Second Sunday of Easter. Year B. Divine Mercy Sunday - Sunday, (EPISODE: 472)

Second Sunday of Easter. Year B. Divine Mercy Sunday - Sunday, (EPISODE: 472)

Image: Painting by Rodney Anthony – Gold Coast – 2024.

Second Sunday of Easter. Year B. Divine Mercy Sunday - 
(EPISODE:472)

Readings for Second Sunday of Easter. Year B. Divine Mercy Sunday
FIRST READING: Acts 4: 32-35
Ps 118: 2-4, 13-15, 22-24. "Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting."
SECOND READING: 1 John 5: 1-6
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (John 20: 29). Alleluia, alleluia! You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me; happy those who have not seen me, but still believe.
GOSPEL: John 20: 19-31


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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for the Second Sunday of Easter. Year B. Divine Mercy Sunday - Sunday, April 11, 2021, by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-second-sunday-of-easter-and-of-divine-mercy-year-b-episode-472  
(EPISODE:472 )
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* (Prologue:  Fr Paul Kelly)
This Sunday is Divine Mercy Sunday, where we recall the absolute mercy and love that Jesus has for all humanity.  

Today we know that Our Lord is certainly worth trusting in, and all His promises are true.  We can thank Thomas for Jesus confirming that for all future generations….  including us here and now….
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This weekend is Divine Mercy Sunday, and we recall on this Sunday the absolute mercy and love that Jesus has for all humanity. The world desperately needs to deepen its understanding and its experience of the depth and breadth of God's Divine Mercy and love for us, and for all the world. It is at the heart of God's nature, and at the heart of God's relationship with us, who are His beloved people, His sons and daughters.

We see our Lord's mercy and love at work in the Gospel this weekend. Thomas doubted, but our Lord did not punish him for his lack of faith. He instead sees deep into Thomas' heart, and sees the dedication of Thomas, his goodness of heart, the pain and loss and crushed hopes that caused Thomas to "not dare to believe" that the Lord could be risen as has been said.

Jesus meets Thomas where he is at, and leads him to see and believe, and this compassion, this love and mercy produce such astounding fruits. For Thomas, who so recently couldn't even bring himself to accept this wonderful news, is now the first to declare the complete truth of Christ's identity. He is not only our Lord, but He is our God. "My Lord and my God."

Today in the Gospel, the Risen Lord twice says these beautiful words, Peace be with you.

Jesus is offering us true peace, and it's something we desire very deeply. The world is crying out for this deep and abiding peace that only God can give us.

Jesus appears to His disciples to reassure them of the reality of the forgiveness that He has indeed won for us by His death and resurrection.

We can truly be at peace and trust in God's promise that He does indeed desire to free us from our burdens and forgive us our sins. This is a real promise, and it's God's deepest desire. Our Lord of astounding mercy does not want us to continue to be bowed down and burdened by our sins or past mistakes.

God doesn't want us to be stuck in our mistakes and sins, as we would surely be forever if not for His gracious, overwhelming compassion and mercy. His is a message of enormous hope. He implores us, doubt no longer, but believe.

Don't doubt in my love. Don't doubt in my desire to forgive you, and my ability to forgive you entirely. Believe that I do offer you the means and the real and lasting effect of my mercy, and my peace!

Jesus gently and lovingly chides Thomas. Jesus gently chides and invites us too.
"Do you doubt in my mercy? Are you actually daring to think yourself unforgivable and unforgiven when I have declared you absolved? Happy indeed are those who believe."

Also, the Gospel today ends with the writer of St. John saying, There are many things that happened in relation to Jesus, but they're not all written here. We, these many, many centuries after Jesus walked the earth, we too are witnesses to what Jesus continues to do in our world, even to this day.

We're called to be ministers of mercy, instruments of Christ's peace, agents of God's reconciliation and ministers of grace, ambassadors of Christ's love.

The importance of community cannot be understated either. In the first reading we hear of an ideal community.

The disciples pray together, they learn together, they share their resources, they help and support one another, especially those who are doing it tough. Our faith community exists so that we might assist and build up and strengthen each other, especially our brothers and sisters who are really struggling. Our Lord calls us to be a community of disciples, looking outward towards the world and ready to make a practical difference for others and for the good.

Our faith tradition tells us that to understand and believe in Christ, we must read the scriptures and meditate on them. We must also come to know other believers and listen to each other's experience with our hearts and minds open. Christianity is a religion that preaches Jesus crucified and risen, and still active in the community in and through those who believe in him.

Today, let us ask St Thomas to intercede for us, that we can believe more deeply in the great mystery of salvation. Let us be patient with our doubts and keep looking for the truth of Christ's presence amid the everyday events and people of our lives. Most of all, let's rejoice in the Lord who loves us so deeply and forgives our sins and invites us into deeper understanding of his mysteries.

May we continue to be built up by the risen Christ to be disciples who rejoice in being a community for the good of each other and the common good of all people. We are ministers of Jesus' graciousness and care. Jesus brings us peace, and having given us the gift of peace, he immediately commissions us and sends us out to put his message into action by acts of charity, love and support for everyone we meet.
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References:

Homily –Fr Paul W. Kelly

Image: Painting by Rodney Anthony – Gold Coast – 2024.
.

Second Sunday of Easter. Year B. Divine Mercy   (EPISODE:472  )
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (or/ The Lord be with You)
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{{peace and compassion  to you }} welcome everyone, we gather -  Reflection upon God's word, and encounter Christ's presence. 

My friends in Christ, to worthily celebrate the sacred mysteries, let us first acknowledge our sins. 
Lord Jesus, you raise us to new life: Lord, have mercy// //Lord Jesus, you forgive us our sins: Christ, have mercy//Lord Jesus, you feed us with your body and blood: 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 118: 2-4, 13-15, 22-24. "Give thanks to the Lord for he is good,his love is everlasting."

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (John 20: 29). Alleluia, alleluia! You believe in me, Thomas because you have seen me; happy those who have not seen me, but still believe.
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PREFACE: Easter I
EP II
(theme variation: 4 )

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{Many thanks for participating in this time of praise, worship and reflection upon our God's infinite love.}

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

- "Today I Arise" (Easter Theme) - - 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.

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

[ Production -  KER -  2024]

May God bless and keep you.
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Easter Sunday of the Resurrection. (Day) (Shorter celebration) -Year B -

 Easter Sunday of the Resurrection. (Day)

(Short celebration) -Year B -

 

Easter Sunday of the Resurrection. (Day)  (Short celebration) -Year B.
FIRST READING: Acts 10:34a, 37-43
Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23. "This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad."
SECOND READING:  1 Corinthians 5:6-8, (or Colossians 3:1-4)
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (1 Cor 5:7b-8a). Alleluia, alleluia! Christ has become our Paschal sacrifice; let us feast with joy in the Lord.
GOSPEL: Jn 20:1-9  (or Matt 28:1-10)   (or if Easter Sunday evening  Luke 24:13-35)

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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers, and homily), for Easter Sunday of the Resurrection. Year B -, by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-easter-sunday-year-b-2024-episode/s-hefK7PnBI1S

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Prologue

Happy Easter everyone !

 

and I pray and hope that God’s blessing  and peace are with you; and with all your family and friends on this Easter morning  - and indeed thoughout the whole  Easter Season.  

 

We are very much united in Christ – who is indeed the resurrection and the life and who is with us always to the end of time

The Lord is truly risen, alleluia.

To him be glory and power, for all the ages of eternity, alleluia, alleluia.

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Christ is Risen!    He is Risen indeed.   Christ is risen; as he said!! 

A spiritual writer once said … and put it so beautifully for us who have been keeping vigil in meditation and prayer, right up until this wonderful night…..

 

He writes:

"One of the powerful things that Easter says to us today, is this: You can put truth in a grave, but it won't stay there. You can nail truth to a cross, or wrap it in winding sheets;  and shut it in a tomb, but it will rise again! "   (Clarence W. Hall).

 

Today, we celebrate the fact that Christ has risen….he has Risen Indeed! 

 

He, who IS the way, the truth and the Life…..  could not possibly be held in death's grasp for too long. He broke free and promises us eternal life too.

 

God has the final say over the tensions and tragedies of life…..… and it is good news….    God says "yes" to the goodness of creation and "Yes" to each one of us……  it was right to remain faithful //   our hope in his promises is fulfilled…..

 

EASTER IS ABOUT FAMILY – first and foremost – we are all one family of God…  God loves us and cares about us…  and is faithful us forever……   and desires with all his heart that we love others with his heart too…Easter is also about our own individual families (sharing time for family, or if we are not able to be with them this easter, certainly giving thanks for the gift of them in our lives…)…..and giving thanks to God for the many ways in which God brings us to the fullness of life even on this side of Heaven.

 

We give thanks for our FAMILY, our friends….and    for so many graces and blessings we have received in life…  to nurture us and give us strength and joy……

 

Easter is the perfect time for celebrating Baptisms and welcoming people into our church communion…….    We give thanks for those who will be baptized and received into the church this season. God's gentle grace has led them here… and their decision is a great source of renewal and thanksgiving for the whole community.

 

Easter is not only about the promise of everlasting life in heaven,..// ..  there are so many ways in which Jesus' rising from the dead is a sign of God's constant work to "bring us out of the entombment" that we can experience in our lives…// // Tonight  is also about the real promise that "God can and does" want us to be "fully alive".,… //  and renewed in spirit and mind…. and brought to life again from so many things that can sap the life out of us…. weigh us down….  and imprison us……   whether it be fear, guilt, pain, illness, doubt, grief……   or countless other equally painful struggles….

 

Anyone who has ever gone through a "dark night of the soul" in their life, (and that is each of us at one time or another)…….and has come through the other end and now finds themselves in a renewed place, raised up again,  (never imagining that they would be in this new space) but here they are!!!….with the help of God's grace, (shown by the helping hands of family, friends, colleagues, ….and so many other ways…)….   anyone who has gone through this can testify…   Christ really IS at work brining us to new life (in so many ways)……    and Tonight  we give thanks for this…. and pray for those who continue to hope and trust in God's faithfulness….  // God's love and care for us will never fail….. God effects resurrection IN our lives, in ways beyond our expectations….. beyond our presumptions or in ways different from the literal limits of our requests …..   Often, we only recognize a 'resurrection moment in our lives' with a kind of 'dawning realization'  - like Mary Magdalene:  thinking that someone had hidden the body of our Lord….. searching and praying that she might find where they had hidden his body….…   and not at first realizing that her prayers had been answered in this man she initially mistakes for a gardener, (but no, it is the Lord himself)…..

 

May the Lord of the resurrection bless you and renew you with fullness of life – here and now (and forever)….

Lord, this -- new day dawns…!!"

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References:

Fr Paul W. Kelly

Easter Sunday of the Resurrection. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (or/ The Lord be with You)
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{{May God’s grace strengthen your love and hope and faith, and may God’s love surprise you even in the trials and challenges of the week.}}

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.
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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Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23. “This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad.”

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (1 Cor 5:7b-8a). Alleluia, alleluia! Christ has become our Paschal sacrifice; let us feast with joy in the Lord.

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Easter Sequence  (Jerusalem Bible version)

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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: Preface I of Easter
Euch prayer III
++++++++
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


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.

- "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.

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

Sound Engineering and editing -  P.W. Kelly.

Microphones: -      Shure MV5 Digital Condenser (USB)

Editing equipment:    NCH software - MixPad Multitrack Studio Recording Software
NCH – WavePad Audio Editing Software. Masters Edition v 12.44

Sound Processing:  iZotope RX 10 Audio Editor

[Production -  KER -  2024]
May God bless and keep you.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

HOLY SATURDAY NIGHT – VIGIL OF EASTER . Year B - SATURDAY, 2024 (Longer Liturgy of the Easter VIGIL)

HOLY SATURDAY NIGHT – VIGIL OF EASTER. Year B - SATURDAY, 2024 (Longer Liturgy of the Easter VIGIL)

 

(This is the whole vigil of Readings and Holy Saturday Mass – It is traditionally much longer than the usual Mass and filled with ancient beauty and profound symbolism)
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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers, and homily) for HOLY SATURDAY NIGHT – VIGIL OF EASTER. Year B – SATURDAY 2024, by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-holy-saturday-night-the-vigil-of-easter-year-b-2024-episode/s-v55QH6iUEoc

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The Easter Vigil in the Holy Night

STRUCTURE OF THE CEREMONY
I. The Solemn Beginning of the Vigil (also known as "Lucernarium"):  Blessing of the Fire, Procession, Exsultet

II. The Liturgy of Word:           Readings/psalms/prayers, Gloria, Homily

III. Renewal of baptism

IV. The Liturgy of Eucharist:    Preface of Easter I, (Easter Communicantes, Hanc igitur in Euch. Prayer I)

V. The Concluding Rites:         Dismissal with Alleluia

READINGS:       
I     Gen 1:1 - 2:2: God saw all he had made, and indeed it was good.
Ps 103:1-2, 5-6, 10, 12-14, 24, 35: R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.

II    Gen 22:1-18: Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac.
Ps 15:5, 8-11: R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.

III  Ex 14:15 - 15:1: Tell the children of Israel to march on, to walk through the sea on dry ground.
Ex 15:1-6, 17-18: R. Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.

IV  Is 54:5-14: But with everlasting love I have taken pity on you, says the Lord, your redeemer.
Ps 29:2, 4-6, 11-13: R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.

V   Is 55:1-11: Come to me and your soul will live. With you I will make an everlasting covenant.
Is 12:2-6: R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

VI  Baruch 3:9-15,32 - 4:4: Walk in the way of God and you will live in peace forever.
Ps 18:8-11: R. Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.

VII Ezek 36:16-28: I shall pour clean water over you and I shall give you a new heart.
Ps 41:3, 5; 42:3, 4: R. Like a deer that longs for running streams, my soul longs for you, my God.

Rom 6:3-11: Christ, having been raised from the dead, will never die again.
Ps 117:1-2, 16-17, 22-23: R. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Mark 16:1-8:  Do not be alarmed. He has been raised!

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Illustration ID: 585677387 - Easter resurrection - abstract artistic religious digital illustration with the figure of the risen Jesus Christ and the cross of light rays - Illustration Formats. Illustration Contributor: Thoom

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Christ is Risen!    He is Risen indeed.   Christ is risen; as he said!!  
A spiritual writer once said … and put it so beautifully for us who have been keeping vigil in meditation and prayer, right up until this wonderful night…..

 

He writes:

"One of the powerful things that Easter says to us today, is this: You can put truth in a grave, but it won't stay there. You can nail truth to a cross, or wrap it in winding sheets;  and shut it in a tomb, but it will rise again! "   (Clarence W. Hall).

 

Tonight we celebrate the fact that Christ has risen….he has Risen Indeed! 

 

He, who IS the way, the truth and the Life…..  could not possibly be held in death's grasp for too long. He broke free and promises us eternal life too.

 

God has the final say over the tensions and tragedies of life…..… and it is good news….    God says "yes" to the goodness of creation and "Yes" to each one of us……  it was right to remain faithful //   our hope in his promises is fulfilled…..

 

EASTER IS ABOUT FAMILY – first and foremost – we are all one family of God…  God loves us and cares about us…  and is faithful us forever……   and desires with all his heart that we love others with his heart too…Easter is also about our own individual families (sharing time for family, or if we are not able to be with them this easter, certainly giving thanks for the gift of them in our lives…)…..and giving thanks to God for the many ways in which God brings us to the fullness of life even on this side of Heaven.

 

 

We give thanks for our FAMILY, our friends….and    for so many graces and blessings we have received in life…  to nurture us and give us strength and joy……

 

Easter is the perfect time for celebrating Baptisms and welcoming people into our church communion…….    We give thanks for those who will be baptized and received into the church this season. God's gentle grace has led them here… and their decision is a great source of renewal and thanksgiving for the whole community.

 

Easter is not only about the promise of everlasting life in heaven,..// ..  there are so many ways in which Jesus' rising from the dead is a sign of God's constant work to "bring us out of the entombment" that we can experience in our lives…// // Tonight  is also about the real promise that "God can and does" want us to be "fully alive".,… //  and renewed in spirit and mind…. and brought to life again from so many things that can sap the life out of us…. weigh us down….  and imprison us……   whether it be fear, guilt, pain, illness, doubt, grief……   or countless other equally painful struggles….

 

Anyone who has ever gone through a "dark night of the soul" in their life, (and that is each of us at one time or another)…….and has come through the other end and now finds themselves in a renewed place, raised up again,  (never imagining that they would be in this new space) but here they are!!!….with the help of God's grace, (shown by the helping hands of family, friends, colleagues, ….and so many other ways…)….   anyone who has gone through this can testify…   Christ really IS at work brining us to new life (in so many ways)……    and Tonight  we give thanks for this…. and pray for those who continue to hope and trust in God's faithfulness….  // God's love and care for us will never fail….. God effects resurrection IN our lives, in ways beyond our expectations….. beyond our presumptions or in ways different from the literal limits of our requests …..   Often, we only recognize a 'resurrection moment in our lives' with a kind of 'dawning realization'  - like Mary Magdalene:  thinking that someone had hidden the body of our Lord….. searching and praying that she might find where they had hidden his body….…   and not at first realizing that her prayers had been answered in this man she initially mistakes for a gardener, (but no, it is the Lord himself)…..

 

May the Lord of the resurrection bless you and renew you with fullness of life – here and now (and forever)…. 

Lord, this -- new day dawns…!!"

+++++
References:

Fr Paul W. Kelly

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Illustration ID: 585677387 - Easter resurrection - abstract artistic religious digital illustration with the figure of the risen Jesus Christ and the cross of light rays - Illustration Formats. Illustration Contributor:
Thoom


HOLY SATURDAY NIGHT – VIGIL OF EASTER . Year B - SATURDAY, 2024 (Longer Liturgy of the Easter VIGIL)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++
PREFACE: Preface I of Easter
Euch prayer I

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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).

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

- "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.

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

Sound Engineering and editing -  P.W. Kelly.

Microphones: -      Shure MV5 Digital Condenser (USB)

Editing equipment:    NCH software - MixPad Multitrack Studio Recording Software
NCH – WavePad Audio Editing Software. Masters Edition v 12.44

Sound Processing:  iZotope RX 6 Audio Editor

[Production -  KER -  2024]
May God bless and keep you.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

Good Friday of the Passion of the Lord March 29th 2024 . (For you at Home).

Good Friday of the Passion of the Lord

March 29^th 2024 . (For you at Home).

 

LITURGY OF THE WORD
First Reading: Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12
Psalm: Ps 30:2. 6. 12-13. 15-17. 25. "Father, I put my life in your hands"
Second Reading: Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9
Gospel Acclamation: Philippians 2:8-9
Passion: John 18:1 - 19:42
Homily
Solemn Intercessions
Spiritual Veneration of the Cross
Communion
Departure in Silence

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Image ID: Road to Calvary, through golden Palms.  Gold Coast. 2024

Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers, and reflections for Good Friday Passion -  by 

clicking this link here:

https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/good-friday-passion-of-the-lord-3pm-service-abc-2024/s-ogFTH4pMry7  

   

THE LORD'S PASSION - Good Friday Message.

One could be forgiven for becoming really cynical about today's world and about human nature. Those who go on rampages of vandalism, violence and fear, robbing and frightening vulnerable people in their homes. The endless stories on the news of people taking advantage of others for their own pragmatic gain, not treating others as if they were brothers and sisters, and all the wars and suffering and poverty and injustice, the logic of this world would say the world is going to the dogs.

 

And certainly, there's no doubt that there are very serious social, economic, ethical and human dignity issues facing our world and our society. We are right to be extremely concerned. In fact, our Lord came to save the world because the world was, and still is, in dire need of saving.

 

The truth is we cannot fix it all by ourselves. We can't lift ourselves up by our own bootstraps. We need our Lord to save us from ourselves.

 

The challenge though, is to realistically and pragmatically face these issues and so many real world obstacles, but with profound Christian hope, commitment to respecting our Lord's blessed gospel, which saves us and gives us life, which renews us. Christ, of course, lived so perfectly his gospel in his body and his life, and so profoundly he revealed in his sufferings and death this love to save us all, to such immense faithfulness and fruitfulness for the entire world. In Christian hope, even in the face of the worst that can happen in this world, or in the course of our life's journey, Jesus' way of life and of love is a welcome beacon of hope and a pathway through the darkness.

 

Today, particularly this afternoon, our Lord shows us that the only real answer is one that utterly respects the profound humanity of all people, and hoping and deciding to act in ways that speak of the kind of world Jesus lived and died to usher in.

 

To the eyes of faith, and to generations who have followed Christ after that first Good Friday of the crucifixion, for over 2,000 years and including us today, this is Good Friday, a very, very Good Friday, because Christ shows us that God never gives up on us, never turns away from the reality of our human life and our suffering. God, revealed so beautifully in Jesus, will not spare himself of anything, even suffering and death, to keep faith with us, to keep solidarity with us.

 

And so this is a very Good Friday, because ultimately God has the last word on everything. And God's last word on everything is a word of hope, a word of dignity and justice, a word of true and unreserved love. Despite the cynical but very real things that get thrown up at us as we walk through life currently, our God is with us, and not just from a distance, but right there with us, suffering along with us.

 

Today is not so much about see how awful humans have been to God throughout history, but rather see how faithful, how loving, how merciful, how compassionate our Lord has always been to his beloved people, and always will be. We fall at our Lord's feet in worship and amazement and thanksgiving. Today we praise Jesus for his goodness and faithfulness to us, which excels all we ever knew.

 

God has given us more than we could possibly have hoped for or imagined. Every year without fail, meditating on this moving account of the passion of our Lord Jesus, we're inspired and renewed. We're filled with a sense of awe.

 

It cuts straight to the heart and lays bare our deepest hopes and our greatest fears. The power of Christ's death on the cross is humbling. Today we silently contemplate how much God loves us, how much he gave up for us, for our sake.

 

There can be no greater love than this. Jesus' betrayal and arrest the previous evening, his unjust trial in which he was really found to be innocent, even in the flawed civil Roman courts, but nevertheless unjustly sentenced to a criminal's death in place of a real criminal, how ironic, because that's what Jesus has done for everyone who has ever sinned, taken our place, in love, to save us. In any case, because of the insistence of the hysterical crowd, they trade our Lord in for a common criminal, a murderer.

 

Only the eyes of faith could describe this Friday as Good Friday, but it truly is, because nothing can destroy God's faithfulness to his beloved people, nothing can separate us from the love of God revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord, nothing can defeat the power of God's love. Even when we can't imagine that some actions could ever be forgiven, or that there could be any hope beyond many of life's tragedies…..    it is Jesus himself who keeps faith with us.  He pleads to the Father that we will embrace the forgiveness and compassion that is truly offered to us and to all. God keeps telling us that we really are truly and unconditionally loved, no matter what may happen.

 

We know that even when everything bad was thrown at Jesus, he continued to respond in love, not hate, in peace, not violence, in mercy, not revenge, and Jesus' faithfulness to the Father and to his people is so inspiring.

 

God crucified all that was death-dealing in life on the cross, robbing it of its final power.

 

We know throughout history, and even to this day, groups can turn very nasty, violent, hateful.

 

They can be stirred up by mob mentalities. They can allow fear and bigotry to be given a voice. And once it's been given a voice, voices become actions and great evil can occur.

 

How many people at Jesus' trial really wanted him executed? And how many just went along with the emotion of the crowd, caught up in the palpable wave of hatred, jealousy and excitement, possibly even fear, that had erupted? The cross of Christ stands as a reminder that although we are members of various communities and groups, first and foremost, each one of us is standing before the cross of Christ, and is asked to make our own personal yes to Jesus, and our own personal no to peer pressure and unthinking trends, shifting values, temporary values, that can assail us from every direction in this modern world. Values that are not consistent with Christ's life, and which deny the dignity and justice that every single child of God deserves, that is, every person. In a short while, we will come before the wood of the cross, where Christ reveals his unconditional love for us, and he asks us to say yes to the life he gives us.

 

In a short while, in this same liturgy today, we will approach the wood of the cross -   and we will bow to it, or genuflect. We will make a profound personal veneration before the wood of Christ's cross. This is our own individual way of saying yes to the values of Jesus, who withstood the enormous pressures of huge numbers of people, to be faithful to the Father's vision, for a world of mercy and justice, and above all, love, which doesn't stop to count the cost, and which gives without hope of return.

 

Christ's cross is to be found reflected in all who suffer, those who mourn, those who have been rejected, those who are experiencing injustice. The cross is patterned in the hearts of all who endure illness or pain. Christ's cross is a silent yes to all who long to be forgiven for past mistakes and sins, but don't dare believe that they can be freed from the guilt and shame.

 

The cross is also found in the experiences of people who are persecuted, or those who are experiencing fear, violence, injustice, or unrest anywhere in the world, whether it be in some faraway country racked with dictatorship, or in the house next door to us, or in our own home. This is a good Friday, and the cross is revealed as the wisdom and power of God, and it reveals Christ, who is the embodiment of truth. Most of all, it reveals God's constant and utter love.

 

A spiritual writer once said, and said it so beautifully, "one of the powerful things that Easter says to us today is this, you can put truth in a grave, but it won't stay there. You can nail truth to a cross, or wrap it up in winding sheets and shut it in a tomb, but it will rise again." (Quote from Clarence W. Hall)

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References:
Fr Paul Kelly

Image ID: Road to Calvary, through golden Palms.   Gold Coast. 2024
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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.
May God bless and keep you.  

KER 2024