Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year B - Sunday, July 25, 2021
(EPISODE: 312)
Readings for Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year B
FIRST READING: 2 Kgs 4: 42-44. Twenty loaves
Ps 145: 10-11, 15-16, 17-18. "The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs. "
SECOND READING: Eph 4: 1-6. Preserve unity
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Luke 7: 16). Alleluia, alleluia! A great prophet has appeared among us. God has visited his people.
GOSPEL: John 6: 1-15. Five loaves
Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed. ID: 1497751724-Secovska Polianka, Slovakia. 2019/8/22. The Icon of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes – Feeding the Multitude. The church of Saint Elijah.-By Adam Jan Figel
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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year B - Sunday, July 25, 2021, by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-ordinary-17b-episode-312
(EPISODE: 312)
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* (Prologue: Fr Paul Kelly)
Love, gentleness and dignity is at the heart of everything Our Lord did and taught.
The miracle with the loaves and the fishes is amazing enough. But, HOW he distributes the miraculous loaves and fishes is also PROFOUNDLY important. Our Lord could have had this huge and plentiful supply given out by saying something like: "Okay everyone, line up!! We will hand this out." That is to say, Our Lord could have insisted on handing out the bread and fish like the recipients were just beggars, recipients of charity…. People merely grabbing and clutching at the food. But no!! Our Lord respects each person's dignity. He asks that everyone sits down, in groups…. In little community groups. The food is brought to the people and they eat it, as equals and with all dignity. Truly a second miracle has occurred…..an equally needed miracle. Yes, we have people who are in physical need; and we also have people in our society who are crying out for a sense of dignity, for equality and who do not want to be treated just like a number. We have people still, who cry out for human and respectful interaction and an experience of a real and nurturing community.
Our Lord gives us both nourishment and dignity and asks us to do the same.
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(Homily: "Bread with Dignity"
This weekend's first reading and Gospel are closely connected. They speak of God's compassionate feeding of the people in their times of need.
It is also a reminder of God's desire for us to offer our gifts, resources and talents for the good of others.
We offer these gifts to God, through our care for each other.
The gifts we have, we are given to share.
We are very mindful of the many areas in the world where there are huge numbers of people who do not even have enough of the basics of life: food, water, shelter, healthcare, education, safety and freedom. We are inspired to work to help them, through the caring help of missionary and charitable groups who meet these essential needs. And the ideal is those groups who follow the example of Christ and meet people on the ground, in their own situations.
In the Gospel, it has been noted that Our Lord is very careful to make it clear that his actions, (in feeding the crowd), are not meant to be any kind of "show of power and wonder" – these acts were not intended to win him popularity. In fact, Our Lord shuns popularity and swiftly leaves the scene after the extraordinary event, in order to prevent the popular enthusiasm of the crowd from rising up and avoid the situation of people trying to make him an earthly king.
Our Lord's actions are motivated only by compassion and by concern for the real needs of his people. He calls on his disciples, (us too!), to do everything we can, to use all the resources we have available to be real "food for the hungry. And help for those most in need."
It is so reassuring to remember that God is the one who gives us what we need in due season. God has our concerns in his heart. God works to give us what we need, and he calls upon others to assist in the meeting of the real human needs of others. When we are tempted to lose hope or to question, then the words of the Scriptures remind us that God is completely faithful and desires that we are fed. God is generous, but God does not want us to waste this generosity even a crumb of the graces and blessings he gives us.
Our Lord calls us to give -- and keep giving, without counting the cost; without expectation of return. Our Lord promises to transform this heartfelt but humble offering of ours, into things of grace.
There is a beautiful reflection, attributed to Saint Teresa of Kolkata, (which I think was actually written by a man named Kent M. Keith and published in 1968, in a College Pamphlet. However, a copy of this reflection was kept on the wall in Mother Teresa's children's home).
It goes like this:
"People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centred;
forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior
motives; be kind anyway.
If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you;
be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others may destroy overnight; Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous;
be happy anyway.
The good you do today will often be forgotten;
do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it may never be enough;
give your best anyway.
........"
The Gospel does not make 'judgement' or 'self-justification' into the common bond between us, but rather God makes 'love' and 'goodwill' and 'generosity' as the true bond that unites us. We "love our neighbour" precisely because God's presence is in everyone around us, whether the others recognise it in return, or whether (or not) they recognise the beauty of God's indwelling Spirit in themselves or in their own actions.
The second reading has Saint Paul imploring us, (pleading with us), to "live a life worthy of our vocation.... in humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love,"
I think it is fair to say that Saint Paul would not have needed to plead with us to "bear with each other" if it was already an easy thing to do. It is not easy to follow the way of Our Lord. It does not always come naturally to 'bear with one another in patience and love,' even if it is what we were made for, and destined for. Because we are being called to live in communion with God and to allow God to transform our humanity into the shining image of God's Divine life and values.
Love, gentleness and dignity are at the heart of everything Our Lord does. Our Lord respects each person's dignity in the miracle of the loaves and fishes.
He asks that everyone sits down, in groups…. In little community groups. The food is brought to the people and they eat it, as equals and with great dignity. Not just handed out as if the recipients were mere beggars.
No one wants to be treated just like a number. Many people are crying out for human and respectful interaction and an experience of a real and nurturing community. Our Lord gives us both nourishment and dignity Jesus never stops at half measures.
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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly
Kent M. Keith. "The Paradoxical Commandments: Finding Personal Meaning in a Crazy World." October 25, 2001." (ISBN-10: 1930722052).
+ Some ideas are taken from Gustavo Gutierrez, "sharing the word through the liturgical year."
Abbotts Homily, Monastery of Christ in the Desert
Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed. ID: 1497751724-Secovska Polianka, Slovakia. 2019/8/22. The Icon of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes – Feeding the Multitude. The church of Saint Elijah.-By Adam Jan Figel
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year B (Sunday, July 25, 2021)
(EPISODE: 312 )
The grace of our Lord Our Lord Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
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{{May Our Lord's generosity inspire you. }} welcome everyone, we gather - To Pray, listen and reflect upon God and God's Kingdom.
Coming together as Gods family, let us call to mind our sins.
Lord Jesus, you healed the sick: Lord, have mercy//You forgave sinners: Christ, have mercy//You give us yourself to heal us and bring us strength: 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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Ps 145: 10-11, 15-16, 17-18. "The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs. "
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Luke 7: 16). Alleluia, alleluia! A great prophet has appeared among us. God has visited his people.
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EP IV (with own preface)
(theme variation: 3 )
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{Thanks for joining us for this time of prayer and reflection}
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 our 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: 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 (Bill) Kelly (1942-2017) - 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.
Microphone: - Shure Motiv MV5 Digital Condenser.
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 - 2021]
May God bless and keep you.
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