Wisdom from the Abbey–Mother Hilda–Make It Easy (Mother Hilda recounts a story told by a visiting priest to the Abbey on an episode from his childhood that had a big impact on him about the gentle but firm way his father had censured him for an action he did. Mother Hilda says, isn't God like that! You and I are sure we deserve censure for the worst sort of whatever it is that we've done. Yet God, knowing that, yes, we do need to do something about what we've done, is more concerned about what happens to us in the process. We've got an opportunity to be like God this week. Make it easy for someone to apologise to you this week. Make it easy for them to give expression to whatever it is that's in them and how like God you will be this week!)

Gospel Reflection–Fr Mark De Battista—Being Complete (Fr Mark says some of you are wondering, perhaps scratching your heads thinking, that last phrase in the Gospel surely just doesn't make sense; “Be perfect, you must therefore be perfect, just as your Heavenly Father is perfect.” How could anyone possibly resemble or even approximate the perfection of God? We must understand what the word perfect truly means. When we look at the original Greek, we get an insight into this because the word that is translated as perfect in English may also be translated as “complete.” So now hear the word complete where you would normally hear the word perfect. Listen to this: You must therefore be complete, just as your Heavenly Father is complete. It puts a new twist on things, doesn't it? Now you understand that being complete according to our human nature, truly virtuous in every way, is something that's possible, so that in being complete we may be filled with joy.)

On The Journey This Week: In the Gospel reflection Fr Mark De Battista says use the word “complete” and you’ll get the Gospel’s full meaning. Mother Hilda says make it easy for people to be who God wants them to be. Plus, we commence the Triumph Lenten series with Fr Antony Jukes and Fr Chris Sarkis and their reflections on alms giving, prayer and fasting, and Fr Mike Delaney and Dcn Josh Clayton on their highlights from the Divine Renovation 2023 Conference.

Triumph Lent Series–Fr Chris Sarkis—A Humbled Contrite Heart (Fr Chris takes us deeper into the Lenten practices of fasting and penance by breaking open Isaiah 58:1-9. Isaiah warns that these Lenten practices must be more than tokenistic. They are not meant simply to make us feel better, superior or prideful, they are meant to change us and lead us to an interior change of heart. As Isaiah implores, by taking Lenten actions with a humbled and contrite heart, we become holier, humbler and are a visible witness to all those around us.)

Gospel Reflection—Fr Slawek Plonka OMI—Deep Virtue (Jesus teaches us in today’s Gospel that it is not enough to simply avoid breaking the commandments or any other moral principles. As his followers, we should actively do good, but how often do we acknowledge and confess all that we have failed to do? Failed to use my talents, failed to be a peacemaker, failed to give generously, I have so much to give but I only take. Listen again to what Jesus says, If your virtue does not go deeper than that of the scribes and the Pharisees, you will never get into the Kingdom of heaven.)

On The Journey This Week: In the Gospel reflection Fr Slawek Plonka says it’s more than just keeping the commandments; it’s moral decisions about avoiding sins of omission. Mother Hilda has a story about Pope John XXIII and the joy of comfort during difficulties. Plus, Deacon Josh Clayton encourages us to celebrate our baptism anniversary, Trish McCarthy calls for discerning diets, and Fr Mike Delaney wonders how we can care more for people in “the bush.”

The Bush Deacon—Dcn Josh Clayton–Baptism (For many of us, we don't think about baptism much. We don't think of when it occurred, who was present, maybe who baptised you? What was the circumstances? It's a wonderful thing for us to take time to reflect on. Drill a bit deeper and find out when you were baptised. Was it a church service? Was it when you were young? Was it when you were older? What was the date you were baptised? Each year we celebrate our birthdays. We celebrate anniversaries. We celebrate lots of key things and maybe it's time we all took the time to celebrate and reflect on how baptism has changed our lives.)

Milk & Honey—Trish McCarthy—Discerning Diets (Trish has been taking some advice from The Book of Proverbs that wisely advises, above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. She has been applying this to diets and nutrition with the discerning question to ask: is it sustainable over a long period of time? The actions we take today need to be sustainable for a lifelong pattern of health and Wellness. Switch off to marketing, advertising, gimmicks and the like, and practise listening to your body. Find a balance in the foods to consume that are sustainable, life giving, energising, and nourishing.)

Wisdom from the Abbey–Mother Hilda—Guido and John XXII (Mother Hilda’s story of Pope John XXIII and his friend Guido, who every day used to bring him the newspaper each day and the day that he hid it from the pope because of a terrible article on the pope. The pope’s response was, if Guido had given the paper that morning, the pope would have known the joy of his comfort. Hilda says you and I so often when we go to God, avail ourselves of knowing the comfort of God. Why stay away from him? Plus, we have within us the capacity to comfort the heart of God. How about this week just sitting with him for 5 minutes every day with no other agenda than allowing the unspoken words in your heart, the words of comfort to speak to the unspoken need in God.)

God in the Everyday—Fr Mike Delaney—Bruny Island (Fr Mike’s regular trip to Bruny Island to say Mass for the island’s very small community reminds him of the first priest to travel to the island, Fr John Wallis, in 1933. Fr Mike tells the story of the challenge from the Bruny Island community to Fr John Wallace and says that challenge still hold true in today’s regional and remote communities - Doesn’t anyone care about us in the bush? Which leaves us with challenges – how do we meet people in this new age of communications in a way that addresses these same old concerns of being present to others? Perhaps it’s being prepared to step outside the comfortable and look at totally new ways of doing things.)