Merry Christmas

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to.
John 14:27

Pray your worries away

Why do we fret when we know God still answers prayers? Maybe one day I won't. In the meantime feel free to light a candle in the chapel.

Life is short....

Two Jesuit novices both wanted a cigarette while they prayed. They decided to ask their superior for permission. The first asked but was told no. A little while later he spotted his friend smoking and praying. "Why did the superior allow you to smoke and not me?" he asked. His friend replied, "Because you asked if you could smoke while you prayed, and I asked if I could pray while I smoked!"


Prayer is the reason why some people dramatically forge ahead in their lives while others simply “tread water.” The power of simple, sincere, consistent praying is electrifying. Jesus told us that if we ask, we shall receive.

Truly such power is undoubtedly a most generous gift of a loving God. Thankfully we all receive this gift and because God loves us all, we receive the gift of prayer equally.

Yet how tragic to go through life leaving the gift of prayer unused! Like possessing a rich inheritance in a Swiss bank account and never drawing upon it.

Unfortunately some people never call on God, or they call only in times of emergency and then go back on their “merry” way. They are sadly unaware of the magnificent things God has in store for them if only they would reach out to him in prayer on a regular basis.

In prayer God comes and always helps us. We simply place our worries, cares and needs before God and ask for help. Here God welcomes our slightest word or cry, our smallest effort.


Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you.
For every one that asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened

Matthew 7:7

Life is short-PRAY HARD.

Don't forget the wine..

..my wife yelled out as I went out to pick up the evening’s meal. Sometimes I do. Not the wine to drink that is. Rather the miracle of the water turned into wine. Sure the big ones are important like the woman cured of 12 years of bleeding,or the leper being healed or the blind having their sight restored.

What about the small stuff? Does he help with lost wallets, lost jobs, broken water pipes or broken families? Absolutely. It serves us well to remember that God loves us and what this love means. It means caring about the little things as much as the major ones. It means curing epilepsy as much as turning bills into cheques.

If it matters to you, it matters to God.

Waiting for our jam

Our next door neighbours have recently added an extension on the back of their house. Much to our chagrin they decided to build right up to boundary line of the property title so their new addition is now our new fence. I was concerned that my treasured eighty year old fig tree that grows next to the old fence and therefore has half its roots under my neighbour's property would not survive. The builders dug up almost half of the trees’ roots to poor concrete for the new structure. I waited patiently to see if it would survive. Looking forward to eating its delicious fruits with my daughter this summer and attempting to make our yummy fig jam once more. I prayed it would make it.

The building was done in mid winter which was quite fortunate as the fig tree is deciduous and sheds all its leaves. In fact some may say that the tree appears dead at such a time.Things are often not what they appear to be. I read the following scripture from Luke 13:9, yesterday, which reminded me of our tree:


There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none,he said to the gardener, 'For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. (So) cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?' He said to him in reply, 'Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it;it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.

Luke 13:9

It seems a little obscure at first and even when looked at contextually (if there is such a word) sounds a little like one of Grandpa Simpson’s stories that don’t really go anywhere. Yet I thought about it in relation to waiting to see if my tree would survive and took it as a reference from God as to how patient he is with us. The caretaker asks for another year on top of the 3 already past.


Is there something in your life you need to be patient with? Have
you struggled with an addiction, illness or problem for years. Have you been unable to give up smoking, curtail your temper or lose weight? I urge you be like the caretaker of the vineyard and persevere. Your breakthrough is coming. Your season of blessings, favour and success will arrive.


Its Spring here now and while the building next door is almost finished with all the concrete poured and digging complete, I have seen the fresh new green buds of growth of my precious tree break free. Wait just a little longer for yours and remember:


Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose hope is the LORD.
He is like a tree planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the stream: It fears not the heat when it comes, its leaves stay green; In the year of drought it shows no distress, but still bears fruit.
Jeremiah Chapter 17:7

Jim's prayer

Recently I was reminded of a story I heard about a man named Jim.

Everyday this man would go to his church for about 3 minutes and kneel before the altar.The young priest caught up with him one day and asked, “ Since I arrived some 7 years ago, I have noticed that you come here every afternoon and leave almost straight away. I am curious about what you do?”

“I pray replied the old man.”

The priest asked earnestly; “What do you pray in just a few minutes?”

“I say; here I am Jesus. It is Jim, I love you”

Several years later Jim was moved into a nursing home. Days after his arrival the staff noticed a significant change in all the other residents. A month after staying at the home, everyone there seemed a lot happier. Jim would walk around the home each morning and visit every single person. He would smile at them, chat for a while and dramatically lift their spirits, including the staff.

The same priest who knew him at his church came to give communion at the home one day and spoke about the change in everyone, with Jim.

“Jim, the staf have told me how you visit everyone here each day and cheer them all up. That everybody seems a lot happier since you arrived. What do you say to everyone?”

Jim replied; “I just chat with them and say something nice about their hair, the watch they are wearing or talk about the football. Often I just give them a smile and ask if I can do anything for them.”

“I’m always happy after Jesus comes to see me each day.” Jim responded.

“Jesus comes to see you each day?” exclaimed the priest.

“Yes” Jim beamed, “he comes first thing in the morning and stands exactly where you are”.

“What does he say?” asked the priest.

“Here I am Jim. It is me Jesus, I love you”

Hear this.

Take comfort in the story when Jesus was told about Lazarus; "that the one you love is ill" (John 11). Jesus was not reminded that the one who loves you is ill. Instead, Jesus was addressed in terms of his relationship with Lazarus. This distinction is important because it reveals the fact that God does not answer prayers based on how we have felt and acted towards him. Our Fathers love is perfect and unconditional. Our faith and love toward God may wax and wain but his love and commitment to us is always the same.

The power of prayer is from the one who hears it, not the one who asks.


Father the one you love needs some help.

The one You love is afraid.

The one You love is sick.

The one You love is sad.

The one You love is worried.

The one You love needs you.

May your love of God grow each and every day. Amen.

But me no buts.

The word but has stopped so many noble ventures. How many times have you used it to stop you from doing what God wants you to?

When God told Moses to lead his people, Moses replied:"
Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and lead the Israelites out of Egypt?"
Exodus 3:11.

Sound familiar? It does to me. Self doubt is common in most people. We wonder if we are in the right job, being good parents, dating the right person or living in the right city.
When it comes to sharing our wonderful Catholic faith however, God reminds us :
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you. "Ah, Lord GOD!" I said, "I know not how to speak; I am too young."
But the LORD answered me, Say not, "I am too young." To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak.
Jeremiah 1:5

Could God be any clearer on this subject? So I encourage you to go deeper into your role as prophet. In your blog, the reading at Mass, giving communion to the sick, your parish group or just in your family. No matter where you are, take stock of these words: YOU have been APPOINTED. No buts about it.

3 am

"3 a.m. is when the pain meds wear off. 3 a.m. is when sleep deserts you. 3 a.m. is when the silent movie of your life begins to roll in front of your staring eyes. 3 a.m. is when the deep, bone deep, gut deep, heart-wrenching grief of the things you haven't done explodes like a grenade . . . But I'll tell you a mystery. Right there. Right then. Right in the middle of 3 a.m. Beside all the pain, physical and emotional . . . in the midst of wrenching grief, God was with me. . . ."


by Sylvia Lefort Masi. Taken from Get Well Wishes -- prayers, poems and blessings author -June Cotner. HarperCollins.

Sweet somthings

A few days ago I went to Mass in order to take the Sacrament of Communion to some people in a nearby hospital.
My parish priest took the time to say to me that it was so good of me to do this.
Of course he knew that the pleasure was just as much mine. However it was the kind word from someone to another that is the point here.

I wasn't feeling particuliarly enthused that cold, rainy evening to go to the hospital but after being praised by someone I look up to, I felt a warmth and energy come over me.

Love doesn't always require us to fast for a day or giving up a new purchase. Sometimes the best thing we can do for someone is to offer a kind word or sing their praises to them.

Could it be that Jesus who loves us more than anyone sings our praises everyday? Are you listening?

Can you hear him tell you how much he loves you?

How wonderful he thinks you are?

How talented you are?

How much he wants to help you?

How everything will work out?

How he is changing you each and every day?

That he will never leave you?

I think you can.

Say it clear

My wife and I watched the WYD mass at Randwick racecourse yesterday and we both felt an immense pride. It was great to see around five hundred thousand brothers and sisters gather to celebrate in my own country. Yet greater still was the sense of connection I felt with all these people from all around the world. I felt part of one big Catholic happy family. There was a sea of coloured flags from so many different nations and I truly felt a part of something so much bigger than my little parish. I could identify with the creed I recite every Sunday-we believe in one holy and apostolic church. When the media talks about religion not being as relevant to people today I was somewhat surprised to see so many attending this mass. Our beloved church is so full of young passion and commitment. Together there is nothing we cannot do. Say it clear and say it loud: I’m Catholic and I’m proud.

Not no way Jose.

Sometimes in life we can get discouraged to say the least. We may seem to feel overwhelmed by our circumstances and feel that we are trapped in by them. Not too unlike the enslaved Israelites in Egypt. We can look around and not see a way out of all our problems. We try too figure out with our finite minds how the problems are going to be resolved. Though we may not be able to see the way, God can. We may feel surrounded by problems but God will make a way. He parted their Red sea and he will do the same for you and I. We may not see it now, but he does. Let us not say No way Jose, but rather yes way His way. To be more succinct, Yahweh.

Move over superman

I love the first reading at Mass today.
But the LORD is with me, like a mighty champion (Jeremiah Chapter 20)
How reassuring it is to be reminded that God is with us always. In the missal I use, it refers to God as a hero. I think this one is more apt for me. Like the superhero who always turns up when needed so too does Jesus for me. Always.

I think I know you.

You lay in your bed at night wondering if you will make it. You close your eyes and see the unpaid bills. You pray for your sick children. At 3 am you hear them cry and stumble into their bedroom. You pray and try and rock them back to sleep. I think I know you. Your up at least an hour before the sun gets up. You wonder if you can make a Dr's appointment today. What will the boss say? Here comes that sinking feeling again. Yes I think I know you. The same old problems keep nagging you. Once again you've eaten and drank more than you should and lost your patience with those who you love. So many things to have to deal with. You see loved ones doing it tougher than you and you wonder how you can help them. I do believe I know you. So too does Christ. Though you may not see everything he is doing for you at the moment, it is being done. Your prayers are being answered. You’ll see.