GOSPEL:  Mark 1:12-15
And at once the Spirit drove him into the desert and he remained there for forty days, and was put to the test by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels looked after him. After John had been arrested, Jesus went into Galilee. There he proclaimed the gospel from God saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the gospel.' 

REFLECTION
This week's Gospel is only a few lines long. It is only 4 verses from the 1st Chapter of Mark’s Gospel. The Gospel has a stark beginning. Mark writes that Jesus was driven into the desert by the Spirit. As we know, Jesus stayed in the desert for 40 days. What was that time like for Jesus? Was it a spiritually dry time? Or was there a clear sense of God’s presence to Jesus? It had to have been an extremely ascetical experience. Jesus was there alone with wild animals! His only consolation was being ministered to by angels!

Were these days also comforting for Jesus? Did he have a clear sense of God’s presence with him? Or was this time in this arid wasteland a spiritually dry or disturbing time? Mark tells us that there were wild beasts in this territory. Was Jesus concerned for his safety?

Jesus remained in the desert alone for 40 days. Can you imagine being alone in the desert for 40 days? The heat, the dryness, the sun beating down on you, having no one to talk to or simply be present to you. Most of us will never spend an extended period by ourselves in the desert. That is a very special call!

However, I would guess that at some point in our lives, each of us have had an experience of the “desert.” It might have followed a significant loss or a serious illness. It may have been the loss of a loved one, our job, our hearing, eyesight, loss of income or of our ability to work.

Take a moment and reflect on that time. What was your reaction to your loss? Anger, depression, isolating, numbing, running? How did you experience God during that time? Was God close to you or did God feel far, far away?

Jesus understands our deserts. Jesus spent time in his own personal desert for 40 days. These days were not easy for him. Jesus was tempted by Satan. He was surrounded at times by wild beasts. His consolation was the angels coming and ministering to him!

After this experience, Jesus went to Galilee. As he travelled through Galilee, He proclaimed the Gospel. His main theme was repentance. Daily he told people that the “kingdom was at hand.”

Jesus is telling us this same message today! Do we believe that the “kingdom is at hand?” We have heard this prophecy for years and yet the kingdom has not come. Yet one day, it will come. We do not know the day nor the hour. Will we be ready? Will we look forward to seeing God face to face? Today may be the day! Be alert! Stay awake! Be prepared! Our God is coming to us!  (Sr Kristine Anne Harpenau)

200 YEARS OF CATHOLIC EDUCATION IN AUSTRALIA
To celebrate 200 Years of Catholic Education in Australia, Lachlan and Charlotte joined Mr Green and myself at a special mass today at St Christopher's Cathedral in Manuka. The mass was a wonderful celebration of all that Catholic Education has achieved and we at Mount Carmel are proud to have been a part of that over the past 146 years.

PROJECT COMPASSION: JAMILA'S STORY
JAMILA FROM BANGLADESH

Twenty-two-year-old, Jamila, is a single mother, living in the world’s largest refugee camp in in Bangladesh. A Rohingya woman, she fled the armed conflict in Myanmar’s Rakhine State to save herself, her elderly mother and eight-month-old baby daughter. Having been abandoned by her husband, she faced life in the camp on her own.

Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya people, have crossed into Bangladesh since August 2017. Over 1.3 million people remain in the densely populated camps, in desperate need of humanitarian assistance.

Thanks to the generosity of Caritas Australia’s supporters and through our partnership with Caritas Bangladesh, Jamila had access to emergency food and shelter. Then, as her stay in the camp stretched on, Jamila joined the Women Friendly Spaces project where she received counselling and emotional support. She learnt about health and hygiene, participated in a parenting program and learnt sewing skills, to help her to earn an income.

Jamila now has a sense of community around her and feels less alone and more supported - and she is able to ‘Be More’ to her family.

“I want to offer my thankful greetings to those who are kindly thinking of us from overseas”, Jamila says. “Thank you, and thanks Caritas Australia.”

Please remember to send in your donations for Project Compassion and help make the world a fairer place for all. Let us be more!

God Bless,
Warren Ziebowski
Religious Education Coordinator