Sunday 2nd August 2009

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sunday, 2nd August 2009.

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading Exodus 16:2-4.12-15
God feeds his people in the desert.

Second Reading Ephesians 4:17.20-24
Paul urges the Ephesians to live lives in keeping with their baptismal calling.

Gospel John 6:24-35
Jesus declares that he himself is the true bread from heaven.

The Gospel today portrays Jesus in patient dialogue with people who are hooked on bread. These people are on a treadmill of folly! They are after something that cannot last. Jesus, in contrast, is offering them bread that is life-giving.

It is interesting how the word ‘bread’ in our English - speaking culture has moved far beyond the often tasteless substance we now get in Supermarkets, to signifying money (dough) and hard drugs.

What ‘bread’ are we pursuing? In today’s Second Reading, Paul speaks of people leading aimless lives.

Much of contemporary life is like a doughnut; there is a great hole in the middle! There is a real emptiness in many people’s lives. The raw pain of the absence of meaning, no meta-narrative to situate their personal and collective life story, inclines so many to kill the pain through over-indulgence in drugs, alcohol, shopping and gambling to excess. Sadly, loneliness and despair may incline some to self-harm.

The Gospel today begins with a frenzied scene. The crowd had free bread yesterday and they are on the hunt for more. They are like the crowds waiting at the doors of the departments stores for the post Christmas sales to open.

As Christians we do recognise the hunger that is within us, but we confess Christ as the one who alone can satisfy us. By standing on the rock of faith we can avoid being sucked into the stream of illusory desire.

Like the Hebrews (in the First Reading) we are tempted to abandon the pilgrim road of faith, the march to freedom, and settle for the ‘flesh pots of Egypt’ and an aimless life.

Some of us may be like the people who say to Jesus ‘what must we do if we are to do the works that God wants?’ Jesus proposes the answer. ‘This is working for God: You must believe in the one He has sent’ Here belief is more than an intellectual submission or confession of faith, to believe is to lean on. It is a whole person act, an existential posture as some philosophers might call it.

The work is God’s. His purpose is unfolding. His care is at work and the breath of the Spirit is blowing. We have but to raise the sail of faith. The purpose of life is to enjoy the gift of God; new life that will flow into eternal life.

 

 

SYMPATHY

We offer our sympathy to the family and friends of

Noel Lynch 9 Friel Close

who died during the week. May he rest in peace

 

BAPTISMS

Our Parish Family welcomes

Matthew Pio Harley 85 St. Eithne’s Park
Matthew McDaid 4 Dundrum Park
Macey Margaret Cregan 13 Norburgh Park
Shea John Smith 24 Kylemore Park
Cadhla Adele Nixon 51 Rosskeen Pk
Buadan Harkin 89 Cashelmore Park

 

FIRST FRIDAY Friday is the first Friday of August.

The sick in Ballymagroarty, the Branch and Foylesprings will be attended Wednesday 12th August. The Sick in Buncrana Road and Coshquin will be visited on Thursday 13th August

Confessions will be at the usual times on Thursday. There will be a Holy Hour on Thursday from 8-9.00pm

 

SUNDAY COLLECTION

28th June amounted to £1904.14 and €193.20 Thank you.

SLIMMING WORLD

New classes on Thursday nights 5.30pm and 7pm in Holy Family School Call Valerie 07756455438

 

Children in Crossfire need 100 people on September 19th to zip 1,000 feet across the River Lagan.140 feet up at 40mph , this is a truly thrilling and safe experience, a challenge for everyone .For more details and an application form please phone : 02871269898

DERRY CITY FOOTBALL CLUB will be holding their annual summer soccer camp from Wednesday 5th -7th August. The camp is for 5-15 yrs. And will be held in Brandywell Showgrounds from 10am-2pm. Cost £20 per child with reduction for families. Application forms from Brandywell Office.

 

LASCO LOTTO numbers drawn on 27th July 2, 15, 19, 23 0 x £10 winner No Jackpot winner Next weeks jackpot £600. To join please contact LASCO 71374443

 

READERS FOR AUGUST
Vigil Myra Merrigan

9.30am Margaret Harkin

11.15am Bridie Gallagher
John Moore

12.30pm Marcella Patterson
Louise McCloskey

 

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS FOR AUGUST
Vigil Mass Brendan Ferris,
Myra Merrigan, Mark McChrystal, Nell Smith,

9.30am Brigid McNutt
Peter McCourt, Bridie Gallagher, Kathleen Cullen

11.15am Gordan Hyndman,
Jackie Knox, Eileen Corcoran.

12.30pm Louise McCloskey,
Gerry McMonagle, Ann Lynch, Majella Heaney, Fidelma Coyle

 

Interested in developing your faith a little more? Thornhill Centre has a number of short and long courses starting in October and November 2009: Pastoral Ministry: ‘There is a Variety of Gifts.’ Liturgy: ‘Foundations in Liturgy’. Scripture: ‘Saint Luke.’ Aspects of Faith: ‘So What Should We Teach Them?’ Personal Development: ‘Dreams Workshop.’ For further details contact Thornhill Centre at 71351233.

 

 

MEDJUGORJE 20th Sept. 7 nights £499 fully inclusive. Contact Pat Mullan 71301474

 

The Churches’ Trust currently has a number of opportunities for Volunteers seeking to offer their time and expertise for community benefit.

FLEXICARE SERVICE is designed to assist older people remain independent and in their own homes for as long as possible. Volunteers will assist our clients through befriending, helping with shopping or assisting them attend medical appointments.For further information, please contact: Kathryn on 71311322

 

 

SPRINGTOWN TAXIS celebrating 20 years free Family Fun Day on Sunday 9th August 2-6pm Upper Dunnes car park. All welcome. Strictly no alcohol.

ADDICTION

The First Step in Recovery, Dependence on Alcohol, other drugs or gambling present life threatening physical and mental health challenges for individuals, stress and relationship difficulties in families, financial problems for all concerned, educational issues for children and young people, deaths on the roads and crime on our streets. If you are concerned about your dependence on Alcohol, other drugs or gambling staff at Whiteoaks Rehabilitation Centre provide a confidential counselling service for individuals, couples or families. Tel. 003537493 84400 for help.