This Sunday, we welcome our new organist and choir director, Mr. Brian
Bonnici. Brian is a music teacher in Toronto and comes to us with much
experience in the musical world. We wish him well here at St. Dominic and hope
that he stays with us for a long time. Welcome Brian!
The Harvest Bazaar is next
weekend, Saturday from 9am-3pm. Please
put your names down for baking and helping on the day. The more help we get,
the easier it is for everyone. Also, please tell your friends and neighbours
about the bazaar and have them come too.
Whose glory do you seek? There can be no share in God's glory without
the cross. When Jesus prophesied his own betrayal and crucifixion, it did not
make any sense to his disciples because it did not fit their understanding of
what the Messiah came to do. And they were afraid to ask further questions!
Like a person who might receive a bad verdict from the doctor and then refuse
to ask further questions, they, too, didn't want to know any more. How often do
we reject what we do not wish to see? We have heard the good news of God's word
and we know the consequences of accepting it or rejecting it. But do we give it
our full allegiance and mold our lives according to it? Ask the Lord to fill
you with his Holy Spirit and to inspire within you a reverence for his word and
a readiness to obey it.
How ashamed the disciples must have been when Jesus overheard them
arguing about who among them was the greatest! But aren't we like the
disciples? We compare ourselves with others and desire their praise. The
appetite for glory and greatness seems to be inbred in us. Who doesn't cherish
the ambition to be "somebody" whom others admire rather than a
"nobody"? Even the psalms speak about the glory God has destined for
us. You have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory
and honor (Psalm 8:5).
Jesus made a dramatic gesture by embracing a child to show his disciples
who really is the greatest in the kingdom of God. What can a little child
possibly teach us about greatness? Children in the ancient world had no rights,
position, or privileges of their own. They were socially at the "bottom of
the rung" and at the service of their parents, much like the household
staff and domestic servants.
What is the significance of Jesus' gesture? Jesus elevated a little
child in the presence of his disciples by placing the child in a privileged
position of honor. It is customary, even today, to seat the guest of honor at
the right side of the host. Who is the greatest in God's kingdom? The one who
is humble and lowly of heart - who instead of asserting their rights willingly
empty themselves of pride and self-seeking glory by taking the lowly position
of a servant or child.
Jesus, himself, is our model. He came not to be served, but to serve
(Matthew 20:28). Paul the Apostle states that Jesus emptied himself and took
the form of a servant (Philippians 2:7). Jesus lowered himself (he whose place
is at the right hand of God the Father) and took on our lowly nature that he
might raise us up and clothe us in his divine nature. God opposes the proud,
but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). If we want to be filled with
God's life and power, then we need to empty ourselves of everything which
stands in the way - pride, self-seeking glory, vanity, etc. God wants empty
vessels so he can fill them with his own glory, power, and love (2 Corinthians
4:7). Are you ready to humble yourself and to serve as Jesus did? (Servants of the Word 2018)
I hope you have a good week!
Fr. Phil
