Parish Bulletin

PARISH NEWS

If You Were Accused

A colleague of mine years ago had a poster above her desk which read, “If you were accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” Good question!

For many “new Catholics” or “neophytes” across our diocese and the world, our recent Easter Vigil was the culmination of a lengthy period of discernment about joining the Catholic community. Quite counter-culturally, these people have put their hands up and proclaimed, “I want to be a Catholic!” “Wow!” is my response, “Come on in!” Many (including neophytes in our local parishes) report that they have been inspired by Catholic Christians they have encountered in their daily lives. And we welcome them, celebrating too our separated Christian brothers and sisters, longing for the day when we will all be completely one. That is what this gospel is all about! (John 17: 20-26)

John’s gospel depicts Jesus asking the Father that his followers “may become completely one so that the world may know that you have sent me …” (Jn 17:23) This is a sobering thought for Christians – that our behaviour, our example of unity or disunity, reflects directly on howthe world sees Jesus.

If those we work and school and play with don’t see the face of Christ in us, then we have to question our Christianity. If we are harping and carping and divisive within ourselves and in our relationship with other Christians we are a poor example. There are very real differences and divisions amongst us, but if we allow these to mask the many and much greater things that unite us we do a disservice to Christianity.

Hopefully for each of us individually and for all of us collectively there is enough evidence to convict us of being Christians.

Deacon Mark Kelly