The Word–Fr Tony Percy–Foretaste of Resurrection (Fr Tony Percy focuses on the healing of Saint Peter's mother-in-law and the relationship it has with the resurrection. The gospels are replete with Jesus touching and then healing people. So, today we have Jesus approaches, grasps the hand of Peter's mother-in-law, and then raises her up. Raises her up! Now we should take note of this very intimate connection between touch and love, since the ultimate touch is by the Eternal Father. Mary Healy, a wonderful theologian, wonderful biblical scholar, says this; Peter’s mother-in-law’s recovery from illness is a foreshadowing of the resurrection on the last day. Remember the text said Jesus approached her, took her by the hand and raised her up. So, when we come to the resurrection of Jesus, we are told explicitly by all the gospel writers, and particularly by Saint Paul in his letters, we're told explicitly that the father raises Jesus from the clutches of death and deterioration. The father reaches into the tomb and raises him from the dead. He doesn't do it on his own power. That word that's used to describe Christ's resurrection, that's the exact word that's used here by Mark in chapter One, Jesus approaches, grasps her hand, and raises her up. That's it, it's an intimation of the resurrection. So, the question becomes, can we identify moments in our life when we've had healing? We're spirit, soul, and body, so healings of the spirit, the soul, and the body, can we identify these healings? And then furthermore, can we now see that they are in fact a foretaste of the resurrection of Christ, they are sharing in the resurrection of Christ at the time we have the healing, but also of foretaste of the resurrection.)

Milk & Honey–Trish McCarthy–Remember (Trish says that we should stop and spend time remembering what God’s done for me, where I’ve come from, the way my prayers were answered when I thought everything was hopelessly lost, the unexpected joys, and where I’m journeying to. These moments of reflection keep me on track to my destination – eternal life and causes us to celebrate our journey.)

The Bush Deacon–Dcn Josh Clayton–Country Shows (Deacon Josh notes that we are in country show season in the leadup to the Sydney Royal Easter Show. Josh says that country shows are renowned for their hospitality, bringing the community together to celebrate and promote the many activities of the local area. Among the strengths of the country show is the ability to welcome the newcomer, celebrate achievements and recognise and respect the difficult times since the last show. This makes Deacon Josh think about our own faith communities and how we welcome the stranger as well as the old-timers, support each other by celebrating achievements and acknowledging the difficult circumstances, and maybe our church communities can learn a lot from how we celebrate the local agricultural show so we can also be a grand-champion parish community this Easter.)

Gospel Reflection–Fr Daniel Serratore MGL–Comfort Zone Challenge (In the gospel today, Jesus shows us something of what it means to live out his mission in our lives. The first thing that we see is that Jesus’ mission flowed out of his union with the Father. That's why we hear about him praying today. That's why he prayed so often. His prayer was a way of seeking out the mind and the heart of the father. The same is true for us. It's only by growing in our Union with Jesus that we find the heart and the energy and the generosity to live out the mission that God is calling us to. The second thing we noticed today is that the mission of Jesus often took him out of his comfort zone. It would have been much easier for him to maintain the status quo, stick around where he was, keep doing what he was doing. But no, today we hear that after his time in prayer, he knew it was time to move on. If we are really deepening in our Union with Christ, we will inevitably be called out of our comfort zone. So today you might in prayer, ask God; Lord, what is one way that you are inviting me out of my comfort zone, so that I might more fully live out the mission that you are calling me to live?)

On The Journey This Week: Fr Daniel Serratore MGL says today’s Gospel calls us out of our comfort zone to live out Jesus’ mission in our lives. Mother Hilda has another tip on how to surrender to God’s will. Plus, Fr Tony Percy focuses on the healing of Saint Peter's mother-in-law and the relationship it has with the resurrection. Trish McCarthy says that we should stop and spend time remembering what God’s done for each of us, and Deacon Josh Clayton says our parish communities can learn a lot from observing the local country show.

Wisdom from the Abbey–Mother Hilda–Surrender_[Part-2] (Mother Hilda concludes her 2-part reflection on surrender. Mother Hilda says that we can surrender ourselves to God, especially our past sins, particularly our past words & actions that we wish we had never said or done, and when you do, you’ll be amazed at the peace & calm that comes from this surrendering.)

The Word–Fr Tony Percy–Authority & Authenticity (The scene in this week’s Gospel, Jesus on the Sabbath, enters a synagogue and then immediately, a man with an unclean spirit comes forth, yelling and screaming out. Jesus says to the unclean spirit, be quiet, come out of him. In fact, Jesus says, be muzzled, and come out of him. What happens with this expelling of the demon is we have the crowds saying on two different occasions; wow, what is this authority with which he conducts himself or which he encounters these demonic powers of darkness? In theology it's a very important point that's made about the way that Christ reveals himself to us. So, we understand in theology that in the Word of God, Christ reveals himself not only through his words and what we hear him say, but also by what he does, and theology has a wonderful way of explaining this. It says, the words are there, and they interpret the actions, but the actions and the deeds of Christ confirm the word that is spoken. So, when the crowd says; with what authority does he act in the against the powers of darkness? What they're observing is this entire authenticity and consistency in the being of Christ, that his words and his actions are one. It's one act, the word is backed up by the action, so the words interpret the action, and the action confirms the word that is spoken. The authority of Christ speaking to you not only through his words, not only through his actions, but through both, so much so that there's one action, one act of revelation of Christ disclosing to you that in fact he is truly the son of God, particularly when he comes up against the powers of darkness.)

On The Journey This Week: Fr Simon Apablaza says that the reason Jesus taught them with authority is that his words are not only the expression of thoughts, but the expression of his own life. Mother Hilda has a tip on how to surrender to god’s will. Plus, Fr Tony Percy says Jesus of Nazareth is revealing who he is; his words interpret his actions. And his actions confirm his words. a menAlive faith testimony from Stewart Brady on how he became involved in the menAlive movement through the efforts of his wife, and the changes it brought to his life, and Fr Mike Delaney says helping someone is a great gift that we can all do, even when we are struggling ourselves.

Gospel Reflection–Fr Simon Apablaza–Action Not Just Words (Fr Simon says that the reason Jesus taught them with authority is that his words are not only the expression of thoughts, but the expression of his own life. We can ask, how is it that the devil was quite OK with the teaching of the scribes and the Pharisees, and as soon as Jesus began to speak, the devil cried out? It is because the unclean spirit can find a place in a religion when this religion is only focused on external things, when the external dominate over our actual love for God, then the devil is quite at peace. Jesus’ words not only transmit thoughts, but actually transmit love, and that is why as soon as Jesus began to speak, the devil cried out. This love that Jesus is speaking of is real. Love cannot be just words, or nice thoughts, or feelings only, love requires action. Action towards God firstly, and our neighbour second. Christ is a threat because he is the revelation of a God who loves us and calls us to love as well. May we be courageous to answer his call to love and may we love our neighbours as Jesus loves us)

Wisdom from the Abbey–Mother Hilda–Surrender_[Part-1] (Mother Hilda starts a 2-part reflection on surrender. It reminds her of a prayer an American baseball player used to say every time he went out onto the field; “Your will, nothing more, nothing less” and then he went on to play his game. Also, go and do a Google search on “Prayer of Abandonment” then pray it and live it out in our daily lives by abandoning ourselves to God, because He abandons himself for us. One needs to be working on a personal relationship with God or you won't want to abandon yourself to him anyway. After all, you can't be sure what he might do with your surrender. Secondly, when you say this prayer, your heart and soul register a divine truth, namely, there is God who every day abandons himself to you and says do with me what you will, that's the sort of God by whom we are loved. More about surrender next week in part-2.)