Gospel Reflection - Mark 8:27-35

In this week’s Gospel, Jesus asks his disciples, ‘who do you say I am?’ When Peter answers with ‘you are the Christ,’ Jesus tells them about how He is destined to suffer and die but will rise again. Peter, understandably, did not recognise this as good news, despite Jesus’ assurances that it was. One of the reasons we believe this to be good news is because Jesus set an example for all his disciples to follow. He loved us so much that He was willing to suffer and die for us. He helps us when we choose to follow Him and offer our lives in service to others.

At the moment, it can be difficult to see the ‘good news’ in anything that is happening around us. At first glance, the news is full of stories of hopelessness and despair, inspiring angst and worry about what the next few weeks and months will bring. Many of us feel frustrated and stressed balancing working from home with family life and some of us have been unable to see interstate family and friends for many weeks and months.  It is easy to slip into a negative mindset. Yet we need to remind ourselves, there is ‘good news’ out there, regularly happening beyond the four walls of our homes and minds. We know there are people delivering food to people who would otherwise go hungry, people doing welfare checks on the elderly who live in our community, and people doing errands for friends, neighbours and colleagues in quarantine to make sure they’re okay. Then of course there are the doctors, nurses, and paramedics who are routinely working lengthy, uncomfortable hours in PPE to save the lives of COVID patients, as well as running vaccination clinics with the aim of protecting all of us from this horrible virus. In the midst of the chaos, confusion and seemingly endless gloomy news cycle, Jesus is there. Jesus is present in the actions of those who serve others, and when we focus on Him, the good news is easy to see.

Sacrament of Confirmation

Parents of our Confirmation candidates should have received an email this week, confirming the postponement of the Sacrament until further notice. This email also included a resource to assist in continuing the formation of candidates in the lead up to the Sacrament. If you did not receive this email, please let me know.

Laura Matchett