Wisdom from the Abbey–Mother Hilda–Good News (After listening to a radio show where people were sharing good news, Mother Hilda’s instinct was to look around me and see only good. It's so simple really, isn't it? It's an easy thing to do. Find the good and concentrate on that. It brings life of its own. Jesus came with the same message, and we call it The Good News, remember, I came to call sinners to repentance. I came for the lost sheep. I came to give life. I came to show you the face of the father. I came to heal you. I came to forgive you. I came that you might have life and have it to the full. It's all good news.)

Gospel Reflection–Fr Rob Galea–Come Holy Spirit (Fr Rob says the Holy Spirit very often is misunderstood. The Holy Spirit is not a dove, a fire, a power, or water, the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, a person we can have a relationship with, the advocate, the one who helps us live out our Christian life. When you're finding it difficult to get out of sin, to be able to love generously, to serve others, ask the Holy Spirit. Stop and pray, God send your Holy Spirit upon me. Come Holy Spirit, give me the strength, the grace, to be able to serve you selflessly. We need to know that whenever we're finding it difficult to follow Jesus, the Holy Spirit will be with us by our side, but ask, ask and you shall receive!)

Milk & Honey–Trish McCarthy–Food for Life (Trish says that something that always draws her attention in the scriptures is the focus on foods. It’s the simplicity of the meals shared by Jesus and his disciples. Fish, bread, honey, fruit and nuts, wine, water, herbs and spices, meat, and vegetables. All things that come from the natural earth. When compared to the food available to us today, it is evident that for the majority, we are not eating life giving natural food, but man-made food-like products. This is an important distinction because our cells need certain things to survive and thrive, and if these needs are not met, our cells will continue to crave them or be hungry. Listen to your body and make choices based on what you need rather than what you hear about, or marketing tells you that you need.)

The Bush Deacon–Josh Clayton–Vanuatu God is Working (Deacon Josh has been on a trip to Vanuatu to speak to young people in the Christian communities about the next World Youth Day. But it was the aftermath of the recent double cyclones that the Island communities experienced that impressed him and how the local communities were responding in faith-filled support of each other. There's lots of things that happen in our lives that are challenges, and sometimes it’s hard to see how God might be working. It's the perennial struggle that each of us has; why do bad things happen to good people? It's more about how we can see God in the situation. It’s God in the care and help that comes from supporting each other and for all the external help given. The challenge for us is to see the good and to see how God is working through that goodness.)

The Call–Fr Dave Callaghan—Doubt is Good (Fr Dave says that if your faith is not growing, it is probably because you're not doubting enough. Very often, Christians fear doubt but maybe we have misunderstood the whole concept of doubt. It is a position of questioning and searching for a deeper truth which comes from a place of humility that leads us on a journey of discovery. We need to see the mystery of our faith as just that, a mystery. God has revealed something which is very strange and it's as though God is almost playing a game with us, calling us to go deeper into the unknown. We need to be very comfortable with the bits of our faith that don't make sense. To allow ourselves to go deeper into the mystery through prayer and the grace of the Holy Spirit, and allow God to lead us deeper into his own heart and the grand mystery of where he is calling us.)

Milk & Honey–Trish McCarthy–Wherever You Are (Trish reflects on missionary Jim Elliot’s well-known quote “wherever you are – be all there.” Its essence has a strong connection to the life and rule of St Benedict and cultivating it in our life leads to fullness of life. Multi-tasking may be needed at times, but we benefit most when we stay fully focused on the task or situation at hand. Choose to slow down and do what counts and avoid overburdening our mind, body and heart!)

Gospel Reflection–Fr Joshua Whitehead–To Know, Love & Serve Jesus (Fr Joshua says that Thomas & Philip’s questions in this Gospel about knowing the way and seeing the father, are our questions too. Our goal is to know, to love, and to serve Jesus, and it happens in four intentional but distinct ways. (1) It takes every effort of our intellect. (2) It takes a sound will, not a will that vacillates between yes and no. (3) It takes an upright heart, which means a straight heart, or in the original Hebrew, a heart free from sin. And (4) perhaps most excitingly, it takes the witness of those who teach us to seek Jesus, to seek relationship with him. It's through the Son that we know the way and see the Father.)

God in the Everyday—Fr Mike Delaney–Opps (Fr Mike has been reflecting on the business of life and how often some random event triggers a memory which generates a response or activity. He says that there have been lots of times when something happens, and his thoughts turn to a person or event. Many of those times when he makes the effort to contact that person their response is something like – I’ve been meaning to contact you! God does work in our daily lives and does help us to see things but, if we aren’t focused and paying attention then we can easily miss his presence.)

Wisdom from the Abbey–Mother Hilda–Stare at God (Mother Hilda says a method of carrying two cups of tea and not spilling them and creating a mess, also works for not messing up our relationship with God. Sometimes in our lives, we are perplexed, and don't know which way to go. We don't know what to do. We're scared that we'll mess it up. Stare at God and everything will be all right. Stare at his word. Stare at who he is in your life. Stare at what is already done in your life. Sit down and stare at him in silence if you want, but stare at God. You'll be amazed all that stuff that you're worried about, perplexed, uncertain about it, will resolve itself.)

On The Journey This Week: Fr Joshua Whitehead says that Philip’s question in the Gospel, how can we know the way, is our question too. Mother Hilda says we must spend time staring at God. Plus, Fr Mike Delaney sees God in the random events of everyday life, Trish McCarthy reflects on missionary Jim Elliot’s well-known quote “wherever you are – be all there,” and Fr Dave Callaghan says that if your faith is not growing, it is probably because you're not doubting enough.