Weekly Bulletin 7th March 2021

7^th March 2021 – Novena of Hope

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

Today is the Third Sunday of Lent: We end our Novena of Hope tomorrow night Monday at 7:00 pm. Thank you for being with us on the web-cam during our nine days of prayer together. There was not the same usual buzz around the Novena in our Church than in previous years, but the same God who was with us in the buzz then, was with us in the sober silence of this week! We thank God for all the graces and blessings bestowed on us during this Novena. If we read today’s Gospel and were present at the scene described, we would have experienced lots of noise and confusion in meeting Jesus with a whip overturning the money changers tables in the outer part of the Temple in Jerusalem. “Zeal for your house will devour me” (John 2:17).This is the text of Scripture that the disciple remembered when they saw Jesus create havoc among the retailers in the Temple. The dictionary definition of zeal is “enthusiastic and diligent devotion in pursuit of a cause, ideal, or goal; fervent adherence or service; extreme and ardent commitment” Another word that could be used for zeal is passion. Have you a passion for life? Zeal is a good thing. We need to have zeal for things of God, but like all good things it too can have its shadow side.  But you and I know that the ideal that we can strive for can become the demonic. Look at those who set off bombs for the ideals of their religion. Zeal is good as a Christian grace, but it must be grounded on right principles and directed to right ends. A Greek word that is used twenty four times in the New Testament is the word “katharos” it means pure or clean. It began in ordinary Greek to mean physical clean, often it was used of clean water, it was used of white bread, because the grain had been winnowed and all the impurities taken out of it. Then it began to be used as meaning “free from debt” – in other words: a person who paid all his taxes! Then it began to mean “free from guilt” The person was ceremonially clean and thus able to approach the altar. In the New Testament it means something deeper. Remember the Beatitude in Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart they shall see God!” In other words: “Blessed are the real, the sincere, blessed are those with unmixed motives, blessed are the single minded”.  Many thought this text of Scripture concerned the problem of impure thoughts about sexuality! Many can get hung up around this issue! It means much more! “Blessed are those whose motives are absolutely unmixed, whose minds are utterly sincere, who are completely and totally single minded”.  To be zealous for the Lord means to have that standard in our work. “Blessed are the pure of heart they shall see God” Because others see God in them Jesus promises that they will see God! May it be so! 

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Thank you – We really appreciate your wonderful support, not only during the Novena, but during this period of lockdown. A big thank you to all who took the time to send in petitions and donations for the Novena and also for those volunteers who helped with the Novena.  Thanks to Jacqui Bannon for her singing during the Novena Masses. Because of lockdown restrictions we had to limit the number we could invite to sing. Be assured of a constant remembrance in our prayers. 

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Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament:  On Monday 8^th you can spend time before the Blessed Sacrament between 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm. 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.

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