Who do you say I am?

Homily by Deacon Ross Beaudoin from “Celebration” Magazine

In the 1980s there was a musical and movie titled “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.” A

production written about today’s gospel might be titled, “One Bride for Seven Brothers.” Such a

show might not fare any better at the box office than did “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers”

though!

The scenario of the seven brothers each in turn taking the same bride seems far-fetched.

Indeed, it was a very contrived story in Jesus’ time, too. The sole purpose of the Sadducees in

making up this story was to trap Jesus. They had just tried to catch him up with the question of

giving tribute to Caesar. Jesus eluded the trap and left them speechless.

The Sadducees did not accept resurrection in an afterlife. They tried to get Jesus to say that

there was no resurrection because this woman would have seven husbands and that was against

the law and couldn’t be allowed by God in the afterlife.

Of course Jesus saw through their scheme. In his response, Jesus gives an insight into what

resurrected life is about. It is not giving and taking in marriage. It is not about limitation or

dying. Resurrected life is about “being alive.” Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had all gone before.

But God is their God even now. God is their God in this life and in the life-to-come.

The first reading from the Second Book of Maccabees tells the story of a mother and seven

sons who willingly suffered and died because of their trust in resurrected life in God. In that

passage, the mother says eloquently, “…the Creator of the world, who shaped the beginning of

man and devised the origin of all things, will in his mercy give life and breath back to you again,

since you now forget yourselves for the sake of his laws.”

“The Creator of the world… who devised the origin of all things…” – gives us the context. As

Jesus said, “God…is not God of the dead but of the living, for to him all are alive.” From the

moment of creation, all are alive in God. All are called to remain alive in God.

These Sundays we are coming to the conclusion of the Church year and the conclusion of the

Year of Mercy. Today’s readings also call to our minds the conclusion of our own years on this

earth. They remind us of the unlimited mercy God has for us in this life and that comes to

fruition in life with God forever.

The hope we have for eternal life in Jesus Christ is not a “pie in the sky when you die” kind of

thing. It’s not a “just rough it out here because there will be a big reward in the end.” No, we

have God’s accompaniment in Christ all the way through this life, not just at life’s completion.

We are assured of this through our baptism into Christ. Because we are human and limited, we

may not always have a “sense” of the presence of God as we go through life. We may even

experience something of a “dark night of the soul.” That doesn’t mean that God is not with us

and in us. Even Jesus Christ at the end of his earthly life called out, “Father, why have you

abandoned me?” In those times, like the mother and sons in the Second Book of Maccabees, we

hang on, trusting in the mercy of God.

Since Christ’s coming among us, we now see in him the mercy of God and have firm hope for

our continuing life forever in God – with the assurance of his accompaniment all along the way.

Parish Council Meeting

Thursday, November 17th

at the Parish House,

at 3.30pm.

St. Vincent De Paul Meeting

For all those who would like to be involved in reforming the St. Vincent De Paul conference in

Goondiwindi, there will be a meeting held at the SVDP Shop in Moffat Street on Monday, 7th November,

at 5:00pm, followed by dinner at the New Dynasty. Thank you.

Carpet Bowls

The next game of Carpet Bowls will be held in the Parish Centre on Monday, 7th November at 9:30am.

Catholic – Anglican Inter-Church Challenge! Sunday, 20th November,

at 5.00pm in St. Mary’s Parish Centre, bring a plate to share.

Indoor Bowls, Cards and Mahjong.

At the beginning of October, we welcomed Harrison James Billsborough, into the St Mary’s Parish

Family, through the celebration of Baptism. Harrison is the son of

Clinton and Shannon Billsborough.

May the blessings of God’s presence always shine through the joyful life of this family.

If you would like to include the name of someone in these lists, please check with the person or family concerned and then phone Kath on 4671 5087 (Thursday 9am to 3pm).

Let us pray for all those clergy whose anniversaries occur during this month: Rev Fr William McGovern (03/11/56) Rev Fr Cornelius Cahalane (12/11/59)

Rev Fr Charles Daly (13/11/55) Ven A/Deacon Leo Hayes (17/11/67)

Rev Fr Francis Leonard (17/11/06) Rev Fr John Dowd (21/11/78)

Rev Fr William McCormack (23/11/89)

Lord, be merciful to your servants, the Bishops and Priests of this Diocese, welcome them into the company of your Saints, in the Kingdom of light and peace. We ask this through Christ our Lord,

Amen.

Weekday and Weekend Masses Friday………..12.15pm

5th/6th November, 2016

SATURDAY EVENING: Goondiwindi 6.00pm SUNDAY MORNING: Daymar 8.00am & Weengallon 10.00am

12th/13th November, 2016

SUNDAY EVENING: Goondiwindi 6.00pm

19th/20th November, 2016 SUNDAY MORNING: 9.00am Goondiwindi (Church challenge 5.00pm in the afternoon)

26th/27th November, 2016

SATURDAY EVENING: 6.00pm Goondiwindi SUNDAY MORNING: 8.00am

10.00am Children’s Mass in the Parish Centre.

GROUNDS ROSTER

NOVEMBER: DAN & LISA GALL

DECEMBER: GRAHAM MCGOVERN &

TERRY RYAN

THANK-YOU FOR YOUR Contributions: 30/10/16

ENVELOPES $413.00 LOOSE $221.00

VOLUNTEERS

WE PRAY FOR Those who have entered your kingdom: including

Greg Oliver, Sr. Colleen Carney, Sr Bess Turvey, Mary Loveday, Timothy

Lawless-Pyne, Fr. Mick Skehan, Audrey Albeck, Peter Ints, David Hiles,

Shirley Byrne, Mona O’Brien, Norm Hilderson, Chris Finlayson, Maria

Magoffin, Mel McGuire, Alma Betts, Darren Benecke, Robert Picking, Len

Collins, Vince Mullins, Mary Terry, Roy Ash, Boyd Wise, Paxie de Ronde,

Beryl Pearce, Mick Maloney, Will Jakins, Hannah Turvey, Kevin Suhr, Matt

Croke, Paul Heynen, Guy Langhans (Talwood), Danielle Brennan, Father

Brian O’Dwyer, Margaret Beasley (Roma), Albert Knight, Sam Maiore

(Roma), John Walmsley (St. George), Paul Zacka, Lyn Sutton, Thelva

O’Shea, Darryl Hennessy, Florence “Margy” Pavlicevich, Ramon O’Neill,

Winston Thorne, Natalie MacPherson, Erin Laverty, Norah O’Brien, Father

John (Jack) Clancy, Father Jeff Scully, Marion O’Leary, Matthew Palmen.

For all whose anniversary is at this time: including Joan Spink,

Norman Phillips, Byron Carrigan, Ann-Maree Hoole, Sue Reardon,

Beverley Brumpton, Kenneth Robinson, Howard Mullins, Harold Clayton,

Carmain “Bub” Porter, Ray Linton, Roma Ford, Colleen Carrigan, Heather

Glasser, Darrell Littlewood, Jack Rigney, Bill Bell, Colin Murphy.

For those who are ill: including Rosemary Lawson, Bill Dyer, Trish Dyer,

Brian Freeney, Deanna Dawson, Kevin Lawless, Ray Mackie, Peter

Keehn, Joan Fleming, Frank Brosnan, Gloria Bale, David Croft, Tim

Bourke, Joe Cowmeadow, Shirley Schluter, Stasia Lawless, Paul Lloyd,

Mavis Gordon, Jean Ramada, Stella McGovern, Jean Sizer, Francis Lloyd,

Madonna Nicoletti, Kathy McDonald, Steph Adamson, Bailey Brennan,

Pauline Robinson, Win Skinner, Sonya Horrigan, Helen Paige, John

Toohey, Marie Cook, Phillip Carney, Shirley Riley, Therese Sullivan and

Joseph Hord; also those ill at home, in hospital and for those in Kaloma.

WELCOMERS AT DOOR

ROS & JO PHILLIPS (05/11)

JOE HANNA & PAULINE CORCORAN (13/11)

ANNE WEBSTER & MARY BELL (20/11)

WELCOMER AT MICROPHONE

VOLUNTEER (05/11)

PHIL ORMES (13/11)

CAROL ORMES (20/11)

1ST READER/PSALM

GRAHAM MCGOVERN (05/11)

ROBYN LINDORES (13/11)

JOE HANNA (20/11)

2ND READING/ALLELUIA

YVONNE ISAAK (05/11)

CARMEL SCHAUMBURG (13/11)

GRAHAM MCGOVERN (20/11)

EUCHARIST MINISTERS

ST MARY’S STAFF, DAWN LLOYD &

CARMEL SCHAUMBURG (05/11)

CAROL ORMES, SUE MCGOVERN &

BRETT POLLARD (13/11)

DAWN LLOYD, BRIAN COOK &

ST MARY’S STAFF (20/11)

DATA PROJECTOR

CAROL ORMES (05/11)

LEEANN WELSH (13/11)

MARY COLLINS (20/11)

MONEY COUNTERS

KAREN CAIRNS & FAY CLARK (05/11)

MARY COLLINS & ROS PHILLIPS (13/11)

DENISE MCCORMACK & JENNIFER LAWLESS

(20/11)

Parish Information

31ST

SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME

30TH

OCTOBER, 2016

Introduction

“What comes next?” is an old question about

life after death. Today’s readings encourage

persistence in the face of the unknown. We

Christians are heirs of faith in the resurrection

(not a Jewish belief), but that does not

guarantee courage in living our faith in the here

and now. Keeping our eye on life beyond

death is critical, but how we live our faith each

day is equally important.

First Reading 2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14

The Maccabean martyrs profess faith in the afterlife.

Responsorial Psalm Lord, when your glory appears,

my joy will be full.

Second Reading 2 Thessalonians 2:16-3:5

Encouragement to continue living the Christian life.

ALLELUIA! ALLELUIA!

Jesus Christ is the firstborn of the dead; glory and kingship be his for ever

and ever ALLELUIA!

Gospel Luke 20:27-38

God is the God of the liveing.

Prayers of the Faithful For the church: that it may demonstrate

the meaning of the resurrection… we pray,

For encouragement for those yearning for peace in the face of war, violence

and conflict…we pray,

For encouragement for those struggling to make ends meet for themselves and

their families…we pray,

For reassurance for those who do not have all the answers in life…we pray,

For those who struggle to believe in

resurrection, especially those who have lost a loved one…we pray,

For those who have died within our

community, especially those we hold dear during the month of Novemeber,

and for all who grieve … we pray.

Let us pray together:

God of everlasting life: keep us hopeful in what lies beyond, while we struggle to live life fully each and every day. Help us to be people of faith and hope, who encourage those who have lost hope. We ask this in the name of

your son, Jesus, who showed us the meaning and purpose of life. Amen.

Parish Priest: Fr. Michael O’Brien

Phone: 0422 308 955 or 4671 1091

St Mary’s School:

Mr Brett Pollard Ph: 4671 1730

Care for the Aged Co-ordinator:

Mrs Jane Blomley Ph: 4675 4132

Parish Office

Parish Secretary: Mrs Kath Gore

Thursday: 9.00am – 3.00pm

69 Callandoon Street or

PO Box 45, Goondiwindi 4390

NEW PARISH PHONE NUMBER: 4671 5087

Father Michael’s house Phone: 4671 1091

stmarysgdi@bigpond.com