Dear brothers and sisters,

Word of God for the week 

She wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them at the inn. (Luke 2:7)

Q&A: If God became human, how much of Jesus is God, and how much is man?

From his very first moment in Mary’s womb as a miniscule human being, Jesus was both 100% God and at the same time 100% human.  Jesus is the second person of the Trinity: he is the Divine Son of the Father, and has been the Divine Son of the Father for all eternity. With the Father and the Holy Spirit he created the world, and creates every human soul.  As a baby he was fully God: baby Jesus is God.  He is also fully human.  He is a real human being, he has a real human mum, he was a real human baby, with all the normal human problems human babies have, except sin.  This is why he is such a good saviour: he is God, so he can really save us, and he is fully human, one of us, so he can really save us. 

A great way to live Christmas

As it has for centuries, Christmas goes for twelve days, till Epiphany – and then continues until the feast of the Baptism of the Lord.  Traditionally all our cribs stay up at least till then, even up to Candlemas – the feast of the presentation of Jesus in the temple on the 2 February. One simple and transformative way of living these days is in the old tradition of cribbing – visiting a different church each day to pray before the crib. It is something I have personally found very helpful in staying with Jesus in these days, and I encourage you to do the same.

Adoration after daily mass will continue all through January and 2024

Given the raging success of adoration after daily mass during Advent, it will now become a permanent part of our daily program in the parish, from 7:15 to 8:45am every day from Tuesday to Friday.  Many of our school students and parents have been popping in to present their day to Jesus for 2 minutes or 20 minutes.  There are mums and nannas who come with their small children to pray.  And there are other parishioners who stay the whole hour and a half after mass.  Come to adoration, and experience how this daily dose of God and his goodness consoles yourself, warms your heart, brings you joy and gives you peace!

Yours in Our Lord,

J+