Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Catholic 757 : Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C - Sunday, September 29, 2019

Homily Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C   - Sunday, September 29, 2019

READINGS:     

Amos 6:1, 4-7;  

Psalm: "Praise the Lord, my soul!"

1 Tim 6:11-16;   

Alleluia, alleluia! Jesus Christ was rich but he became poor. To make you rich out of his poverty.

Lk 16:19-31
shutterstock_313796105.jpg
Shutterstock licensed photo ID: 313796105 DUBLIN, IRELAND - AUGUST 16, 2015: Homeless Jesus statue on August 16, 2015 near Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
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Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C   - Sunday, September 29, 2019 by clicking this link here:   https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/26c-faith-hope-and-love-ep-179/s-MBrrD  (EPISODE: 179)
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Prologue:  This weekend, Gods word emphasises the importance of empathy and compassion. --  particularly, having the eyes of compassion, which are not blind to the suffering of others around us.  The readings give a "big serve" to all who enjoy every kind of luxury but who are quite ignorant of people in extreme need (for even the basic necessities) - - People who are "hidden in plain sight."  The lord wants everyone to know that the sick, the poor, the outcast, are very dear to him.  They are cherished children, as dear to God as the most lofty person on earth.  The Lord desperately wants us to see and recognise our fellow brothers and sisters and to respond to them as we would a brother or sister in need.  Their welfare is our welfare, since we belong to the same family of God.   This is faith, hope and love. 
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The Parable in this weekend's Gospel is often called The Story of "Lazarus and "Divés".  These are supposedly the names of the poor man, who certainly is called Lazarus, and the rich man, who is actually not named - and I think he is deliberately not given a name in this parable.
 
The word "Divés" is a Latin word which translates as "Rich". So, it is actually not a name, but rather a description.
 
In many Biblical stories, and in the culture of the time, the importance of the person is often shown by the fact that they are given a "name". To know the name of someone is to know and understand the importance of that person.
 
It is an error, then when commentators attempt to give a name to the rich man, when it is clearly not intended in the parable. This story is deliberately turning the usual conventions on their head. Usually, the rich and influential person is regarded as so important that they must have a name in the drama, whilst the unimportant, insignificant character of the poor person remains nameless, as well as being without food, shelter or supplies. However, Our Lord's parable makes it quite clear that the most important person in this story is Lazarus! The whole point of the story is to overturn the usual expectations of status and importance. Tragically, this point is also lost on the rich man who, even in the torment of Hades, still misses the point badly.
 
He ignorantly requests Abraham to command Lazarus to cross over to Hades to serve him with a little taste of water. However, his request is rightly denied. Lazarus is poor no longer! he is no longer unseen and without value in the eyes of those around him. He is no longer at the beck and call of the powerful and influential who would only have noticed him if he were of some practical use to them at the time – (and if he was of no use to them, he would be quite invisible to them).
 
As St. Basil said in one of his homilies on this parable, "Tell us the reason why you have received your possessions. Is it so that God may be unjust? God who unequally distributes those goods necessary to life? Why are you rich and another poor? To the hungry belongs the spare bread that you keep. To the naked, the cloak you keep tucked away. You commit as many injustices as there are people to whom you could give."
 
One of the great failings of the rich man in this parable is that he is ignorant and apathetic to the poverty and need of people around him; -- people who turn out to be his brother, and his sister in God's Kingdom. … SO, these needy people are co-heirs to the Kingdom which this uncaring man will never inherit….
 
This parable invites us to change our way of seeing things. The gospel tells us in countless ways that the last will be first. Our Lord calls upon us to truly build up a world based upon true gospel values….. a world and a Kingdom of God which is filled with many people like Lazarus, who are despised now by those who, according to the parable, do not deserve to have a name.
 
The parable leaves no room for doubt. The unnamed rich man tries to say he had no idea about the plight of the poor. However, "Father Abraham" will have none of this! He dismisses this categorically, saying "you have the word of God to listen to." The words and teachings of the Scriptures are more than enough to guide us in how we should live.
 
In spite of the clarity of the gospel message, we admit that we too can look for excuses or ask for more obvious signs before we respond to the blatant demands of justice and compassion.  The priorities of the gospel are really quite plain enough, without any further embellishment…. we only have to pay attention.-  to look, and listen and feel....
 
Those who ignore the poor are rejected by the Lord. Saint Paul gives us the reason for such a behaviour: "the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil." Greed leads us to place our trust in money, when all true power rightly comes only from God. This is why Paul calls it 'idolatry.' And the poor are victims of this distorted worship, which separates people by a great chasm, -- unable to be crossed over.
 
But all is not lost… This parable continues on from the earlier parables in this section. Although we are told that the rich man faced a great gulf between himself and the Kingdom of God, where Abraham and Lazarus in Paradise. …. Jesus has already given his carefully attentive listeners a hint… and a key… There is actually one way out of this seemingly impossible situation -- In theory, this rich man can be saved….. But he is so ignorant that he cannot even comprehend it; and so in practise he probably will never access this reprieve… He must act just as the foolish younger son did in the parable of the Prodigal Son…. He must, come to his senses and see the folly of his ways. He must say to his heavenly Father (from the depths of his heart) --…. "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against earth… I no longer deserve to be called your son, treat me as one of your hired servants…. "….. Because we KNOW, (from Jesus' own lips), what the Heavenly Father's response will be to those who realise their error, and who awake from their apathy, truly repent… and turn back…….
 
Again. Luke's gospel is particularly addressed to influential and affluent Gentiles who want to be good Christians. Our Lord did not tell this parable so that people will give up in despair, because their unavoidable destiny is Hades. He teaches this parable to wake them up from their apathy, and get them to show their fraternity to those who are bowed-down.
 
Someone once write into a publication to share a little example:  One day they received an appeal from a reputable foreign mission, asking for an aid donation. The person wrote a little cheque out to support the mission appeal and felt good about it. Then they went out to the local shopping centre and promptly spent twice as much on discretionary spending. Suddenly this person shares that their eyes were opened and they were overcome with a sense of shame as they realised the chasm between the two actions. This person quickly returned home and wrote five more cheques out, explaining that they were doing this to "catch a few more 'Lazaruses,' at the door"….(or even further afield)…….
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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly
SHARING THE WORD THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR. GUSTAVO GUTIERREZ.
Fr. John Fuellenbach, SVD, (Rome), Sabbatical Lectures 2007. Rome. (Notes of Paul Kelly)
A BOOK OF GRACE-FILLED DAYS. BY ALICE CAMILLE. (2010)
Photo Credit: Shutterstock licensed photo ID: 313796105 DUBLIN, IRELAND - AUGUST 16, 2015: Homeless Jesus statue on August 16, 2015 near Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin

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Archive of homilies and reflections:  http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email:  paulwkelly68@gmail.com
To listen to my weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here.
NB - It is often a week or so Ahead:  https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks
You are welcome to subscribe to Fr Paul's homily mail-out by sending an email to this address: paulkellyreflections+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
"Faith, Hope and Love,  A time of Christian worship and reflection"  - Led by Rev Paul W. Kelly
Texts used in this programme are for the purposes of worship and prayer for listeners wherever you are.
Prayers and chants are taken from the English Translation of the Roman Missal, edition three, © 2010, The International commission on English in the liturgy.
Scriptures are from the New Revised Standard Version: © 1989,  by the national council of Churches of Christ, USA. , //adaptations to conform with Catholic liturgical norms, © 2009, by the same.
 [{selected psalms } - ***Psalm verses are (also) taken from "The Psalms: A New Translation" ©1963, The Grail (England), published by Collins.. **]
Prayers of the Faithful are adapted from Robert Borg's 1993 book " Together we pray". Published in Sydney Australia By  E.J. Dwyer. (out of print).
{ "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" -published 2011,  Composed and Sung by Jeffrey M. Ostrowski   
Featuring the….Gloria, The Creed, The Kyrie, The Mass parts, Psalms:   http://www.ccwatershed.org/chabanel/  ]]] ] COPYRIGHT @ 2018 CORPUS CHRISTI WATERSHED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  www.ccwatershed.org/vatican/Ralph_Sherwin_Videos/  
"Faith, Hope and Love" theme Hymn:   Words, based on 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, set to original music © 1996 by Paul W. Kelly.
For more details please visit http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au/
Contact us at paulwkelly68@gmail.com
Production by Kelly Enterprises Resources. 
May God bless and keep you.
Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C 
(Sunday, September 29, 2019)
(EPISODE: 179 )
The Lord be with you.
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{{Peace and greetings to you all.}}
{{We have gathered to Listening to God's Word. }}

As one family in Christ, let us prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries by calling to mind our sins.?
Lord Jesus, you are mighty God and Prince of peace. Lord have mercy//  You are Son of God and the Son of Mary. Christ have mercy// You are Word made flesh, the splendour of the Father. Lord have mercy.
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.  Amen.
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Memorial Acclamation
2. When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again.
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own preface
Various Needs and Occasions .  III
Communion side.  pwk:  RH
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{Thank you for giving generously of  your time and prayer.}
Go forth, the Mass is ended.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Catholic 756 : Twenty-fifth Sunday of the Year C - Sunday, September 22, 2019

Catholic 756 : Twenty-fifth Sunday of the Year C  - Sunday, September 22, 2019

First reading    Amos 8:4-7.
Responsorial Psalm. Psalm 112:1-2,4-8. Praise the Lord who lifts up the poor.
Second reading.  1 Timothy 2:1-8.
Alleluia, alleluia! Jesus Christ was rich but he became poor. To make you rich out of his poverty.
Gospel. Luke 16:1-13.

Image: By boonchoke. photo ID: 758040853. Licensed by shutterstock. Group of people planning and strategizing.

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Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the Twenty-fifth Sunday of the Year C  - Sunday, September 22, 2019 by clicking this link here:   https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/25c-faith-hope-and-love-ep-178/s-Z2mhK  (EPISODE: 178)
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Prologue:  this weekend's gospel is a little different and a bit confusing in many ways.   I think the best way to clarify it is to see it as Christ teaching us a strong message by way of irony and contrast...   It is a bit like this modern-day statement...    "when I see all these people out at the sunrise exercising, jogging and working hard to keep fit, I think to myself... that's great, but if only people put the same energy and discipline and training into their spiritual life as they did with the fitness goals and improving their personal best running rate, wonderful things would be done for the Kingdom."    Our Lord seems to be saying a similar thing...  He sees people spending all their time, effort and craftiness to achieve well in business, finance and work, but if only his followers put the same amount of time, energy and ingenuity into exploring ever more effective ways of living and communicating his gospel.   
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If only people were as eager and ingenious in their attempt to communicate the life-giving Word of God...  and to deepen our love and to build up the values of God's kingdom, as others who use their ingenuity day and night, trying to make money or attain the prizes of this world (which do not last). 

Imagine if we were as shrewd, creative and ingenious, even scheming, about the attainment of the treasures of the Kingdom of God - which last forever, as those who chase after temporary, worldly benefits. It would be an astoundingly good world if as much scheming and crafty planning went into the things of the Gospel as they do for get-rich schemes and corporate takeovers and political wrangling. 

If only people would give as much attention to the things which concern their souls as they do to the things which concern their business, their fitness and their comfort; they would be able to be such wonderful co-operators in God's work.

This appears to be the powerful message of the gospel this weekend, and it certainly strikes an odd note. It initially appears that Our Lord is praising a dishonest manager.   But it is not really that simple.  he is praising his shrewdness and imagination in achieving his goals. He is praising his ingenuity, not his dishonesty. It is safe to say that Our Lord had an extremely wary opinion of money, worldly wealth and earthly admiration.  But, unlike other religious leaders of the time, he did not teach his followers to remove themselves entirely from general society or distance themselves from ordinary people, business or commerce. However, Jesus also had a disdain for money and material wealth as it was clearly not "of the Kingdom of God," and so tainted by ungodly ambitions.  He taught his disciples to be very much "in the world,"  and engaged with people, but at the same time detached from the things of the world,   He also taught them not to put their hopes in money or worldly riches as these would certainly not last. 

Luke's Gospel particularly is addressing the powerful, influential and wealthy Gentile people of that time, who were wanting to be good Christian disciples. The short summary of this rather mysterious and intriguing Gospel seems to be:  use your influence, your resources, your ingenuity and any earthly advantages, (as unsound and as inadequate, and temporary as these things are, compared to the true and eternal treasures of the Kingdom), to do as much good as you can for the good of all, and for those most in need. Utilise earthly and imperfect resources such as money and worldly influence for the purposes of building up the other-worldly and perfect values of the Kingdom.  As flawed as money and material goods are, if one must use them, use them for the good of God's little ones. 

Our Lord is addressing the way things were done in business and society back in his time, and it is not so different in this day and age too. He points out the way many people "make friends in order to win favours and influence people to advance their own cause."  

For example, they throw great big dinner parties; they do each-other favours; they make friends with and lavish their time and money on people of influence. They give favourable discounts to those whom they wish to make morally indebted to them in return….    This gives them influence, power and prestige….

Jesus points out that the poor, the needy, the disadvantaged and the sinner do not have anything to offer such people, but these are still very dear to God's heart. God wants them to be included back in the "community," and to be "brought in out of the cold."  But, of course, the disadvantaged and poor have no way of influencing others… so they are left out of society with no practical way of getting back inside again. 

Our Lord points out that the poor do not have the resources to invite others to dinner. (Actually, they only have enough food to feed themselves – if that!). And because they haven't anything to offer, they would be ignored and excluded by the influential; who see nothing to be gained (financially or socially) from the poor.   In this unfair system, the sinner and the poor have no way of ever shaking off their past, and the "stranger" does not fit in anywhere. People who cannot benefit others in some material way are unjustly treated as being worthless. So, Jesus is offering a new vision, that starts with their rather "earthly ways of thinking," but then turns it all on its head….

Jesus is saying to his listeners….   IF you want to "get in the good books" of the ones who really count, according to God's values --- If you really want to gain the things that matter, then you need to "ingratiate yourself" with those who are closest to the heart of the King...  And so,  --- help the poor, show mercy to the sinner, give practical help to the widow, and the orphan and welcome the stranger. Practice true and effective justice. Include those who have nothing to give back ….
BECAUSE… God has a very special concern for THEM….  These people will be the first to enter the Kingdom of Heaven… and if we have helped the poor and the powerless, who are dear to God's heart, they will remember our friendship and kindness and vouch for us when we knock at the doors of heaven. They will say to God, "we know this person, they helped us, even though we were considered by the world to be worthless." God will then throw open the doors of Heaven and allow these to enter into the banquet feast. It will be those who did nothing to help God's little ones who will find themselves locked out. For, in the Kingdom, the people of power and influence are the blessed poor, the humble and the lowly. (Our Lord is teaching this to his listeners, not to make them lose hope, but rather to shock them into changing their attitudes and using their many resources for the good of God's Kingdom and not for self-indulgence or exclusion.

Also, the values of Christ are everlasting -   they are about becoming an ever-more loving, more compassionate, more generous and reverent person, shown in our care for God's people. And quite irrespective of whether or not they have anything practical to offer us in return.  The treasures and awards of this world, are not God's stock-in-trade.     
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References:

Fr Paul W. Kelly

Barclay, W. (1975). The Gospel of Luke. 2nd ed. Edinburgh: St. Andrew Press

Gutiérrez, G. and Dees, C. (1997). Sharing the Word through the liturgical year. 1st ed. Maryknoll: Orbis Books.

Image: By boonchoke. photo ID: 758040853. Licensed by Shutterstock. Group of people planning and strategizing.

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Archive of homilies and reflections:  http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email:  paulwkelly68@gmail.com
To listen to my weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here.
NB - It is often a week or so Ahead:  https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks
You are welcome to subscribe to Fr Paul's homily mail-out by sending an email to this address: paulkellyreflections+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
"Faith, Hope and Love,  A time of Christian worship and reflection"  - Led by Rev Paul W. Kelly
Texts used in this programme are for the purposes of worship and prayer for listeners wherever you are.
Prayers and chants are taken from the English Translation of the Roman Missal, edition three, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy.
Scriptures are from the New Revised Standard Version: © 1989,  by the national council of Churches of Christ, USA. , //adaptations to conform with Catholic liturgical norms, © 2009, by the same.
 [{selected psalms } - ***Psalm verses are (also) taken from "The Psalms: A New Translation" ©1963, The Grail (England), published by Collins.. **]
Prayers of the Faithful are adapted from Robert Borg's 1993 book " Together we pray". Published in Sydney Australia By  E.J. Dwyer. (out of print).

{ "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" -published 2011,  Composed and Sung by Jeffrey M. Ostrowski   
Featuring the….Gloria, The Creed, The Kyrie, The Mass parts, Psalms:   http://www.ccwatershed.org/chabanel/  ]]] ] COPYRIGHT @ 2018 CORPUS CHRISTI WATERSHED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  www.ccwatershed.org/vatican/Ralph_Sherwin_Videos/  
"Faith, Hope and Love" theme Hymn:   Words, based on 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, set to original music © 1996 by Paul W. Kelly.
For more details please visit http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au/
Contact us at paulwkelly68@gmail.com
Production by Kelly Enterprises Resources. 
May God bless and keep you.

Twenty-fifth Sunday of the Year C

(Sunday, September 22, 2019)
(EPISODE: 178 )
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
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{{Good wishes to you all.}}

Coming together as brothers and sisters in Christ, let us pause and reflect upon our sins, in order to celebrate the Holy Eucharist.
Lord Jesus, you came to gather the nations into the peace of God's kingdom: Lord, have mercy// You come in word and in sacrament to strengthen us and make us holy: Christ, have mercy//You will come again in glory with salvation for your people: Lord, have mercy.
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.  Amen.
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Memorial Acclamation
1. We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.
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Sundays Ordinary VI
Euch prayer III  
Communion side.  pwk:  LH
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{May God's grace strengthen your love and hope and faith, and may God's love surprise you even in the trials and challenges of the week. }
Go in peace. (glorifying the Lord by your life)

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Catholic 755: Twenty-fourth Sunday. Year C - Sunday, September 15, 2019

Homily Twenty-fourth Sunday. Year C - Sunday, September 15, 2019

First reading. Exodus 32:7-11,13-14

Responsorial Psalm. Psalm 50:3-4,12-13,17,19. I will rise and go to my Father

Second reading. 1 Timothy 1:12-17

Alleluia, alleluia! God was in Christ, to reconcile the world to himself, And the Good News of reconciliation he has entrusted to us.

Gospel. Luke 15:1-32.
Image:  Licensed by Shutterstock:  Picture - By Zvonimir Atletic.  photo ID: 418928530.  STITAR, CROATIA - NOVEMBER 24: Return of the prodigal son, Relief on main altar in the church of Saint Matthew in Stitar, Croatia on November 24, 2015 - Licensed by Shutterstock. 
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We keep in our prayers all who are affected by the many bushfires throughout South East Queensland and Northern New South Wales. We pray for safety and that the fire danger may swiftly pass.  Thanks to God for the wonderful work of the fire fighters and all  the generous people who help in times of disaster.  May all people suffering from disasters throughout the world, including the devastation in the Bahamas, be given the practical assistance they need. 
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Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the Twenty-fourth Sunday. Year C - Sunday, September 15, 2019 by clicking this link here:   https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/24c-faith-hope-and-love-ep-177/s-a0nRA  (EPISODE: 177)
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Homily Twenty-fourth Sunday. Year C 
Prologue:  This weekend's parable of the prodigal son is surely one of the greatest and best-loved parables in the bible.  I used to think that prodigal meant bad or misguided but in fact, it means prodigious ...  exceeding or excessive ...  in that sense all three main characters in this parable are prodigal .. but each I'm different ways... . ...  one is excessive in waste and recklessness .. the other is excessive in resentment and grudging slavery and the last is excessive in love and mercy.  It's ironic that one of the best-known stories in the bible has yet to fully be grasped for its astounding message about Gods love and mercy for us....  
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We only have to look at the situation of Saint Paul, to be overjoyed that God doesn't write-us-off when we make terrible mistakes...  even huge ones! .....   

Saint Paul was a wonderful disciple and messenger for Christ, and God's Kingdom...   but if we had applied merely earthly standards he would have been banished from the Christian life forever, for his earlier merciless persecutions of the Christians. ...  and all he had to offer would have been scorned and lost. ...  Instead.. he has become the foremost example of how God can make use of even those who have gotten the message so wrong... but who turned back and were forgiven and renewed...  and then cooperated, with God's grace, in the wonderful things God was doing. It is Inspiring! 
And anyone who witnessed this would rightly rejoice and join in God's happiness, at gaining back a beloved and once-lost son.   


"My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours."

The whole parable of the "prodigal son" and the other parables in this section are best explained by the first two sentences of Today's gospel…. …."The tax collectors and the sinners were all seeking the company of Jesus to hear what he had to say, and the Pharisees and the scribes complained. 'This man' they said 'welcomes sinners and eats with them.' So he spoke this parable to them"

It would seem then, that this set of parables is primarily aimed at all who, like the Scribes and Pharisees, are acting like the resentful, begrudging older son, acting more like 'good righteous slaves' rather than 'well-beloved sons'……. The parable reveals how shockingly resentful the so-called righteous leaders of the time were towards their heavenly Father and how begrudging towards all who turn back to God and seek mercy. 

The most striking theme today's readings is God's infinite mercy. What a wonderful set of readings this weekend. 
We are reminded that, first and foremost, we are God's beloved sons and daughters, by virtue of God's great love and not because we have earned this position. 
God is an unconditionally loving parent…. 
We know that a child does not earn the love of his or her parent… They just simply and fully HAVE that love …. It exists as from the beginning…. Well before they were even born…. It is there throughout their lives….. It is always there…. Irrespective of the child's actions and choices…..

Naturally a loving parent can get severely hurt by their child's actions…. But they do not stop loving them…. They cannot stop loving their child because it would be like denying their very self…. Which they simply cannot do…… 

As with an unconditionally-loving parent, is God's love for us. … but  infinitely more-so
God LOVES us./ God will always love us./ Like a doting parent./  The parable portrays God the Father as an almost foolishly loving and generous parent.  

We often call this parable the prodigal son…
I used to think prodigal meant "bad" …. But it simply means prodigious… That is, ."to an enormous or colossal extent......  ...massively overflowing! … And, in that sense … all three men are prodigious! ..(=  prodigal)…/ 

The father is prodigious in his love, his hope.... his generosity and mercy…. 

And the younger son is sadly prodigious in his wastefulness and recklessness.. But he is also quite prodigious and accurate in his assessment of his father's kindness ...... He knows he has sinned (He realises that now, with shame)…/ The son KNOWS his father is a good and just man who would at least treat him better than the people he was slaving for at the pig-farm, where he found himself starving to death…. 

Even the older son is prodigious.... in his resentment.  and his "working and slaving resentfully"… and all the time thinking that this somehow entitles him to a reward, but ends up just making him bitter and ironically he becomes more distant from his father than the younger, wasteful son. 

But at least the younger son realizes his error. 
The older son does not even realise his folly.  

Fortunately Jesus, Our brother, reveals to us that The heavenly Father...  is the best kind of parent… truly a loving, unconditionally doting and giving Father….. who makes us his children …. We do not earn it …. And it the love God has for us is not diminished by 'undeserving' actions.. although it pierces his heart terribly....  …… … 

we wander away from the Father and his love and care at our own peril…. For, we NEED our loving God…..and who knows what will happen if we stray too far and do not turn back…. 

A less obvious, but profoundly important theme relates to the older son. He is seemingly 'faithful' to his father in his duty, working hard to serve, but very hesitant to celebrate the return of his brother. Why?

Is it jealousy or an 'it's not fair' attitude? Is he feeling let down or unimportant? Such toxic thoughts are certainly not aligned with the love his father has for him. 'My son…everything I have is yours.' 

How often do we feel like that older son? Do we forget that we are beloved sons and daughters... and not begrudging slaves..... Do we actually believe in what  the father tells us :  "EVERYTHING I have, is yours." 

Let us open our  the Father's love to fill us with joy.^^

Saint Luke's Gospel today is long and wonderful. First Jesus tells us the reason for eating with sinners and enjoying their company: He knows us and comes very close to us... inviting us to share His life. Jesus explains that seeking out sinners is not a rejection of the just people. It is clear, however, that a truly just person will love sinners the way that Jesus does and the way that Moses did in the first reading. The truly just person wants all people to be saved and perhaps in a special way wants the salvation of those who have wandered far from the truth and from God's love. being a true sona dn daughter of God is sharing in the Father's passion for each and every one of his children...    God is not even content with 99 saved sheep..  but will not rest until ALL 100 are safely home where they belong. 

Saint Luke's Gospel also shows us that we can hope even for those who run as far away as possible from love. The story of the son who takes his inheritance and completely uses it up in wasteful living, is a clear teaching from Jesus. Even those of us wander far from God are still longed for  - that they will return and be held closely. There is more than one story like this in the Gospel, showing that whenever a sinner wants to return to the Lord, the Lord is always there to receive Him with open arms. How many times? As many times as it takes - because that is the love of God.

Brother and sisters in Christ, you and I are the sinners portrayed in the Gospel. We can choose between the younger son or the older son. Perhaps at different times we may have been in the position of both of the brothers? We are invited to return to the Lord time and time again. We can turn around each day, each moment, and know that God is always loving us and forgiving us. This is the heart of the Gospel of Jesus: God is compassion and love. God is forgiveness - a countless number of times. 

God wants us to know His love, even when we doubt that love. even if we only start to turn back to him because of an initially 'rather pragmatic self-interest,'... May this Sunday give us a full taste of God's love and an ever-deepening desire to live constantly in that care which is fully and completely ours…** This is the unearned possession of all who accept it; our neghbour, our friends; - Those we meet: everyone…
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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly

^^Madonna Magazine. http://www.pray.com.au/gospel.php?date=091513

**Monastery of Christ in the Desert. Abbot's homily.

Image:  Licensed by Shutterstock:  Picture - By Zvonimir Atletic.  photo ID: 418928530.  STITAR, CROATIA - NOVEMBER 24: Return of the prodigal son, Relief on main altar in the church of Saint Matthew in Stitar, Croatia on November 24, 2015 - Licensed by Shutterstock.   
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Archive of homilies and reflections:  http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email: 
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Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
"Faith, Hope and Love,  A time of Christian worship and reflection"  - Led by Rev Paul W. Kelly
Texts used in this programme are for the purposes of worship and prayer for listeners wherever you are.
Prayers and chants are taken from the English Translation of the Roman Missal, edition three, © 2010, The International commission on English in the liturgy.
Scriptures are from the New Revised Standard Version: © 1989,  by the national council of Churches of Christ, USA. , //adaptations to conform with Catholic liturgical norms, © 2009, by the same.
 [{selected psalms } - ***Psalm verses are (also) taken from "The Psalms: A New Translation" ©1963, The Grail (England), published by Collins.. **]

Prayers of the Faithful are adapted from Robert Borg's 1993 book " Together we pray". Published in Sydney Australia By  E.J. Dwyer. (out of print).

{ "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" -published 2011,  Composed and Sung by Jeffrey M. Ostrowski  
Featuring the….Gloria, The Creed, The Kyrie, The Mass parts, Psalms:  
http://www.ccwatershed.org/chabanel/  ]]] ] COPYRIGHT @ 2018 CORPUS CHRISTI WATERSHED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  www.ccwatershed.org/vatican/Ralph_Sherwin_Videos/  

"Faith, Hope and Love" theme Hymn:   Words, based on 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, set to original music © 1996 by Paul W. Kelly.

For more details please visit http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au/
Contact us at
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Production by Kelly Enterprises Resources. 

May God bless and keep you.

Twenty-fourth Sunday. Year C
(
Sunday, September 15, 2019)

(EPISODE: 177 )

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (or/ The Lord be with You)
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{{May Our Lord's generosity inspire you. }}

my brothers and sisters, to prepare ourselves toßcelebrate the sacred mysteries, let us call to mind our sins.
You were sent to heal the contrite of heart. Lord, have mercy.// You came to call sinners:Christ, have mercy. //You are seated at the right hand of the Father to intercede for us:Lord, have mercy.//
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.  Amen.
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Memorial Acclamation

3. Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.

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Sundays Ordinary III

Euch Prayer II

Communion side.  pwk: 
RH
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{
my heartfelt thanks for your participation in this time of reflection, prayer and praise. }

Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.