...and some more Cathedral photos, thanks to Bernard Duncan of St. Joseph's Parish Darfield.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Cathedral Photos
This blog automatically keeps the numbers of visitors, and records the numbers visiting each individual blog entry. Since the blog began mid last year, the entry that has received the most visitors is the Cathedral photos after the earthquake.
Here are some more photos taken by parishioner Peter Fleming.
Our Cathedral building might be struggling. But God is alive and present.
As we hear in the readings this Fifth Sunday of Lent, God has the power to turn death into life.
The Pope offered a few comments on the commemoration of the dedication of his own Cathedral (St. John Lateran). On this feast in 2008 Pope Benedict said:
"God desires to build himself a spiritual temple in the world, a community that adores him in spirit and truth (cf. Jn 4: 23-24). But this occasion reminds us also of the importance of the concrete buildings in which the community gathers together to celebrate God's praises. Every community therefore has the duty to carefully guard their holy structures, which constitute a precious religious and historical patrimony. For this we invoke the intercession of Mary Most Holy, so that she might help us to become, like her, a "house of God", living temple of his love".
Yes, the concrete is important, but more important that we become, like Mary the Mother of God, a "house of God, living temple of his love".
Thursday, April 7, 2011
soul food
Tonight I was happy to spend time with a dozen young, working adults who gather each week to reflect, pray and chat together.
We reflected together about "spiritual hunger and the human person".
It was a privilege to be with the group and to consider again the gift of every human life: uniquely "in the image of God". We do not have to create ourselves. We cannot. Every human person, from the moment of conception, is a wonder - full creation of God.
And the hunger we feel is not a design flaw in our humanity. Instead we are created with this hunger. We try to satisfy this deep yearning with anything that offers even some little promise. But this desire of the soul can only be satisfied by God.
Every human person is a desire for God. As Augustine said in the sixth century, ' you have made us for yourself O God, and our hearts are restless, until they rest in you.'
Every Thursday evening at Christ the King (6.30pm) this group of young adults meets.
For further information email them on Soulfood Christchurch soulfoodchristchurch@gmail.com
i don't understand
There are many things I do not understand. These things cause me to wonder with curiosity and to ponder with awe.
A friend sent me this clip this morning. Stephen was thought to be "special needs" in his early life. Now we see that he has an extraordinary gift.
Hopefully watching this clip will help many parents to relax a little more about their children. Many of those who do well in their school years, fall apart once they leave the security of the programmed childhood environments. Many others who struggle and fail all the way through school, later become the most outstanding citizens.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Sunday; rest and reflection
Yesterday I mentioned that several people have sent me images of our Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in recent weeks. I have shared a number of these images on this blog.
While browsing youtube today I found a couple of inspiring clips. The first records a visit to the Cathedral (pre-earthquake). The video is not of the best quality, and the commentary is in Japanese. But someone has prepared it with a real affection for the Cathedral.
After watching the clip, I checked out some other Cathedral youtube references and found this uplifting reminder of the purpose of Sunday worship. Hubert Parry composed this magnificent anthem for the coronation of Edward VII.
"I was glad when they said unto me
let us go unto the house of the Lord..."
Psalm 122
Search Results
For several years now I have resisted the invitations of many people to join them as "friends" on Facebook.
Last night I could no longer resist the invitations. I gave in.
If you are on Facebook and would like to join me,
I am at www.facebook.com/johnchchnz
Having issued this online invitation, my preference remains LIVE company, conversation, food and friendship!
Saturday, April 2, 2011
water, light, life
I am taking a few days break this week. It is Friday morning and I am sitting outdoors in a rural setting overlooking fields looking towards hills. There are no city noises. The earth is stable. The neighbours have cleared their section and are burning grass. (No, not that kind). The cattle are lowing in the paddock next door. Sounds like a poem.
I have the text of this Sunday’s Gospel open beside me. “The Year A” Gospels of the three central Sundays of the Season of Lent give a clear message about the purpose of Lent and the promise of Easter.
Last Sunday we heard the account of Jesus with the Samaritan woman at the well. She had come seeking water to quench her thirst. Jesus was thirsty too. But within moments they were chatting together about the thirst that is much greater and can never be satisfied by H2O. This woman encounters the divine and the deepest desire of her life has been fulfilled. This life is poured over us in the waters of baptism.
Next Sunday Jesus raises his friend Lazarus from death. In Jesus the power of God works to overcome the reality of death. With Jesus, life overcomes death.
Today Jesus meets the man born blind. Jesus gives him sight. He was blind but now he can see.
Jesus: living water, light of the world, and true life.
Pope Benedict preaching on this Sunday three years ago, reflected on the nature of blindness. He comments that the greatest blindness of all is the blindness a person might have to their own need for healing.
“To the blind man whom he healed Jesus reveals that he has come into the world for judgment, to separate the blind who can be healed from those who do not allow themselves to be healed because they presume that they are healthy. The tendency in humans to construct an ideological system of security is strong: Even religion itself can become an element in this system, as can atheism, or secularism; but in constructing this system, one becomes blind to their own egoism.
Today’s first reading gives us an insight into the true gift of sight: the ability to see with divine vision:
“Not as people see does God see,
because people see the appearance but the LORD looks into the heart.”
In these few days of vacation I have realized how easy it is to get so caught up in the demands and pressures of daily routine, that we lose sight of that which is most essential. Regular time for rest and recreation (ie: re-creation), gives Jesus an opportunity to restore in us right vision that we might see as we were created to see, that is, with the eyes of God.
In his message for Lent 2011 Pope Benedict comments further:
…the blind man represents Christ as light of the world. The Gospel challenges us to each of us: “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”. “I believe, Lord” (Jn 9, 35. 38), said with joy the blind from birth, giving voice to every believer. The miracle of healing is the sign of Christ, along with vision, want to open our inner eye, that our faith is deepening and we recognize him as our only Saviour. He illuminates all darkness in life and leads us to live as “children of light.”
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