A LENTEN PENITENTIAL SERVICE - (For you at home) 2024

 

A LENTEN PENITENTIAL SERVICE - (For you at home) 2024

A LENTEN PENITENTIAL SERVICE - In preparation for Holy Week and Easter. (For you at home) 2024 Readings: FIRST READING: James 2:14-26 PSALM: 106:6-10, 13-14, 19-22. "Lord, remember us, for the love you bear your people." GOSPEL: LUKE 15:4-7. Image: Shutterstock licensed image ID: 382340017 - Broken heart, embroidered with red thread on black fabric. Heart sewn with white thread. Contributor: Natasha Grigel ++++ Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for A LENTEN PENITENTIAL SERVICE - In preparation for Holy Week and Easter. (For you at home), by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-lenten-penitential-service-in-preparation-for-holy-week +++++ In preparation for Holy Week and Easter … We have been doing acts of penance, prayer and good works so that we may celebrate the joy Christ's victory at Easter, with minds and hearts made pure… Today, we celebrate this special penitential service… which is an act of perfect contrition for all our sins.. Christ hears the voice of the repentant sinner… and so we trust in his abundant mercy,… ++ In the name of the Father, (+) and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Greetings. Coming together as brothers and sisters in Christ, let us prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries by recalling our sins and remembering Christs greater mercy. I confess to Almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, through my fault, through my fault,* ....... May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen. Lord Have Mercy Christ Have Mercy Lord Have Mercy My brothers and sisters, we have, at times, neglected the gifts of our baptism and fallen into sin. Let us ask God to renew his grace within us as we turn to him in repentance. Let us Bow our heads before God. All pray in silence for a brief period. Lord Jesus, you redeemed us by your passion and raised us to new life in baptism. Protect us with your unchanging love and share with us the joy of your resurrection, for you live and reign for ever and ever. Amen. First Reading A reading from the Letter of saint James 2:14-26 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill', and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith without works, and I by my works will show you my faith. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder. Do you want to be shown, you senseless person, that faith without works is barren? Was not our ancestor Abraham justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was brought to completion by the works. Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, 'Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness', and he was called the friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. Likewise, was not Rahab also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another road? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 106:6-10, 13-14, 19-22 R. Lord, remember us, for the love you bear your people. Then they cried to the Lord in their need and he rescued them from their distress and he led them along the right way, to reach a city they could dwell in. Let them thank the Lord for his love, for the wonders he does for men: for he satisfies the thirsty soul; he fills the hungry with good things. Then they cried to the Lord in their need and he rescued them from their distress. He led them forth from darkness and gloom and broke their chains to pieces. Then they cried to the Lord in their need and he rescued them from their distress. He sent forth his word to heal them and saved their life from the grave. Let them thank the Lord for his love, for the wonders he does for men. Let them offer a sacrifice of thanks and tell of his deeds with rejoicing. Lord, remember us, for the love you bear your people. Gospel Luke 15:4-7 A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke Jesus spoke this parable to them: 'What man among you with a hundred sheep, losing one, would not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the missing one till he found it? And when he found it, would he not joyfully take it on his shoulders and then, when he got home, call together his friends and neighbours? 'Rejoice with me,' he would say, 'I have found my sheep that was lost.' In the same way, I tell you, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine virtuous men who have no need of repentance.' The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. Homily When we were baptised…God made a solemn promise to us. As the waters of baptism poured over us, God said… this day I make you my son/ My daughter…. – God truly loves us as a loving parent loved their child…. It is our delight and our duty to fulfil this wonderful gift and grace of baptism by living faithfully the Gospel of Christ. God's promise of eternal parenthood to us, and his promise of complete faithfulness with us through our whole life journey and into the eternal life of the Heavenly banquet, was no mere words… it was not an empty show…. God means what God does and God fulfils what God promises. Without doubt. So too, the promises made at our own baptism by our parents and godparents. or by ourselves and our sponsors for those baptised in adulthood… these promises are real and solid…. The first reading reminds us that we are children of God in fact, as well as name. And that our membership of God's family needs to show itself in actions and consistent attitudes and values. and not merely words or hollow rituals… The Sacraments are alive with the power of God's Spirit. and the source of all the sacraments is from the power and effectiveness of the Holy Spirit given over-flowingly in Baptism… we become grafted onto Christ. joined to him forever… what an absolute joy. What a priceless treasure… We have to be so careful of two extremes. Both are very bad and harmful to us in so many ways. The first extreme is to take for granted our membership as a daughter or son of God. We are not part-time members of Christ… occasional friends of Jesus… we are friends, heirs and servants of the living God… We, therefore, take very seriously God's direction to us that we must take our gifts and make use of them for the good of God's Kingdom. As we heard in James' letter… faith without good works is entirely dead. Discipleship of Christ and membership of God's family is utterly hollow if it doesn't show itself in attitudes, actions and decisions consistent with Our Father's Kingdom. Practical actions of kindness, love, mercy and charity… Our actions are united with the loving heart of Our Lord Jesus. Whenever we fail and sin (when we fall). and at times when we make very poor choices or actions, the other extreme, (to be carefully avoided), is to be so "down on ourselves".. That we cannot forgive ourselves … or we effectively refuse to allow God to give us the forgiveness that God can and does want to give us. It is serious and false humility to not accept God's forgiveness and mercy when it is offered. IF God has forgiven us, we are truly forgiven indeed! Who are we to say that God cannot or will not forgive us for our sins? Are we greater than the God of all creation? If I say to God, I have sinned and then say, Lord, you are unable to forgive me for this, I do not deserve to be forgiven … then I can add pride and arrogance to my sins… The constant message of the bible and Christ's Good News is that he is the loving parent of the prodigal child who looks out for the return of his errant child day and night.. and runs to meet him when he finally and sheepishly (and possibly half-heartedly) returns.. / like the Gospel… Our loving God is NOT content with 99% of the sheep safe and sound… but will not be satisfied until he searches for and finds that lost 1% and brings them home safe too. Today we praise the unlimited mercy of our God and Father who continually welcomes those who turn back to him after having sinned (see Luke 15); The upcoming season of Easter (even as celebrated in these extraordinary and difficult times) remains the feast when the Church rejoices over the newness of life, and eternal life, in Christ, won for us by the death and Resurrection of Jesus. Examination of Conscience The Lord says: 'Love one another as I have loved you.' Have I a genuine love for my neighbours? Or do I sometimes use my neighbour for my own ends, or do to them what I would not want to be done to myself? Have I given a poor example or scandal by my words or actions? In my family life, have I contributed to the well-being and happiness of the rest of the family by patience, kindness and genuine love? Have I been obedient to parents, showing them proper respect and giving them help in their spiritual and material needs? Have I been careful to give a Christian upbringing to those in my care, and to help them by good example and by exercising authority as a parent or carer or mentor? Have I been faithful in my heart and in my relations with others? Do I share my possessions with the less fortunate? Do I do my best to help the victims of oppression, misfortune, and poverty? Re there times I have looked down on my neighbour, especially the poor, the sick, the elderly, strangers, and people of other races? Does my life reflect the mission I received in confirmation? Do I share in the missionary and charitable works of the Church and in the life of the parish? Have I helped to meet the needs of the Church and of the world and prayed for them: for unity in the Church, for the spread of the Gospel among the nations, for peace and justice…..? Am I concerned for the good and prosperity of the human community in which I live, or do I spend much of my time focusing only on myself? Do I share to the best of my ability in the work of promoting justice, morality, harmony, and love in human relations? Have I done my duty as a citizen? In times of ability, have I paid what is my due to the society I live in? In my work or profession am I just, hard-working, honest, serving society out of love for others? Have I been faithful to my promises and contracts? Have I obeyed legitimate authority and given due respect to its laws for the good of the community? In any position of responsibility or authority, do I use this for the good of others, in a spirit of service, or for my own purposes? Have I been truthful and fair, or have I injured others by deceit, calumny, detraction, rash judgment, or violation of a secret? Have I stolen the property of others? Have I desired material things unjustly and inordinately? Have I damaged things of others or failed to show care to property I am responsible for? Have I made restitution of other people's property and made good their loss? If I have been injured, have I been ready to make peace for the love of Christ and to forgive, or do I harbour hatred and the desire for revenge? Where is my life really leading me? Is the hope of eternal life my inspiration? Have I tried to grow in the life of the Spirit through prayer, reading the word of God and meditating on it, receiving the sacraments, self-denial? Have I been anxious to control my vices, my bad inclinations and passions, e.g. envy, love of food and drink? Have I been proud and boastful, thinking myself better in the sight of God and despising others as less important than myself? Have I imposed my own will on others, without respecting their freedom and rights? What use have I made of time, of health and strength, of the gifts God has given me to be used like the talents in the Gospel? Or have I been slack and too much given to leisure? Have I been patient in accepting the sorrows and disappointments of life? Have I always tried to act in the true freedom of the sons of God according to the law of the Spirit, or am I the slave of forces within me? Act of Repentance My brothers and sisters, the hour of God's favour draws near, the day of his mercy and of our salvation when death was destroyed and eternal life began. This is the season for planting new vines in God's vineyard, the time for pruning the vines to ensure a richer harvest. We all acknowledge that we are sinners. We are moved to penance, encouraged by the example and prayers of our brothers and sisters. We admit our guilt and say: 'Lord, I acknowledge my sins; my offences are always before me. Turn away your face, Lord, from my sins, and blot out all my wrong-doing. Give me back the joy of your salvation and give me a new and steadfast spirit.' We are sorry for having offended God by our sins. May he be merciful and hear us as we ask to be restored to his friendship and numbered among the living who share the joy of Christ's risen life. Cleanse us, Lord, from all our sins; Wash us, and we shall be whiter than snow. Lord, your sons and daughters stand before you in humility and trust. Look with compassion on us as we confess our sins. Heal our wounds; stretch out a hand of pity to save us and raise us up. Keep us free from harm as members of Christ's body, as sheep of your flock, as children of your family. Hear, Lord, the prayers we offer from contrite hearts. Have pity on us as we acknowledge our sins. Lead us back to the way of holiness. Protect us now and always from the wounds of sin. May we ever keep safe in all its fullness the gift your love once gave us and your mercy now restores. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. R. Amen. LORD'S PRAYER HAIL MARY The Lord be with you…. SOLEMN BLESSING // May God, the Father of mercies, who has given you an example of love in the Passion of his Only Begotten Son, grant that, by serving God and your neighbour, you may lay hold of the wondrous gift of his blessing. R. Amen. So that you may receive the reward of everlasting life from him, through whose earthly Death you believe that you escape eternal death. R. Amen. And by following the example of his self-abasement, may you possess a share in his Resurrection. R. Amen. And may the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, (+), and the Holy Spirit, come down on you and remain with you forever. R. Amen. Go in peace, glorifying the Lord BY your life! +++++ References: Fr Paul W. Kelly Liturgy Adapted from texts in the Rite of Penance Book Appendix II Sample Penitential Services. PENITENTIAL CELEBRATIONS DURING LENT. First Example. –adapted- "Penance leads to a strengthening of baptismal grace."). App. Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship. Trans. ICEL. Australian Episcopal Conference. 1975. Image: Shutterstock licensed image ID: 382340017 - Broken heart, embroidered with red thread on black fabric. Heart sewn with white thread. Contributor: Natasha Grigel +++++++++++++ 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: 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 Liturgy Adapted from texts in the Rite of Penance Book Appendix II Sample Penitential Services. PENITENTIAL CELEBRATIONS DURING LENT. First Example. –adapted- "Penance leads to a strengthening of baptismal grace."). App. Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship. Trans. ICEL. Australian Episcopal Conference. 1975 Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA) "The Psalms" ©1963 The Grail - Collins publishers. Have Mercy – Song based on Psalm 50. Music by Paul Kelly. Added lyrics and arrangement and sung by Stefan Kelk. 2020. Production - KER 2024 May God bless and keep you.

Fourth Sunday of Lent. -Year B - Sunday, 10 March 2024 (episode 468)

Readings for Fourth Sunday of Lent.- Year B
FIRST READING: 2 Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-23 (diff)
Psalm 137:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6. "Let my tongue be silenced, if I ever forget you!"
SECOND READING: Ephesians 2:4-10
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (John 3:16). Glory and Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. God loved the world so much, he gave his only Son. That all who believe in him might have eternal life.
GOSPEL: John 3:14-21

Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 609078908 - The Brazen Serpent / Mount Nebo, Jordan
Photo Contributor: bayazed
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GOSPEL THIS WEEKEND
Homily: Fourth Sunday of Lent.Year B - Sunday, 10 March 2024 (episode 468)
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Please listen to the audio-recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for Fourth Sunday of Lent. Year B - Sunday, 10 March 2024 - by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-the-fourth-sunday-of-lent-year-b-episode-468/s-lRkyAsf11KY  
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* (Prologue:  Fr Paul Kelly)
We are now at the three-quarter mark of Lent…..   our Lenten journey does not have long to go before Holy Week is upon us……

So, during this week, it is a good time to take stock and see how we have been going in the area of  "Prayer, Penance and acts of kindness and works of loving and practical charity…."
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The gospel this weekend gives us a very helpful test to assist us in our taking stock of ourselves… ……. "The daylight test"…. How do our actions, our behaviours, and our priorities stand up to the bright light of day; -  to the searching light of clarity…..  

To see how closely we are really adhering to the values of the gospel….   Just let us ask ourselves… how would it really appear, if my secret words, actions and behaviours were revealed in plain sight…  In the clear glare of the bright light of day…  would I be at peace with what I have done..?? 

As I said last week…   take a look at any difference between how we drive when people can recognize us, and how we might drive if we believe we are anonymous, in the dark…   unrecognized. or when no one seems to be looking… How do we act when no one can see us…? Are we consistent?  
I was visiting the hospital the other day, and I was parking my car and walking up to the hospital, humming a little tune.  I noticed a pedestrian just in front of me, walking quietly and calmly back to his car and getting into it..  perfectly sedately, but then I was surprised;  because as soon as he got into it. It is like he turned into something else… he reversed quickly…  revved the car loudly and sped out of the 40km carpark area at a really fast rate…   it is as if merely getting into that car turned him into a completely different (and a lot crazier) person….//   I could not believe the difference or the transformation!!  Is it possible that most of those revving, impatient, impulsive, aggressive, angry drivers we see on the road… get out of their cars and turn back from crazy Mr Hyde… into mild-mannered and friendly Dr Jekyll ??…  I think, sometimes YES. 

The thing about that is, even if being a crazy and impulsive driver is not who we are 99 % of the time; it is still, according to the scriptures today, a really important test of how integrated we are, as a whole person…    and those acts of craziness when we are not identified or fairly anonymous"  say more about the true state of our inner hearts and dispositions than we might care to admit.   But lent is a time for seeing admitting and submitting these contradictions, to our merciful, loving God.

 It's the same in those situations where we all gather for a beautiful mass and we sing and we pray and we greet each other, as brothers and sisters in Christ….  And then we go back to our cars and the next minute we hear beeping and yelling and abuse…   whoops??  What's happened there…   peace be with you indeed!!   These are the contradictions we must lay before the Lord, and ask him to pour his healing love upon…  to make us more and more consistent and loving and compassionate inside and out…  in public and private..   a holy person is a whole person, who is consistent inside and out…   this is what Our Lord is calling us towards…  and we need his mercy and love to attain it. Slowly but surely.   

God invites us to always and everywhere strive to be people of the light..  whose behaviour and choices are wrought in the light…  and not in the shadows of darkness, concealment or double standards.

All we have to do is respond in faith, humility and trust to Jesus invitation… how we respond to Jesus is decisive… 
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References:

Fr Paul W. Kelly

**Barclay, W. (1975). The Gospel of John. Part I. 2nd ed. Edinburgh: St. Andrew Press.

DeBona, G. (2014). Between the Ambo and the altar. Year B. 1st ed. Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press.

Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 609078908 - The Brazen Serpent / Mount Nebo, Jordan - Photo Contributor: bayazed.

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Fourth Sunday of Lent. Year B   (episode 468)
The Lord be with you.
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{{Kindness and grace to you all}} Welcome everyone, we gather -  To take time to reflect upon the meaning of God's word for our everyday lives

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 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 137: 1-2, 3, 4-5, 6. "Let my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you! "

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (John 3: 16). Glory and Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. God loved the world so much, he gave his only Son. That all who believe in him might have eternal life.

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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: Lent II

EP II   or reco

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{I pray this week brings you an ever-deeper experience of Our Lord's compassion and love}

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 the weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here:  https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks

"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).

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

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 -  2024]

May God bless and keep you.

Third Sunday of Lent. -Year B - Sunday, 3 March 2024 (EPISODE:467)

Third Sunday of Lent. -Year B -  Sunday, 3 March 2024
(EPISODE:467)

Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed.Stock Photo ID: 2156585795 - MONOPOLI, ITALY - MARCH 6, 2022: The painting of Jesus Cleanses the Temple scene in the church Chiesa di Sacro Cuore by Onofrio Bramante from 20. cent.Editorial Use Only. Photo Contributor: Renata Sedmakova

Readings for the Third Sunday of Lent.- Year B
FIRST READING: Exodus 20:1-17
Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 11. "Lord, you have the words of everlasting life."
SECOND READING: 1 Corinthians 1:22-25
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (John 3:16). Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory. God loved the world so much, he gave his only Son. That all who believe in him might have eternal life.
GOSPEL: John 2:13-25
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Please listen to the audio-recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for Third Sunday of Lent. Year B - Sunday, 3 March 2024 - by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-the-third-sunday-of-lent-year-b-episode-467/s-uETkhv7qfdo  
(EPISODE:467)
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GOSPEL THIS WEEKEND

Third Sunday of Lent. Year B. Sunday, 3 March 2024

The lines of the First reading today set the scene for everything that follows. That first sentence is the key to understanding the ten commandments that follow.

 God gives the Law to Moses, saying, "I am the Lord your God who brought you out of slavery in Egypt." The "Words" from God that follow, which we know as the commandments are given to God's people to free them, protect them, and keep them in a good relationship with the Lord. (God declares to us that he is the God of liberation; God gives us this law to free us).

 God's law is not an onerous duty or a burden. It frees us to be everything we are created to be.

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The Psalm sums it up so well: God's law is perfect. It is an absolute JOY. It gives wisdom. We are created not to be slaves, wearily doing the Lord's will as if it is a dreadful imposition and a burden. God's law is life and light. 

 

From the outset, God names two things that imprison and enslave us;

      - Putting other earthly things before God. and

      - Creating false idols (making passing "things" into our 'god'),

 

These things lead to disaster. Our Lord wants to free us from this. Our Lord sets us on the path of God's ways, being first and respecting and showing reverence to ourselves, our communities and our neighbours.

 

To truly understand the real meaning and purpose of the law, it can be very helpful to understand the lawmaker. Then, one sees what the purpose of the law is. God is love, and God has unfathomable depths of compassion. God is just, faithful and loving. To keep God's law is a delight; it is created by our loving and compassionate God.

 

Our Lord, Jesus, who embodied and perfected the law, shows us God's loving, compassionate heart.

 

This is why Jesus knew the purpose and meaning of the law and how to apply it in Spirit and Truth. And, it is why he occasionally seemed to bend the letter of the law, to keep the spirit and meaning of the Law. Only Christ (who is the Law and the compassion of God), could understand the meaning of the Law so well as to complete it.

 

A good symbol of this issue in a modern example would be on our roads, As you drive along the highway. How many people do you see who look like or act like the road laws are a delight, a pure joy to keep? How many do you see driving around filled with delight and peace as they faithfully observe the laws of the road?

 

They cut in, tailgate, or sail past others doing four times the signed limit.

 

Like many laws, rules or regulations: - we know that the laws of the land protect safety, regulate competing rights and ensure the protection of life, liberty and property. But, in this one example I am mentioning, many seem to go through life flouting laws and treating them as a bore and a burden, a silly restriction on their "freedom," as they drive at excessive speeds, cut people off, turn and brake dangerously tailgate, abuse, and so on. Too many people seem to have taken this view on the road rules and other aspects of life.

 

"This law is silly, and it limits me. It doesn't apply to me. I am above all that, so I ignore it." But if everyone flouted laws when they felt it was unimportant, who would obey any? And what would become of it?

 

Too many find out by accident that they were not such a master of the situation that they believed. 

 

As I am sure most would agree, following the road rules can be a joy and a delight because it frees us to be thoughtful and respectful to others and peaceful as we drive. Gone is the desperate effort to speed, rush, tailgate and rage over people who happen to be "in the way". The person who impatiently tailgates one car finally gets past them, only to be pathetically stuck behind the next car; all the while, they never notice that these cars aren't driving too slow; rather, THEY keep getting stuck because they are going too fast!!!! Some people are slow learners. Especially when they get to their destination (not having saved any time), and with a speeding camera fine, coming in the mail. All riled up. and, of course, it is always someone else's fault;

 

As necessary as human laws can be; God's law is so much better than this. It is true that the more we understand the reason for laws and the purpose of a rule, the more likely we will be to follow it. Of course, as the second reading reminds us, if God's ways are not like human ones, we must obey God's wisdom even if we find it unusual. We can be more and more open to God's ways. And get deeper inside the heart of the one who makes the laws not to hold us back but for life to be full.

 

The key to the gospel today is the first sentence too!!

            - "Just before the Jewish Passover. " -

 

There is nothing wrong with people coming into the temple and offering up goats, pigeons, or spotless lambs in reparation for sin and offering up one's prayer and dedication to God. In fact, it was the law of the time to do this. The temple was the house of God's presence amongst his people.

 

The money changers would have claimed that they were there to assist with the people's religious duties simply. There are major problems here, though. At one time, "living animals" were prohibited from being brought into the temple grounds for sale. But that had changed. The area of the temple that was supposed to be reserved for Gentiles to worship God was now a marketplace where no one could possibly hope to pray or worship amidst all the noise and the rabble of haggling. Our Lord saw that the Gentiles were being treated with contempt, as well as everything else wrong with this scene. The fees charged for the temple services had also gotten out of hand, costing poor visitors three or more days' wages to be able to perform their religious duty there. The attitude with which the money changers were robotically, mechanically and business-like performing these operations was making a mockery of the sacredness of the action. This was a place of mystery and awe, not a place to turn into a circus with markets and cold businesslike precision. It is also never meant to be a case of "put in a penny and out comes a blessing". So, Our Lord was restoring the proper awe and reverence to God.

 

And, since it was indeed "just before the Passover, we cannot help but notice that Jesus is the TRUE Passover lamb. He is doing away with the need for lambs, goats and pigeons. He will be the one offering once and for all the perfect sacrifice, which will now be the means of forgiveness, grace, and redemption. He is restoring in himself proper worship and effective sacrifice in which businesslike marketplaces will not be needed.

 

Also, Jesus will BE THE NEW TEMPLE. Our Lord will be for us always the presence of God and the abiding promise of God's presence.

 

In and through Christ, church and the Eucharist.

 

Jesus, (who not only knows the lawmaker but us actually ONE WITH him), restores, completes and renews the ancient sacrifices and makes them effective by his own life, his teaching, his death and resurrection. And he warns us, just as he did the moneychangers, never take this for granted. Do not go through rituals with the mechanical presumption of a slot machine. Always, let us do this in awe and reverence for the saving law and sacrifice found in the temple that is the body of Christ.

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References:

Fr Paul W. Kelly

 

D'ARCY, T., JOHNSTON, J. AND COPLEY, B. (2015). BREAK OPEN THE WORD. BRISBANE. QLD.: THE LITURGICAL COMMISSION/ LITURGY BRISBANE.

 

DEBONA, G. (2014). BETWEEN THE AMBO AND THE ALTAR. YEAR B. 1ST ED. COLLEGEVILLE, MINNESOTA: LITURGICAL PRESS.

 

JOHN J PILCH. THE CULTURAL WORLD OF JESUS/ THE APOSTLES/ THE PROPHETS SUNDAY BY SUNDAY, CYCLE B. COLLEGEVILLE, MINN. LITURGICAL PRESS .1996, 2002.

 

BARCLAY, W. (1975). THE GOSPEL OF JOHN. VOLUME I. 2ND ED. EDINBURGH: ST. ANDREW PRESS.

 

Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed.Stock Photo ID: 2156585795 - MONOPOLI, ITALY - MARCH 6, 2022: The painting of Jesus Cleanses the Temple scene in the church Chiesa di Sacro Cuore by Onofrio Bramante from 20. cent.Editorial Use Only. Photo Contributor: Renata Sedmakova

 

Third Sunday of Lent.  Year B  -(Sunday, 3 March 2024)  (EPISODE:  )
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (or/ The Lord be with You)
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{{Kindness and grace to you all}} Welcome, everyone; we gather - To reflect upon the meaning of God's word for our everyday lives On this Third Sunday of Lent.

Coming together as brothers and sisters in Christ, let us pause and reflect upon our sins to celebrate the Holy Eucharist.
Lord Jesus, you have revealed yourself as the way to the Father: Lord, have mercy. You have poured out on your people the Spirit of truth: Christ, have mercy. You are the Good Shepherd, leading us to eternal 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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Memorial Acclamation
3. Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.
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Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 11. "Lord, you have the words of everlasting life."

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (John 3:16). ). Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory. God loved the world so much, he gave his only Son. That all who believe in him might have eternal life.
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PREFACE: Preface ii  of Lent is used (when readings from year A are not used)

Eucharistic Prayer 2
(theme variation: theme 2 )

 

(post version: v2-long)

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{1. Thanks for joining us for this time of prayer and reflection}

2. 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 the 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).

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

Lenten Hymn: "Have Mercy," inspired by Psalm 50(51). Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2020. https://www.airgigs.com/user/stefankelk

Sound Engineering and Editing - P.W. Kelly.

Microphones: - Shure Motiv MV5 Digital Condenser.

Editing equipment:    -- MixPad Multitrack Studio Recording Software v10.49 (NCH Software).

NCH – WavePad Audio Editing Software. Masters Edition v 17.63 (NCH Software)

Sound Processing:  iZotope RX 10 Audio Editor (Izotope Inc.)

[ Production -  KER -  2024]

May God bless and keep you.