from Fr. Murray

I feel that I ought to reiterate my thanks to all those who contributed and participated in the Christmas and New Year celebrations. We are so blessed to have the many who responded to the call for help to clean, decorate, replacing of light bulbs in the high ceiling of the church, taking down the decorations and other many works in and around the church. Also thank you to the teachers, parents and children who participated in the Advent Children’s Retreat, and the choirs.

Thank you also to all who organised and participated in the Potluck Lunch and those who provided food. It was a joyful experience to see the many, many volunteers putting their hearts and souls in their service to the Lord. Many wearing a smile and singing along as they did the work. In addition, thank you to all who donated to the Annual Christmas Gifts for the Homeless. The Missionaries of Charity were pleased and expressed their heartfelt thanks. Last but not least a big thank you to those who donated flowers for the Nativity Crib. Everything seemed to go very well and I must also thank all those who sent me cards and gifts.

Above all, thank God and praise the Lord for His abundant blessings on all of us. Glory to God!

Some Gospel quotes should seem familiar to people. Lines like “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” and “be perfect just as the Father in Heaven is perfect” are often quoted and unfortunately, just as often taken out of context. Jesus quotes a line from the Old Testament, about ‘an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth’. What Jesus is saying is that we are called to a higher standard than those who oppose, attack, criticize or condemn us. In other words, we have to turn the other cheek and love, even when love is the last thing we feel like doing. The verse ‘Be perfect as your father in heaven is perfect’ represents the capstone of Jesus’ teaching... We are to care for others the way God cares for us (both the good and the evil, the righteous and the unjust) all the time... Even to the point of loving our enemies and praying for those who persecute us.

This is a tall order but at least one can try. For, as Christians, we are Christ for others. We teach others the way to live by our word and action; in doing so we reveal God.

In other words, being “perfect” really means showing others how God is faithful and how he has a loving concern for the world.