PRIESTS OF THE PARISH
Rev John Doherty PP Tel: 028 7188 2274
Rev Paul Farren Tel: 028 7188 3247

Sunday, 5th September 2010

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jesus said to the crowds: “None of you can be my disciple unless you give up all your possessions”. Sometimes the teachings of Jesus seem impossible to follow, and this is certainly one of them! Because of this difficulty some people give up while others simply ignore it and go on their way. When Jesus talks about possessions he is not condemning them as evil but rather calling on us to look at the evil effect that they have on our hearts and lives and because of that to put them in their proper place. Possessions possess us so easily. The more we have the more of our energy and attention have to go into protecting what we have. We can become very self-centred and forget our responsibility to care for one another. Even within our homes and families, our possessions can become more important than the people we love. They certainly become more important than taking care of the poor of our world.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R.

Sunday, 5th September 2010

23rd Sunday in Ordinarty Time

First Reading: Wisdom 9: 13-18
Who can divine the will of the Lord?

Second Reading: Philemon 9-10, 12-17
So if all that we have in common means anything to you,
welcome him as you would me.

Gospel: Luke 14: 25-33
None of you can be my disciples unless you give up all your possessions.

The Leap of Love

Today’s readings invite us to a kind of prudence not too many of us know how to practise. When we think of prudence, we usually have in mind a kind of cool calculation that never allows us to begin something whose consequences we can’t foresee. Being prudent, we think, means carefully avoiding all risk.

But the prudence to which the Lord invites us is rather a willingness to know the risk we accept. It is the prudence of lovers who pledge lifelong fidelity in a leap into the unknown. When we marry, we promise our whole selves to another human being until the day we die, and we have no crystal ball to let us know what that promise really involves. When we say we will be true through riches and poverty, through sickness and health until death parts us, we stake our integrity on a scenario which unfolds in a day-by-day drama full of surprises.

It is just that leap of love the Lord asks of us today. He cautions that we must know the risk we take, the price we pay. The weight and shape of the cross we will carry on his path is not made clear, but his path is the way of the cross. The only guarantee that he offers is that we will not walk alone; his footsteps will guide us.

Lord, you ask us to calculate the risk – but not to refuse it. We will not falter if we trust in you. We will falter only when, like Peter on the water, we forget you and think only of ourselves and our own safety.

Lord, the worst risk is to trust only in ourselves. Give us the courage to leap into the arms of a lover we cannot see. Give us the prudence to accept the risk of infinite love.

At time of going to press last week’s Collection was not known.

Marriage Encounter

Renew your Wedding Vows: Marriage Encounter offers an opportunity for married couples of all ages with a stable relationship to enrich their marriage and renew their vows. During a weekend [Friday 8.00pm until Sunday 5.00pm] couples explore, in complete privacy, how to come to a deeper mutual understanding of each other. The dates for the next weekend are 24th – 26th September, Dromantine Conference Centre, Newry. Telephone [028 – 90626503.

Knock Marriage Introduction Bureau
The aim of the bureau is to introduce people considering marriage to a suitable marriage partner. Over 800 marriages have taken place as a result of these introductions. If you are searching for a suitable partner, why not consider applying? Telephone [00353] 949375960 - www.knockmarriagebureau.com

Foyle Hospice Male Walk/Run & Boys’ Mini Marathon
Foyle Hospice Male Walk/Run and Boys’ Mini Marathon will place on Sunday 26th September starting at Sainsbury’s Car Park, Derry at 1.30pm. Two bridges walk/run approximately 6.5 miles and Mini Marathon approximately 2.5miles. Entry fee £6/€7. Registration Forms available from Foyle Hospice Fundraising Centre, 61 Culmore Road, telephone 028-71359888; Foyle Hospice Shop, Waterloo Place, telephone 028-71362927 or visit www.foylehospice.com

THIS WEEK’S CALENDAR

Monday 6 – Weekday

Tuesday 7 – Weekday

Wednesday 8 – The Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We celebrate the dawn of our salvation in the birth of Mary, mother of our Saviour.

Thursday 9 – St. Ciaan, Abbot. Born in Roscommon around 512. Founded a monastery at Clonmacnoise.

Also Blessed frederick Ozanam. Born in Milan, 1813. While studying law he formed a social action group, the ‘Conference of Charity’, to undertake practical work among the poor. This later into the society of St. Vincent de Paul.

Friday 10 & Saturday 11 - Weekdays

Beatitudes

Blessed are those who realise that they cannot live on bread alone but need the word of God;
they will be fully nourished.
Blessed are those who, when they have sinned, follow the example of the prodigal son, and come back to seek reconciliation;
they will cause heaven to ring with joy.
Blessed are those who stop to attend to a wounded neighbour,
pouring in the oils of compassion and the wine of hope:
they are the Good Samaritans of today.
Blessed are those who remove the plank from their own eyes before telling their brother to remove the splinter from his:
their efforts at reforming others will bear fruit.
And blessed are those who, having put their hand to the plough, refuse to look back:
they will be found worthy of the kingdom of heaven.