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The Catholic Leader, November 12, 2017
www.catholicleader.com.auOptions
Prayer reflections for the week
The following prayer thoughts for the
week are from Br Brian Grenier’s book
Attend Unto Reading.
November 13 – Our True Self
There are two fundamental and inter-related questions which
confront us inescapably as human beings: “Who
are we? (the nature question) and “Who am I?” (the
identity question). If, as Socrates said at his trial,
“an unexamined life is not worth living”, we need
to think deeply about them. In this connection, it
would also be a fruitful exercise to ask Jesus, “Who
do you say I am?”; for our true self is ultimately not
to be sought in the “I” we utter as a way of express-
ing our self-awareness but in the “Thou” that our
extravagantly loving God addresses uniquely to
each one of us.
November 14 – Simplicity of Life
In his Tales of the Hasidim the great Jewish
philosopher Martin Buber relates the story of an
American tourist who visited the revered Polish
rabbi Hafetz Chaim. Astounded by the fewness of
the wise man’s possessions, the tourist enquired,
“Rabbi, where is your furniture?” The rabbi, like a good Kerry-
man, replied with a question of his own: “Where is yours?” “But,”
replied the puzzled visitor, “I am only passing through.” “So am
I,” said the rabbi. And so are we. It is because all of us without ex-
ception are just “passing through” that our lives should be marked
by simplicity and detachment.
November 15 – Supporting the Poor
Whether we apply them personally or as a parish community, to
take proper account of Jesus’ words – “When you give a banquet,
invite the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind” (Luke 14:13)
– we must acknowledge that all we have is God’s gift to us and
that justice demands that we provide from our superfluity for those
who, for whatever reason (our greed, ethical blindness or indiffer-
ence perhaps), lack the necessities of life. Nor should we expect
praise or a reward for doing so. As Jesus added, “You will be
repaid at the resurrection of the righteous” (Luke 14:14).
November 16 – Intercessory Prayer
Reassured by Jesus’ invitation, “Ask, and it
will be given to you” (Matthew 7:7; Lk 11:9),
we have no qualms about imploring God’s help
in the many trials of life. We also intercede on
behalf of others (as Jesus himself did), dur-
ing the prayers of the faithful at Mass and at
other times in private. While this is a holy and
wholesome thing to do, it would be a pity if our
prayer were limited to the making of petitions.
Such activity, intense as it may sometimes be, is
hardly the highpoint of a human being’s intimate
communion with God.
November 17 – Faith and the Mystery
of Life
St Bede records how King Edwin of Northum-
bria came to adopt the Christian faith. A counsel-
lor spoke to him of a swallow’s flying swiftly
through a well-heated banquet hall in mid-winter when a snow
storm is raging outside. The bird enjoys a brief moment of calm
before disappearing into the darkness where it is at the mercy of
the elements once more. “Our brief human life is much the same,”
the wise man added; “we know nothing of whence it came and
what will follow it.” The king accepted the sage’s judgment that
the new faith shed light on these mysteries.
November 18 – The Brevity of Life
Despite our increased life expectancy, the many biblical refer-
ences to the fleeting and insubstantial quality of our earthly exist-
ence remain pertinent. It is captured in such images as: “a wind-
blown leaf” (Job 13:25), “water spilled on the ground, which cannot
be gathered up” (2 Samuel 14:14), “a wind that passes and does not
come again” (Psalm 78:39), “a sigh” (Psalm 90:9), “a mist” (James
4:14). Whatever our years may be, Paul assures us: “If we live, we
live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether
we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s” (Romans 14:8).
November 19 – Talents from God: a Sculptor’s
Gratitude
As this story illustrates, all of our talents come from God and
should be used gratefully in God’s service. A sculptor spent many
years of his life creatively adorning a medieval cathedral. Centu-
ries after his death, a worker who was engaged in restoration work
on the ceiling of this edifice cleared a heavy layer of dust from
the top of one of the beams supporting the roof. There he found a
superbly crafted image of Christ and the inscription, “God at least
will see and will understand.” This was a man’s secret way of say-
ing “thank you” for the gift that was his.
Gold in the dawning sun
By Terry Lees
Terry Lees
is a member
of the Mount Isa Catholic
parish.
by Terry Lees
AT a family gathering in Townsville
this past week, we met our first great-
granddaughter for the first time.
Just one month old, she is an old soul in a
young body – “she’s been here before”, as the
saying goes.
Despite being fussed over, handed around to
all and sundry, poked, prodded, cheeks pinched
by doting women grinding their teeth, she re-
mained placid and calm throughout and not even
the loud sounds of disco music fazed her.
There was an instant bond with Great-Grandad,
as if we’d known each other for years – we just
stared into each other’s eyes and smiled, a lot!
It’s a special experience I have now enjoyed
many times – to look deep into the eyes of a
baby and see the eyes of God, drawn deep inside
to feel overwhelming, unconditional love.
It is spiritual and human at the same time.
Being together as family, welcoming a new
member, and celebrating the milestone of a son-
in-law’s 50th birthday, emphasised the strength,
unity and love we experience as family.
A touching image, highlighted in a painting
gifted as a birthday present, depicted the strong
bonds of three generations of the family of our
daughter and son-in-law.
Depicted as cassowaries, each family member
was there, including the newest addition. Our
son-in-law is a descendant of the Gugu Badhun
people, of the upper Burdekin River of North
Queensland, and the cassowary is culturally sig-
nificant to the traditional owners of the tropical
rainforests.
It is integral to their culture, customs and
values, appearing in important traditional stories,
ceremonies and dances.
The painting then is a beautiful image of fam-
ily and was emotionally received.
Yet another beautiful image of family and
community is from the Makonde people of Tan-
zania, East Africa, known especially for wood
carvings of their “family tree” or “tree of life”.
These carvings, made from one single piece of
wood, can be up to two metres high.
It’s a pillar made of people, depicting mem-
bers of extended family – often representing
multiple generations – climbing atop one another
and supporting one another.
In this way, the Makonde show what it is to
live in a community – that each person’s life is
built in part on someone else’s.
Jesus said: “I give you a new commandment:
love one another; you must love one another just
as I have loved you.” (John 13:34)
Love does indeed make the world go round; it
is the key to everything.
I have learned over the years that love abounds
within.
It is because God first loves us, with a deep,
abiding love that fills us to overflowing.
In receiving such abundant love, we are com-
pelled to pass it on, to love others with the same
deep love.
We cannot hold it back – it must be shared.
Love is not love, they say, until you give it
away.
Again, too, I have learned over the years just
what it does means to love unconditionally.
The wisdom and words of St Paul say it beauti-
fully: “Love is always patient and kind; … finds
its joy in the truth ... always ready to make allow-
ances, to trust, to hope and to endure whatever
comes. Love never comes to an end. So faith,
hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of
these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:1-13)
Top-selling author and life teacher Wayne
Dyer says: There is no greater power in heaven
or on earth than pure, unconditional love.
He suggests you embark on an experiment in
which you practise only unconditional love for
several days.
Vow to yourself that you will only allow
unconditional loving thoughts to issue from your
consciousness.
During this time, refuse to have judgmental or
critical thoughts.
In your quiet time, think only peace and love.
In all of your relationships, think and act in
only loving ways.
Extend loving thoughts and energy wherever
and whenever you encounter anyone or anything.
Unconditional
love:
“There
was an
instant bond
with Great-
Grandad, as
if we’d known
each other for
years – we
just stared
into each
other’s eyes
and smiled,
a lot.”
Unconditional love and letting it take hold
Become unconditional love for this period of
time.
By pouring love into your immediate environ-
ment and practising gentleness in all of your
thoughts, words and actions, your immediate
circle of friends will begin responding in a whole
new way.
Why not practise giving unconditional love for
the next seven days?
Allow love to take hold.
Receive and give love with all your heart, with
every fibre of your being.
Love is the greatest – of that there is no doubt.
Our lives are indeed built in part on someone
else’s.
Have a golden day and treasure life.