Newsletter - 8 March
The Thirst Within Us
Lent is a moment of conversion to purify and strengthen our faith to go back to God and to live according to Him. As human beings we are creatures of needs and desires which affect and orient our life. We may think that God ignores our needs and cannot fulfill our desires because we do not see his actions when we ask him to accomplish a special demand.
We are thirsty for comfort, love, peace, justice, respect, success, good health, appreciation and praise. We look for a stable life, stable job, knowledge, power, controlling the world, people and our future. We are thirsty for basic needs for life, truth, dignity, authenticity and to be understood. We desire silence, spirituality, freedom, fraternity, satisfaction, security and wisdom. We look for responses to our worries and questions… We may add on this non-exhaustive list.
We try to fulfill our desires. We are tempted to fulfill them in any way possible and we may seek many options to answer our questions and to calm our anxieties today: searching information, connection to social media and communities, following influencers, even Artificial Intelligence and different prayers... Sometime this will to fulfill our desires pushes us to make us conformed to life styles built on lies and illusions.
Saint Augustin said: “Lord you have made us for you and our life (our soul) has not rest until it finds our rest in you”, and Jesus invites us to drink his water saying: “Whoever takes the water I give him will never be in need of drink again” Jn 4:14.
The Lord Jesus Christ, knows our desires because he shares with us humanity. He affects our desires when we open ourselves to him, when we choose the truth, honesty and sincerity with ourselves. We drink the water of Christ as we listen to him and are not afraid to give up our securities, or selfish opinions to enter the journey of faith. Believing in the love of Jesus, who passed thought his passion and his resurrection, is a mystery which purify us. The Love of Jesus transforms our desires and gives us the thirst to long for him. Following Jesus Christ becomes a source of energy and motivation to fulfil our desires according to his will .“The water I give you will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” Jn 4:14
Fr Georges Scholastique
Focus of the week
Lenten Faith Sharing Course: We Dare to Ask
This Lent, all parishioners are warmly invited to join We Dare to Ask—a five week journey exploring our Baptismal Vocation. Each session includes scripture, prayer, art, and a reflection to help us prepare to renew our Baptismal promises at Easter.
Whether your baptism feels like a distant memory, a recent family celebration, or something you are preparing for now, this course offers a way to deepen your faith and walk more closely with Christ.
Come and take time this Lent to reflect, share, and grow in the joy of the life we are called to live as baptised people of God.
We will meet on Tuesdays 8.00 – 9.15pm in the church.
This week we will reflect and pray to Jesus, as the bridge of mercy.
Notices of the Week
Download the newsletter to check out the notices of the week