6th Sunday in Ordinary Time

A Word from the Parish Priest

On the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the Word of God invited us to look beyond outward actions and reflect on the attitudes of the heart. The Sermon on the Mount reminded us that true faith begins with inner conversion and a renewed heart. During the Mass, we joyfully celebrated the Renewal of Marriage Vows, praying for all couples and families, especially as we marked Valentine’s Day, asking that love may be deepened and hearts kept open to grace.

Parish Life and Gatherings
Our recent parish activities reflected a vibrant and welcoming community. The first Spiritual Evening, led by Celia on the theme Women in the Bible, was joyful, prayerful, and deeply enriching. The 60+ Nutrition Session, guided by Margaret, was warmly received, with excellent participation and meaningful discussion focused on well-being and healthy living.

A Core Committee Meeting was also held with all members present, marked by openness, unity, and a strong sense of shared purpose. A new information booklet has been prepared to keep parishioners informed as we move forward together.

Looking Ahead

• Ash Wednesday – Wednesday, 18 February 2026
  Masses at 10.00 am and 7.00 pm, marking the beginning of Lent, a sacred season of prayer, fasting, and repentance.
• Bible Study – Friday, 20 February at 8.00 pm
  (After evening Mass and the Way of the Cross during Lent)
• Coffee & Conversation with the Mayor – Monday, 16 February, 1.00–3.00 pm
  At St John’s Church Hall, Kingston Vale, promoting community connection and resilience.

We give thanks for all who serve generously and help make our parish a place of welcome, faith, and shared journey. This update is drawn from the parish newsletter for Sunday, 15 February 2026

Homily – From Action to Attitude – Healing What Lies Beneath

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Today we stand at the very heart of the Gospel — the Sermon on the Mount.
Jesus sits on the mountain and speaks, not as one offering opinions, but as one who gives direction for life itself. This is not advice; it is a mandate for the human heart.

These chapters have shaped saints, stirred thinkers, and even inspired people beyond Christianity. Why? Because here Jesus speaks wisdom that is pure, uncompromised, and timeless — wisdom that reaches the deepest layers of the human person.

And today, Jesus takes us deeper still.

He moves us
from action to attitude,
from behaviour to intention,
from what is visible to what is hidden.

Let me place this before you with an image.

When the Titanic was built, it was hailed as unsinkable — a monument to human confidence, even pride. Some boasted, “Not even God can sink this ship.” And yet, on its very first journey, it went down.

It was not destroyed by a storm.
It was not a visible mountain of rock.
It was an iceberg.

What the crew saw above the water looked small, almost harmless. But what they did not see was what lay beneath. Nearly ninety percent of an iceberg is hidden under the surface — massive, solid, destructive. The Titanic did not collide with what was visible. It struck what was hidden.

That is exactly what Jesus is addressing today.

So often, what surfaces in our lives — a harsh word, an argument, a moment of anger, a fracture in a relationship — is only the tip of the iceberg. Beneath it may lie resentment, pride, unhealed wounds, silent bitterness, or thoughts we have allowed to grow unnoticed over time.

Outwardly, everything may appear:
religious,
correct,
orderly.

But inwardly, something else may be at work.

That is why Jesus says today that murder does not begin with the act. It begins in the heart — with anger, contempt, and broken relationships. “Everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgement” (Gospel of Matthew 5:22).

Jesus does not only want to correct the surface. He goes beneath the waterline. He wants to heal what is hidden — because when the heart is healed, actions naturally change.

And this is where today becomes very real for us, especially as we celebrate the renewal of marriage vows.

In family life too, conflicts often appear as the tip of an iceberg — a disagreement, frustration, silence, irritation. But underneath may be unspoken pain, unmet expectations, the quiet belief that “I am right” or “I hold the truth, so I need not speak.”

But relationships do not grow by silence. They grow by honest, loving communication.

The first covenant God established with humanity was not a law — it was marriage. “It is not good that the man should be alone” (Book of Genesis 2:18). And when man and woman were united, Scripture tells us: “The two shall become one flesh” (Book of Genesis 2:24).

Dear couples, in your marriage, you continue that sacred work of creation. Through your love, patience, forgiveness, and daily choices, God’s creative act continues in the world.

And so today, as you renew your vows, this Gospel gently invites you:
do not fear addressing what lies beneath the surface.
Do not settle for managing appearances.
Do not allow hidden icebergs to damage a beautiful journey.

Speak. Listen. Heal. Navigate together.

When the iceberg beneath the surface is healed, the visible tip loses its power to destroy.

That is the conversion Jesus desires.
That is the wisdom He offers.
That is the grace we pray for today.

Amen.