Gospel Reflection–Fr Dominic Murphy OP–Can you change God's mind? (Fr Dominic Murphy asks can you change God's mind? this very impressive and feisty Canaanite woman, a woman of great faith, whose fierce love for her daughter inspires her, whose faith will not be put off, who won't be discouraged, keeps asking. She is an extraordinary example to us. The face of faith when you are discouraged, that digs deeper, that won't be put off and through her prayer, through her faith, she was able to change God’s mind. Sometimes our answer might be a no, and no for a long time. But just like this Canaanite woman, to not be discouraged, to keep asking, and ultimately to let God stretch your heart that the initial no may become a grow within you.)

The Word–Fr Tony Percy–Intense Spiritual Crisis (Fr Tony Percy saysthat the world is passing through a time of intense spiritual crisis, that is, a crisis of truth and a crisis of love, and we might add as well, a crisis of hope. Identity Ideologues are peddling truth as power, not the truth setting you free, but truth is power over another person, and so, the truth should be rejected. So, it's a caricature of what the truth is. But then we have also a crisis of love. In our time, mercy and forgiveness are certainly in short supply, yet forgiveness is at the heart of our relationships because we are weak, and we are sinful. Then we come to mercy. Mercy is this very unusual thing that God can draw good out of evil. God is so good that in his hands, even evil brings about good. We have a crisis of truth, a crisis of love. Let's not be afraid to acknowledge our sin and then to beg for the grace of Christ. This will be a moment of profound peace for each one of us.)

On The Journey This Week Fr Dominic Murphy tells how you can change God's mind. Mother Hilda says as truly as water is necessary for fish, just as truly the life of God is necessary for you and I. Plus, Fr Tony Percy on the intense spiritual crisis, Pete Gilmore is listening to silence, and Mark Raue on solidarity, identifying with the experience of another and standing with them.

Smart Loving–Byron & Francine Pirola–Argument Myth (Today we challenge a common myth about arguments, the belief that if we argue our marriage is in trouble. Couples who don't argue are actually living detached parallel lives, they simply don't engage on anything. Some couples don't argue because one spouse is too dominant, the submissive spouse is too afraid to advocate for themselves, hardly a healthy situation. Finally, some couples appear not to argue because they have an avoidance style characterised by passive aggression or non-verbal resentment. Let's be clear. We're not advocating for arguments, simply pointing out that the presence or absence of arguments is not a reliable measure of the health of a relationship.)

God in the Everyday–Fr Mike Delaney–The Light That Shines (Fr Mike has been having some conversations about colours, grey skies, shards of light and views. The first happened during a meeting, when we were asked what colour might best describe how we were feeling. Next, a photo of grey skies over Kingston Beach but with a bright shard of light breaking through, making a bright spot in the greyness. Next, simply looking out the window – the sky is grey, darkness is descending but there is still something majestic about the river and all that I can see. Tomorrow it will be different but there will be another beautiful scene in front of me to that will remind that each day, each conversation, is different, but everything offers me another opportunity to experience the presence and wonder of God.)

Gospel Reflection–Fr Mark De Battista–God Reveals Himself (In both readings today, we have an example of how God reveals himself. In the Book of Kings, we've got the wind and the fire and the earthquake. But God reveals himself in the gentle breeze. In the gospel Our Lord shows himself and his power to the apostles who were out on the lake. The apostles are terrified as they battle a heavy sea with a headwind. All these signs of the power of nature and Jesus is there inviting Peter to go out to him. Peter takes several steps while he keeps his eyes fixed on Christ, but then he gets distracted by the wind. Jesus does the same for us, calls out to us during life’s storms. The wind is any of those forces in the world, our society, media, whatever seems to be against us, distractions, and at that moment you feel that force of the wind, so keep your eyes fixed on Christ. Go out to him and keep taking those brave steps on the lake.)

Wisdom from the Abbey–Mother Hilda–Giver of Life (A little boy had returned home after a school excursion to some science exhibition quite frightened. He had been told all about the wonders of a particular machine that they'd seen, and he was worried that this machine would take over the world. His father listened attentively and then said, you can always unplug it and turn it off. You're in charge, not the machine. Mother Hilda says we forget that God is the creator of all life, not mankind because life in its eternal perpetual form as we have it, is not ours to give. We're surrounded by the life of God, even down to the smallest mosquito. It too has life given to it by God. Make yourself an observer of life this week and see how much life there is all around you, over which you have absolutely no control.)

On The Journey This Week Fr Mark De Battista says Jesus is inviting Peter and each of us to step out into the storms of life and go out to him and at that moment when you feel that force of the wind, keep your eyes fixed on Christ. Mother Hilda says observe how much life there is all around you, over which you have absolutely no control. Plus, Fr Tony Percy’s Word reflection is Effortless Mastery, Byron & Francine Pirola on couples arguing, and Fr Mike Delaney is marvelling at light shards.

The Word –Fr Tony Percy–Effortless Mastery (Fr Tony Percy says we have the unusual pairing of God appearing to Elijah on Mount Horeb in the Book of Kings and Jesus Christ walking on the water in Matthew 19. The pairing of these two readings seems to be obscure. Elijah discovers that God is not in the form of a mighty wind, an earthquake, or a fire. No, rather, he discovers that God is in a voice of silence. Fr Henry Wansbrough, a fantastic biblical scholar, says the literal translation is “a voice of silence”, not one of weakness or gentleness, but one of effortless mastery. In the gospel, Jesus not only speaks with effortless mastery, but he acts with effortless mastery. Jesus walks on the water. Imagine him, Jesus, walking with effortless mastery and then he speaks with authority. We’re invited to experience the effortless mastery of God in times of silence and stillness. And we’re invited to experience the effortless mastery of God in times of darkness and chaos.)

On The Journey This Week Fr Richard Healey says a powerful way to meditate upon the transfiguration scene is to contrast the scene of Calvary and the crucifixion of Jesus with this transfiguration event. Mother Hilda says our eyes look exactly the same as God’s eyes. Plus, Fr Tony Percy and the word “taken”, Trish McCarthy on renewing your mind, and Deacon Josh Clayton thinks we should have a spiritual coach as well as a sports or life coach.