Category: columns2011

Let’s place today’s Gospel reading (Matthew 18:15-20) within a wider context.  Read from Mt 18:1, which opens with the disciples asking Jesus: “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Everyone wants to be “top dog”. Jesus teaches them, and us, that unless we “change and become like little children” we “will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”Rather than being puffed up with our own sense of “importance”, we should be concerned about the least among us. Verses 5-10 contain some powerful words of advice about not leading others astray.

By Nadine Bushell, Member of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice

Whatever position the society assigns to us, our personality will have the greatest impact on our future

Many of us will never appear on the newspaper or be known to many outside of our circle of family, friends and work colleagues. However, many of us would make names for ourselves in our own circle. We are special to those around us, highly valued and prized and able to influence our world with our own special set of gifts, skills and intelligence.

Let us offer up our prayers for the youth who will be gathering in Madrid from August 16-21 to observe World Youth Day (WYD). The theme this year is: Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith (cf Col 2:7).

To revitalise Catholic Culture and Identity, we must help to build up the faith of our youths. This is an ongoing process and does not end at Confirmation. Our youths need to have the courage of their conviction, which will only be possible if they are grounded in their faith. I remember attending the launch of a book entitled: A Tree God planted – written by one of my friends in London. She said she experienced racism in the Catholic Church when she first arrived in London. Nevertheless, she prayed and kept going to Mass, Sunday after Sunday. She said: “I told them, I am like a tree God planted. I’m in and I’m not coming out!”