Dear friends

“His name is John”. And they were all astonished (Lk 1:63). These are the words of Elizabeth which we hear today as we celebrate the Nativity of John the Baptist. Why were the excited crowd gathered around Elizabeth astonished at the choice of the name John? They were astonished because; “no one in their family has that name” (cf. Lk 1: 61).
 
The passing on of names is something we know quite well. It marks our identity. Our name is our special word that not only identifies us, but it also joins us to others, just think of our surnames or family names.
 
It might be a little old fashion to say that our “first” name is our “Christian” name, or our “baptismal” name but that is what it is. The name we were baptised with grafts us onto the Holy name, the name of the Trinity; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
 
Before we were baptised the priest (or deacon) would have said (insert your name), “I baptise you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”. In this moment we become God’s children and become part of God’s family.
 
The name “John” is a Hebrew name which means God has been gracious; or God has shown favour. This name now makes a lot more sense for a couple that thought that, in their old age parenthood was beyond them.

God bless                                                                               
Deacon Tom

Dear friends,

This Sunday the Lord speaks to us of the smallest of all the seeds, the mustard seed, and hoz it grows into the biggest tree of all. In Ezekiel, God reminds us of His presence for the small, the humble. In His words "I cut down the tall trees and makethe low trees tall". In all of these parables, Jesus is referring to our faith. Even though it may be small and therefore weak and vulnerable, He can make it grow and yield abundant fruits.

In fact, small is beautiful in the eyes of God. Faith, Jesus says, is like a seed…"sprouting and growing...yet man does not know how it happens. The soil itself makes the plants grow and bear fruit." The soil of course refers to God's grace. Invisible yet so powerfully effective. All we have to do is plant our faith in the heart of Jesus.

Mary MacKillop devoted her life and her sisters Under the care of St Joseph and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. St Mary of the Cross honoured the heart of Jesus in her love for the little ones of Australia, especially the poor. Emulating the justice and gentleness of St Joseph she said "seek first the poorest, most neglected parts of God's vineyard" (1900). She knew, even when times were very tough and her own security as a religious congregation was at riskher faith, planted in the heart of Jesus, would urge her to say "God will provide fof the future" (1877).

True devotion to the Sqcred Heart of Jesus, consists in placing our trust in His mercy and His infinite love. Jesus, through St Margaret Mary Alacoque, who received the visions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in France in the seventheenth century, evokes in us, confidence in a God who truly answers our needs. The Sacred Heart of Jesus is infinite in charity and boundless in mercy.

So too, in all our little acts of daily forgiveness and small acts of love we are co-operating with grace and silently growing stronger in our faith. People can only come to God, through our small acts of compassion and mercy. in this way our hearts are joined to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and He becomes really present to those in need.

Please continue to pray for Deacon Tom on his journey towards his Ordination.

God love you,
Fr Frank