HOMILY: Ashley Anne-Maree Montabello was a kind person. Whenever we met – for lunch or coffee at Barn Doors Café on Redfern Street, with carers from St Vincent de Paul, at the Uniting Church in Raglan Street, in Phillip Street – she would greet me as a friend, with affection, humour, respect. And I will never forget it.
HOMILY: Leigh knew hardship … and Leigh loved his neighbour, which, according to Jesus, means he loved God – he loved with the faithfulness of God who says: “I will cover you with my pinions; under my wings you will take refuge; my faithfulness will shield you” (Psalm 91:4). Leigh loved with the faithfulness of God who says: “Because you’re mine, I walk the line.”
HOMILY: Angels move between heavenly and earthly realms – bringing grace and wisdom; blessing humble earthlings, human and otherkind. This is the vision and faith of Margaret Vazey.
HOMILY: Nehumi lived and laboured for the ones he loved. I’m in awe of the story – the leaps of faith, the open doors, the guiding hands, commitments honoured, elders remembered – the weight of responsibility he regarded a blessing – the grandchildren lifted high.
HOMILY: As we heard in the liturgy last week, Jesus stands and reads from Isaiah 61, omitting a reference to divine vengeance (Isa. 61:2b) and adding a phrase to do with “release” (from Isa. 58:6; see also Lev. 25:10). Jesus reads deeply/creatively.
HOMILY: Thirteenth-century saints Francis and Clare of Assisi impress us still. There are aspects of their lives we might recall with the help of key words: conversion; rebuilding; haircutting; song-writing and letter-writing; peace-making; founding; touching and healing; preaching; stigmata; Nativity; Stations of the Cross.
