This Sunday’s Gospel reading is full of realism — a mixture of good news and bad news.

Jesus warns his disciples that they will encounter dangers on all sides — that’s the bad news . . . .

However he promises them supernatural and invincible help — which has to be good news.

We, dear reader — called to be Christ’s disciples today — the message applies to us, too.

* * *

From John’s gospel:

“But when the Holy Ghost, the Paraclete, comes, whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will be my witness. And you too will be witnesses . . . .

They will expel you from the synagogues: yes, the hour is coming that whoever kills you will think that he does God a service.

These things I tell you, so that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them.”

* * *

If you are trying to live as a follower of Christ, you will have experienced persecution of some kind or other already.

If not, you soon will.

Our greatest Australian, BLESSED MARY MACKILLOP, certainly was not immune from persecutions.

After one unfortunate incident involving an unsympathetic bishop, she wrote:

“We have had much sorrow and are still suffering its effects, but sorrow or trial lovingly submitted to does not prevent our being happy — it rather purifies the happiness.”

* * *

The Christian religion is a religion of joy. Think about these words written by Isaac Watts:

“Joy to the world: the Saviour reigns.

Let men their songs employ.

While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains

repeat the sounding joy . . . .

“He rules the world with truth and grace.

And makes the nations prove

the glories of his righteousness

and the wonders of his love.”

Yes, God rules the world. Whatever happens, God is in charge.

However bad it seems, there is something there that he is trying to teach you.

Part of that lesson will be for you to see his love in everything.

American songwriter, John Fogerty, has always been respected for the thoughtful lyrics to many of his songs.

He has not been particularly thought of as a writer of spiritual compositions.

One of his songs, however, is full of joy, optimism and a kind of a wistful faith — a refreshing change from a lot of the morbid stuff we mostly hear on the airwaves.

In “Don’t you wish it was true”, JF sings about how, “I dreamed I walked in heaven just the other night. There was so much beauty, so much light”.

* * *

He goes on about an angel taking his hand and saying how it might be if a day came when “tomorrow everybody was your friend. Anyone could take you in, no matter what or where you’ve been”.

And how “the worlds gonna change and it’s starting today  . . . no more armies, no more hate . . . There’ll be singing and laughter, sweet harmony . . . everybody under the sun was happy just living as one. No borders or battles to be won. . .  if tomorrow everybody was your friend, happiness would never end. Lord, don’t you wish it was true. What a beautiful day!”

* * *

The whole thing is beautiful in a simple way.

Why isn’t it true?

Why are people not as one, living in harmony?

What would it take to make it true?

Well, I can’t change the world. You can’t change the world. Yet as the song says it could start today.  It will have to start with you and me changing, not so much the world, as with changing ourselves.

Or, to be more accurate, letting God change us.

* * *

Mary MacKillop wrote to her mother about the idea of ordinary people being saints.

She didn’t consider it a ludicrous or absurd idea.

She knew her own Mum, in a quiet, humble fashion, to be something of a saint.

The words that Blessed Mary wrote were as follows: “Dear Mamma, do you try now in real earnest to be a saint? You may smile at my question . . . . I used to think it the height of presumption to desire such a thing but have been taught that such diffidence is not humility but a defect that really disappoints the love of God for our souls.”

* * *

So there you are. God wants to change the world by making ordinary people — more or less nobodies, like you and me — into saints, so that the “beautiful day” may come.

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name, thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven . . . .

Yes, may that day come soon.

Let us, you and me, try to let it come in our own lives and in our families.

A part-time model is to be caned under Islamic law for drinking beer in a nightclub in Malaysia.

Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno will receive six lashes with a “light” rattan cane. (AAP, 19/8/2009)

The prosecutor said, “This is a good punishment because under Islamic law a person who drinks commits a serious offence.”

Human rights activists are very hostile but, interestingly, Kartika herself is not. She has simply asked that the caning be done soon so that she can get back to her family.

* * *

There is something to be said for corporal punishments like flogging, despite the outcry that such a suggestion might provoke.

Physical punishment is a great equaliser.

A fine can be crippling to the poor, yet a joke to the rich, who pay it out of their petty cash,  and for whom it is no punishment at all.

* * *

One could also argue for punishment of some kind, not just for models who drink in bars, but for all models.

Models are, in general, paid for exposing themselves to a greater or lesser extent.

This is bad for public morals.

Also, insofar as they promote fashions in clothing etc., models reinforce a worldly and materialistic set of values regarding what people should crave for and spend their money on.

* * *

When Mother Mary MacKillop started a youth group in Adelaide , she made it one of the requirements that members of the group “must dress with simplicity, modesty and neatness.”  

Remember the words of Saint Paul in the Bible, “I wish women to be decently dressed, adorning themselves with modesty.”

Pope Pius XI said, “A dress cannot be called decent which is cut deeper than two fingers breadth under the pit of the throat; which does not cover the arms at least to the elbows; and which scarcely reaches beyond the knees.”

Come off it, you might say, what about changing fashions?

Another previous Pope dealt with the question of fashions in just six words, “There is always an absolute standard.”

Beautiful words. Beautiful music. Beautiful icons. It all makes God seem very real.

It makes you want to be a better person.

If you pray this prayer sincerely, you will become a better person.

The change will be unmistakeable.

When the disciples of Jesus asked him, “Teach us how to pray,” these are the words he gave them.

Listen to them:

“Our Father, who art in Heaven,

hallowed by Thy name.

Thy Kingdom come.

Thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Amen.”

Here (in my opinion) is something beautiful.

Without a confident knowledge of any language except English, one cannot follow the words.

But I am assured that they are the Beatitudes – words of Jesus Christ as found in Saint Matthew’s gospel (chapter 5).

“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land.

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill.

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called children of God.

Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice’s sake: for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.”

Blessed are you when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all that is evil against you, untruly, for my sake: be glad and rejoice, for your reward is very great in heaven. For so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

The music is beautiful – as also are the words.

As is very appropriate, considering that they are the words of God himself.