ADVENT: “YOU TOO MUST STAND READY.”

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

We begin yet another liturgical year together with words of Jesus in today’s Gospel of Matthew, “You too must stand ready...”, challenging us to be prepared to receive The Word that lives among us.” That Word is Jesus.

Advent is the season that reminds us that we have a God who comes to us and that coming was made visible in Jesus that very first Christmas. The Gospel of John puts it beautifully. “The Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us.”

We invite you to prepare to celebrate the advent of the Word especially at Christmas time. The theme for this year in our Diocese is “THE WORD OF GOD LIVES AMONG US.”

As you prepare for Christmas, we encourage you to take time to pray and time for Bible reading of the Word of God. This is a good time to have family prayer and quiet time together. Please do not be so busy preparing for the Season and enjoying the Season, that you do not hear the Word of the Lord who lives among us.

Remember Advent heralds the Coming of Jesus in Christmas, therefore, you too must stand ready through prayer and family time with Jesus.

Fr. Clement Paul & Fr. Andy Nyga
Co Delegates.

“YOUR ENDURANCE WILL WIN YOU YOUR LIVES.”

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

We are fast approaching the end of yet another liturgical year. As we do so the Church points us to what is known as the end-time. That time we are told, brings with it various challenges and tragedies. However, today’s Gospel of Luke tells us that whatever may lie ahead, our endurance, our perseverance, will merit us victory and eternal life.

This is the time for us to take hope. We are not to give up struggling for the life to the full promised us in the Gospel of John 10:10. “I(Jesus), have come that you may have life, and have it to the fullest.” Yes, when we encounter daunting challenges we are to pray for the gift of hope so that we do not give up the battle. And let’s remember that hope is the confident expectation of the fulfillment of God’s Word.

Pope Francis also calls on us to reach out in solidarity with the poor and pray God’s special blessing on them today. Let us pray that we become both a Church for the poor and of the poor. Let’s not just reach out to the poor but so relate to them that they too know and feel they are members of the Body of Christ, the Church. That too, calls for endurance...

May our endurance, our perseverance win us our lives.

Yours truly,
Fr. Clement Paul.
Parish Priest.

“... TO HIM (GOD) ALL ARE IN FACT ALIVE...”

Dear Brothers & Sisters,

“... to him (God) all are in fact alive...” This text comes as the liturgical years comes to an end. We are being reminded by Jesus that “... to God all are alive,” and so death is not the end of life, but a change of life. Why? Because God is Lord of all that there is and he is life itself.

We continue to mourn as our loved ones die. And mourn we must. While we do so, let’s remember that, in death life is changed, not ended, and that the life that is promised far surpasses the life that we experience here and now.

The things and relationships that influence and rule us here are for this life. The life to come is one in which we shall become like our God, because we shall see him as he really is. What we are being challenged to accept is that we serve a God who is life itself and who brought us to life so that one day life for ever will be ours. Yes, to God, all are in fact alive. That means our loved ones who have died are alive to God. May they Rest In Peace.

Fr. Clement Paul.
Parish Priest.

“TO SEEK OUT AND SAVE WHAT WAS LOST.”

Dear Brothers & Sisters,

“...for the Son of Man has come to seek out and save what was lost.”

This well-known narrative follows up on last week’s parable when we encountered a Tax Collector who, because of his humility, was put at rights with God. Today we meet a real Tax Collector who, though a notorious wealthy man, was anxious to see Jesus. This anxiety moved him to elevate himself above the obstacles that hindered his encounter. As a result, Jesus who came to save the world acknowledges Zachaeus’ efforts and invites himself to stay at his house.

Message: Jesus, came not for the righteous but for those who have lost their way to the loving embrace of the Father. He comes to seek us out. That search moved him to look up and see a man faith, a son of Abraham. Finding him, he invites himself to stay with him. That is what we have been baptized and sent to do. To seek out what is lost, so Jesus the Good Shepherd can save the many. Yes, indeed, he came and he comes to seek out and save what was lost.

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