Fr. Aidan Writes:
During this past week, the scripture at Mass has been the 1st letter of St John. This letter is a must read for us all. It contains uncluttered teaching on love. The simplest of creedal statements is in this letter, “God is love”. A little later it also says, “There is no fear in
love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love.” We have, and continue to, live in times where certain people put up false “Bogeymen” and try to influence us by fear and hatred and thus curb the path of love that should unite us.
This weekend we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord by John in the Jordan. Through our baptism, we share in the priest, prophet and kingliness of Jesus. This sacramental life we have entered is one rooted in love and not fear. This weekend is the start of the ordinary time of the Church’s liturgical year. Perhaps we could dedicate it personally to being a year of love without fear. Let the world see our desire for holiness, our prophetic witness and our joy at being members of God’s Kingdom. Please keep in your diaries Saturday, the 22nd Jan, which is a national day of prayer for the right to life of the unborn. We will have a morning of adoration after the 8.00am Mass, ending with Benedic- tion at 11.00am. Come and spend a few moments praying for the end to abortion. The Santa Maria Walk for Life is the next day in the afternoon. See the article in the bulletin for details.
God bless us all and the year ahead, Fr AP
May God bless you, your families, and the week ahead,
Fr Aidan Peter