Weekday Solemnity - The Solemnity of the Assumption of The Blessed Virgin Mary –15th August 2025

Weekday Solemnity - The Solemnity of the Assumption of The Blessed Virgin Mary –15th August 2025. 

Weekday Solemnity - The Solemnity of the Assumption of The Blessed Virgin Mary –15th August 2025. 

Image Credit: Photo Description - https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/iue9MPjiBnbqTkWZp2AD/the-assumption-of-the-blessed-mary-into-heavenly-glory?ru=Paul-Evangelion 

 

Surfers Paradise Catholic Parish - Weekly Parish Mass - podcast of Eucharist, including readings, prayers, homily) Greetings from Surfers Catholic parish!

Please find linked below the latest edition of the Parish weekly Homily and link to the (audio) podcast of the mass, especially produced for those who are unable to be with us at mass.

https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-the-5 
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The Solemnity of the Assumption of The Blessed Virgin Mary –15th August

Readings
FIRST READING: Revelation 11:19; 12:1-6, 10
Psalm: Ps 44:10-12, 16. "The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold."
SECOND READING: 1 Corinthians 15:20-26
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION, (Alleluia, alleluia! Mary is taken up to heaven, and the angels of God shout for joy. Alleluia!).
GOSPEL: Luke 1:39-56

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Prologue: This feast originated in Jerusalem before the fifth century as the "Falling-Asleep of the Mother of God." It was adopted in Rome in the mid-seventh century and was renamed the "Assumption" in the eighth century. It celebrates Mary's passing over, body and soul, from this world into the glory of her risen Son. The foretaste and forerunner of what will be the reward of all the faithful at the fullness of the resurrection on the last day.

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Look at the wonders the Holy Spirit of God can achieve when we are open, obedient, humble and cooperative with God's plan in our lives…. Just as the blessed virgin Mary, Mother of God, and Mother of the church,  is an ideal example of someone who cooperated with God's plans… and as a result, allowed God to do great things through her life and actions

Look at the incredible grace, love and fruit that is produced from saying an emphatic and unreserved - "YES" to what God wants to achieve through us in the world…..

 

as it so wonderfully says in today's Preface -  "today the Virgin Mother of God

was assumed into heaven, as the beginning and image, of your Church's coming to perfection, and a sign of sure hope and comfort to your pilgrim people. 

 

From the sixth century, we have Gregory of Tours speaking about the Dormition, and then some time later, the Assumption:

The course of this life having been completed by Blessed Mary, when now she would be called from the world, all the Apostles came together from their various regions to her house. And when they had heard that she was about to be taken from the world, they kept watch together with her. And behold, the Lord Jesus came with His angels, and taking her soul, He gave it over to angel Michael and withdrew. 

At daybreak, however, the Apostles took up her body on a bier and placed it in a tomb; and they guarded it, expecting the Lord to come. And behold, again the Lord stood by them; and the holy body having been received, he commanded that it be taken in a cloud into paradise: where now, rejoined to the soul, [Mary] rejoices with the Lord's chosen ones, and is the enjoyment of the good of an eternity that will never end." (Saint Gregory of Tours, Bishop; A. D.595-A.D. 594); Eight Books of Miracles; A.D. 575-593)

One key distinction to keep in mind: The Ascension of Jesus was accomplished through Jesus' own power as God. The Assumption of the Blessed Mother was done for her by the Power of God, not under her own power.

And so /….Our Blessed Mother was taken into heaven, body and soul, passing from this life.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church adds (CCC 967):

By her complete adherence to the Father's will, to His Son's redemptive work, and to every prompting of the Holy Spirit, the Virgin Mary is the model of faith and charity. Thus she is a "preeminent and wholly unique member of the Church"; indeed, she is the "exemplary realization" of the Church.

And so,   Mary became the first to be resurrected into heaven body and soul…   and this is the hope of all the church for each of us, when on the last day, we will be body and soul in heaven with God.

May Mary, who shows us an openness and generosity to God…. and pre-figures the destiny of all who hope in Jesus' promises, continue to inspire us to make a difference…. and say "yes" to God's values in all we do, (at home, at work, in the classrooms and workplaces.. in formal and social situations, and in the community….)

Blessed Virgin Mary, assumed body and soul into heaven, pray for us, that we may be made worthy of the sure promises of Christ.
Amen.

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References:

Fr Paul W. Kelly

https://aleteia.org/2019/08/14/beautiful-thoughts-from-the-saints-on-marys-death-and-assumption 

also see-  https://www.ncregister.com/blog/the-assumption-of-mary-12-things-to-know-and-share-27jd571n?amp

Image Credit: Photo Description - https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/iue9MPjiBnbqTkWZp2AD/the-assumption-of-the-blessed-mary-into-heavenly-glory?ru=Paul-Evangelion
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In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
{{Good wishes to you all.}}

On this special (Solemnity of) The Assumption Of Mary
Brothers and sisters, let us acknowledge our sins and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.

Lord Jesus, you glorified your mother; the ark of God. Lord have mercy.

You raised the Blessed Virgin Mary, body and soul, into heavenly glory. Christ have mercy.

Mary's assumption is the first fruits of the victory you won for the human race. 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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PREFACE: Glory of Mary assumed into heaven (solemnity)
Euch.Prayer: 3

Memorial Acclamation
1. We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.

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{thanks, everyone. And may God sustain you with his grace and love.}


Dismissal:

Go in peace
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Archive of homilies and reflections: http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email: paulwkelly68@gmail.com
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To listen to my weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks


Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection" - Led by Rev Paul Kelly

Prayers and chants — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)

Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA)

"The Psalms" ©1963, 2009, The Grail - Collins publishers.

Prayers of the Faithful - " Together we pray" by Robert Borg'. E.J. Dwyer, Publishers, (1993). (Sydney, Australia).

Sung "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" - By Jeffrey M. Ostrowski. The Gloria. Copyright © 2011 ccwatershed.org.

Hymn – "Rainfall – Mother of Mercy." Music by Paul W. Kelly. 1994, 2021. Words adapted by Paul W. Kelly, based on the Traditional Salve Regina Hymn. Arranged & with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2021. https://www.airgigs.com/user/stefankelk

Marian Hymn – "Whom Earth and Sea and Sky Proclaim." Traditional 6th Century Hymn. Melody: Bartholomaus Gesius (d.1613). #376 - Brébeuf Hymnal. From https://www.ccwatershed.org/hymn/

Marian Hymn - "Salve Regina Mater Misericordiae." (Traditional 11th Century). Melody: Mainz (1712), Hymn #783 - Brébeuf Hymnal. From https://www.ccwatershed.org/hymn/

Magnificat (Praise and sing to God) - Music by Paul W. Kelly. (1985, 2010, 2021), Lyrics inspired by Magnificat (Luke 1:46–55). Music arranged, with adapted lyrics by Stefan de Freyne Kelk. [https://www.airgigs.com/user/stefankelk] July 1, 2021.

[ Production - KER - 2025]

May God bless and keep you.
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Sunday, 17 August 2025 – Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C - (EPISODE-543)

Sunday, 17 August 2025 – Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C  -  (EPISODE-543)

Readings for Sunday, August 17, 2025 - Twentieth Sunday of the Year.. Year C

FIRST READING: Jer 38:1-2ab, 4-6, 8-10

Ps 40:1, 2, 3, 17. "Lord, come to my aid"

SECOND READING: Heb 12:1-4

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Luke 12:49-53). Alleluia, alleluia! My sheep listen to my voice, says the Lord. I know them, and they follow me.

GOSPEL: Luke 12:49-53

 

Image Credit- https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/h1i3NmNR41IkQwlhSH3g/jesus-says-from-now-on-there-will-be-five-in-one-family-divided-against-each-other-three-against-two?ru=Paul-Evangelion 

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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for the Twentieth Sunday of the Year.. Year C - Sunday, August 17, 2025, by clicking this link here:  https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-ep-543/s-Y3EJNSvyffL  - (EPISODE-543 )

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PROLOGUE:

We believe that the Lord is the King of Peace, the Lord of Love. His Kingdom values are about compassion, service, self-forgetting love, mercy and inclusion. Which is why this reading, this weekend, seems more than a little jarring.

Our Lord says, "I've come to start a fire, and oh how I wish it was blazing already." He warns then of divisions, even in the closest relations. But of course, it's not our Lord who desires division and strife. God wants harmony, God wants love. 

Yet, the Lord needs to warn his followers that conflict in values will come, and they will lead to terrible persecution and estrangements. The price of peace would be to water down God's message, telling people what they want to hear instead of the truth, and that is unacceptable.

The values that Christ represents are life-giving and beautiful, and well worth the cost. [FHL]

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HOMILY: 

Poor Jeremiah the prophet.

It could not get any worse for him. He's being faithful to God, and he is suffering for it terribly. The enemy is holding Jeremiah's people to siege.

There's no way out. God tells his faithful prophet, Jeremiah, this is what you must tell the people, and also tell the king. Surrender! Leave the city. If you don't, you will surely perish. 

To say the least, this is definitely not what the king and his people want to hear. They want to keep resisting. They want to win. They want God to achieve what they want.

But Jeremiah will not tell them what they want to hear. There are plenty of others who will tell them what they want to hear, if not just to save their skin, or so as not to annoy, or to climb up the ladder of influence, or so they think. 

Jeremiah, however, is faithful to God alone. He only speaks God's words, and he does so at an enormous cost. 

So what do the king and his people do to Jeremiah for simply keeping his job faithfully? They say, let this prophet, this so-called prophet Jeremiah, be put to death. He is unquestionably disheartening the remaining soldiers in the city, and all the people too, by talking like this.

This fellow doesn't have the welfare of these people at heart, so much as it's ruin. It makes one wonder how often people have been accused of disloyalty, lack of care for the welfare of others, just because they see a major disaster coming, and try to stop it by saying the truth, by pointing out the danger. The problem for poor Jeremiah is that he can do nothing else but speak the truth, irrespective of the response he gets.

And so what happens? He gets thrown down a muddy well for his troubles, and sinks deep into the mud, and gets hopelessly stuck. He will die there unless someone helps him. As it is, someone does feel sorry for him, and manages to drag him out of that muddy well before he dies.

There's a name in the Bible for people who tell others what they want to hear, instead of the truth. They're called false prophets. False prophets get very short shrift from God.

Then we've got, by contrast, the likes of Jeremiah, who steadfastly and devoutly speaks God's word, in and out of season, irrespective of popularity. And it's irrelevant whether people want to hear it or not. He simply must speak the truth, and speaks it, without fear or favor.

But here's the thing, just as there are false prophets who tell people things they want to hear, even when the truth is different, there are also false critics. These people who go around telling people unpleasant things, and so-called telling things as they are, in a way that just divides and hurts people. These people are not necessarily real prophets either.

Just because they're getting rejected and causing divisions, doesn't mean that they're a true prophet. It would be a mistake to assume that too. There may be people walking around, even in this day and age, with a big kick-me sign on their back, and their words and behavior constantly provoke or invite rejection or uproar.

The test of whether a person is speaking God's words, like a prophet, is not that they're causing trouble, or having to hire a security guard. And the test of being a true prophet is not merely because they've ruffled everyone else's feathers. These people may just be self-defeating stirrers.

In modern terms, we call that someone who's just trolling others to get them fired up, or being passive aggressive. The true test of a prophetic person is consistency of their words and behavior with that of Christ and his kingdom. And that is consistency with Christ's whole picture of his kingdom, not just selectively chosen elements of Christ's message.

Jeremiah spoke what God asked him to speak, not just his own personal hobby horses. And he didn't speak just so that he could say, look, everyone hates me because I'm God's servant. No, there is a major difference.

Sometimes it's subtle too. I also think if we're tempted to be challenging, we ought to start, of course, with ourselves, and challenge and unsettle the deep-seated elements in our own lives first, such as pride, selfishness, enmeshment, that we can find in our own hearts before we start to try and change the world and get offside with others. Also, no matter how true something is, no matter how much we might want to fix up a situation or a person, if we do not act or speak with love, as Saint Paul says, it will do us no good whatsoever.

I doubt our words will have any effect if we spoke the truth without love. We must speak the truth in a loving way, in the true interests of others, and out of respect and love for that person. Also, another big error is true prophets are not self-proclaimed.

They're not self-appointed. And they've been throughout history, and even today, many people who do proclaim themselves to be prophets and appoint themselves to be prophets. But are they really? Really, I think we need to live the gospel more than go around pointing out errors.

Putting the gospel values into action in our lives is one of the greatest acts of discipleship and preaching we could possibly do. Proclaiming the gospel by our actions. It's always struck me that Jesus went around doing good and living the gospel.

Others were the ones following him, saying, why did you do that? Or, stop doing that. Jesus wasn't going around saying, why did you do that? Or stop doing that. It was his critics who were doing that.

Meanwhile, our Lord was active. He'd already moved on to the next project, or the next person, for the building up of the kingdom, and the next set of good works and actions. He did preach, that's for sure.

But even more than that, he acted. And mostly it was doing things, whilst the questioning and the criticism and the finger wagging was the other side of it, not Christ's side. Jesus is definitely not encouraging or desiring conflict.

He doesn't want to promote opposition and division. He simply knows that you can't be a fence-sitter in the kingdom of God. You're either with him, or you're against him.

So Jesus is declaring the sad reality, sad to him and sad for us, that he and the good news he's proclaiming, and the kingdom of God he's building up, will become like a lightning rod to all who hate what the kingdom represents. Despite Christ deeply desiring peace and love, he knows that people will line up on either one side or the other, which will create division, which he doesn't want, but knows will happen. This division that he's predicting, which is based on conflicting values, will even cut through traditional political, religious, or even family lines.

The irony and the tragedy of all of this is that the divisions Jesus was warning about are over values that we cherish so deeply, they're values worth fighting for. The divisions occurred because Jesus taught us to be gentle, to reach out to the outcast, and offer a hand of forgiveness to the sinner. The conflict and division occurred because Jesus was living that message of true peace and the fullness of the new image of God's kingdom, which included all people.

This led to the most violent opposition by those whose interests were not best served by Jesus's otherworldly view. Our Lord turned on its head the unjust and un-kingdom-like standards which kept some on the inner and many hopelessly on the outer, with no way of getting back in. Naturally, those who were inside were very happy and cozy.

They didn't care about those who were outside, and they didn't want them coming in, lest it affected their well-being. Of course they were going to oppose Jesus and his new world order. Those few who were inside wanted things to stay just as they were, thanks very much.

It was very cozy and profitable for them on the inside. No wonder our Lord went to great lengths to prepare his disciples for trouble. He taught them, be wise as serpents, but at the same time as gentle as lambs.

As Jesus reminds us in the gospel, neither family ties nor fear of submitting to rejection, ridicule or persecution should stand in the way of salvation, which comes from an uncompromising but costly proclamation of the good news, standing up for the truth as taught by Christ.**

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References:

Fr Paul W. Kelly

THE DAILY STUDY BIBLE. GOSPEL OF LUKE. (REVISED EDITION). BY WILLIAM BARCLAY.

**Joel Schorn: PrepareTheWord.com. PrepareTheWord.com, ©2012, TrueQuest Communications, LLC. 20th Sunday of the Year. - C. 18th August 2013.

Image Credit: https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/h1i3NmNR41IkQwlhSH3g/jesus-says-from-now-on-there-will-be-five-in-one-family-divided-against-each-other-three-against-two?ru=Paul-Evangelion 

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PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL:

We offer up our prayers for the Church and for the world.

For the Church, that it will find ever more effective ways to convince us that we can do something about the ills of our world, we pray to the Lord. 

For those in authority, that they may treat all those under their care with patience and compassion, we pray to the Lord. 

For those among us who are suffering, that their example may inspire us to commit ourselves more deeply to the Lord's work, we pray to the Lord.

For our community, that it may be a sign to all of the unifying love of Christ, we pray to the Lord. 

For all those who have died in God's love, that their witness may help us to live our faith, especially those for whom we now pray, we pray to the Lord. 

God of mercy, in your compassion hear us and grant our petitions. Through Christ our Lord. Amen

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Twentieth Sunday of the Year.. Year C (Sunday, August 17, 2025) (EPISODE- 543)

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 gift of dignity and community enliven you.}}

My brothers and sisters, to prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries, let us call to mind our sins.

Lord Jesus, you were lifted up to draw all people to yourself: Lord, have mercy//You shouldered the cross, to bear our suffering and sinfulness: Christ, have mercy// You open for your people the way from death into life: 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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Ps 40:1, 2, 3, 17. "Lord, come to my aid"

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Luke 12:49-53). Alleluia, alleluia! My sheep listen to my voice, says the Lord. I know them, and they follow me.

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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PREFACE: Sunday Ordinary III

Eucharistic Prayer II

(pre+post variation: v2-short)

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{Many thanks for participating in this time of praise and reflection upon our loving God.}

Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.

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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: 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: Subscribe to mailing list to keep up-to-date

Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:

"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection" - Led by Rev Paul Kelly

Prayers and chants — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)

Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA)

"The Psalms" ©1963, 2009, The Grail - Collins publishers.

Prayers of the Faithful - " Together we pray" by Robert Borg'. E.J. Dwyer, Publishers, (1993) . (Sydney Australia).

Sung "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" - By Jeffrey M. Ostrowski. The Gloria, Copyright © 2011 ccwatershed.org.

- "Faith, Hope and Love" theme hymn - in memory of William John Kelly - Inspired by 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.

"Quiet Time." Instrumental Reflection music. Written by Paul W Kelly. 1988, 2007. & This arrangement: Stefan Kelk, 2020.

- "Today I Arise" - For Trisha J Kelly. Original words and music by Paul W. Kelly. Inspired by St Patrick's Prayer. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.

Sound Engineering and editing - P.W. Kelly.

Microphones: - Shure MV5 Digital Condenser (USB)

Editing equipment: NCH software - MixPad Multitrack Studio Recording Software

NCH – WavePad Audio Editing Software. Masters Edition v 12.44

Sound Processing: iZotope RX 6 Audio Editor

[Production - KER - 2025]

May God bless and keep you.

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