“I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE…”

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

We are fast approaching our most holy season of the Church’s year – Holy Week. We are doing so walking the way of COVID-19. Let’s us do so with the confidence that “That too will pass.” Pass, because we are all in the hands of God, and so though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death we will not be lost. The very Holy Week we are preparing to participate in, will bring us the grace we need to face COVID-19 and say, though you may slay me, I will put my trust in the God who loves me and gave his Son for me.

It seems most likely that we will have to observe the Holy Week ceremonies from our homes following them on social media. While I say this, I’m aware that there are those who do not have internet. Those who have, please call via phones and find ways of sharing the online services.

The Gospel for today is about the raising of Lazarus from the dead. Let the words of Jesus comfort us. “I am the resurrection and the life; if anyone believes in me, even if he dies, he will live.” After saying this he asked Martha, “Do you believe this?”

Jesus asks you now, “Do you believe this?"

God bless you.
Fr. Clement Paul.
Parish Priest.

“THOSE WHO WORSHIP MUST WORSHIP IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH.”

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

“God is Spirit and those who worship must worship in Spirit and in Truth.” The next three Sundays of Lent, the church refers us to the Sacrament of Baptism. Why? Our baptism is our initiation /rebirth as sons and daughters of God. Baptism marks the beginning of our lives as daughters and sons of God through the Holy Spirit. Hence our being singled out as those who “worship in Spirit and in Truth.”

The Gospel of John today, begins with a dialogue between Jesus and a woman - a Samaritan. In the conversation, a number of moments occur. One of them tells us that Jesus revealed to her and to us that “true worshippers worship the Father in Spirit and in truth.” In other words, baptized members of the Body of Christ, worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth.

As a result of the experience that the woman had with Jesus, we are further told by John, that “...she put down her water jar and hurried back to the town to tell the people, ‘Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did: I wonder if he is the Christ.’” Her confident witness to the people moved them to come to Jesus. When they encountered him and they heard his word, they said to the woman, “Now we no longer believe because of what you told us; we have heard him ourselves and we know that he really is the Savior of the world.”

Now more than ever, worshippers are called to follow the path the woman took arising out of her experience with Jesus. When we are told at the end of Mass, “Go and proclaim the Gospel of the Lord”, we are being told to go and tell others, “Come and see a man who has told me everything I ever did...”

Would you do so?

Fr. Clement Paul.
Parish Priest.

“LISTEN TO HIM”

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

The Gospel for today, the Second Sunday of Lent, each year focuses on what is called the Transfiguration. This is to prepare us for the Scandal of the Cross and the Victory of the Resurrection. Embedded in all three Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke are loaded messages. Among them are two I wish to highlight.

When Jesus’ whole body radiated the glory of God and the apostles Peter, James and John are afraid, a voice said to them “This is my Son, the Beloved, listen to him.” Whenever we are over-awed or afraid, the same voice tells us to listen to Jesus. Next, we are told by all three evangelists, “When they (the Three apostles) looked, they saw no one but only Jesus.”

As we journey through these forty days of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, let us heed the voice of God and listen to his Word, the Word who became human and who lives among us. Yes, the Word of God is Jesus himself who identifies with us. When, therefore, we are experiencing glimpses of glory and moments of fear and we look to see who we are to listen to, will see only Jesus and, by extension, only each other. Didn’t Jesus say in Luke 10:16, “Anyone who listens to you, listens to me and anyone who listens to me, listens to the One who sent me”?

Need I say more?

May a God bless you.
Fr. Clement Paul.
Parish Priest.