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It’s Saturday evening as I write and I’ve just arrived home from Mass at Hanmer Springs, a couple of hours north of where I live.
In a church whether it be large and ornate or simple and dignified I’m often drawn to the stained glass windows.
Sometimes there are stories from scriptures and the lives of saints told in the leadlight. Other times there is a simple combination of colour and design like the one above in Hanmer.
I especially like the way this window (unlike most stained glass) is an opening window: a significant image from the Second Vatican Council – windows opening to let the air currents mingle outside with inside.
It’s a different story at night when, without the light of the sun, the windows seem as formless black shapes. Of course their shades and hue are still present, but unable to be seen in the darkness.
Tonight in my homily for the Second Sunday in Advent I couldn’t help but speak of John the Baptist, an inspiring figure for me, but not for everyone. The Baptist is an uncomfortable character for many, dressed oddly, living on a weird diet and speaking directly and powerfully to break open the world that all might be able to receive the Word.
I’m thinking that if John the Baptist applied to enter a seminary today he would be turned down. And if he did make it to ordination his first parish would probably appeal to the bishop to have him quickly removed!
In tonight’s homily I made the connection between this season of Advent, and the word Adventure. John the Baptist was certainly an adventurer and I was attracted to life as a Diocesan Priest because I was seeking a life that was an adventure.
And I haven’t been disappointed.
It is forty years today (December 7 1985) since I was ordained priest in the Church of St. Thomas the Apostle in Timaru.
If I had known at that time the reality of the adventure of life as a diocesan priest, I would not have hesitated as much as I did.
That doesn’t mean that it’s an easy life, but then life isn’t meant to be comfortable since it is an adventure and each of us is created with the capacity to embrace the adventure and to not just survive but to thrive and mature through life’s challenges.
I often think that the expectations that the people of a parish have of their priest are far too … (I wonder what word you are expecting) low.
I bet you weren’t expecting that! All most parishioners really want is a nice guy whose homilies are short and include a joke or two, signs school preference forms without question and baptises, marries and buries on request. Such expectations for a priest are tragically low since people are entitled to expect the full and undiluted teaching of Jesus from their priest who themselves is striving to live abundance of relationship with Jesus Christ who is God-with-us.
But then the expectation that most bishops (I’ve had seven since I entered seminary) have of priests is equally low. It is a rare bishop who will encourage priests to preach with the undiluted clarity of Jesus and will hold them to this mission. Most bishops are happy with a priest who says a quick yes to pastoral appointments and about whom the never receives a letter of complaint.
Monsignor Tom Liddy, priest of the Christchurch diocese who was the rector of Holy Cross seminary for all of my seminary years, commented to me at my ordination that now my real formation would begin and the people of the parishes and ministries I would serve would be my real teachers.
I’m thinking of people in the parishes of Greymouth with Kumara and Turawhate (my first appointment), Papanui – for just 18 months before being appointed as a 28 year old to the Grey Valley (Ngahere, Dobson, Taylorville, Blackball, Totara Flat, Nelson Creek, Moana and Poerua) where I was for four years, Then five years in Burwood, a year in Riccarton, twelve years in Sockburn while serving also as PP of Chatham Islands for six years), then due to an amalgamation of parishes a couple of years serving Darfield, Then to the Hurunui (Cheviot, Waiau, Hanmer Springs, Culverden, Hawarden, Greta Valley and Amberley). Then the wandering years on mission began while living in Christchurch then Auckland, then back to Christchurch and now as Diocesan Missioner with work that takes me across my home diocese of Christchurch and further afield.
I know that there are people following Food For Faith in most of those places.
Again, while I have learnt much from opportunities to study in a good seminary and good universities, I am especially grateful to the people of the parishes and missions I have served.
You have been my real teachers.
And I am very grateful.
Thank you.
In Christ
In case you didn’t receive today’s Lectio Divina you’ll find it at this link.
Take an initiative and send me a date time and place for a FFF cafe-catchups. john@fff.org.nz. I’ll advertise these on each morning’s post throughout Advent.
Christchurch
Monday 8 December 10.00am
Moko Bush Inn Centre
Waimairi Road, Christchurch. Trish
Lower Hutt
Wednesday 10 December 10am
Shine Cafe
2 Waterloo Rd, Hutt Central. Catherine
New Plymouth
Wednesday 10 December 10.30am
Stumble Inn
200 Mangorei Road
New Plymouth. Joan
Christchurch
Monday 15 December 10.00am
Moko Bush Inn Centre
Waimairi Road, Christchurch. Trish
New Plymouth
Thursday 18 December 1.30pm
Stumble Inn
200 Mangorei Road
New Plymouth. Joan
Congratulations John on your ministry. I’m very grateful for your FFF reflections. Have a wonderful day.
Congratulations on your ordination anniversary. Keep up the wonderful work in the Mission field.
Congratulations, Father John on 40 years of priestly service.
Thank you for your faithfulness, your prayers, and your love for all of us. We so look forward to reading all your shares. Blessings always
Congratulations John. You have been a wonderful leader and inspiring priest. It has been a pleasure to have been in your parishes over the years. Here is to many more.
Thank you for your sharing of your time since being ordained.
God bless you, and may He continue to nurture you in your Adventure of Your humble journey.
Amene
Congratulations and may God continue to bless you and your mission.
Blessings on your forty years Fr John. I appreciate that I have been blessed to share in your adventure.
David
Congratulations John, on your 40 years of priestly ministry. May you be richly blessed today, and always.
Marie
Thank you Fr John for sharing your deep love of Jesus with us in these reflections as you travel on life’s journey. Congratulations on your 40 years of service to Gods people as a Diocesan Priest. May you always be blessed abundantly.
Congrats on 40 years, plenty more adventure to come!
40 years helping ,leading& inspiring many. Congratulations. Keep going Fr John.
Congratulations Fr John for all the lives you have touched, the journeys you have shared, the thought provoking comments you have made all with and for The Blessed Trinity. May God is his Wisdom continue to strengthen and inspire your ongoing Mission of Love. Thank you.
Yea, what good can come out of Timaru!
Glad there is some ruby red in that window
A toast, John…
‘The best is yet to come’…
Wow Father,you have been everywhere, what an adventure you’ve been on doing God’s work. Congratulations on achieving such a great milestone.
Congratulations Father John
I give thanks for the gift you are
Blessings as you go forth into the future The Lord is with you.
Many congratulations, and thank you for taking up the various ministries that bring adventure -virtual or real – to many of us.
Wishing you many blessings today and always as you celebrate 40 years of Priesthood. Thankyou for responding ‘YES’ to God’s call, and for all that you do for us.
In prayerful gratitude.
Not quite as good as the live performance but here’s a musical tribute for you John as you consider all the blessings of the last 40 years a priest. It’s John Rutter’s “Look at the world.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDa-Mab4SoU
Congratulations Fr John on such a milestone. We are that much richer spiritually for having met you and your very human inspiration. Thank you!
Kate Casey
Congratulations on all those many years. Truly your on line outreach is food for my faith. Thankyou.
Congratulations Father John!
And thank you for the years you have shared your Faith experience with myself and others
through this part of your Ministry.
Prayers for you as you continue God’s work daily.
Ann Scanlan
Congratulations and thanks John, for your ministry, and for the many times you challenge our thinking and faith. As I read you reflection about the people’s low expectations of parish priests, I thought that those hopes we have for priests appointed to guide and lead us, are rarely found, resulting in many of us seeking the online wisdom of people like you to fill the gaps. In this computer age we are able to tap into such a wealth of thoughts, challenges and affirmation! Many blessings for the mission ahead and thanks for the gifts of the past.
Congratulations! Dear Father. John. Thank you for sharing your experiences through your great ministry
Having reached my one hundredth birthday in June and realising how much I have been formed by the many wonderful people who have been in my life,I can relate to so much . No wonder you have such wisdom to share. Wishing you every blessing, Cyprian
Tanti auguri per il tuo anniversario!!!
Non dimenticarti che oltre tutte le parrocchie che hai visitato in questi anni c’è un piccolo popolo in Italia che ti vuole tantissimo bene e ti aspetta!!!
Ringraziamo il Signore di averci messi insieme nel cammino.
Ti abbraccio forte!
In Cristo
Ale
Congrats Fr John,
wonderful reflection and achievement, of which we benefit from both! Too true about parishes expecting too little from their priests, often because they offer so little in return as support – don’t bother me and I won’t bother you. Hopefully that is a thing of the past, at least for a while. Congratulations on your latest appointment. Life is an adventure for sure, whether we like it or not and it’s great to see a fellow adventurer in that role. As someone who counts ministry to the men of our prisons amongst his acts of service I recently received the Bishops approval to undertake a similar role as a Chaplain in that area, only to be denied by the people that run it, go figure! The adventure continues as a willing volunteer! Look forward to catching up somewhere along the road 🙂 God bless.
Fr John,
Warmest congratulations on an incredible 40 years of dedicated service as a priest! 40 years of devotion, love, and commitment to your faith and community is an inspiration. Here’s to celebrating this milestone and all the lives you’ve touched!
Thank you John for your Yes to God’s call, for your courage to take on new adventures as they come to you, and for sharing your love of God and His Son so far and wide. May God bless you mightily in your new adventures as Missioner.
Happy 40 years Anniversarry John. May the Lord continue to bless you with strength and good health. Grateful for your friendship, your guidance and your faithful companionship in our journey toward Christ.
It was a wonderful day to witness your ordination and to watched over the years your journey of faith in the Lord and the development of your understanding of God, priesthood, ministry.