Mass – Readings, prayers and homily, for the Fourth Sunday of Advent. Year C - Sunday, December 22, 2024, (Episode 510)

Mass – Readings, prayers and homily, for the Fourth Sunday of Advent. Year C - Sunday, December 22, 2024, (Episode 510)

https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/YfADCBmLQxU50eGDo2f5?ru=Paul-Evangelion

  

GOSPEL THIS WEEKEND. (Episode 510)

 

Readings for Sunday, December 22, 2024 - Fourth Sunday of Advent. Year C

FIRST READING: Micah  5:2-5a

Psalm 80:1ab+2, 14-15, 17-18. "Lord make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved"

SECOND READING: Hebrews 10:5-10

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Luke 1:39-45). Alleluia, alleluia! I am the servant of the Lord. May his will for me be done.

GOSPEL: Luke 1:39-45

 

Image Credit: https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/YfADCBmLQxU50eGDo2f5?ru=Paul-Evangelion

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Please listen to the audio recording of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for the Fourth Sunday of Advent. Year C - Sunday, December 22, 2024, by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-advent-3/s-PlMiVzVnbPt  - (Episode 510)

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Homily: Fourth Sunday Advent. Year C - Sunday, 22 December 2024

*Prologue
"Yes, truly blessed is she who believed that the promise made to her by the Lord would be fulfilled" – And blessed are we, when we hope and trust and believe that the lord will be faithful to us and fulfil the promises, he made to us.

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Mary and Elizabeth meet with an unspoken bond, born of their shared condition. They're each expecting a baby. They know they cannot face this alone.

 

And they also know that God has no intention of letting them face this alone. God is with them, really with them. This yes from these two ladies will need an ongoing commitment.

 

It will need care, time, and of course, God's sustaining grace. They know they are God's partners in bringing to birth hope and life in a very real way. This beautiful gospel today illustrates the importance of giving thanks and expressly naming our blessings.

 

I remember hearing a story about a man who would always write down the significant things that happened to him. He had two methods of writing these things that happened to him in his life. He said he would write in the sand, all the list of hurts that he had received.

 

But he also would carve in stone, all the blessings he received. When he was asked, why do you do this? And why do it differently? He said, I inscribed the hurts and wrongs in sand, so that the winds of forgiveness and love can eventually erase them after a time. But just as importantly, I remember to carve all my blessings and graces in stone, so that time, busyness, or even misfortune or circumstance will be unable to erase those memories.

 

Carving our blessings in stone. What a wonderful thing!

It serves as a constant reminder to all of us of the things for which we are eternally grateful and ought to remember always.

 

Why do I suspect that for many of us, including myself, we do things the other way around. We write the countless acts of kindness, love, generosity and grace and blessedness on shifting sands of memories, whilst carving in stone all the hurts and grudges and bad memories and misfortunes and the list of our own and others' sins and weaknesses. And that doesn't do us any good at all.

 

The Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Elizabeth are wonderful examples of faithful discipleship. They notice the graciousness of God happening all around them and within them. They both delight in praising God and in thanksgiving.

 

They make a deliberate and vocal decision to name those blessings of God and to give voice to the presence of God. It is truly an inspiring moment, a moment of true and abiding praise and thanksgiving. The other thing that strikes me about this well-known passage today is the importance of family, including extended family, our family of faith, our parish, our friends, our colleagues and the wider community as well.

 

The Virgin Mother must have been daunted and filled with awe by what she knew was happening to her and what her future would be. Not everyone would understand what God was doing in her life. Not everyone would be happy and certainly not everyone would have goodwill towards her and assume that the Holy Spirit was at work in this extraordinary event.

 

Mary went to visit Elizabeth. Together they meet in great joy and affection. They gain enormous support from each other.

 

How very important is the support and encouragement we give to one another in times of joy and times of trial. This weekend, as Advent comes very quickly to a close, let's take some time to carve a few things in stone. Let's look back.

 

Who are some of the people we need to give thanks for from this past year and all past years for that matter? Let's recall in our hearts and minds every act of kindness and love that we could possibly think of. So many people have shown us these acts of kindness and love daily and let's remember the people, the many people, through whom we have experienced Christ's graced presence, his love, compassion and mercy, his kindness. Let us remember and give thanks for all these people and all the blessings in our hearts and minds and show this gratitude in our words and in our actions.

 

And let us take time to be aware that in the very midst of our busy preparations for the celebration of Christ's birth in ancient Bethlehem, Christ is reborn each year and each day in the Bethlehem of our homes and in our daily lives and in our hearts. Let us take time, slow down, be still, be awake to the divine mystery that looks so common and so ordinary yet is so wonderfully present. Let's seek out people like Elizabeth and the Blessed Virgin Mary who have grateful remembering hearts, who focus on the positives and show us the world in all its goodness for us to build our lives upon. People who don't dwell on negatives and who do not get us more and more upset or downcast by focusing on everything that is wrong.

 

Let's be attentive to the ways in which God is present to us, especially God's abiding presence in action in the people with whom we socialise, work and live.

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References:

Fr Paul W. Kelly

 

(A)    Alice Camille, 2009:  A Book of Grace-filled Days).

 

https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/YfADCBmLQxU50eGDo2f5?ru=Paul-Evangelion

   

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Fourth Sunday of Advent. Year C  (Sunday, December 22, 2024)  (Episode 510)
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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{{Peace and greetings to you all.}}
INTRODUCTION

 

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.

 

We continue our Advent journey. We now light the fourth Advent Candle. The "Angel's Candle" Reminding us of the message of the angels: "Peace on earth, to people of goodwill. .

 

(The Presider/helper, lights the fourth candle)

 

O Rising Sun, you are the splendour of eternal light and the sun of justice. O come and enlighten those who yearn for you. Lord Have mercy.

 

O King of all, Come and save humanity, whom you formed from the clay. Christ Have mercy.

 

O Emmanuel, Lord our God, Come and save us. Lord Have mercy.

 

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(no Gloria in Advent)

 

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Psalm 80:1ab+2, 14-15, 17-18. "Lord make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved"

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Luke 1:39-45). Alleluia, alleluia! I am the servant of the Lord. May his will for me be done.

Memorial Acclamation
1. We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.
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PREFACE: Advent II
EP II
Communion side.  pwk:  RH

(theme variation: v3 )

(pre+post variation: v2-lonjg)
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{Thank you for giving generously of your time and prayer.}

Go in peace.(glorifying the Lord by your life)

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Archive of homilies and reflections: 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: 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

"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 - 2024]

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 - 2024]

May God bless and keep you.
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Readings for Sunday, December 15, 2024 - Third Sunday of Advent. Year C (EPISODE: 509)

Readings for Sunday, December 15, 2024 - Third Sunday of Advent. Year C (EPISODE: 509)
FIRST READING: Zephaniah 3:14-18a
Isaiah 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6. "Cry Out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and holy one of Israel"
SECOND READING: Philippians 4:4-7
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Luke 3:10-18). Alleluia, alleluia! The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; he sent me to bring the Good news to the poor. Alleluia!
GOSPEL: Luke 3:10-18

Image Credit- https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/rJPira9rQSynlXriMSQp?ru=Paul-Evangelion 

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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for Third Sunday of Advent. Year C - Sunday, December 15, 2024, by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-advent-2/s-fQ65pViw6Ij  (EPISODE: 509)
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There's something really reassuring and pleasant about today's Gospel. In the readings this weekend, the tone of Advent lightens, particularly. There's a theme of gladness in the air.

 

The readings speak of rejoicing. The approaching birth of the Lord brings joy. Even the name for this Sunday of Advent is traditionally known as "Rejoice Sunday."

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In this time of Advent reflection, there's building excitement for the imminent celebration of the birth of our Lord. When we look at the readings, it's interesting to note that the reason why we should rejoice and be glad is not that everything is going well, although good fortune and success are even further causes for joy and thanksgiving, but in the Scripture, we rejoice and are glad because God is near. No matter what is happening, success or failure, sickness or health, freedom or oppression, God is near to us.

 

God is always with us, very, very near to us. In our hearts and minds, our God comes to us to sustain us, save us and grant us forgiveness and hope. Also, God gives us peace in answer to our prayers.

 

Saint Paul refers to this when he writes, don't worry, but if you need anything at all, ask for it and God will grant you his peace. That's really important. The first response God offers us, no matter what our prayers or requests is, God gives us peace.

 

And by implication, God's peace is everything we need to cope with whatever is happening. The mark of a civilised nation is surely to be found in how it cares for and protects its most vulnerable members. I'm thinking of children, the young and all vulnerable adults, the elderly, the frail.

 

Let's continue to build a safer and non-violent society that particularly and absolutely values life and protects all its members, especially the young and vulnerable. So let's continue to pray for people suffering the effects of hatred, violence, destruction and war. May those who die from senseless acts of violence be taken to the place of peace and rest in the compassionate arms of our Lord.

 

Let's pray and work together, inspired by these prayers, that the world will find new and better ways to put an end to this kind of violence and devastation and bring peace and safety to all people's lives. It's their right. It's what they need.

 

It's what God desires for them. The world has been blessed by God's gift of inspiration and genius to so many people of goodwill, to so many people of love who are working constantly to create a better world, who are reaching out to those especially in need. God has lovingly inspired people who desire to fill in the valleys of prejudice and hatred, to level the mountains of ignorance, selfishness and pride, and to straighten the paths of hatred and violence.

 

So, let us pray that these minds and hearts of love and peace will prevail. John the Baptist today is getting everyone prepared for the coming of the Messiah. He tells everyone, repent of your sins, turn around, change your ways, because the Lord is near.

 

And the people of all different vocations and stations in life all ask some natural questions in response to this. Okay, if we are to change, what must we do? This is a question we all ask. Lord, show us what we have to do to make the changes you desire in our lives.

 

John shows us those changes. He says, share your food and material goods with those who have nothing. Act fairly, justly and honestly with others.

 

Never act with intimidation or threat. Avoid disgruntlement, envy, dissatisfaction, jealousy and criticism or negativity. And we could add so many other wonderful practical actions and attitudes that show the reverence we have to our God of justice and mercy, of love and kindness and practical charity.

 

And all of these beautiful things flow through to how we treat one another. God our Father knows that we're not perfect and that only with his grace can we respond daily to his love. Every new day our Father raises us up and invites us to again trust in him, to seek his help, so that we can grow deeper in practical ways in faithfulness and love.

 

I think of Mary, the mother of God, who although she doesn't feature expressly in today's gospel, she does feature in the readings over the coming week. Mary treasured all these things in her heart. Mary treasured or pondered the things that were happening to her, even when some of those events that were occurring were not exactly happy times.

 

Mary treasured things in her heart that were confusing and alarming, disorientating, all sorts of things. She treasured everything because she utterly trusted in God's love and care and treasured and pondered on everything that was happening in her life. Mary constantly pondered the fact that God was near to her and was faithful to her.

 

Let's rejoice and take heart that the nearness of the Lord always, particularly at his coming at Christmastime, will sustain and strengthen us in good times and in bad. We're promised peace from God. We're promised that God is near to us as we stay attentive to God's ways and active in justice and compassion.

 

God's inner peace does not necessarily promise that everything's going to go well in our environment or our world, but God's inner peace will sustain us and guide us in times of both tranquility and also, just as importantly, this peace will guide us and sustain us in times of outer turmoil. God's peace will be given to us in our constant combination of prayer and thanksgiving. God's grace will lift us up in times of joy and celebration and also God's grace will sustain us and help us and carry us through in times of trouble.

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References:

Homily by Fr Paul W. Kelly

Image Credit:

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Third Sunday of Advent. Year C (Sunday, December 15, 2024) (EPISODE: 509)
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (or/ The Lord be with You)
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{{Good wishes to you all.}}
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 third Advent candle. The "Shepherd's Candle" - reminding us of the Joy the world experienced at the birth of Christ.

(The Presider/helper lights the third candle)

O Lord and leader of Israel. Come and save us with your mighty power. Lord Have mercy.

O Stock of Jesse, Come to deliver us, without delay. Christ, Have mercy.

O Key of David and sceptre of Israel, Come to free those who sit in the valley and shadow of death. Lord, Have mercy.

*(no Gloria in Advent)*

COLLECT:
 Let us pray,
O God, who see how your people
faithfully await the feast of the Lord's Nativity,
enable us, we pray,
to attain the joys of so great a salvation
and to celebrate them always
with solemn worship and glad rejoicing.
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, 
We implore your mercy, Lord,
that this divine sustenance may cleanse us of our faults
and prepare us for the coming feasts.
Through Christ our Lord.

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DISMISSAL:
Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.
 +++++++++++++++++++++
Isaiah 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6. "Cry Out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and holy one of Israel"

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Luke 3:10-18). Alleluia, alleluia! The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; he sent me to bring the Good news to the poor. Alleluia!

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: Advent II
EP III
Communion side. pwk: LH
(theme variation: v2 )
(pre+post variation: v1-lshort)
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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.}

Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.

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Archive of homilies and reflections: 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: 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

"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 - 2024]

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 - 2024

May God bless and keep you.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Weekday - Solemnity of The Immaculate Conception - This year is December 9th. (Years ABC)

Weekday - Solemnity of The Immaculate Conception - This year is December 9th. .(Years ABC)

Weekday - Solemnity of The Immaculate Conception - This year is December 9th. .(Years ABC)

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 - This year is December 9th.  , please click this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-the-2/s-T2fYkt97Qm4  

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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) (this year only, it is moved to Monday December 9^th)
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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Although this is a very special feast celebrating Mary's life, this feast, as all feasts and solemnities are, 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 and praise God and celebrate the life of 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 earliest 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 and generosity. 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. The Immaculate Conception which we're celebrating today is defined like this. To become the mother of our 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 ascent of her faith to the announcement of her vocation, it was necessary that she be wholly born by God's grace.

 

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, Saviour of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin. The splendor 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. There's a nice quote from scripture scholar and theologian Gustavo Gutierrez.

 

Mary is aware of all the implications of her accepting God's will. And she says, here I am, the servant of the Lord, let it be with me according to your word. In the Canticle of the Magnificat, Mary will again call herself a servant.

 

Luke's Gospel has in mind the meaning of the Hebrew's word, which we translate by servant. It means, I belong completely to God. Servants are those who announce the Lord's message completely, and those who receive a mission.

 

Belonging to God is expressed by our total 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 in earlier Luke's Gospel. She shows her complete trust and confidence in the will of God.

 

Mary makes God's will her own, in her entire selfhood, in her whole life and in her body. We're called to do the same. The reading from the Ephesians today shows the deep meaning of our human existence.

 

We've come into this world for the purpose of fully realizing our full calling to be daughters and sons of God. Being God's children is not something added from outside the human condition. Instead, it's 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 don't first incarnate God's plan. That is to say, to make God's plan a concrete reality in our lives.

 

To enflesh God's word. To make it a tangible part of our daily lives and existence. In order to achieve this, we first need to get rid of any selfishness and willfulness, and we must trust and rely and act upon the grace and vision of God, as Mary did so perfectly, and take risks in the strength of this trust and obedience, again as Mary did so wonderfully.

 

All praise and blessing to our beautiful and loving God for the wonderful things God has achieved through his extraordinary plan to utilize the full and free cooperation of the all people. Praised indeed be to God, whose wonderful and astounding plan of salvation for the whole world, including 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 -2024]

May God bless and keep you.
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Second Sunday of Advent. Year C - Sunday, December 8, 2024 (EPISODE: 508)

Second Sunday of Advent. Year C - Sunday, December 8, 2024 (EPISODE: 508)

Image Credit- https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/gQQpUXVEFLwU5UXtmIeC?ru=Paul-Evangelion

Readings for Sunday, December 8, 2024 - 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- https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/gQQpUXVEFLwU5UXtmIeC?ru=Paul-Evangelion   )
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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 8, 2024, by clicking this link here:    https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-advent-1/s-2rQS8N9VbJ1    

(EPISODE: 508)
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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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References:

HOMILY BY Fr Paul W. Kelly

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- https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/gQQpUXVEFLwU5UXtmIeC?ru=Paul-Evangelion

Second Sunday of Advent. Year C  (Sunday, December 8, 2024) 
(EPISODE: 508)
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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.

 ++

 

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 -  2024]

May God bless and keep you.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

The Beginning of the Church's Calendar Year. First Sunday of Advent. Year C - Sunday, December 1 2024 (EPISODE: 507)

* The Beginning of the Church's Calendar Year.

First Sunday of Advent. Year C - Sunday, December 1 2024

(EPISODE: 507)

Image Credit- https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/Pdw7VndWeZeotDhAf5Bv?ru=Paul-Evangelion

Readings for Sunday, December 1 2024 - 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- https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/Pdw7VndWeZeotDhAf5Bv?ru=Paul-Evangelion )
++++
Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for the First Sunday of Advent. Year C - Sunday, by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-advent/s-dX2awqaEMej   (EPISODE: 507)
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The Church's year has a different timing from the usual secular calendar year. This weekend, with the first Sunday of Advent, a new Church liturgical year has begun.  (FHL)

We have a three-year cycle of readings. 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, which we've just concluded, was Mark's gospel.

 

And Year C is Luke's gospel, which begins this weekend. If you're wondering why there isn't a fourth-yearly cycle, (with John's gospel as the fourth)?

 

It is because John's gospel is so rich in theology, and the latest of the four gospels is spread throughout all of the years, and is especially fitting in Lent, Easter and Christmas times. The readings are fairly continuous through this three-year cycle, 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 is in the Catholic Church, and most of the mainstream Christian churches, there is this set cycle of readings. Our lectionary is usually the Bible divided up into regular installments that continue on from the previous week.

 

The thing about this is that over that three-year cycle, we cover most of the Old and New Testament readings. The weekday readings are also a separate cycle, quite independent from the weekends, which cover a two-year 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 one or two, that's for the weekdays only.

 

The advantage of this way of choosing readings is twofold. We progressively hear from the breadth of the scriptures, not just 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 readings for a liturgy that they might be skip over an option because the subject matter is not pleasant, or might even be deemed rather arbitrarily irrelevant? In fact, most scriptures are very relevant, if we sit with them and ponder their often challenging meaning.

 

Admittedly, some passages seem more readily relevant than others, but that can be a great trap. Also, for the preacher, it could be a temptation to pick the readings that are easier, more entertaining, 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 quite neutralised if people think that the preacher or others have chosen a particular passage to get a particular point across. So in our system, if a reading comes up that's uncannily topical, it's not chosen by the minister, it's the action of the Spirit who enlivens the Word of God contained in these scriptures. So we begin Advent.

 

A new church year has begun. It's 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've commenced our four-week preparation for the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord. It's such a short time of preparation that we have to be vigilant because the busyness of this season could easily mean that we blink and miss it. This weekend's readings are all about preparing and being ready, staying awake, and being watchful.

 

I particularly like St 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 so as to make more and more progress in the kind of life that you're meant to live, the life that God wants.

 

The whole purpose, the whole 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, a deep charity and concern for all our fellow brothers and sisters. That's all people.

 

What a wonderful calling to strive with God's grace to be everything God desires us to be. We're called to grow daily in love, goodwill, peace, and mercy. The readings also ask us some important questions.

 

Do you believe that God will indeed fulfill his solemn promises to us? Do you believe that in the end God will come in power and establish in its fullness the heavenly kingdom of God's peace, justice, and mercy? Do you believe that ultimately, honesty, peace, and integrity, and above all love, will be at the center of all creation through Christ?

Come, Lord Jesus, teach us your truth. Establish your kingdom in all its fullness.

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References:

Homily – Fr Paul W. Kelly

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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.
 
++
 
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.
 
+++++++++++++++++++++
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.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
PREFACE: Advent I
EP I
Communion side.  pwk:  LH
(theme variation: full )
(pre+post variation: v1-long)
++++
{May God's love, strength, mercy and kindness guide you all this week.}

Go forth, the Mass is ended.

++++++++
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.
NB - It is often a week or so Ahead:  https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks

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 - 2024]

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 -  2024]

May God bless and keep you.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++