Click here to see some of Bishop Michael Malone’s writings.

1997

January 1997
Pastoral Letter for Lent

No sooner have the echoes of the Christmas Liturgy died away than we are entering the holy season of Lent.

Just before Christmas we encountered John the Baptist, that austere man whose task it was to "prepare a way for the Lord" (Luke 3:4), although, strangely, he did not recognise Jesus at first: "I did not know him myself ..." (John 1:31).

It was not until the moment of Baptism that John recognised Christ: "I saw the Spirit come down on him like a dove from heaven and rest on him" (John 1:32). At that same moment a sudden voice from heaven declares: "This is my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on him" (Matthew 3:17).

Jesus Christ is revealed as "the light", "the Son", "the Beloved", one on whom God’s favour rests.

Seeking Jesus
Like John the Baptist, we too seek Jesus, particularly at special times such as Lent. Again, like John the Baptist, we might not recognise Jesus at first. Perhaps we look for him in the wrong places or perhaps we try to re-shape Jesus to suit our own expectations of him or perhaps, again, lawlessness and sin can blind us to the proper recognition of Christ.

Then again, a frantic search for Jesus may distract us so much that we fail to allow him to find us! St Mark’s Gospel describes it this way:

"Simon and his companions set out in search of him, and when they found him they said"
‘Everybody is looking for you.’
He answered: ‘Let us go elsewhere to the neighbouring country towns,
so that I can proclaim the message there too, because that is why I came.’" (Mark 1:36-39)

Life’s experiences show us that Jesus can be met in many ways. He never seems to impose himself on people, but as we are seeking him out he is also seeking us out. We are often surprised when an unexpected encounter with another person or an episode of pain or sickness, or simply a moment of quiet reflective prayer, suddenly jolts us into an awareness of the presence of Christ.

2000 the Great Jubilee
"Here are words you may trust," says St Paul, "words that merit full acceptance ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners’" (1 Tim 1:15). Pope John Paul has asked the world to prepare for the celebration of the 2000th Anniversary of the coming of Jesus Christ.

This preparation will be done over a three year period, commencing this year: 1997 is the Year of Jesus; 1998 will be the Year of the Holy Spirit; 1999 will be the Year of the Father.

The general theme for this year is: "Jesus Christ, the one Saviour of the world, yesterday, today and forever." We are invited to engage in prayerful and theological reflection on this theme so that we might deepen our knowledge of and increase our faith in Jesus Christ. Every parish and individual is encouraged to pursue this invitation to renewal.

Dubious Signs
Of concern these days is a curious preoccupation on the part of some to seek "divine revelations" in ways other than a deeper faith in Christ. I refer to those who seem more intent on bizarre "prophecies" or "apparitions" or "revelations" and their putting more credence in these than on Sacred Scripture itself and the pre-eminence of Jesus Christ, "the light", "the Son", "the Beloved".

If we look for so called, "divine revelations" in the wrong places we are in danger of being guilty of Jesus’ criticism: "Why does this generation demand a sign?" (Mark 8:12). "It is an evil and unfaithful generation asking for a sign, and the only sign it will be given is the sign of Jonah." (Matthew 16:4)

Lent
"The sign of Jonah" is, of course, a reference to Jesus’ Resurrection, the culmination of our journey through Lent.

Since Pope John Paul invites all of us to make 1997 a year to renew faith in Christ, what better time to begin than this holy season of Lent? The customary Lenten exercises of prayer, fasting and generous service of others will help focus our minds and hearts.

Project Compassion
May I, again, this Lent, urge your active support of Project Compassion. Your generous efforts last year lead to a 50% increase in the Diocesan total, realising $120,000. Essential funding was made available to projects in India, Tanzania, Cambodia and Papua New Guinea. Project Compassion has become an integral part of our Lenten observance in Australia and as such, it allows us to recognise Jesus Christ in the needy.

Conclusion
Wishing you every blessing in your Lenten endeavours

"... so that Christ may live in your hearts through faith, and then, planted in love and built on love, with all God’s holy people you will have the strength to grasp the breadth and the length, the height and the depth; so that, knowing the love of Christ, which is beyond knowledge, you may be filled with the utter fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:17-19)

With love,

Most Reverend Michael Malone
Bishop of Maitland-Newcastle

Back to Writings Index Page