Weekday - Solemnity of The Immaculate Conception - December 8th. (episode: 337)

Weekday Solemnity of The Immaculate Conception - December 8^th. (episode: 337)

Genesis 3:9-15, 20
Psalm 97:1-4. " Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvellous deeds."
Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12
Gospel Acclamation: cf Luke 1:28. Alleluia, alleluia! Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women. Alleluia!
Gospel: Luke 1:26-38

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed ID: 628121756 Blessed Virgin Mary with baby Jesus. Artistic abstract modern colorful design. Digital illustration made without reference image. By Thoom
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To listen to the audio recording of the readings, prayers and reflections for this feast of The Immaculate Conception - December 8th , please click this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/the-feast-of-the-immaculate-conception-faith-hope-and-love-ep-337/s-hMiSqfGhwQc?si=8f2134bc19e6418ea4ed4544c9069998
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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.
{{Joy and peace to everyone}}

On this special (feast of) Feast Of The Immaculate Conception
Coming together as Gods family, let us call to mind our sins.

Lord jesus, you humble the proud and exalt the lowly. Lord have mercy.

You fill the hungry with good things, and The self-sufficient you send away empty. Christ have mercy.

Your mercy reaches from age to age for those who revere you. Lord have mercy.

May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.

(Gloria)

Collect (Immaculate Conception)

Let us pray.
(that we too will be admitted to the presence of God)

O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin
prepared a worthy dwelling for your Son,
grant, we pray,
that, as you preserved her from every stain
by virtue of the Death of your Son, which you foresaw,
so, through her intercession,
we, too, may be cleansed and admitted to your presence.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
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: Immaculate conception.
Euch .Prayer: 3
(PROPOSED THEME Marian hymns)
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{Thank you, everyone, for participating in this superb feast of the immaculate conception… and for giving generously to god and to our christian community, of your time and prayerfulness.}

Dismissal:
go and announce the gospel of the lord..
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HOMILY:
The Immaculate Conception
(8 December)
Prologue: This feast had its origin in the East as the "Conception of Mary by Saint Anne". It spread through the West during the Middle Ages as the "Immaculate Conception" and was extended to the entire Western Church in the eighteenth century. The feast celebrates Mary, preserved from sin from the moment of conception; she is the first fruits of her Son's redemption and a prophetic model of what the Church is called to be.
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This is a very special feast celebrating Mary's life… from the moment of her conception… This Feast… as all feasts and solemnities, is really about God and what God has achieved, through the wonderful grace and blessings God has showered upon his beloved children… And on this occasion, the superb and wondrous plan of God that envisaged and made a reality through the first moment of the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary…. Whenever we pause to turn our attention to contemplate Mary, this "first and most perfect disciple of Christ" always humbly points us in turn towards her beloved son, God's son, who is the reason and cause of all our joy and hope…

Mary, although fully human, was conceived without sin and remained sinless throughout her life.

By this feast we remember the earlies beginnings of Mary's existence and also contemplate our own earliest beginning. And the love at the very heart of our origins.

Ultimately we all belong to God. A God of the most profound and overflowing love. God's plans of love and inclusion for his children began well before time began.
We were imagined by God long before we came to be. We were all lovingly brought into existence, created by God, through God's loving grace…(that same source of love that brought the whole of creation into existence). ..
God's love claims Mary's entire existence. We, too, seek to allow God to envelop our whole selves now and always. (1).

The Immaculate Conception: Is defined like this…..
490 To become the mother of the Saviour, Mary "was enriched by God with gifts appropriate to such a role. (that is, God gave her the graces and gifts needed to allow God to achieve his plan for the salvation of humanity, through her cooperation). "The angel Gabriel at the moment of the annunciation salutes her as "full of grace". In fact, in order for Mary to be able to give the free assent of her faith to the announcement of her vocation, it was necessary that she be wholly borne by God's grace.
491 Through the centuries the Church has become ever more aware that Mary, "full of grace" through God, was redeemed from the moment of her conception. as Pope Pius IX officially proclaimed in 1854:
The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and the privilege from almighty God; --and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin.
492 The "splendour of entirely unique holiness" by which Mary is "enriched from the first instant of her conception" comes wholly from Christ: she is "redeemed, in a more exalted fashion, by reason of the merits of her Son". The Father blessed Mary more than any other created person "in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places" and chose her "in Christ before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless before him in love".(2)

and a nice quote from:
Scripture Scholar and Theologian, Gustavo Gutiérrez:
 "Mary is aware of all the implications of her accepting God's will: "Here I am, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word" (v. 38). In the Canticle of the Magnificat, Mary will again call herself a servant. Luke has in mind the meaning of the Hebrew word which we translate by "servant." It means completely belonging to God... Servants are those who announce the Lord's message completely, and those who receive a mission (Acts 2:18).

Belonging to God is expressed by our availability, by our welcoming his plan for our lives and our world.

Mary does not ask for a sign from the Angel Gabriel… in the way that Zechariah had demanded and doubted(Lk 1:18). She shows her complete trust and confidence in the will of God. Mary makes God's will her own, in her entire self-hood…. in her whole life and in her body. 

We are called do the same.

The reading from Ephesians shows the deep meaning of our human existence. We have come into this world for the purpose of fully realising our full calling to be daughters and sons of God (vv. . 4-5). Being God's children is not something added from outside the human condition, instead, it is our very reason for being. The grace of God's love is the first and the last word upon everything.
However, we cannot accept God's plan of love and peace if we do not first incarnate God's plan, (that is, to make God's plan a concrete reality)…… to "enflesh" God's word, into the tangible elements of our daily lives. In order to achieve this we first need to get rid of any selfishness or wilfulness, and trust, rely and act upon the grace and vision of God, (as Mary did), and take risks in the strength of this trust and obedience, (again, As Mary did)." (3)

All Praise and blessing to our beautiful and loving God, for the wonderful things God has achieved through his extraordinary plan to utilise the free and full cooperation of the of the Blessed Virgin Mary, flowing through her, for the good of all people. Praise, indeed, be to God whose wonderful and astounding plan of salvation for the whole world, included his loving and freely cooperative plan for Mary's life, which began before her conception, and anticipated the salvation that Christ would later achieve by his Death and Resurrection, to save us all.

O Mary, The Immaculate Conception. Pray for us.
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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly

1. Quote from a pamphlet: "Mary: God's radical daughter." Published by CATHOLIC ENQUIRY CENTRE. Copyright: The Australian Episcopal Conference of the Roman Catholic Church, 1994
2. Vatican.va. (2019). Catechism of the Catholic Church - "Conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary". [online] Available at: http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p122a3p2.htm [Accessed 12 Nov. 2019]).

3. Gutiérrez, G. and Dees, C. (1997). Sharing the Word through the liturgical year. 1st ed. Maryknoll: Orbis Books. pp 280-281.

4. Prologue from Liturgy Brisbane Resource.

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed ID: 628121756 Blessed Virgin Mary with baby Jesus. Artistic abstract modern colorful design. Digital illustration made without reference image. By Thoom
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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 .

Marian Hymn –– "Rainfall – Hail Holy Queen." Music by Paul W. Kelly. 1994, 2021. Words by Paul kelly, based on the Traditional Salve Regina Hymn. Arranged & with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2021. https://www.airgigs.com/user/stefankelk

Reflection Hymn post communion - Salve Regina (tono simple) 450 voces coro virtual Música Católica. https://cantocatolico.org/salve-regina/

Magnificat (Praise and sing to God)- (July 2021) -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 - 2021]

May God bless and keep you.
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Second Sunday of Advent. Year C - Sunday, December 5, 2021 (EPISODE: 336)

Second Sunday of Advent. Year C - Sunday, December 5, 2021

(EPISODE: 336)

Readings for Sunday, December 5, 2021 - Second Sunday of Advent. Year C
FIRST READING: Baruch 5:1-9
Psalm 126:1-2a, 2b-3, 4-5, 6. "The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy."
SECOND READING: Philippians 1:3-6, 8-11
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Luke 3:1-6). Alleluia, alleluia! Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths: all people shall see the salvation of God. Alleluia!
GOSPEL: Luke 3:1-6

(Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed. ID: 1972030007 - Valenciennes, France. 2019-09-12. Preaching of Saint John the Baptist by Frans Pourbus the Elder (1575-1643). Museum of Fine Arts in Valenciennes, France.- 59300 Valenciennes, France - By Adam Jan Figel)
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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for the Second Sunday of Advent. Year C - Sunday, December 5, 2021, by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/advent-2c-faith-hope-and-love-ep-336?si=f3d2f5c3be7b475b8c24cce9950d91ad  (EPISODE: 336)
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*John the Baptist boldly proclaims that the Messiah's arrival (long foretold and expected for generations), was now imminent.

The image of roads being straightened and mountains levelled is a great image about a journey. All humans are on a lifelong journey towards God's house where we are all invited to be members of God's family. The straight paths, the flattened mountains, the filled-in valleys also make it quite clear that all people are called and invited; people of every race, nation and language. The paths must be straight to allow people to approach and to allow us to approach God.

"men and women who are more equal and more respectful of others dignity, are the best way for God's salvation to come." [II]

It is TIME.

Time to get ready for the arrival of the Son of Man; the Lamb of God who will take away the sins of the world. It is time to prepare the way, and level the mountains, and straighten the pathways. It is TIME, to repent of our sins and be ready to welcome God's chosen one and his Kingdom.

It is one thing to repent of our sins out of fear – fear of God's punishment or anger. But it is quite another to repent of our sins and wrongdoing because we are so sorry that our sin has grieved God's heart and worked against the values of the Kingdom. There is nothing quite so devastating as seeing a parent disappointed and let down by our actions. That cuts deeper than anything. God's disappointment can spur us on to love more closely according to God's vision, than merely doing the right thing out of a sense of duty.

We want to repent and be better, more loving, more just and more forgiving, faithful children of God, not because we fear God's anger and punishment but because we love God, and God loves us infinitely. And we cannot bear to cause God grief and disappointment when we may not have lived up to the ways that God lovingly calls us to live.

The readings give us some food for thought. There are a few really beautiful lines of Scripture: The Lord will grant us "Peace through integrity, and honour through devotion" -- This is the way of true peace from God: by walking in the ways of integrity and doing what is right, come what may. Despite the storms and shocks of life, God's peace is attained from being united with Christ, and walking in his ways of justice and love. God's peace will sustain and guide us.

Our conscientiousness and devotion to the Word of God, and to prayer and good works will give us fulfilment in a way that nothing else could.
 
And the wonderful words of St Paul from the second reading, (it is one of the most beautiful and touching passages in the Scriptures): "My prayer is that your love for each other may increase more and more, and never stop improving your knowledge and deepening your perception so that you can always recognise what is best."

May we always do what is best by an increase of knowledge and perception that can only come from a deepening (day by day) of our love. That theme of ever-deepening love and practical kindness has been flowing through the Scriptures of late, and rightly so. It reminds me of that other quote from Scripture. "By this, all people will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another." (John 13:35).

The central trait and quality of a true Christian, (a disciple of Christ, and friend of Jesus), is not first and foremost a merely visible keeping of every rule and regulation, not first of all their bold and unbending speaking out against all that is wrong and bad in the world. Our discipleship is not primarily about the eloquence, length or frequency of one's daily prayers, (for as St Paul said elsewhere: "if I did all those things but did them without love, it would do me NO GOOD whatsoever!!" Being a more loving, compassionate, merciful and reverent person, and deepening our love that derives from God who is love, and having the fruits of that love show in our words, our actions and our priorities and choices … now THAT is something .. in fact, that is everything…

In this coming week, let us ask God to show us the paths that need straightening. the barriers that need lowering… For this is the time and season for intense and urgent preparation and conversion so that we might love more deeply, as Christ does, and so that everything we do may flow from and find its source and destination in God, who is LOVE.
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Fr Peter Homily -
It is said that most of our adult fears come from some trauma or crisis in our early lives. People's fear of heights or reptiles, of needles or thunder, usually stem from some unpleasant childhood experience. Although I'm not sure what event triggered my phobia, undoubtedly one of my great fears is being lost in a desert. No particular one, just some hot arid environment. No water, no signposts, no hope. I could not live like John the Baptist who seemed to embrace the uncertainty, the loneliness and that heat. Could that be what he was trying to teach us, how to find God where we least expect God to be? 

Perhaps what I really fear is living so close to the edge of life and death. No excess, no luxury and no choices.

Think of all the people who had a desert experience. Obviously, the Bible is full of desert people, mainly because there was no other choice. There was Moses, Moses the outlaw, the wanderer, the refugee. The Israelites after him, disobedient, and hard-hearted, wandered in the desert for 40 years to learn submission to the will of God. David fled for his life, from his own seditious son Absalom, hiding in the desert. When Jesus began his mission, St Luke says the Spirit led him into the desert. When Saul experienced a conversion on the road to Damascus, he spent three years in the Arabian Desert. John the Baptist lives in the desert. Hundreds and thousands of hermits, anchorites and monks have found wisdom and holiness in the desert.

Why? The desert is such a basic, unforgiving place.  There are no illusions in the desert, just a total, vast, harsh emptiness. You live in total dependency, from hand to mouth, from day to day. No distractions, no TV, no microwaves, no cars. Everything becomes focused on the bare facts of existence, of yourself and God.
It was in this experience of utter desolation and dependency that Moses discovered God, as did Jesus and a whole army of holy people who lived life on that edge where grace and humanity meet.

The metaphorical Desert of the scriptures for us means three things:

Learning to live with less. All the things the advertisers convince us that we need to be fulfilled human beings are lies! And we know it deep down. More clutters the spirit. Less frees it. Advent is the time to learn to do with less so that we may become more. Getting down more to the bare challenge of existence deepens our dependency on God. We have a better chance of meeting God when we have fewer distractions.

The desert means solitude. Prayer. Stepping out of the fast lane and dedicating 10, 15, 30 minutes to prayerful solitude to listen for the word of God.

Paradoxically the desert also means company. It reveals that we too need to be connected with others to network the Christian life, spiritual direction, study groups, prayer groups, and regular meetings to reflect on the meaning of the gospel in my life.

Where are these deserts to be found in this urban landscape? It does need some planning. It is possible in our own home if we are disciplined enough to remove ourselves from the noise and clutter, or even to go to a park or just a silent walk. Of course, those of us lucky enough to live near a beach or a mountain has some of the basic requirements. But the really lucky ones are those who live in the country with open fields away from noises of people and traffic.
Whatever space you find try to free your minds from things that are not of God. Nothing to fear there.

As Paul; suggests this is an excellent time to improve your knowledge, deepen your perception, become pure and blameless, and prepare for the Day of Christ.

 Which is the great message of Advent: Do it now. (Now is the acceptable time)
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References:
PROLOGUE - Fr Paul W. Kelly

HOMILY BY FR PETER DILLON

ACTION 2000 – PRAYING SCRIPTURE IN A CONTEMPORARY WAY. YEAR C. BY MARK LINK S.J.

[ii] SHARING THE WORD THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR. GUSTAVO GUTIERREZ.

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed. ID: 1972030007 -Valenciennes, France. 2019-09-12. Preaching of Saint John the Baptist by Frans Pourbus the Elder (1575-1643). Museum of Fine Arts in Valenciennes, France.- 59300 Valenciennes, France - By Adam Jan Figel

Second Sunday of Advent. Year C  (Sunday, December 5, 2021) 
(EPISODE: 336)
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{{hello everyone}}
In the Name of the Father (+) and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

The Lord be with you.

 

We continue on our Advent journey. We now light the second Advent candle. The "Bethlehem Candle" - symbolizes the journey of Faith. Reminding us of Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem.

 

{The Presider/helper lights the second candle}

 

Presider: Lord Jesus. You call us to prepare your way, making the paths straight. Lord have mercy.

 

Presider: You promise to bring to completion the good work you have begun in us.  Christ Have mercy.

 

Presider: O Wisdom, Come to teach us the way of truth.. Lord Have mercy.

 

**(no Gloria in Advent)

 

COLLECT:

 

Let us pray,

Almighty and merciful God,

may no earthly undertaking hinder those

who set out in haste to meet your Son,

but may our learning of heavenly wisdom

gain us admittance to his company.

Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit. God, forever and ever.

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Prayer after Communion

 

Let us pray,  

Replenished by the food of spiritual nourishment,

We humbly beseech you, O Lord, that, through our partaking in this mystery, you may teach us to judge wisely the things of earth and hold firm to the things of heaven.

Through Christ our Lord.

 

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Psalm 126:1-2a, 2b-3, 4-5, 6. "The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy."

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Luke 3:1-6). Alleluia, alleluia! Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths: all people shall see the salvation of God. Alleluia!

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: Advent I
EP II
Communion side.  pwk:  RH
(theme variation: v1 )
(pre+post variation: v2-short)
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{Cheers and thanks everyone for this time of prayer and reflection - I hope you have a blessed week.}

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DISMISSAL:

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

 "O Come. Lord. (Advent) " - In Memory of Paolo Mario (Paul) Giacomantonio (1968-2020).
By Paul W. Kelly. Based on the Ancient church "O Antiphons " of Advent.
Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics, By Stefan Kelk, 2020.

 [ Production - KER - 2021]

May God bless and keep you.

{extra text: unspoken for Advent -

 Roman Missal, 3rd edition, 2010, (ICEL)

 Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, and 2009 by the NCC-USA.

  "The Psalms " by The Grail - 1963, 2009.

 Prayers of the Faithful - Robert Borg "Together we pray " - (1993) }

Sound Engineering and editing -  P.W. Kelly.

Microphones: -      SHURE MOTIV MV5

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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November 28, 2021 - First Sunday of Advent. Year C

* The Beginning of the Church's Calendar Year. First Sunday of Advent. Year C - Sunday, November 28, 2021 (EPISODE: 335)

Readings for Sunday, November 28, 2021 - First Sunday of Advent. Year C
FIRST READING: Jeremiah 33:14-16
Psalm 25:4-5a, 8-9, 10+14. "To you O Lord I lift my soul"
SECOND READING: 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Luke 21:25-28, 34-36). Alleluia, alleluia! Lord, show us your mercy and love and grant us your salvation. Alleluia!
GOSPEL: Luke 21:25-28, 34-36

(Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed. ID:775472464 -Panoramic view of apocalypse sky over the city. Unbelievable nature landscape. By Benevolente82)
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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for the First Sunday of Advent. Year C - Sunday, November 28, 2021, by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/advent-1c-faith-hope-and-love-ep-335?si=1eccb2ea9c874ba49ebb68e4fe6043fd  (EPISODE: 335)
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Prologue  (Fr Paul)
The Church's year has a timing different from the usual calendar year.  This weekend, with the first Sunday of Advent, the new liturgical year for the Church begins.  We have a three-year cycle of readings for each new year.

The Church's liturgical year begins with Advent, in anticipation of the birth of Christ.   Every year we focus upon and read continuously through a particular gospel.

The weekend cycle covers three years, year A (Matthew's Gospel), Year B (Mark's Gospel), and Year C (Luke – which begins this week). If you are wondering why there isn't a four-year cycle (with John's Gospel as the fourth), it is because John's Gospel, so rich in theology and the latest of the four gospels is spread through all the years and is especially fitting in the Lent, Easter and Christmas seasons.

The readings are fairly continuous, although parts are not included, largely due to repetition, or to fit the asymmetrical nature of the Bible into a neat three-year cycle. There may be some jumping about so that the old testament readings are often placed in the same weekend next to a gospel passage with similar, contrasting or expanded themes.

The Beauty of our Continuous Cycle of Readings.

In the Catholic Church, and in fact most of the mainstream Christian Churches, there is a set cycle of readings. Our "lectionary" is actually the Bible divided up into regular instalments. The great thing about this is that, over a three-year cycle, we cover most of the old and new testament readings. The weekday readings are also a cycle (independent of the weekends) that covers a two year's period. In the weekday cycle, the first reading changes and the gospel is the same for the same weekday of the year, irrespective of whether it be year 1 or 2).

The advantage of this way of choosing readings is twofold: we progressively hear from the breadth of the scriptures and not just the 'old favourites.' The other reason is that we let the Word of God "choose us" and not "us choose the word of God." If we arbitrarily choose the readings for each weekend, it could open up the scriptures to all sorts of watering-down. For example, some texts are more challenging and less pleasant than others. How many times have you seen when a group is choosing the readings for a liturgy that they will skip over an option because the subject matter is "not pleasant" or deemed "irrelevant". In fact, most scriptures are relevant, if we sit with them and ponder their often challenging meaning.

Admittedly, some passages seem more readily relevant than others, but this can be a great trap. Also, for the preacher, it could be a temptation to pick readings that are easier, more entertaining, or more engaging to preach upon. But, in the end, surely the Word of God needs to be let free to set the agenda and not us. Also, a challenging word from the bible can be neutralized if people think that the preacher or others have chosen a particular passage to "get a point across." So, in our system, if a reading seems uncannily topical, it is not chosen by the minister, it is the action of the Spirit, who enlivens the Word of God contained in the Scriptures.
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Advent has begun.
A new church year has also begun.
It is a time of renewal and 'new beginnings."
From a church perspective, now is the best time to bring out those inspiring 'new year resolutions' (Christian-style), and for us to ask God to direct and guide us as we immerse ourselves deeper, (and deeper, each day), into the reality of God's love, compassion, mercy and justice.

We have commenced our four-week preparation for the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord. It is such a short time of preparation that we have to be vigilant because the busyness of the season could easily mean that we "blink and miss it."

The readings this weekend are all about preparing and being 'ready' and 'staying awake' and being watchful.

I particularly like Saint Paul's words in the second reading:
"May the Lord be generous in increasing your love and make you love one another and the whole human race as much as we love you. And may he so confirm your hearts in holiness …. (And to) make more and more progress in the kind of life that you are meant to live: the life that God wants…." (JB)

The whole purpose, point and goal of our "lives of faith," is to continue along the path of loving our God by means of deepening our love and reverence for one another.

Our attitudes, our thoughts, and actions are intended to foster each day an ever-deeper love, charity and concern for all our fellow brothers and sisters; that is, all people.

What a wonderful calling. To strive (with God's grace), to be everything God desires us to be. We are called to grow daily in love, goodwill, peace, and forgiveness.

The readings also ask us some important questions: Do you believe that God will indeed fulfil his solemn promises to us? Do you truly believe that in the end, God will come in power and glory to establish in its fullness the Heavenly Kingdom of God's peace, justice and mercy? Do you believe that ultimately, honesty, peace, integrity, and love will be at the centre of all creation, through Christ?

Come, Lord Jesus, teach us your truth and love. Establish your Kingdom in its fullness.
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Homily (Fr Peter)

One of the hardest lessons for any child has to learn is how to wait for good things to come. Waiting for holidays, birthdays, sporting events and of course Christmas, all of which require a special discipline, is so difficult for child to practise. It can also be difficult for adults to exercise the patience necessary while waiting appointments, or taxies, or just people to arrive on time. When outcomes don't arrive at a time that we want or in a way that we expect then we give into frustration and ultimately despair. Why does God make us wait and how do we stay confident in that waiting time?

At the start of today's liturgy in all Churches we performed a ceremony with the lighting of a candle, a symbol of Advent The single small flame, burning alone in the midst of the others yet unlit, reminds us that this is a feast of beginnings, of waiting and anticipation. It's not so much a time of discipline, as a growing awareness or preparation of readjusting our lives that have tended to relax and lose focus about what is important and meaningful in a world of contrary voices.

It might seem strange that this gospel of this liturgy of beginnings turns our attention to the end: to the coming of the heavenly home, identified by the church with Christ in his second coming and glorious appearance. Of course this is to remind us that we are all on a journey moving towards an end that is still ahead of us, towards which we are still on our way.

Even though Jesus paints a rather grim picture of the future, he does so in order to influence what is happening now. He doesn't want to paralyse people with fear so much as energise them into action. He encourages us to do things by way of preparation. Firstly, to be realistic about the way the world is going and at the same time not to lose hope for the future.

If we just listened only to this section of Jesus message then we would feel understandably hopeless, and that is the way many people feel today. They deduce that if issues like the Covid and global warming are in the world then what have we got to hope in. We believers are fortunate in that we know the whole story and our hope is founded in the salvific action of Jesus. And that is why we tell the story again and again beginning with each Advent. We need to be reminded and reassured, so that we don't succumb to a negative and hopeless image of the world.

Advent of course is a preparation for Christmas, as so we are invited to feel the meaning of the feast more profoundly by reflecting on the history of humanity as we imagine ourselves sharing in the anticipation of a future saviour. But Advent is something much more that recalling the past history of salvation, or mere play acting. It is a history in we are included, in which we declare that we too wait in joyful hope for the coming of Christ. It commemorates a joyful kind of waiting, a waiting for Jesus that contains promise, love, preparation, alertness, reflectiveness, new beginnings and fulfilment. It's a special kind of waiting for the God who has come, does come, and will come. It's a time to be awake, alive quick-sighted, zealous in honouring him; to look out for him in all that is happening around us; to be detached from what is present and to live in what is unseen and to live in the thought that Christ once came and will come again.
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References:
Prologue - Fr Paul W. Kelly
Homily – Fr Peter Dillon

(Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed. ID:775472464 -Panoramic view of apocalypse sky over the city. Unbelievable nature landscape. By Benevolente82)




First Sunday of Advent. Year C  (Sunday, November 28, 2021)  (EPISODE: 335)
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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{{How are you today}}

1^st SUNDAY OF ADVENT – YEAR C –
 
 ENTRANCE PROCESSION:
 
INTRODUCTION
 
In the Name of the Father (+) and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
 The Lord be with you.
 [the blessing of the wreath with the sprinkling of holy water follows, using these words]:
 Presider: As we begin our Advent Journey, in preparation for Christmas,
 We bless this Advent Wreath.
 May the sprinkling of this water
 remind all of us gathered here
 of our first sharing in the grace of baptism.
 During this time of Advent
 may we prepare for the Lord's coming
 with open hearts and minds.
 May this wreath be a symbol to us
 (+) of this time of prayerful watching and waiting
 For the coming of the Lord.
 
{Presider now blesses the wreath and sprinkles it with holy water}
 
We now light the candle for the 1st Sunday of Advent. The "Prophet's Candle" Symbol of Hope. Reminding us that Jesus is coming.
 
{Presider takes taper and lights first candle on Advent wreath}
 
Lord Jesus your coming was proclaimed by the prophets of old. Lord Have Mercy.
Lord Jesus, you promise to keep us steady until the last day. Christ Have Mercy.
You instruct us to be ever-watchful. Lord, Have Mercy.
 
(no Gloria in Advent)
 
Collect:
 
Let Us Pray
 
Grant your faithful, we pray, almighty God,
the resolve to run forth to meet your Christ
with righteous deeds at his coming,
so that gathered at his right hand,
they may be worthy to possess the heavenly Kingdom.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit. God, forever and ever.
 
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Prayer after Communion
 Let us pray.
May these mysteries, O Lord, in which we have participated,
profit us, we pray, for even now, as we walk amid passing things, you teach us by them to love the things of heaven
and hold fast to what endures. Through Christ our Lord.
 
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Psalm 25:4-5a, 8-9, 10+14. "To you O Lord I lift my soul"

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Luke 21:25-28, 34-36). Alleluia, alleluia! Lord, show us your mercy and love and grant us your salvation. Alleluia!

Memorial Acclamation
1. We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.
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PREFACE: Advent I
EP I
Communion side.  pwk:  LH
(theme variation: full )
(pre+post variation: v1-long)
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{May God's love, strength, mercy and kindness guide you all this week.}

Go forth, the Mass is ended.

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

 "O Come. Lord. (Advent) " - In Memory of Paolo Mario (Paul) Giacomantonio (1968-2020).
By Paul W. Kelly. Based on the Ancient church "O Antiphons " of Advent.
Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics, By Stefan Kelk, 2020.

 [ Production - KER - 2021]

May God bless and keep you.

{extra text : unspoken for Advent -

 Roman Missal, 3rd edition, 2010, (ICEL)

 Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, and 2009 by the NCC-USA.

  "The Psalms " by The Grail - 1963, 2009.

 Prayers of the Faithful - Robert Borg "Together we pray " - (1993) }

Sound Engineering and editing -  P.W. Kelly.

Microphones: -      SHURE MOTIV MV5

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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