The Bush Deacon—Dcn Josh Clayton—Sun Beach Cricket (Recently Dcn Josh attended a retreat for 18- to 25-year-olds at the beach that was a chance for young people to stop before life becomes too busy, to reflect on what they hope for this year. You can't get away from the fact that a summer in Australia has a different feel, with our focus on beach, sun and cricket. But it means that we must be intentional about how we're going to enable faith to be part of our life. Sometimes it's hard to get time to pray, to worship, to come together in and as church because it's busy, it's hot, we want to go to the beach. But good habits form good people, and taking the time to reflect, allowing ourselves to be transformed by scripture, shared faith, conversations with others who share the love of God lets us appreciate the great gift of faith that we're given.)

On The Journey This Week: Fr Mark De Battista says we can learn much from the Samaritan woman’s faith journey in this week’s Gospel. Mother Hilda says called or uncalled, God is always present in our lives. The Triumph Lenten series continues with Ken Bryant and Darren McDowell. Plus, the bush deacon, Josh Clayton.

Wisdom from the Abbey–Mother Hilda–Called or Uncalled, God is Present (Mother Hilda says the Samaritan woman represents us in this Gospel story. It was no accident that Jesus happened to be at the well that day. Human need is a magnet that draws the already present God into a Presence that you and I can’t miss – if we are looking. It is not about what we have done to fix ourselves or anybody else, it is about how much we have been open to letting God enter our lives and make the changes. Called or uncalled, God is present. The woman in the Gospel did not set out that day to encounter God, but God set out to encounter her. We do not set out on our days of vulnerability to encounter God, but he sets out to encounter us.)

Triumph Lent Series–Darren McDowell—Humility and Love (Darren says that in the Old Testament reading for Saturday, 18 March, Hosea 5:15-6:6, God promises that if we turn tom him in humility and love, hem will indeed raise us up, bind our wounds, and bring us healing and the lasting fulfilment we seek. However, we must play our part. Humility calls us to be authentic, acknowledging both our gifts and talents, as well as our struggles and weaknesses, before God and one another. It is recognising that “I can’t do it all by myself” – that we need each other in order to make the journey of hope and trust. Through humility and trusting in the promises and presence of God, we will indeed find fulfilment, happiness, and the new life which Jesus promises.)

Triumph Lent Series–Ken Bryant—But only Naaman, the Syrian, was cured (In this reflection for Monday 13 March, Ken Bryant uses the Gospel of the day, Luke 4:24-30 to ask why do we, as children of God, experience pain? Ken says as humans, we cannot pretend to understand the unfathomable mystery that is our God. In our suffering, we can take solace that our triune God, in the person of Jesus, experienced intense human suffering. We then, are never alone in our pain and anguish, God is always with us.)

Gospel Reflection–Fr Mark De Battista—Reaching the Lost (The Gospel exchange between Jesus and the Samaritan woman is one in which Jesus leads the woman through a gradual process from seeking natural water to her personal life, to faith in the future Messiah. This encounter includes the most explicit admission by Jesus of his own identity anywhere in the Gospels— “I am He”, referring to himself as then Christ. Fr Mark says we learn much from the Samaritan woman’s faith journey that we can apply as we journey with Christ to Easter by growing in faith and sharing it with others in our family and those that we encounter each day.)

Gospel Reflection–Fr Mark De Battista—A Vision that Sustains (Fr Mark says this Gospel in which we ponder the Lord’s glorified humanity being revealed to Peter, James and John, is equally relevant to our journey of faith. In this vison Jesus prepares the three apostles for the shock of his passion and the great trial of their faith until they comprehend the full meaning of his resurrection. In our own faith journey there will be dark moments challenging our trust in Christ. May we recognise all the signs he gives us for our trials ahead, knowing that the strength and grace of Christ always accompanies us.)

Wisdom from the Abbey–Mother Hilda–The Greater Things (Mother Hilda says it’s what we think about that we see. Peter, James, and John went up the mountain and saw a vision that they knew belonged to, and was of God. And they saw it because of what was already within them. You and I don’t need to go to a mountain top , we need only to fill our lives with what is good, be people who talk with God, and we will see God. This week make an effort to think gracious thoughts, and you will see God who is thinking gracious thoughts about you.)

Triumph Lent Series–Sr Anastasia Reeves OP—Authentic Life of Service (Sr Anastasia observes that most Australians enjoy a prosperous and comfortable standard of living, yet it seems what we have isn’t what we really want. Something is missing. It reminds her of Pope Benedict XVI in an oft-quoted address at the start of his pontificate saying “Christ did not promise an easy life. Those who desire comforts have dialled the wrong number. Rather he shows us the way to great things, the good, towards authentic human life.” Our prayer for our life should be the grace to pursue an authentic life of service for the love of Christ.)

The Urban Contemplative–Marilyn Rodrigues–Outsourcing Relationships (In our busy lives, whatever form that takes, it's nice to have the opportunity to delegate some of our responsibilities to others if we can. But we all know that we can't outsource our relationships. We must put in the time and effort to be there for family and friends. But sometimes we can slip into outsourcing our relationship with God. We can have a tendency to be forever collecting holy books, or items, or starting new devotions, without really committing ourselves seriously to following God. Jesus said not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord, will enter the Kingdom of heaven, only those who actually do the will of my father in heaven will enter. No matter how spiritual our interests are, if we’re resting in the comfortable feelings they give us, and not trying to love God and other people more every day, then I guess we've kind of missed the point.)