Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, July 12, 2020. EPISODE 240 (corrected version)

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, July 12, 2020
EPISODE 240

Apologies to everyone. There was an error in the original email sent with the Mass and homily for Surfers Paradise Parish. please see below for the correction. 
God bless,

pk

Readings for 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time - A
FIRST READING: Isaiah 55:10-11
Psalm 65:10, 11, 12-13, 14. "The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest."
SECOND READING: Romans 8:18-23
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION, ((no bibl. ref.)). Alleluia, alleluia! The seed is the Word of God, Christ is the sower. All who come to him will live forever.
GOSPEL: Matthew 13:1-23 or 13:1-9

Image Credit: Shutterstock illustration ID: 50338744. Sower seeding the seeds, the Gospel parable from the Bible about the Sower. By Thoom
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Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, July 12, 2020 by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-orindary-15a-episode-240  (EPISODE: 240)
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Prologue: (Fr Paul): The wonderful image of the sower and the seed that falls on all sorts of different environments reminds us that just as a seed has within it everything needed to produce a viable plant, it will produce nothing unless it is properly watered and nourished and finds the right soil or medium to take hold.  It is similar to the idea of a delicious meal which contains all the nutrition needed to help a person stay healthy - But the meal is useless unless it is eaten. It is also like a light bulb that has the potential to light up a room but only if it is fitted into the socket and switched on.     How important is the environment with which the Word of God is received. We need to actively protect, promote and nurture the good treasure we have received so that it will indeed bear much fruit by keeping constantly close to the water of Life… God's living word and sacraments.    
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Homily – By Fr. Peter Dillon
15TH SUNDAY ORDINARY TIME – YEAR A-2020

We are very fortunate to live in a parish where there are many important ministries working hard each day to make the message and the presence of God felt by many, particularly by those who are yet to hear Gods' voice.

But perhaps the most important of our ministries is one that gets very little attention and has trouble surviving because most people don't really see the point. It's the children liturgy of the word. We offer it in only one of our churches every other Sunday and not on school holidays and we always have great difficulty finding generous people who are prepared to offer their time to helping young people hear the word of God pitched at the level of young people.

The American theologian, Monica Hellwig wrote: "a child's mind is like a seed. It can make barren ground fruitful, but it is a fragile and vulnerable thing. If we don't carefully tend it and feed it properly, it is very hard to get it to grow the right way". She went on to tell us that most adult Catholic s learn their understanding of God and our connection to God from well-intentioned, but most ill-informed adults, yet we have held on to those beliefs without any enhancement or rational application for the rest of our lives.

I believe that she is saying if we don't nurture and feed our faith knowledge then we are doomed to thinking about and applying the Word of God at 80 years the same way we did when we first heard about God around 8 years of age. That, to me, is an uncomfortable truth.

Words, any words, contain an enormous amount of power. Power to change, to comfort. To inspire, to teach. To correct. To challenge or change a life. Similarly they can come to nothing and evaporate into the ether. Words are totally dependent on the one who speaks or write them as well as the one who reads or hears them. And so it is with the word of God.

Some minds are closed to God's words, sometimes because they think they know all they need to know about life and how to live it or sometimes they fear any new understanding of life that may cause them to alter their present perspective. In each case these people become unteachable.

Others hear God's word initially with enthusiasm and relevance, but tend to forget it when situations get difficult or some other perspective takes hold. These people start of well but get distracted, too busy or involved and prefer to take a less-demanding path.

Other people hear God's word carefully and gently. They work at trying to get to its meaning at ground-level and then later at a deeper level, at its roots. When they feel they have a good grasp on its meaning they then try to act on it and see how it can be applied throughout their lives.

It's for these people that the word of God finds a secure place to grow, for those who make the effort to understand it, ensuring that this word becomes and event in their lives and becomes a fruitful thing, not simply letters on a page.

Underlying today's parable there is a telling confidence: in spite of all the obstacles present in the various types of soil, the word of God, despite apparent failure and repeated opposition will indeed enjoy great fruitfulness.

So how would you describe your response to the message of God?

Does it take root in you?

Do you make a serious effort to understand it?

Do you welcome it with a great show and then go on to do your own thing?

Do you hear it and then smother it with your own concerns?

 

 As we answer these questions, we should be patient with ourselves. Like all seeds, this word of God it needs time to grow. The sower knows that he has to wait for the weather and the slow thrust of life. There is no denying that the process takes time. But the seed has first to be sown by a farmer who understand and cares deeply about the process of growth.

 

 And that is why the Children Liturgy of the Word is so important, because if the seed in not even planted in any soil then no life will ever flourish. Nothing will take root. All our wishing for young people to know God will amount to nothing if we just hope someone else will step up before us.

 If we first take the time to nourish the word in the young, God will wait on the gradual process. It might take a lifetime and it may take a struggle to grow. But eventually the word of God and our own word might become one. And that would be a rich harvest indeed.
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References:
Homily:  Fr Peter Dillon

PROLOGUE: Fr Paul W. Kelly

Image Credit: Shutterstock illustration ID: 50338744. Sower seeding the seeds, the Gospel parable from the Bible about the Sower. By Thoom


Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A (Sunday, July 12, 2020) (EPISODE: 240 )
The Lord be with you.
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{{How are you today}}

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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PREFACE: Sundays Ordinary V
Eucharistic Prayer II
Communion side. pwk: LH
(OPENING THEME VARIATION:  3)
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{{heartfelt thanks to you all for uniting in prayer and reflectying upon God's goodness and care.}}

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.
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 - 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 Tricia 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. 


May God bless and keep you. 
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Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, July 5, 2020 EPISODE 239

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, July 5, 2020
EPISODE 239

Readings for 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time - A
FIRST READING: Zechariah 9:9-10
Psalm 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13-14. "I will praise your name forever my king and my God"
SECOND READING: Romans 8:9, 11-13
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION, (cf. Matthew 11:25).Alleluia, alleluia! Blessed are you, Father, Lord of Heaven and earth. You have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
GOSPEL: Matthew 11:25-30
 

Shutterstock licensed stock photo ID: 251742775. "Rest for the weary-Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." By grace21
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Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, July 5, 2020 by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-ordinary-14a-episode-239  (EPISODE: 239)
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Prologue: There are so many wonderful readings and many of them we know so well,  yet every time we hear them again we can get something new from them – a deeper richness to their timeless message.

For example, in this familiar Gospel, "my yoke is easy and my burden is light"…..    The Greek word in the original text of this gospel uses the word for easy or gentle as "Chrestos"    which is astounding.  It is so similar to the word Christos, meaning the Christ, the anointed one, the Messiah and King.

In the time of Our Lord, people expected that the Messiah was going to be a warrior King who would come with power and force and violently overthrow the occupying forces of the Roman Empire and establish a new Kingdom on earth.  They also believed that this Messiah or Christ would seek retribution upon anyone who had not lived up to God's law and bring down vengeance upon them. Then, along comes Jesus as the true messiah and he is not violent, forceful or military, but he is gentle and humble…  The Christos turns out to be Chrestos…   that is…  "The Christ is gentle."  His burdens on us are light.   This is astounding and beautiful.   Our Lord says,  "learn from me for I am gentle and humble."

Often when we describe a yoke….. or a burden….. these words create the impression of hardship and difficulty……… and yet… it is good to remind ourselves…… that a yoke was ultimately designed to be used in order to make the task easier….. to make it manageable… and tolerable…. // With a heavy task, a yoke allows a person or an animal to lift a weight and carry that weight in such a way that distributes the weight and makes it possible to carry, and tolerable over an extended period of time……..

May God richly bless us and give us the joy, the rest and the relief that comes with this faith…, hope and love.
(Reference: William Barclay - Commentary on Matthew's Gospel).
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Fr Peter Dillon:
I once received what I have come to know as a 'backhanded compliment'. Not long after ordination in my first parish, a well-intentioned parishioner said to me: "Father the thing I like about your homilies is that you don't clutter them up with theology". I think I know what he was trying to say and as I look back over the years since then, I am now convinced that my greatest insights into the nature of God and my relationship with God, did not come from theologians – at least not the classically trained ones. I realise now that I learned more about the incarnation and the redemptive nature of God from people who maybe didn't even realise they were teaching at the time. People who didn't clutter up their lives with profound theological arguments and long treatises on transubstantiation. Their explanations were earthy and practical and not constrained by fear of not being accepted as a credible source of knowledge. They were people whose words and witness made me ask questions about the 'why' and 'how' of God and creation.

The common characteristic of all these people was that they all had simple insights and a sure faith born of experience and a realistic approach to life.

One was a grandparent, another a fond aunt. There was a kitchen worker at the seminary while another a sacristan in a busy parish. All shared a deep theology with great conviction, but in the most simple of words.

Some of their memorable phrases that have stayed with me:
You can't pray away all your problems
Leaving it all to God can lead to laziness
God can't speak to you if you don't shut up for a minute.
Such wisdom from such child-like minds.

I later started to worry that I may have missed out on some of life's great lessons because I was looking for qualifications or an academic acknowledgment instead of lived experience. It started to become clear to me that we don't really learn about God so much as we live God, sometimes by trial and error, but never without getting to know the part of us that connects up with God.

Although Jesus never ran for public office or sought to join any religious community, he had to learn to trust his own lived wisdom. Along the way when he shared that wisdom he was rejected because he was not one of the publically acknowledged authorities. We can imagine that he lived and learned from the simple people in Nazareth. He knew first hand their hardships and he saw that his role to assist them to life those burdens, by reminding them that not all burdens are important and some are mere 'baggage' not 'responsibilities'. But not all people saw his inner purpose of doing the Fathers will. 

Maybe he thought that the rabbis and those who were educated in the word of God would be the first to recognise what he had come to offer. But on many occasions he was very disappointed. What he came to realise is that the Father often overlooks the learned and the clever to settle his favour on the simple, on those who have received no formal training in the Law.

When it comes to revealing who he is the Father looks to people who exercise no power and enjoy no prestige in the community. He looks to people like his disciples.

Remember that in Jesus time there were whole groups of people who were dismissed as sinners because they follow what were regarded as dishonourable callings – people whose lifestyle did not permit them to observe the small print of the Law.

These people were at the bottom of the social heap and were ignored, but Jesus had a word for them and all those who were bowed down by the interpretation of the law. He had no intention of doing away with the law, but he refused to support those who spent their time finding new burdens for broken people.

Saint Peter in Acts 15 also admits that the disciples of Jesus could not bear the full yoke of the Law. He says: "Why should they demand of others that which they have never managed to do themselves?" then a gentle reminder that we believe that we are saved in the same way as the lawmakers are: through the grace of the Lord.

Jesus offers any who were prepared to listen, an invitation to come and learn from him and find rest for their souls and in doing so he makes himself the centre of his own teaching. He is the Wisdom of God, and personal fidelity to him will be the mark of the true disciple. God has chosen him to be the one who enshrines the fullness of revelation and who embodied the new Law of God. When we refer to simple faith we sometimes think that we are 'dumbing down' our belief and practices.

I prefer to think of us as not dismissing people and their experiences as being useless and unworthy. It puts a whole new perspective on who really are the learned and the clever.
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References:
Fr Peter Dillon

Prologue: Fr Paul W. Kelly

Shutterstock licensed stock photo ID: 251742775. "Rest for the weary-Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." By grace21


Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A (Sunday, July 5, 2020) (EPISODE: 239 )
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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{{Shalom (peace)}}

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
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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PREFACE: Sundays Ordinary IV
Eucharistic Prayer I
Communion side. pwk: RH
(OPENING THEME VARIATION:  2)
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{{Bless you all and May God's grace guide you each and every day.}}

Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.

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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 - 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. This arrangement from 2007.  

- "Today I Arise" - For Tricia 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. 

-Lenten Hymn: "Have Mercy," inspired by Psalm 50(51). Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2020
[ Production - KER - 2020] 

-Come Holy Spirit Hymn: inspired by the Hymn by  Rabanus Maurus (9th century). Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2020. Sound effects by Mark DiAngelo,

May God bless and keep you. 
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Weekday Solemnity Saints Peter And Paul 29th June. (episode: 238)

Solemnity of Saints Peter And Paul  29^th June. (episode: 238)

Readings for the Day

FIRST READING: Acts 12:1-11;

Psalm: Ps 33:2-9 "The Lord set me free from all my fears."

SECOND READING: 2 Tim 4:6-8, 17-18; 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION, (Matthew 16:18). "Alleluia, alleluia!

You are Peter, the rock on which I will build my Church; the gates of hell will not hold out against it. Alleluia!

GOSPEL: Mt 16:13-19

 

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed stock photo ID: 41136337. Icon of saint Apostles Paul and Peter on mahogany and gold. By Dmitry Kalinovsky

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To listen to the audio recording of the readings, prayers and reflections for this feast, please click this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-solemnity-of-saints-peter-and-paul-29th-june-episode-238/s-xedYAWaHvpb  

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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.

{{Goodness and kindness to you all}}

On this special (feast of) St Peter And Paul

Our Gods love and mercy knows no bounds, and so let us recall our sins so as to worthily celebrate this Holy Sacrifice.

Lord Jesus, you built your church on the solid rock of St Peter's confession. Lord have mercy.

You sent Saint Paul as apostle and teacher to the gentiles. Christ have mercy.

Your apostles were faithful workers in your vineyard. 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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PREFACE:
Euch .Prayer: 3
(PROPOSED THEME OPENING 1)
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{Thanks for joining us for this time of prayer and reflection}

Dismissal:

Go in peace,  glorifying the Lord by your life

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Prologue:  Saints Peter and Paul Died as martyrs in Rome under the persecutions of emperor Nero, between 64-67 ad. This prominentoutstanding  feast day of the city of Rome has been observed on this date since the mid-third century. It commemorates the martyrdom of Peter the "chief of the apostles" and of Paul the "apostle to the Gentiles". They are Remembered for their faith, their courage, and their leadership during the difficult days of the birth of our lord's spirit led church.

 

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HOMILY:

 

St Ambrose (340-397)

One of the original four Doctors of the Church

  "Where Peter is,

there is the Church.

Where the Church is,

there is Jesus Christ.

Where Jesus Christ is,

there is eternal salvation."

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St Augustine (354-430) Father & Doctor of the Church:

 

 "There is one day for the passion of two apostles.

But these two also were as one;

although they suffered on different days, they were as one.

Peter went first, Paul followed.

We are celebrating a feast day, consecrated for us by the blood of the apostles.

Let us love their faith, their lives, their labours,

their sufferings, their confession of faith, their preaching."

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"There must be general rejoicing, dearly beloved,

over this holy company whom God has appointed

to give us example in patience and strengthen our faith.

But we glory even more in the excellence of Peter and Paul, whom the grace of God has raised to such a height among all the members of the Church

that He has set them like "twin lights of eyes" in that Body whose head is Christ."

 

St Pope Leo the Great (400-461) Father & Doctor of the Church

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Pope Francis – in a June 2014 homily on Peter and paul says.....

 

In today's Feast, the Lord repeats to me, to you… what he said first to the Apostles....  and especially including Saints Peter and Paul.....: Follow Me!

Waste no time in questioning or in useless chattering;

do not dwell on secondary things but look to what is essential and follow Me.

Follow Me without regard for the difficulties.

Follow Me in preaching the Gospel.

Follow Me by the witness of a life shaped by the grace you received in baptism….. and holy orders.

Follow Me by speaking of Me, to those with whom you live, day after day,

in your work, your conversations and among your friends.

Follow Me by proclaiming the Gospel to all, especially to the least among us,

so that no one will fail to hear the word of life,

which sets us free from every fear

and enables us to trust in the faithfulness of God.

Follow Me!

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It wonderful genius from God, to inspire a twofold celebration of these two apostles... it shows both unity and cooperation, but also a single vision...   one serving the communion and care of the universal church, the other a wonderful voice of mission and inclusion ....    a perfect balance...  

 

Let us pray for the unity and peace of the church and the world....  let us unite in common vision and united action...   let us be inspired by the different talents and different foci of mission but with the same Spirit leading and guiding us to bear much fruit...

 

We also pray in thanksgiving and blessing for all priests, many of whom have their anniversary of Priesthood at this time. May God continue to strengthen and guide and bless their ministry with much fruitfulness and clarity...

 

these wonderful apostles continue to interced for the Church and the world.....   for continuing unity, charity, courage and vision.

 

Saint Peter and Saint Paul...  pray for us.

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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly

 

Quotes: https://anastpaul.com/2018/06/29/quote-s-of-the-day-29-june-the-solemnity-of-saints-peter-and-paul/

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed stock photo ID: 41136337. Icon of saint Apostles Paul and Peter on mahogany and gold. By Dmitry Kalinovsky
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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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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 - 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.

- "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.

 Production - KER - 2020

May God bless and keep you.

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, June 28, 2020 EPISODE 234

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, June 28, 2020 EPISODE 234

Readings for 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time - A

FIRST READING: 2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16a

Psalm 89:2-3, 16-17, 18-19. "Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord."
SECOND READING: Romans 6:3-4, 8-11

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION, (1 Peter 2:9).Alleluia, alleluia! You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy people. Praise God who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.
GOSPEL: Matthew 10:37-42

 

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed stock illustration ID: 1621834639. Illustration in Byzantine style depicting the scene of the Jesus Christ's resurrection and its effects for those who hope in Him. By Julia Raketic
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Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, June 28, 2020 by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-orindary-13a-episode-237/s-BMWxmvTE2xK  (EPISODE: 234)
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Prologue: Even Our Lord hesitated at the enormousness of the cross..  at the garden of Gethsemane he prayed that this cup of suffering would be taken from him...  but then added (wonderfully) but not my will be done, but yours!   Nobody rushes towards suffering or prefers the Cross. The mystery of the cross is a difficult but central reality in the life of Christ and of us all.....  And in life, there are many little crosses as we journey along our path......... Helen Keller...   the American author, political activist, and lecturer, who was both deaf and blind.  She said the most extraordinary thing once...It is challenging and difficult to comprehend this message but it is the message of the Cross.......The following are her words and this is what she said motivated her life....."I thank God for my disabilities. For through them, I have found myself, my work, and my God!"     -    WOW.   What an amazing outlook...... one that transformed everything she did and said.   Because of... and despite many major obstacles in life, she did not let stop her.

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13^th Sunday Ordinary Time Year A 2020

 

Throughout my life, there have been many times when I have witnessed that wonderful Aussie characteristic of "giving a bloke a chance", of digging deep in times of trouble. Through droughts and fires and numerous other disasters, people have done amazingly generous things for their fellow Australians, that have spurred the rest of us on to make some sacrifices ourselves, when at first we thought it doesn't have anything to do with me. That type of generosity is infectious, and, if done with a good spirit, brings its own rewards.

 

 "We take care of our own", is now a proud part of our tradition. But who is "our own" and when does 'taking care' start to become a burden? How do we respond when those who don't come from our "tribe", or traditions our lifestyle need that chance?

 

Certainly one of the most confronting issues in our world is the crisis surrounding refugees. People, who for a range of reasons, find they can no longer live in the country of their birth and must seek refuge elsewhere. Every day hundreds of thousands of people find it necessary to gather their family and belongings and search for security away from the place that they believed they would be safe.

 

You can only imagine what despair these people must have grappled with when they finally decided that the danger of departing was seen to be a better option than staying where they had established their house, employment and their family tradition. May we never know the trauma of having to take such desperate measures?

 

I wonder do these people ever know what will greet them when they arrive at some new place. Will they be greeted at all or will they find a country that will reject them like we would an invader. The only way these desperate people will survive is if they are welcomed into this new and often vastly different society.

 

In the sacred tradition of Israel, hospitality was regarded as one of the chief responsibilities of a caring people. The stranger, the outsider. The wayfarer. Anyone outside their home territory – all were regarded as people who were in need of special care.

 

The reason for this was enshrined in the Law "if a stranger lives with you in your land, do not harm him. You must count him as one of your own countrymen and love him as yourself – for you were once strangers in the land of Egypt." (Leviticus 19:33-34).

 

We should not be surprised to know that while this Law was held as sacred, as people settled in their lands and became established they started to worry about their own security before that of others. Eventually, they no longer looked to their community, their tribe for help, but started looking after their own property. They started to care for only those they knew.

 

 By the time Jesus was born, the people of Israel had settled into the land of Palestine, and since they were no longer a wandering people but had they land and security they wanted, their values and changed and so did their connection and responsibilities for each other.

 

In the Gospel of Matthew we hear clearly that Jesus was born into a place where he was not accepted. He had no security and had to be taken to Egypt for safety and shelter. From the very beginning of his life, he had to rely on the hospitality of others. In fact, the whole of Jesus adult life seemed to be one of taking to the road with his band of itinerant supporters. Where could he lay his head in a land of strangers? As they leave their own region of Galilee, they become refugees who have to depend on the hospitality of others to receive them and welcome their message.

 

It would seem that people did welcome his disciples, particularly those who need to hear the good news they were bringing. Those who welcomed them as holy messengers from God did receive their own reward in the form of healing and forgiveness. They came to discover that the message of a loving forgiving God was not a finite commodity like their land and belongings. That their hospitality was not a matter of bed and breakfast and goodbye, but rather it was the act of opening their hearts to the visit of God who came in the person of Jesus. In doing so they caught something of the goodness and values that Jesus showed them. They changed because of his visit.

 

And that is where hospitality begins; with an open door and open heart. Yes, it does extend beyond being comfortable. It goes beyond offering others some immediate assistance in the hope that they might go away and leave us alone. Supporting the stranger means first listening to what they have to say and providing practical support for them in their quest for belonging.

 

We profess that 'generosity to the needy' is now one of our proud Catholic characteristics, but it is often tempered with the concern of "What do I get out of this and how long does my giving last?" It is a question that our country must ask itself and it has no easy answer. Yet, if we as individuals are not sure about our answer, how can we expect to have any influence on the rest of the community? We offer no example to others if we are not prepared to practice what we profess to believe if we only take the comfortable bits of the Gospel message.

 

I suppose it comes down to see if we believe what Jesus proclaims when he says, people won't lose by their generosity to the cause of the Gospel. As he tells his messengers: "anyone who welcomes you welcomes me; and those who welcome me welcome the one who sent me".

 

In the end, it is God who is our guest.

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References:
Homily:  Fr Peter Dillon

 

prologue: Fr Paul W. Kelly

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed stock illustration ID: 1621834639. Illustration in Byzantine style depicting the scene of the Jesus Christ's resurrection and its effects for those who hope in Him. By Julia Raketic

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A (Sunday, June 28, 2020) (EPISODE: 234 )
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (or/ The Lord be with You)
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{{Welcome everyone}}

 

my brothers and sisters, to prepare ourselves to celebrate 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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PREFACE: Sundays Ordinary III
Euch Prayer Three
Communion side. pwk: LH

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{{thank you so much for taking this time with me to listen to God's word and for praising God for his goodness and care.}}

Go forth, the Mass is ended.

 

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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.

- "Today I Arise" - For Tricia 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. 

May God bless and keep you. 
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