes of Mt Te Aroha. God Bless from Maggie & Charlie
St Helliers Parish– Antioch Passionist Family Group (See attachment) There is some sadness as their current PP Fr John Dunne is moving to Ponsonby and will be working with some of the students re Formation of the seminary. He’s a wonderful pastor and supporter of Passionist Family Groups. Fr Chris Denham will be the new PP along with assistant Fr James Mulligan from February 1, 2025.
National Coordinator’s Update:
I had a busy but enjoyable week travelling with my brother (Fr Brian Traynor CP) who is also Passionist Family Group Advisor for Australia and New Zealand. Brian and I had time on the road to share things about PFG’s and family, along with meeting with PFG friends. We caught up with Robyn Burns and her daughter Lydia (Lynn and Rob’s oldest daughter and youngest granddaughter). We had a lovely lunch and catch up with Rob and Lynn Hill and a good catch up with Norma Bellamy and then, onto Paeroa where we had a catch up with Maggi and Charlie Gribble and our friend, Tim Bartells.
We ventured on and drove up to Auckland for our PFG Trustee’s meeting where we spent the weekend reflecting and working with some input and then looking at a plan for the next three years 2025-2027. I am ever thankful to our Trustees who oversee the Movement and support me in so many ways along with their hospitality and generosity – Jocelyn Uasike (her husband Billy); John Crawford (his wife Rosie) and John and Catherine Butchard.
We had a wonderful PFG function to attend with the Antioch Group from St Hellier’s. When we arrived the noise from the people gathered was deafening and what a delightful bunch who were so warm and hospitable. This was an occasion where the spirit of Passionist Family Groups was evidenced. I have attached some of the pictures and commentary from this occasion. A big thanks to Anne Perera for putting this collage together and sharing it with me to be able to share with you. It’s a great way to warmly encourage people to remember people and events through this medium. Thanks Anne.
I caught up with Fr Raphael PP of Orewa (who is moving to Our Lady of Fatima in Meadowbank at the end of January) with Graham and Shelley Ward. I caught up with Lindsay and Colin brand as well as her daughter Tam and her husband Jay. Lindsay is stepping down from the Parish Coordination role and Tam is seeking to step down as a leader of their group but keeping involved. Graham and Shelley Ward are generously taking on the Parish Coordination role of East Coast Bays and have got off to a positive start.
I returned home on Wednesday having a catch up via phone with Pat Carson who lost her husband Rod recently and Trish Schischka who could both use some prayerful support. Now ,I am back for a funeral today of one of our Greytown community members.
Reminder: 5 Aims and Goals
- share & celebrate life & faith
- support one another (especially in need)
- reaching out to & include others
- build community/extended family
- show and give example to children
Pease remember in your thoughts and prayer:
- Please keep in mind
- Pat Smith RIP and keep in prayer Maureen and family; Remember Rod Carson and remember Pat and family; Maureen and Graeme Matthews; Jocelyn Bryant and family; Adrian van de Pas ; Graeme Margaret Armstrong; Maggi and Charlie Gribble;
- Christine Geoghegan daughter Kate and extended families;
- Jenny Epplett, Preston, Kate and family ; Paul and Linda Darbyshire;
- Please remember Paul Davenport and his wife Jill;
- Leanne Hintz daughter of Clair and Ray Hague;
- Robyn Burns (Hill;) Terry Nelson’s family;. Brian and Eleanor McFlynn ;
- Tim Bartell’s son Sam and family ; Richard and Sue Gibb; Robert van de Pas
- Bryan Davidson; Charlie and Maggi’s daughter and her partner in prayer.
- Keep in mind all those who are struggling with various aspects of mental health; Bob Buckley; Keep people in Gaza and Israel in your prayer
- Martin and Sally van der Wetering; Phil and Anne Drew; Pat and Rod Carson
- Please keep in your prayers those who continue to deal with the after effects of droughts on the horn of Africa. Also weather effects on other countries across the planet
- Keep in prayer the people of Ukraine: Keep in prayer the people of Sudan
- Please pray for Dot and Neill Wilson (Invercargill) – their son-in-law Mark married to Dot’s daughter Anita
- Your own intentions
Humour:
- “How do you get a squirrel to like you? Act like a nut.”
- “Why don’t eggs tell jokes? They’d crack each other up.”
- “I don’t trust stairs. They’re always up to something.”
- “What do you call someone with no body and no nose? Nobody knows.”
- “Did you hear the rumour about butter? Well, I’m not going to spread it!”
- “Why couldn’t the bicycle stand up by itself? It was two tired.”
- “What did one hat say to the other?” “Stay here! I’m going on ahead.”
- “Why did Billy get fired from the banana factory? He kept throwing away the bent ones.”
- “If a child refuses to nap, are they guilty of resisting a rest?”
- “What country’s capital is growing the fastest?” “Ireland. Every day it’s Dublin.”
We are a “Family for All”