Weekly Bulletin 28th February 2021 (Novena of Hope)

Masses on webcam are Mon to Fri Mass @ 7pm.  Sat – Vigil @ 6.30pm.  Sun 10.30am      12noon      &     4pm

Today is the Second Sunday of Lent: This weekend we begin our Novena of Hope. This will be a time of prayer and a time to hear again the simple message of the Gospel. The Gospel of this Sunday tells us the story of Jesus being transfigured on Mount Tabor. The Church celebrates this feast day of the Transfiguration on the 6th August. The word “transfiguration” comes from two words, the first a preposition in Latin “trans” meaning across or through, like a bridge, or span over depths. The second word is “figure” as in the human body. Together “transfiguration” is a human body that is a bridge across or through into another reality – Jesus human body, flesh and bone, is the bridge through which we can see and cross over into the presence of God in glory, Father and Spirit. It is a moment that is fleeting but strong, as it imprints knowledge of Jesus on the mind and the soul. It is, like all brushes with mystery, a moment of fear and attraction, a drawing in and a wanting to flee from the reality. And, at its root, it is inexplicable. The Father shows the apostles the glory of Jesus divinity – He is Son of God!  I think of what we know of the life of a butterfly. There is a big word used called “metamorphosis”. It means a change of form.  How does the life of a butterfly begin?  The female leaves a tiny egg on a leaf or stem and then it hatches out and becomes a caterpillar. It is the feeding and growth stage. And it lives to eat! As it grows, it sheds its skin four or more times so as to enclose its rapidly growing body. Then as time goes on the caterpillar does something very strange. This fuzzy small little creature crawls into a little sleeping bag looking something like a burial shroud, and several days later comes out as an exotically painted flying flower! Sometimes this takes two weeks to happen or even longer and then the chrysalis cracks open and this wet yoke falls out and when it dries itself it is turned into a wonderful coloured butterfly.“How wonderful are the works of the Lord!” (Sirach 39:16) The story of the transfiguration in today’s Gospel is right in the middle of Mark’s Gospel. After the wonderful experience of seeing the glory of Jesus on Mount Tabor, the three apostles are warned by Jesus “to tell no one what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead” (Mark 9:9) Why was that said to them?  If the disciples would tell now, immediately after the Transfiguration, what they had experienced, people might think that Jesus’s story is a success story. However three times in Mark’s Gospel Jesus tells them that He was on the way to the Cross. There is no glory without suffering and being killed. In the same way: no real Messiah without suffering and being rejected. Our lives constantly move between those two mountains –  (1) Mount Tabor, These are moments when we feel like the apostles on that high hill with Moses and Elijah – who both met God on a mountain also – when life is great! When we feel that prayer is not a burden but a delight! When we feel like the song puts it “What a wonderful world” The other mountain is (2) Mount Calvary. These are the times when life is tough! When prayer is boring and our prayer is like Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane: Father take this cup of suffering away from me! (Mark 14:36). Our task is to keep holding the dark and the light in our lives. We are being transformed! We are shedding our skins!  We see it with people who are ageing! We say “Gosh she was a tough woman in her old days – but hasn’t she mellowed with age!”  What is the Novena for? Yes to ask God for help, but it also is a moment of grace when we are constantly being transformed into Christ. May we allow God’s Spirit to convert us also! 

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Novena of Hope: Our Novena of Hope begins this weekend and will continue until Monday 8 March. The Novena prayers will be said at each Mass over this weekend and next weekend. The Novena Mass will be celebrated each night at 7:00 pm. Because of Covid 19 restrictions the Church will be closed to the public during the service. If you have the facility, you can view our Novena on our webcam which can be found at www.thegraan.com. The service will also be recorded each night and can be viewed at a time that is suitable to your  personal schedule. 

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: The Church will be open during the week from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm for you to visit for personal prayer. Please wear a mask and be aware of the rules on socially distancing! There will be an opportunity to spend time before the Blessed Sacrament between 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm each day. (Except at the weekends)

Petitions If you wish to send in any petitions for the Novena please do so either by post or email. If you wish to receive the Novena brochure please ring us here at the Graan (Phone 028-66322272) during office hour between 9:30-4:00 pm. Some may be read out during the Novena prayers. 

Thank you for your prayers and support during this time of lockdown. We appreciate those who have used the DONATE button on our web-site to send us donations. We are grateful to those who sent in their contributions by post or through our letter box. These are difficult times for all of us and we want to assure you that you are all being remembered in the prayers of this community. 

Our Shop: If you wish to contact us as regards purchasing cards please ring us during office hours (9:30 am – 4:00 pm) or visit our web-site www.thegraan.com and we will try our best to facilitate you.