20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

You can’t help but wonder if the Gospel passage took place today and Jesus uttered

‘I am the living bread which has come down from heaven’

– the response would may be a shoulder shrug and a lethal ‘so’. Accompanied by its first cousin ‘so what’ – these are two little words every parent dreads to hear. They usually come at the end of the parent’s painstaking explanation as to why certain behaviour is unacceptable. These two words deal the parent a killer blow and undermine any moral authority they thought was theirs.

So (that word again), let’s not be too hard on the first hearers of Jesus talking of himself as the bread of life. At least they argued and strove over its meaning. They had energy and interest about the topic.

Jesus seeks a living relationship with us. ‘Live’ is an interesting word. Spelt backwards it becomes ‘evil’. ‘If you don’t live the right way, doing things backwards or the wrong way, we become evil. Moving the E to the end and we get VILE. When we do not live right we usually go from bad to worse. You can get the word VEIL, which obscures, hides, separates us from our family, friends and God. God is hidden from us. That’s not the way of the God of the living bread.

‘Be careful about the sort of lives you lead…
This may be a wicked age, but your lives should redeem it.’
(2nd reading).

Copyright Intercom Fr. J. Roche

Questions People Ask

Q. I often find that Mass passes me by without any involvement on my part. How can I improve?

A. I would suggest 5 words: come, listen, give, eat and go.
Come in good time, relax and invite the Holy Spirit to help you.
Listen to the readings as a letter of light and love from God.
Give or offer yourself, through the bread and wine, in union with the sacrificial offering of Jesus to the Father.
Eat means receiving the Lord as your bread of life, your greatest source of grace and strength.
Then go from Mass with the mission to love and serve the Lord in the rest of your day.

Feast Days Of The Week

Baptisms

Next baptisms will take place on Sunday 3rd September 2006 at 2.00pm The next pre-Baptism instruction will be on Thursday 24th August 2006 at 8pm in the convent. It is necessary to attend pre-Baptism preparation before asking to have your child baptised.
To register for pre-Baptism preparation please contact the parish office 9061 8180 Mon & Wed 2pm-5pm Tue & Fri 10am-2pm & Thurs 10am-1pm.

We Loved Them In Life

Collections

Last week's offertory collection amounted to £945.83

Dairyfarm Training Centre

Are you a school leaver aged 16 -18 years and would like to gain an NVQ qualification in the career of your choice? You receive £40 per week, gain valuable work experience and driving lessons.

For more information contact Dairyfarm 9061 8452

Belfast Pioneer Council

Belfast Pioneer Council
are holding their
Annual Mass
in
Good Shepherd Church, Ormeau Road, Belfast
on
Friday 1st September at 7.30pm

If anyone is interested in buying a gold/silver badge and having it presented at the Mass please contact the Pioneer office 9032 2744

Expert Patient Programme

The Expert Patience Programme aim is to help people who are living with long-term anxiety to take control and manage their lifestyle. It helps people to cope with stress, with problem solving and to look after themselves.

The next course is in
Whiterock Community Centre
on
Tuesday 19th September – Tuesday 24th October
from10 am – 12.30pm.

The Principal Governors and Staff of
St. Genevieve’s High School
cordially invite you to attend their
40th Anniversary Mass
in
St. Agnes Parish Church
on
Friday 1st September 2006 at 11am

All are welcome to view the school and join the Governors and Staff for refreshments in the Assembly Hall after the Ceremony.