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Showing posts from July, 2021

Remembering Rev. Canon. John & Mrs Kamala Isaac

Life is God's gift to this world. First to a family, then to a community and then to the world. Today we are gathered as family, friends and community to remember, celebrate and give thanks to God who gives life. Today we remember with gratitude and thank God for lives of Rev. Canon John Isaac & Mrs. Kamala Isaac and their service. The two of them were God's gift to the church, the Diocese of Kurunegala and to Mowbray College respectively. It is 25 years but it is as though it was just yesterday. That’s what memories do, they keep people living in our hearts long, long after they have returned to their maker. Very specially when they are good people, when they impact our lives, when they leave their mark, in people's lives, in communities and in what they have been doing. That is because they were true and committed to their calling and vocation. Fr. John and Mrs. Isaac, or to me John Isaac uncle and aunty kamala, never disappointed the one who called them. Fr. John...

The nature of ordained ministry - "The liturgical functions of a priest" (From the heard, the seen, the smelled, the shared, the experienced, the acted)

From the heard, the seen, the smelled, the shared, and discussed and the acted. This is our formation or ongoing formation in liturgy and ordained ministry. Formation starts at different points for different people, but there is no end. Formation is ongoing – it breaks and makes, learns and unlearns, equips and reequips, and reinvents you. With adequate formation a presbyter is equipped to celebrate the liturgy as the Presider. If not interested in formation, then the presbyter become a meagre reader of the liturgy F#1     Formation For the purpose of this theme our focus will be on the liturgy of the Eucharist.   Liturgy The work of people Liturgy is a communal activity. A celebration An expression of faith A response of God’s people to live a holy life.   What is common to all these responses is " people" .   They are the "people of God".   Who are the people of God? The laity includes children - youth, adults. Men and...

Consequences of boldly declaring the Truth

Amos 7:7 - 15 /  Psalm 85:8 - 13 /  Ephesians 1:3 - 14 /  Mark 6:14 - 29 God most high, you have given us in the Church a new Commandment through your only Begotten that love fulfills the law. May we love you with all our heart, all our soul, all our strength, and may we love our neighbour as ourselves and persevere in the truth through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen. Truth is a virtue that is invaluable. It cannot be purchased. It is earned over a period of time, through a person’s character, behaviour and actions. When fear for truth is replaced by dishonesty, deceit and lies, truth is lost. Once lost it is hard to earn back.   Today’s Sri Lanka presents an environment where truth is lost. It has led to confusion, the abuse of people's rights, discrimination, and brings into question the functions of those who have been tasked to lead and govern us, the law enforcing officers and most often the judiciary too. But In truth we don’t have to look far, but right within...