Morena – Good morning – Friends and fellow Passionist Family Group members,
We come to the Fourth Sunday of Advent and this week our theme is that of Hope.
If there is ever a need for us to understand the importance of this in our lives, it is now. This is a time when our faith needs to be stirred as well as our sensibilities. This time of the year urges us and leads us to the importance of family a place where we have a sense of what it feels like to be “at home”.
We see so much anger, frustration, resentment, and this sense of entitlement. There is to me behaviours which concentrate on ‘blame’ resulting in things getting unnecessarily, personal. We are not the first generation to have a tough time and we are not the first generation to be under threat on so many fronts. We are falling into the trap of polarising people when in fact we should be bringing people together. We should be about gentleness, patience, and tolerance. We should be armed with love and mercy not self-indignation and righteousness.
I just returned from Hawkes Bay and had a lovely evening with Norma Bellamy and Pat and Rod Carson our Regional Coordinators. We had a good meeting and have plans to start 2022. Also caught up with Margaret and Graeme Armstrong who are parish coordinators for Hastings and Havelock North. What a lovely couple doing great work. Caught up with Fr Anthony the PP for Hastings and Havelock North he is keen for us to have a celebration for the 30thanniversary like Napier will be doing as well. We had to postpone due to Covid. Also caught up with Rob and Lynn Hill and they were working at Vinnies packing up hampers. I was amazed when I saw the room and the team working on those hampers. Great service and outreach.
Thank you for all the support, care and love you have generated over this year. It has not been easy, but our aims and goals should always be at the forefront which means actioning love and mercy.
Hope gives people a reason to continue – despite the unpredictable nature of human existence. Pope Francis wrote:
“When life gets hard, and you have fallen, get up.
Never stay down – let people help you to your feet.
If you’re sitting, start walking!” Start the journey.”
As a Passionist Family we have the wherewithal to provide a front of hope, courage and a reason to live. In and through Hope – we need to believe in each other and have faith in our God where we find compassion, forgiveness being offered to instil hope and courage.
“The virtue of ‘hope’ demands human effort. We must work as if it all depends on us and hope as if it all depends upon God.” (Virtue of Hope- Pope Francis)
- Our PFG’s are feeling this – many are elderly and afraid to go out; they have and felt, cut off.
- We have been encouraging PFG’s to support – email, text, phone or wave on a walk – drop a note. Many are doing this.
- Be a beacon of hope, trust. Time of action – do the little things well!
As Paul of the Cross wrote: “When you go into the garden do not collect the leaves of good feelings. Rather, gather the fruits of imitating Jesus”
This song speaks much about hope and the promise in and through the life of Jesus
https://youtu.be/ZCqhX89WV_0 Click here – When a Child is Born -Johnny Mathis
Passionist Institute 2021:Please click on link below to view a presentation by Paul Traynor on Hope. This was a talk given by Paul on the occasion of a Passionist Institute celebrating 300 years. There is a slow start due to issues with zoom but it all will be well after that.
On Hope: https://vimeo.com/652318176 Click here
4th Sunday of Advent Year C, 19 December 2021
Lectionary reading
First reading: Micah 5:1-4
Responsorial psalm: Psalm 79(80):2-3, 15-16, 18-19
Second reading: Hebrews 10:5-10
Gospel: Luke 1:39-44
Link to readings – click here
Today’s Scripture readings bring us at last to the threshold of Jesus’ birth.
Humour:
Q: What did the duck say when he bought lipstick?
A: “Put it on my bill.”
- Q: What do you call a boomerang that won’t come back?
A:A stick. - Q: Why do teenage girls travel in odd-numbered groups?
A: Because they can’t even - Q: Why did the selfie go to prison?
A:It was framed. - Q: How do you make a tissue dance?
A:Put a little boogie in it. - Q: Why can’t you hear a pterodactyl in the bathroom?
A:Because it has a silent pee. - Q: What do you call an old snowman?
A:A creek. - Q: What is red, orange, and full of disappointment?
A:High school pizza. - Q: What do computers eat for a snack?
A:Microchips! - Q: Why was the Maths book sad?
A: It had too many problems.
Have a good week – God go with you all…..blessings, Paul