Gospel Reflection 2021

 Easter 2 B - April 11 - Divine Mercy 

Jesus greets his disciples with the gift of peace. Jesus then commissions his disciples to continue the work that he has begun; as Jesus was sent by God, so Jesus sends his disciples. He gives his disciples the gift of the Holy Spirit so that they will be able to accomplish this task. Jesus’ words to his disciples also highlight the integral connection between the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. With the grace of the Holy Spirit, we can share forgiveness and reconciliation with others.

Thomas, the doubting disciple in today’s reading, represents the reality of the Church that comes after this first community of witnesses to Jesus. All but the first disciples of Jesus must believe without seeing. Like Thomas, we may doubt the news that Jesus, who was crucified and buried, appeared to his disciples. Our human nature seeks hard evidence that the Jesus who appeared to his disciples after his death is indeed the same Jesus who was crucified. Thomas is given the opportunity to be our representative in obtaining this evidence. He gives witness to us that the Jesus who was raised is the same Jesus who died. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, we are among those who are blessed, for we have not seen and yet believe.

[read all> loyolapress.com ]

[Updated April 9]

Mass Times in OLSC Parish
St John’s:  Tuesday, Thursday at 9.15am, Saturday 8.30 am
Sunday at 9:00 am (Italian), 11:00am and 5:00pm
St Joseph’s: Tuesday to Saturday at 9am
Saturday at 6:00pm Sunday at 9:00am and 10.30am(Vietnamese)
Good Shepherd: Sunday at 9:30am.

A message from Fr Martin ...  
Dear Parishioners
May I once again wish you all a Happy Easter and I hope you had time to reflect on the meaning of Easter and how it may influence your lives. Thanks to those who were able to attend all or parts of the Easter liturgies during the Easter Triduum.
During the next six weeks, we will be celebrating the Season of Eastertide until the Ascension of the Lord and
finish off with Pentecost. Personally, I would like to thank ALL those who helped Jennifer with any requests for assistance, the readers, musicians, singers, setting up for supper, and so on. Again, thanks to Jennifer for preparing so much of the liturgies and working so hard. On behalf of the parish, Jennifer, thanks for all that you do for us during these important times on the
church’s calendar.
One important occasion during Holy Week was the Chrism Mass. Each year the priests and the people of God gather at St Patrick’s Cathedral to celebrate this important mass. During the mass, the congregation witness the priests renewing their
priestly promises. The other ritual during the mass is when the
Archbishop consecrates the sacred oils used in the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders. These oils are then distrib uted to every parish in the Archdiocese of Melbourne, signifying the Lord's healing presence and the life giving gift of the Holy Spirit. Archbishop Comensoli then blessed and commis sioned the PlenaryCouncil delegates/members for the Archdiocese. It was the first time the delegates had been able to gather since our churches reopened. The delegates will join others from around Australia for the first Plenary Council gathering in October. Let’s continue to pray for the Plenary Council and may it bring about change to strengthen our church and help the needs of all whom Christ came for.
Have a great week. God Bless.
Fr Martin

Easter Vigil
A special note from our Parish Priest …
I would like to congratulate our three candidates, Bela, Edward and Penny, who were received into the Church at the Easter Vigil mass last Saturday. I pray your faith may continue to grow and you experience God’s love in your everyday lives.
Our faith is our own personal journey and we can come to faith at any stage of our lives. Each candidate had a sponsor
who journeyed with them during the weeks of preparation. For them it was a time to share, discuss, search and come to some kind of understanding about what faith means.
We all have a different understanding about what faith is and who God is. Even when we do come to some kind of faith, hopefully this continues to grow deeper by our encounter with each other, life experiences and our relationship with the divine. Fr Martin

Believing is seeing
So it means the reverse is true: believing is seeing.
Our beliefs tell us how to see. They tell us what to look
for. Faith gives us eyes to see what others may be blind
to. The worldly view is cynical: things are bad and
getting worse, and not much can be done.
Believers have hope, which heals the past and
invents the future. That’s why, though we have not
literally seen Jesus, we can believe in him, and in
believing, we can truly see.
Reflect on a situation in your life that has seemed
hopeless: a broken relationship, a bitter disappoint ment, a missed opportunity, an irredeemable loss. Look
at it through the eyes of faith. See what Jesus sees: the
never-ending chance for healing and life.

St John's Outreach Program
Don’t forget our outreach program and buy some thing extra for our outreach program next time you
are shopping. Thank you.

St Joseph’s School news
We would like to congratulate our children who received the sacrament of First Reconciliation: Michelle, Ryder, Neveah, Jaimie, Isaiah, Akain, Kingsley and Ethan.
Congratulations also to Michelle who was baptised
on St Joseph’s day.

Heart of Life
'Gifts Differing - Understanding Your Personality
Type', Saturday 17 April 2021, 10am-3pm.
This reflection day explores the Myers
Briggs personality types, and how these influence our
communication, relationships and spiritual life.
Participants can complete the Personality Type
Indicator form on the day. Facilitated by Peter
Malone msc at Heart of Life, Kildara Centre, Rear 41
Stanhope St, Malvern. Cost $60. Book and pay via
website heartoflife.melbourne,
email info@heartoflife.melbourne or tel 9890 1101. 

Caritas Australia would like to THANK YOU for supporting Project Compassion 2021. If you still have your Project Compassion box or set of envelopes at home, please bring them back next week or visit www.caritas.org.au to make your donation online.
Through your generosity you will be empowering the
world’s most vulnerable communities to grow stronger and share their strengths with their communities to lift themselves out of poverty.
www.caritas.org.au/projectcompassion#projectcompassion
1800 024 413