We have just returned home from spending a few days on the Gold Coast, visiting some of our children and grandchildren. The new M1 is a wonderful road, especially after travelling north for so many years during its construction. We are very blest, in Australia, to be able to travel such distances in relative safety.
On Sunday night two of our grandchildren, both eight, accompanied us to Mass. They were lovely, responding to the prayers and singing all the hymns. Amazingly, the Parish Priest made sure he stopped us as we were leaving to speak with the children, praising them for their behaviour and involvement. We have been taking various grandchildren to this church for many years and so it was lovely to have the children noticed and affirmed. I think part of the reason they enjoy coming to Mass with us is because they know it is important to us, and they also get to hang out with us, without the competition of the rest of the tribe.
Interestingly, I could not but help think about family on the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity, as the priest spoke of the mystery of the Trinity. Our understanding of God as relational – Father, Son and Spirit – is just like my experience of our family. The relationships continue to grow and deepen, as each member of this large family group gather and share their time, stories, and food. When one or a few are missing we do not feel complete. I also think of my own brothers and sisters who have not been able to gather for a few years because of distances and of course COVID. They are hoping that we might be able to get together before the end of the year, to celebrate a significant birthday, of my eldest sister. There is a deep longing to be together. I think that reflects well on the Trinity, the longing of Father, Son and Spirit to be one, not only with each other but with the whole of creation.
I hope you noted the beautiful image in the reading about Wisdom, from Proverbs (8:22-31) which was read on Sunday, particularly the end:
I was by his side, a master craftsman, delighting him day after day, ever at play in his presence, at play everywhere in his world, delighting to be with the sons of men.
However, the Second Reading from St Paul to the Romans (5:1-5) speaks of our relationship with God through Christ in the love which is poured out through the Spirit:
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, by faith we are judged righteous and at peace with God, since it is by faith and through Jesus that we have entered this state of grace in which we can boast about looking forward to God’s glory. But that is not all we can boast about; we can boast about our sufferings. These sufferings bring patience, as we know, and patience brings perseverance, and perseverance brings hope, and this hope is not deceptive, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given us.
Please note the part that I have bolded. Once again, the message is about hope through patience and perseverance. Some of our sufferings will be personal and physical, while others will be more emotional and spiritual. Some of our sufferings will be communal and most will be beyond our capacity to understand. I am being reminded of this as we prepare for the Second Session of the Plenary Council. I was unable to attend the Online Coffee Conversations last Thursday night, and I am looking forward to reading the reflections for each of the groups. I am very conscious that a lot of people are hopeful that the outcomes of this Plenary Council will assist us in reimagining our church.
I think it best if I finish this week’s message with the prayer for the second session of the Plenary Council:
Creating and Redeeming God,
beneath the Southern Cross and in its light
you have called together a people for Christ
among the many peoples of this land;
you have made us new in the image of Jesus, your beloved Son,
and breathed into us the Spirit of sons and daughters of God.
Teach us to read the sign of the times in the light of the Gospel,
with deep listening and patient discernment,
and send your Spirit to lead us into all truth,
that the journey of the Fifth Plenary Council
may strengthen the participation and communion
of all members of the Church in this land,
and raise up a living witness to your presence
among all peoples and through all creation.
Let us hold in prayer those who will gather at the beginning of July in Sydney for this significant gathering. May they all listen and dialogue well.