24th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) - 11 September
11th September 2022
24th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) - 11 September
A reflection on today's gospel reading by the Venerable Archbishop Fulton J Sheen:
"Why is there more joy in Heaven for the repentant sinner than for the righteous? Because God’s attitude is not judgment but love. In judgment, one is not as joyful after doing wrong as before; but in love, there is joy because the danger and worry of losing that soul is past. He who is sick is loved more than he who is well, because he needs it more." (Peace of Soul)
"There are two ways of coming to God: through the preservation of innocence and through the loss of it. Some have come to God because they were good, like Mary, who was ‘full of grace; like Joseph, the ‘just man’; or like John the Baptist, ‘the greatest man ever born of woman.’
"But others have come to God who were bad, such as the young man of the Gerasenes, possessed of devils; like Magdalen, out of whose corrupt soul the Lord cast seven devils; and like the thief at the right [of Christ on the Cross].
"God does not work through culture but through grace. He does not ask men to be refined; He asks them to be penitent. Thus does God show that we become great not because of what we are, but because of what He gives.
"There is hope for those who are deaf and who want to hear and for the lame who want to walk, and there is hope for the diseased who acknowledges the need of a physician and the sinner who feels the need of a redeemer. The thief at the right conquered evil that way: by admitting his emptiness of soul, he called upon God to save him!
"Only when you are sick do you ask for a physician; and only when you recognise yourself as a sinner do you ask for your Redeemer.
"If, therefore, we can humble ourselves as did the thief at the right, and admit we have done wrong, then out of our creative despair we can cry to the Lord to remember us in our misery! The very moment we stop strutting and posing and begin to see ourselves as we really are, then in our humility, we shall be exalted.
Let us examine our consciences. Let us ask ourselves not how much we know, but how much we do not know; not how good we are, but how bad we are. Let us judge ourselves not by the knowledge we possess, but by our consciences; not by our education, but by our habits; not by our politeness, but by our hearts.
"As soon as we feel a great void in our souls, and realise that by our sinning we are no longer our own, and acknowledge that we are still thirsty at the border of a well, and admit that we have played the fool and that our follies of the years mount up in their dark arrears, then out of a dark and swampy soul, we cry out with the thief - as all Catholics do when we go to Confession - ‘Bless me Father, for I have sinned’ - ‘I am a sinner.’
"Such is the beginning of salvation. The thief died a thief, for he stole paradise. And if we win paradise, we will be thieves too, for we will never deserve what we got - the God of everlasting peace!" (The Cries of Jesus from the Cross)
Prayer of Repentance
I beseech Thee, O Most Blessed Trinity, to shed the fire of Thy merciful love upon this most frigid heart, to let shine upon this most darkened mind, the light of the Son, in Whom alone is every grace and truth. Have pity on me, most Merciful God, and regard not my sins and offences, but in Thy mercy forgive me yet again, and grant me the graces to serve Thee now in fidelity and truth. Amen. 🙏💖💐
Child Protection Sunday - 11 September
Our parish is committed to the care, wellbeing and protection of all children and young people. May we all work together to ensure the most vulnerable members of our community feel safe and supported. Resources may be accessed at www.catholic.org.au/safeguardingsunday
Prayer for Children
Precious Lord, we pray that You are our children’s refuge and fortress, the God in whom they can and should put their trust. We pray that no evil shall be allowed to befall them, no plague come near them. We rejoice for You have commanded Your angels concerning our children to guard them in all of their ways. Amen. 🙏💖💐