⛪ Newsletter: Third Sunday of Lent

7 March 2021 - Year B

The Way of another Chance
Holy, Beloved and Set Apart

The readings this week-end, though seemingly disconnected, are big and bold and challenging and give us guidelines for living anew (another chance) as God’s people. I wanted (and tried) to insert an insightful personal response to them but there are some parts of our biblical stories that are best left for us to break open from wherever we are in our life’s journey at this moment. So I leave you with some background for your reflection alongside the words of Pope Francis which are relevant to more than the first reading.

Moses’ encounter with God on the Mountain of Sinai was not a meeting where a moral code was imposed on a people but rather the enshrinement of Israel’s covenant relationship (holy, beloved and set apart) with the God who set her free from slavery in Egypt and made her a people with a unique vocation. It is by way of response to this gift of freedom and life that Israel lives according to the values and prescriptions in the commandments, modelling in this way before the nations of the world what it means to live out the Creator’s true intent for human beings. This call is repeated to us daily: worship God as our one and only liberator, don’t bow down to others, don’t abuse God’s name. Always build up a community where you treat others with respect and reverence, never as property or less than human. Remember that murder, perjury, theft, adultery and neglecting elderly parents destroy such community.
Jesus comes early in his ministry and drives out from the Temple the animals brought there for sacrifice. The activity at the Temple is legitimate and in keeping with the religious practices of Israel but Jesus now has a new message, a new call, a new way. His own body is to become the ‘place’ or sanctuary where God is present and is to be worshipped. Jesus’ whole mission, centring upon his death and resurrection, is driven by a consuming zeal to bring about between human beings and their God the ‘at-homeness’ with God that he, as beloved Son, enjoys. The Gospel shouts out to us ‘your salvation is at hand’.

In Corinthians, Paul draws us even further into the mystery of this renewed way of salvation. God had in mind a solution which was vastly more radical and totally incomprehensible to mere human understanding; an act of divine unselfishness sufficient to match and overcome the entire accumulated mass of human selfishness and sin. Paul proclaimed a crucified One as the Lord of Salvation and only those who have been grasped by God’s grace can see the Cross as the power and the wisdom of God.

I offer the following thought from where I am at this moment. We often think that we have come to terms with this mystery. Then suffering or loss in some new form forces us to confront it anew. Every Lent is an invitation to journey once again to the heart of the Paschal Mystery and expose ourselves to a fresh appreciation of the Cross as the saving power and wisdom of God.

We are gifted by grace: holy, beloved and set apart.

Tricia Ryan, Parishioner

Sunday Readings: Ex 20:1-17; 1 Cor 1:22-25; Jn 2:13-25

In advance of your generosity - Thank you - Mt Carmel Liturgy Committee

RCIA - Ashley (pictured with her husband at St Stephen's Cathedral) will be presented with the the Lord’s Prayer at the 8:30am Mass, this Sunday 7 March and be blessed during the Rite of Healing and Strengthening at the 5:30pm Mass on 14 March. Please keep Ashley in your prayers as we prepare for Easter with her.

Sacrament of Confirmation for children in Year 4

The Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated at the Parish on
Thursday 22 April and Friday 23 April. Please see key dates below.

Due to the postponement of this Sacrament in 2020, Year 4 children will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in April 2021 and make their First Holy Communion in June 2021.

Please Note: Children who are in Year 3 this year will celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation in September 2021.

Children who are in Year 5 this year and did not receive the Sacrament of Eucharist (First Holy Communion) last year will receive this Sacrament in June 2021.

Enrolments for Prep 2022 at Our Lady of Mt Carmel
For more information about enrolment including forms please check out the school enrolment here or collect from the school office. School enrolment policies can also be viewed on the website.

Enrolment applications are due Friday 12 March 2021.
Interviews for places for next year will commence in April 2021.

Project Compassion 2021 is a practical way during Lent to support the compassionate work of Caritas Australia.

You can donate pick up a project compassion box or envelopes at the church, or you can also DONATE by visiting www.caritas.org.au/projectcompassion or calling 1800 024 413.

On arrival at Masses PLEASE check in with QR code or sign in sheet. Please maintain 1.5m distance in seats and during communion.
Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our community safe.

Weekend Masses: Saturday 6:00pm, Sunday 8:30am & 5:30pm
Weekday Masses: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 9:00am
Rosary Group: Monday after the 9am Mass
Liturgy of the Word and Communion: Tuesday 9:00am
Sacrament of Penance: Saturday 4:30pm-5:00pm