Sixth Sunday In Ordinary Time
There are two possible images of Jesus in today’s Gospel reading (Mark 1:40-45).
The obvious one is the compassionate Jesus who pities a leper (v.41) and cures him. But then, why the ‘stern warning’ (V.43)? It’s not a warning to keep quiet, because that order comes after the stern warning. There’s no information on what Jesus warns him about. Hence, the excuse to speculate. The NRSV Catholic Edition has a footnote to v.41 stating that ‘other ancient authorities read anger’. That’s anger instead of pity. This makes more sense in terms of the ‘stern warning’. The NRSV also notes that the terms leper and leprosy can refer to several diseases. Could the leper’s disease be caused by a particular lifestyle? Jesus recognising this perhaps is angry with him. Yet, he cures him. Curing a leper who through no fault of his own contracts the disease warrants compassion. But Jesus’ compassion could be even greater than that because he shows compassion to someone who possibly contracted a disease through his own fault. This is an even greater challenge for us today for it clearly shows that anger and compassion are not mutually exclusive. And that giving a stern warning about risky lifestyles is not out of order. Could those who fashioned the final form of the Gospel of Mark have opted for the softer Jesus? If they did what criteria did they use for their preference? And if they did, were they correct? Could they have had difficulty with compassion flowing through anger? It’s an issue we too may have to face.
Copyright: Fr Tom Cahill (Intercom) |
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| Daily
Readings
You
can access the daily readings on the
parish website:
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St Oliver Plunkett Pre-School Playgroup
St Oliver Plunkett Pre-School Playgroup is still accepting application forms for the School Year 2009/10. Call to the Playgroup, situated in St Oliver Plunkett Primary School grounds, to complete an application form (please bring child’s birth certificate with you).
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Zambia
Two young members from our parish, Damien Boyle and Patrick Moran will be travelling to Zambia on 1 April with St Mary’s CBGS. They will be having a Church door collection after all the Masses on 21st & 22nd February. These dedicated young men will spend two weeks working with some of the most vulnerable members of Zambian society including AIDS orphans and street children. Project Zambia is a justice programme initiated by St Mary’s. It is not a charity trip but an opportunity for two of our parishioners to show solidarity and live out Christ’s message of love for your neighbour. |
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Church Shop
There is a small shop at the rear porch
after each Mass selling mass cards, medals, rosaries, etc.
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DCPA – Pioneer Association
The Belfast Region of the Pioneer Association is holding an Annual General Meeting in Clonard Monastery on Sunday 15 February at 3pm. An invitation is extended to adult Pioneers (over 18 years) from the parish to come to the meeting and help spread the message of the Pioneers, and build up the Pioneer Association in our region-Greater Belfast and a few other parishes.
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ENGAGED? Getting married within the next year?
An Engaged Encounter Weekend is a recognised form of marriage preparation. It is a communication enrichment workshop designed for couples preparing for marriage. The weekend is non-residential and will take place in the Thornhill Centre, Derry on 21st-22nd February. Early booking is advised. For information contact 02879300340 or 02827638512. (After 4.30 pm)
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Workshop on Marriage:
Renew Your Wedding Vows: Marriage Encounter is a weekend away (Friday 8pm to Sunday 5pm) for married couples of all ages with a stable relationship. Couples explore, in complete privacy, how to come to a deeper mutual understanding of each other. The next Marriage Encounter weekend is: 27th-29th March, Dromantine Conference Centre, Newry.
Phone: 028 90 626503
www.marriageencounter.ie |
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Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes
The 26th Annual Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes takes place this July under the leadership of Bishop Treanor. Fare, inclusive of all charges and including return flight from Belfast to Lourdes and full-board in hotels in Lourdes is:
5 nights July 11-16 £545
7 night July 10-17 £595
Youth Team (Age 17-25) July 10-17 £475
For application forms call to parish house. |
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Service of Light and Commitment
The year 7s from the parish primary school will celebrate the Service of Light and Commitment on Tuesday 24th February at 7pm in preparation of the Sacrament of Confirmation. |
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Blood Transfusion
Coming to St. Michael’s Parish Centre
on Friday 27th February
between 2pm-4.30pm & 5.45pm-8pm.
New Donors needed.
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| Baptisms
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Baptims today at 1.30pm. Next baptisms will take place on Sunday 1st March 2009 at 1.30pm. Please note the next date available for Baptism is Sunday 5th April 2009. The next pre-Baptism instruction will be on Thursday 19th February 2009 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.
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| We
Loved Them In Life
We offer our sympathy and prayerful support to the families of those parishioners who died recently:
Tony Edwards Glencolin Way
Betty Boyce Glencolin Drive
We
pray for
the happy repose of those whose anniversaries
occur around this time:
Leontia Mulholland
Maureen Devlin
Paul Murphy
Patrick Molloy
James McElroy
Alice McCabe
Patrick Finucane
Patrick McIlkenny
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| Collections
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The Offertory collection
for
amounted to £958.46
There will be a second collection today week – Sick and Retired Priests
Thank you
all for your generous support.
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