Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Greetings to you all!
11th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B
Jesus compares the Kingdom of God to two seeds; a seed that a farmer threw on his land and a mustard seed, which is a tiny seed later, growing into a big shrub.
Why did Jesus speak to his audience in Parables? Archbishop Temple said, “Jesus taught men to see the operation of God in the regular and normal-in the rising of the sun and the falling of the rain and the growth of the plant”. The Jews were very familiar with teaching by means of parables. To open the minds of the listeners, parables had always been a favourite method of teachers.
Jesus spoke these two parables to give encouragement to his early disciples who had become discouraged because little seemed to be happening. It was in this context he gave this parable and invited them to be patient and not to expect instant results.
Our age could be called the age of the push button. All we have to do is to press a button or turn a switch and things will happen. But we know that no magic will happen when I want to develop my skill, or to reach the top in society; all cannot happen with just the press of a button. In other words there is no short cut for some things in life.
Jesus presents the same truth to his listeners, through the parable of the farmer who sowed the seed in the field and the mustard seed, though small, which grows into the large shrub. The farmer did his part – he sowed the seed. Things were now beyond his control. The one thing he wanted to see happen, namely, the seed growing, he couldn’t do anything about it.
Though the mustard seed is a tiny seed but when it grows, it grows into a large shrub. So as followers of Christ we should always learn to grow in patience, humility and hope. These are not easy virtues. Yet life calls for these virtues.
This parable is also a reminder to us as we endure this painful pandemic that we should all learn to persevere in our faith journey and believe that God will wipe away this painful situation from the face of the earth. So, I once again urge you to keep your faith strong and look after the needs of others. Amen
Readings and Hymns
Please click (please add the link) to download the readings and hymns for the 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B.
IONA College
This weekend, Sunday 13th June at 2.30pm Mass, 53 candidates from Iona Primary School will receive First Holy Communion in the Basilica of St. Patrick. Please keep all these candidates and their families and teachers in your prayers. May the reception of the Lord into their lives will bring them closer to Christ and his people.
Farewell to Fr Pierangelo Borali
Fr Pierangelo Borali who has been the Italian Chaplain at the Basilica of St. Patrick for nearly four and a half years will be farewelled on Sunday 18th July at 9.30am Italian Mass. He is appointed to one of their communities in Sri Lanka. Please join us on Sunday 18 July after the Italian Mass for a farewell morning tea. Please RSVP the parish office on 9335 2268.
Mass Intentions
Please click here (Please add the link) for the Mass Intentions of the week (from 13th June to 19th June 2021).
To Book your Mass Intentions please contact the Parish office on 9335 2268 (Monday to Friday from 9am to 3pm)
The Planned Giving Programme
The planned giving programme is an important part of the Parish as it allows us to maintain all aspects of the Basilica, Presbytery and Parish Administration Centre.
To keep the Parish viable, we must maintain a target of 95% and above each week. Last week’s giving was 50%
Please consider joining the Planned Giving Programme. If you are not already a member, for more information contact the Parish Office. Thank you!
Have a wonderful weekend
God bless!
Fr John Sebastian
Parish Priest