menAlive–Faith Testimony–Stewart Brady– (Stewart Brady tells some of his faith journey; growing up as a cradle Catholic, dealing with alcoholism within his family for over 40 years, his decision to sell a successful business, and how he became involved in the menAlive movement through the efforts of his wife, and the changes it brought to his life.)

God in the Everyday–Fr Mike Delaney–Find the Voice (Fr Mike has been reflecting on John Farnham’s musical and life story. As well as it just being a really great view the documentary “John Farnham: Finding the Voice” spoke to me about another aspect of life – our faith journey. So often we can think that we are all alone and all our struggles are just impacting me. Throughout our lives none of us is completely alone, even in the darkest moments, for the Lord is with us. Sadly, it might not be the same for everyone all the time. So, who do know who might need to know that they are valued, respected – we all need someone to help us Find our Voice. Towards the end of the show John speaks about friendship. He says – something I believe in very, very strongly is what you give is what you get. Helping someone is a great gift that we can all do, even when we are struggling.)

Living the Gospel–Pete Gilmore–Wooden Door (Pete recalls an experience many years ago when his family hired an electrician to do a job, but unfortunately the tradesman bailed out half-way through it. We couldn't believe it. Why would someone do that? We all know that there are some people in the world that will take advantage of others. They'll not live up to their word or they'll break a promise and won't see something through. But the Bible tells us that it's different with God. It tells us that we can trust God. St Paul says, being confident of this, he who began a good work in you, will carry it on to completion. So, let's invite God in. Let's trust, confident that he won't let us down and that he will see the job through.)

Wisdom from the Abbey–Mother Hilda–Corrie Ten Boone (Mother Hilda says that sometimes we feel ashamed to ask for help, and yet here is the loving father who waits for our cry! Who wants to hear us! Who wants to carry the heavy weights of our life! Mother Hilda tells a story from Corrie Ten Boone’s autobiography on a teaching moment from her father when he explains that there are some things in life that are too heavy and too hard for children to understand right now. You must let me, your father, carry them and understand them until you're ready.)

The Word–Fr Tony Percy– Recalcitrant (Fr Tony Percy has a unique comparison between today’s readings from Jonah and Mark. He says Jonah the prophet is a bigot: Someone who is persistently prejudiced, especially about religion or politics, and refuses to tolerate the opinions of others (Chambers Dictionary). We probably knew that, but did we know that etymologically the word means: A superstitious hypocrite. Poor Jonah. He knows – and maybe loves – the true God of Israel, but he simply refuses to share his faith with others, and when he finally does, he is still recalcitrant with God. The Book of Jonah is not history, but satire: A literary composition, which holds up follies and vices for criticism, ridicule and scorn. It is a ‘Jew playing jokes on his fellow Jews’ – including himself. Contrast Jonah with Jesus: Immediately Jesus called them, and leaving their father Zebedee in the boat, they went after him (Mark 1). Contrast Jonah with the first disciples: Immediately leaving the nets they followed him (Mark 1). In our fearful, woke-world, we could all do with a good dose of satire: We are taking ourselves too seriously. Then again – and more importantly – we could all do with a good dose of Jesus.)

The Call–Fr Dave Callaghan–The Place of Technology–The Bad Bits of Humanity (Fr Dave observes that Technology is seeking to make life good by trying to erase every part of humanity that is deemed to be bad. Boredom, silence, weakness, limitation, lack of knowledge. All of these are being overcome by technology. Yet there is an argument to suggest that these bad bits of humanity are essential for developing true relationship, particularly our relationship with God. There can be no creativity without boredom. There can be no contemplation or love without silence. There can be no sense of wonder if I already know everything. But it is also making us less human. There are no simple answers to this problem. The one thing that is essential is that we take the time to reconsider the beauty of the bad bits of humanity. If we can see our limitations as a blessing, we might be in a better place to make decisions about the place of technology in our lives.)

Gospel Reflection–Fr Mark De Battista–Listening to Obey (Fr Mark De Battista says that today’s readings pose a great challenge to us. When we listen well rather than just hearing, then we're able to obey. In the first reading Jonah didn't listen well. He was stubborn in the beginning. God told him to go to the people of Nineveh to preach and proclaim, but Jonah had other ideas. He didn't want to listen to the voice of the Lord, did not want to obey. He experiences being in the belly of the whale, and all of that, then he's vomited on the shore and we're told Jonah eventually listened to and obeyed the voice of the Lord. Wouldn't it be much simpler to just listen in the first place. Sometimes that's you and me. Then we've got the Disciples listening to the voice of Jesus. Saint Mark tells us he invited them, and they left straight away. They obeyed. Now God invites us to all sorts of things in our lives. Today the Lord might be inviting you to obey and go into something different, something new. A new call in your life. So don't think that you've reached a point in your life where you perhaps are too old or used by or past your prime for the Lord to invite you to do something new. Listen carefully and you'll see that the Lord does invite us to do new things and to constantly follow him)

On The Journey This Week: Fr Mark De Battista says that today’s readings pose a great challenge to us, on the difference between listening, hearing, and obeying. Mother Hilda says God wants to carry the heavy weights of our life. Fr Tony Percy says that in our fearful, woke-world, we could all do with a good dose of satire: We are taking ourselves too seriously. Then again – and more importantly – we could all do with a good dose of Jesus. Fr Dave Callaghan observes that Technology seeks to erase every part of humanity that is deemed to be bad, but at the expense of developing true relationship, particularly our relationship with God. Pete Gilmore says our fellow humans may not live up to their word, break promises and won't see something through, but it's different with God, he who began a good work in you, will carry it on to completion.

God in the Everyday–Fr Mike Delaney–Where is God (Fr Mike says last August, on the feast of the Assumption, I was sitting in the Church before Mass praying. As I sat with my eyes closed, I became aware of the warmth of the bright sunlight – yes Tassie can have sunny days in August – that was all around me and I became more conscious of God’s wonderful presence surrounding me. It also reminded me of the Old Testament reading from the 1st Book of Kings – the story of Eliza meeting the Lord on the mountain top. It doesn’t matter if it is a gentle breeze, bright sunlight or even a mighty storm – there can be many moments when we can be still before the Lord, and we can be aware of God’s presence. And it doesn’t have to be on the mountain top after we have run in fear from our enemies, or even from our friends. Nor does it have to be in a Church where there are big windows that allow in mighty bursts of sunlight – it can be where you are right at this minute. All God asks is that you be silent so that you can listen to the gentle voice of God calling you into a deeper relationship with the God of life. I answered my own question – Where is God? – by looking all around and finding him in the beauty of that moment and it stayed with me throughout the day. I hope that you might find the answer to the question as you look around you and encounter God‘s presence today in all that you can see.)

Wisdom from the Abbey–Mother Hilda–Get On With The Game (During a trip to Canberra, Mother Hilda stopped in Goulburn for a break. While having her cuppa and muffin she was watching a football game on the establishment’s big screen. One player kicked the ball outside and we got it replayed 100 times. The dismay on the face of the crowd, the disappointment on the part of his teammates and the sheer demoralisation of the poor man himself. We saw it from every angle. And it struck me, you know. God never does that with you and me. We make mistakes all the time. We do things we wish we hadn't done, and God gets on with the game. He says, I've cast your wrongdoing from my sight, I cannot call it to mind, and he gets on with the game. It's only you and I who keep ourselves back. Let's get on with the game today.)