8th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C, Sunday 3 March 2019
“How you look and feel comes from within, having that inner light. Whatever you do, give it your all, and be amazing.”
This was an advertisement I saw on the Northern line train recently –it was for a certain skin product – it could have been inspired by today’s gospel! Some say we make our own faces – they are determined by what is deep within us.
The gospel today says: “A person draws what is good from the store of goodness in the heart; a bad person draws what is bad from the store of badness.”
Which school is best for your child?
This week, places to second level schools will be allocated. Every parent wishes the very best for his or her child. It’s a big debate at the moment in terms of state and private/public schooling. It has always been. On the one hand, you have parents who make the ultimate sacrifice so as to provide and fulfil their right to the best education available. We then have a large percentage who don’t have the luxury of freedom of choice. Then there are others who have choice and opt to send their children to state schools for a variety of reasons. It is all being debated in the media of late and in the Tablet.
Where to live?
It is a sad fact that the children who grow up in this parish will scarcely be able to afford to buy a house here. This has huge implications for extended family support and for the continuation of this faith-community.
A Milieu of Meaninglessness
Our Micah group (20 something, 30 something group) who meet on Sunday nights to reflect on the gospel are also reading Viktor Frankl’s book, Man’s Search for Meaning. He speaks of the meaningless of life which is a current phenomenon in the lives of many of our young people.
A Call for debate
The rising-tide theory is not working. The Popes speak of structural injustice. The Bishop’s conference of England and Wales produced a great document over twenty five years ago on The Common Good.
Just a suggestion
How wonderful it would be to have a Christian debate in our parish on any of the above topics. Would anyone like to start the conversation? “Every tree can be told by its own fruit” says the gospel today. How wonderful if we could produce the fruit of justice for all, as we prepare for Lent.
Fr Michael McCullagh C.M.