This Sunday’s Gospel is from the book of Mark, where Jesus heals a deaf man. 

Nick Brodie's reflections on this Gospel remind us that Pope Francis drew our attention to an interesting aspect of today’s Gospel passage. ‘The first thing Jesus does,’ the Pope notes, ‘is take the man far from the crowd.’

The Pope suggests that in doing so, Jesus ‘doesn’t want to publicise this deed he intends to carry out.’ Jesus avoids turning the incident into a self-promotion exercise. His focus remains on the man concerned.

On another occasion, the Pope says that this incident shows that Jesus ‘does not want to impress people; He is not seeking popularity or success but wishes only to do good to people. With this attitude, He teaches us that good is to be done without clamour, without ostentation.’

‘The lesson we can take from this episode,’ the Pope affirms, ‘is that God is not closed in on himself, but instead he opens himself and places himself in communication with humanity.’

With that in mind, we can reflect on what it means. ‘Jesus revealed to us the secret of a miracle that we too can imitate,’ the Pope suggests. By ‘becoming protagonists of “Ephphatha”,’ we can be the ones who open the world to Jesus. We should always be conscious of the needs of others. In doing so, we might open their hearts and minds to Jesus.

Important Reminders and Upcoming Dates:

Eucharist Retreat Day

Our Year 5 students had a wonderful time at their Eucharist retreat day! It was a day filled with reflection and learning as they explored their faith and deepened their understanding of the Eucharist. A big thank you to everyone who helped make this retreat a memorable experience for our students!  

First Eucharist Masses

We are looking forward to celebrating the First Eucharist with most students on the weekend of September 14th and 15th. We invite all members of our school community to join us in celebrating this significant milestone.

First Reconciliation - Year 4

The Sacrament of Reconciliation will occur in Term 4. If you would like more information about this Sacrament, you can contact the Sacramental Coordinator at the parish office directly. 

Email:  tuggeranongsouth.sacraments@cg.org.au 

Susan Strickland 

Religious Education Coordinator (Acting)