From the REC
Mass Readings
Sunday 4th Sunday of Easter
First Reading Acts 2:14, 36 - 41
Three Thousand are baptised at Peters urging
Second Reading 1 Peter 2: 20 - 25
Christ delivered himself up to us free from sin
The Gospel John 10: 1- 10
Jesus the sheepgate
Reflection on the Gospel
REFLECTION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE – by Lisa-Marie Calderone-Stewart
Jesus is the front door. Anyone else sneaking around, climbing fences, going through the back door, or doing anything in secret means trouble. Be upfront, do what you do in broad daylight, and it is usually the right thing. You are proud of what you do when it is the right thing. If you are sneaking because you do not want to get caught, you are probably doing something wrong! Doing the right thing brings abundant life! Doing wrong things can hurt your ability to enjoy life abundantly.
What is ‘abundant life’ or ‘life to the full’? Do you think you can get it through Jesus? Do you think you can get it sneaking around, trying back doors, and climbing over fences? Why or why not?
Sheep pretty much follow the crowd. Not too many sheep are ‘individuals’. Being an individual is fine, especially when the crowd is not a good bunch to follow. But following the crowd can be fine too, especially when the crowd is a fine crowd and is doing good things.
Are you usually an individual? Or do you prefer to follow the crowd? Give an example of when you have been either an individual or a crowd follower.
How can you tell if someone who wants you to follow them is really following the way of Jesus?
Term 2 Marist Charisms
The order of the characteristics for the Monday Morning Reflections at the College are:
Wk 1 Family Spirit
Wk 2 In the Way of Mary - to connect to Mother's Day 10 May
Wk 3 Presence
Wk 4 Love of Work
Wk 5 Simplicity
What does this characteristic - In the Way of Mary mean?
Mary is for us the perfect model of the Marist educator, as she was for Marcellin. Mary’s was a journey of faith, just like ours. She urges us to do whatever Jesus tells us. Mary has continued to carry out her mission of mother and educator within the Christian community, giving witness to God’s solidarity with people in their needs and sufferings. All members of our community are inspired to imitate her tenderness, strength, and devotion in faith.
A Marist Prayer with Mary at the Centre. It might be a prayer for you this week.
Mary, we come to you as our Mother to tell you how grateful we are to God for having called us to be little brothers and sisters of Mary and for having you, the first and perfect disciple of Jesus, as our Model. Mary, we want to make your Magnificat our own prayer. And so we ask you to help us come to a greater understanding of God’s love in our lives and to recognise that all is gift, that all comes from love, and that we are to follow Jesus in incarnating this love, in being brothers and sisters to all with a special love for the young and the most neglected
You are our Ordinary Resource and we ask you to pray for us, and with us, so that we may continue to grow to be: – brothers and sisters of radiant hope, convinced of the active presence of the Spirit calling all men and women to be co-creators of a new and better world; – brothers and sisters of listening and discerning hearts, constantly seeking the Father’s will; – brothers and sisters of audacity, who have not lost the passion of their lives! Marist Apostles who are ready to proclaim Jesus and his Gospel with heart on fire with love. Help us to be brothers and sisters to all those we meet on life’s journey, to be present to people as you were, with listening and compassionate hearts. Accept our love, dear Mother, as we ask that, by your example and by your intercession, Christ may become the centre of our lives.
Mrs Christine Meharg
REC Coordinator