by Leela Ramdeen, Chair of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice
As a deer longs for running streams, so longs my soul for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, the God of life…(Psalm 42:1-2)
On behalf of CCSJ, I would like to congratulate Bishop Claude Berkley, who was ordained as Coadjutor Bishop of the Anglican Church in the Diocese of Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday, March 17 in the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity.
Bishop Berkley is reported as saying: “All I can say is try your best and God will do the rest.” This sums up his humility. Let us pray for him as he takes up his new duties.
I recall my work in the UK as a member of English ARC (Anglican/Roman Catholic Committee) which was established in 1968 and exists to promote relations between the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church in England. I must admit that membership on this Committee was challenging as I am no theologian.
Please remember in your prayers the thousands of students who will be writing the Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) Examination on Tuesday, March 29. Our aim should be to create conditions that will enable all our students to achieve their potential. This is usually a very stressful time for both parents and students. Parishioners please reach out to children in your community whom you know will be writing SEA exams and let them and their families know that they are in your prayers.
Parents, your children will need your support and prayers more than ever now. I remember when I was at Hugh Wooding Law School, one of my friends, who like me, was a mature student, drove his daughter to school to write her SEA exam. He sat outside the school in his car praying until she returned. Sadly, not all our children come from such supportive homes. So, during this Lenten season, as we work towards spiritual renewal and growth, let us remember the special love that Jesus had for children and give ourselves – our time, talent and treasure – to enrich the lives of our nation’s children.
Last week I was invited to speak about CCSJ’s work and Lent on Radio 101.7 (Heritage Radio). It is important that we as Catholics take every opportunity that comes our way to witness to our faith. “Air” time is costly, so when we are offered opportunities for free air time, let’s prepare ourselves and grasp these opportunities.
The Church has a long history of using the media. As Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, USA said: “The media has been crucial to the Church since the moment St Paul sent a letter. Paul changed the format of an epistle for what he needed to do.”
Take some time to read today’s Gospel (John 4:5-42) which tells the story of Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at the well. It is said to be the longest conversation in the Gospels. There are many messages in this Gospel reading. I offer Pope Benedict XVI’s reflection in his Lenten message:
“The question that Jesus puts to the Samaritan woman: “Give me a drink” (Jn 4: 7)…expresses the passion of God for every man and woman, and wishes to awaken in our hearts the desire for the gift of “a spring of water within, welling up for eternal life” (Jn 4: 14): this is the gift of the Holy Spirit, who transforms Christians into “true worshippers”, capable of praying to the Father “in spirit and truth” (Jn 4: 23). Only this water can extinguish our thirst for goodness, truth and beauty! Only this water, given to us by the Son, can irrigate the deserts of our restless and unsatisfied soul, until it “finds rest in God”, as per the famous words of St Augustine.” (He said: “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”)
Like the Samaritan woman, we are all spiritually thirsty. During Lent let us pray for the gift of Living Water. And remember, Jesus is the source of this Living Water. Please pray for members of CCSJ who will be on retreat one day this week – to listen to where the Spirit is leading us.
