If there is one Old Testament account that is a must for every adult and child of faith it is the great Exodus epic which begins with Joseph and his amazing technicolour dreamcoat.
The entire saga is a pre-Christian primer in discernment preparing us for a God who in Jesus is available, personal, powerful, and eager to carry us through any captivity and challenge through death to resurrection.
The mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus (Mt 20), humbly bowing low and ready to speak. Jesus got in first asking “What is it you want?”
It’s Census day in Aotearoa today, our five-yearly opportunity to (according to the 2023 census website) “represent ourselves, our families, whānau, communities, and cultures.”
I can’t help but recall the Bible censuses, especially the one early in Luke providing the reason that Jesus of Nazareth was born in Bethlehem.
The past few days has been full with sessions presenting Pope Francis’ 2022 letter on liturgy to people in Hamilton (Thursday) Rotorua (Friday) and Tauranga (Saturday). I suppose this work with the National Liturgy Office might be called my “day” job with Food For Faith and a few other bits and pieces as my moonlighting mission and ministry.
As a child I picked up the idea that it was best to be hesitant to ask for things. Instead, giving was the seen as the ideal, and being able to anticipate the needs of others (without them asking) and to respond appropriately was seen as an ultimate virtue.
Too often we fall into the trap of trying to be Christian in a pre-Christian kind of way. As I write I’m remembering the old song titled “Old-Time Religion”, a catchy tune with unfortunate lyrics:
“Give me that old-time religion
Give me that old-time religion
Give me that old-time religion
It’s good enough for me”
Well we’re almost a week into Lent. Think back to the gospel for Ash Wednesday: the good deeds we do for Lent are not to be paraded before others. If we do this we have had our reward since others know the good we have been doing.
In recent years I have been invited to lead sessions for the parents of children preparing for First Communion local parishes. I love working with these parents. Many have had little contact with Sunday worship for a decade or two or more. Yet their growing faith leads them to ask for a Sacrament of the Church. While our (church) response is always well-intentioned it’s usually pretty unhelpful when it focusses on Mass attendance and parish activity as the ultimate and immediate measure of faith.
I’m writing this reflection at Wellington airport after a day with an inspiring group, reflecting together on Pope Francis’ liturgy letter Desiderio Desideravi published in June of last year. It’s my role with the National Liturgy Office that leads me, along with the NLO co-director Catherine Gibbs, to offer these formation sessions across the country.
Fasting has become fashionable.
While many religions promote fasting as a hard but necessary practice, fasting has never really taken off as an attractive and life-giving movement. Until now maybe?
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I need to meet Jesus, not in the then and there but in the here and now