29th January 2012
THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
Jesus reading in the Synagog
JESUS CAME TO HEAL BOTH BODY AND SOUL
For Mark the Gospel is fundamentally about freedom. This Jesus might be a good preacher and teacher but he is much more than that. He is the only one who can release us from all that binds us, from all our inner demons, from all our sinfulness. He is our liberator in the very deepest sense of that word.
More of the implications of this passage may reveal themselves if we remember the narrative context into which Mark places it. After this cure of the demoniac, Jesus cures Simon’s mother-in-law and many others afflicted either by illness or by evil spirits.
It is with these acts of power done out of compassion for the needs of others that Jesus begins his public life.
There is considerable debate about whether the people whom Jesus healed were really possessed by the devil or were mentally disturbed. The debate is utterly beside the point. These individuals were deeply troubled and Jesus healed them. Jesus came to heal both body and soul. Most scripture scholars now agree that miracles were an important part of Jesus’ ministry and of the memory of that ministry in the early church. We simply cannot abandon them to please those who say miracles are impossible. The precise explanation of how these healings were accomplished is another matter and perhaps one that is also beside the point. Jesus did not work miracles to prove anything. Rather they were signs that God’s healing love is at work in the world.
…… Dispin John
Fr Kevin’s Hot News
Fr Dispin John
Dispin, you are very welcome
In the absence of the Archbishop, Bishop Les Tomlinson has appointed Rev. Dispin John as the assistant priest of our parish from 18 January. Before his studies for the priesthood, Dispin was in the computer industry. He completed his priestly studies in Corpus Christi College, Carlton and was ordained in 2008. He has ministered in the parishes of Castlemaine and Epping which includes also Mernda and Whittlesea where together last year they celebrated 218 Baptisms!
Fr Martin Ashe
Fr Martin Ashe
As he has completed his appointment to the Ministry of Priests where he cared excellently for us 320+ priests of Melbourne, Fr Martin has now been appointed to a vast new parish which covers King Lake, Mernda and Whittlesea– a growth area which has been formed from parts of the parishes of Diamond Creek and Epping. The new parish has three churches in each of the three communities and two schools at Mernda and Whittlesea. There is no parish centre or offices. It is interesting his uncle, Fr Tom Ashe was Parish Priest of Diamond Creek in the early 1950’s. Let us keep Fr Martin and his new parishioners in our prayers.
……Kevin McIntosh
Our Parish Prayer
God, our Father, bless this parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel so that we may love you more. Help the parents to be good examples to the children and our youth to grow in love and strength as good Christians. Encircle our families with your loving care. To the sick grant health, to the aged bring serenity and to those in sorrow joy. May we grow stronger in faith and may our love for one another become deeper in our daily living.
Amen
The Mass readings for next Sunday may be found by clicking on the Bible image below
