HOLY WEEK HOMILIES - EASTER TRIDUUM
Please see below the draft versions, shared in advance, for the Holy Three Days of the Sacred Easter Triduum. I will publish the full versions with the audio accompaniment as they are completed.
God bless,
Fr Paul
Please see all three homilies in a row, below.
Homily holy Thursday 2017. 7pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper
++++
Please listen to my audio “blog” of the readings, prayers and reflections for the @@@ by clicking this link here: ######
+++++
Homily HOLY THURSDAY 24TH March 2016
Mindful of the dreadful acts of violence and terrorism that are wracking the world//… the terrible disrespect for human life and dignity…// and the many disasters affecting people//…… we pray for all those suffering. On this Holy Night of the Last Supper, we increase our prayers for peace and for a deeper sense of reverence and respect for our everyone; for they are all our brothers and sisters throughout the world.
Cardinal Jean Danielou, in his book entitled “Prayer. The mission of the church”, states that the basic reality of life centres around LOVE.
He writes that: “because of the relationship of persons that exists within God, and then between God and us, and finally among us….all things come down to the following three realities……. ‘God is love; God loves US (and we are in a relation of love with God); and finally, we must love one another, lay down our lives for each other. If we base our lives on these three realities, they acquire infinite meaning; and whatever ups-and-downs in life may arise, we will always be encompassed by love.”
Tonight’s gospel reading is all about love: love is GIVEN, LOVE is RECEIVED; LOVE IS ESTABLISHED AND love is ‘taught and required’/ (enjoined)
ON THE EVE of his passion and death, Jesus did what every human being does, (on the point of death)…// Christ zeroes in on what is ESSENTIAL in life. There is no time left, so only the essentials matter now. One could never improve on what he did; said and gave us on that heart-rending evening.(A)
There is something very beautiful about these next three holy days………. of Holy Thursday…. Good Friday and Holy Saturday…. known as the Sacred Triduum.
Our liturgy over these three days shows this most profoundly. These three ceremonies are not three distinct liturgies, they are the one “seamless garment” of a single liturgy, extended over three days.
This is shown by the fact that this ceremony tonight does not have a specific ending, (no final blessing: not the usual sign of the cross at the end; no words of dismissal; but rather it simply trails off into silent vigil; only to gently fade back up at tomorrow’s Good Friday ceremony; continuing where it leave off tonight, without any proper introduction, no defined greeting, since it is merely a continuation of what we begin tonight; and it again trails off into expectant, reverent silence, to re-gather and conclude on Holy Saturday night: one single liturgy over three days. It is unique in the church’s calendar; and rightly so……
And so to tonight’s readings: time and time again, we hear Our Lord offering us a radically different definition of power, of authority, or kingship, or victory, or dominion, of leadership. It stands in direct contrast with the wider world’s standard definition of such words.
My question tonight is this: Do you ever wonder when the wider world will buy this beautiful message?
The definition for these things, (as Jesus taught), them, evoked laughter and scorn from those who opposed him, and this is just the same today. Just try and tell the “super powers” that true power is revealed in weakness and in vulnerability ! If we are not laughed at, it would at least cause a reaction of fear. The truth is we are all vulnerable, we are all limited, we all have weaknesses deep down. This is at the heart of Jesus’ message. He is only saying what is profoundly truetry to deal with their vulnerability by using power in terms of “domination” and “force” and “oppression,” may very well do so very effectively and very forcefully for a time. They may go through their whole lives showing that no one is stronger than they are. But underneath, they are still vulnerable; still ever-vigilant against surprise assailants, because they are not and cannot be inherently secure. Because they base their lives and their values on things that ultimately do not last.
Jesus does not say that POWER and domination and oppressive tactics are not very seductive and attractive options. He faced the temptation to use force to do good and prevailed against that temptation; knowing that in the end, force is lie that must be resisted. He does not reject self defense, but he shows us that if people see through the “lie” of force and violence, it loses its power to make anyone do anything out of fear – as many peaceful resistence people have learnt and shown through history; and not without the shadow of the cross.
Jesus took all his energy and put it into the areas that were thoroughly authentic. He stood entirely unarmed and without armour. Our Lord stood before the world with the truth of his relationship with God, on the validity of his good news message, and confirming the absolute power of love, of graciousness, or forgiveness and of inclusion; and stood by that right to the end (and beyond); and it proved to be authentic.
Jesus showed that power is always a relationship; that true leadership is about service; and that true community must be about including all others, and not about segregation and separation and silencing of minority voices out of fear……
Jesus established a kingdom where there is an open table, where all are welcome. This is a great mystery though: an open table does not mean anything goes. There are still values to be shared here, that must be shared by all, but there is also openness, dialogue, forgiveness, honesty, charitability, graciousness and inclusion. These are not just the table manners expected, but somehow these values become the way of living in everyday life as well.
I cannot avoid coming back to the theme that echoes in my head every year: the image of a table where everyone sits down, is an image of reconciliation. It is impossible to sit down and share a meal with someone at the same table when we are fighting, when we are alienated and at war. To sit down and share a meal, not only share food, requires of each of us a melting of grudges, and a putting aside of hurts. To eat as equals, who share a common space, a common condition, and sit under the same roof.
As we allow Jesus, the one who comes among us as servant and friend; and who washes our feet as a sign of service, sacrifice and humility, let us affirm the Christian definition of some very special words:
POWER…. (a respectful relationship)……
AUTHORITY (truth and integrity, respect and mutuality)…..
KINGSHIP… and leadership (service, love),……
VICTORY… (through sacrifice and love)…….
DOMINION…… (by graciousness, gentleness, mercy and justice)…..
+++++
References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly
Also
taken from 365 days with the lord
++++
+++++++++++++
Brothers and sisters, let us acknowledge our sins,
and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.
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.//
++++++++++++++
Memorial Acclamation
We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Preparation of the Gifts
Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the bread we offer you: fruit of the earth and work of human hands, it will become for us the bread of life.
Blessed be God for ever.
Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the wine we offer you: fruit of the vine and work of human hands, it will become our spiritual drink.
Blessed be God for ever.
Pray, brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God,
the almighty Father.
May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands, for the praise and glory of his name, for our good and the good of all his holy Church.
##
Euch Prayer ####
+++
Good Friday homily 2017
++++
Please listen to my audio “blog” of the readings, prayers and reflections for the @@@ by clicking this link here: ######
+++++
The Cross of Christ is God’s wordless declaration of this: … “I give you my whole heart… I give you my very self… I have held nothing back from you……….” (Christ) invites us to join him in doing the same…..in our words, in our thoughts, in our actions, in our attitudes…..// Christ gives of himself… spiritually and literally…. He gives every last drop……….
Christ is the visible expression of God. And, as we commemorate the solemn festival of Our Lord’s suffering and death.. we see that Jesus is the visible expression of God’s love (which is deeper and more heartfelt than anyone could ever fathom)… and he is the visible expression of God’s mercy, compassion, and kindness… Christ is also the visible expression of God’s Kingdom, God’s priorities and values… and they are beautifully different from what the world often values highest…. Christ… shows us that God is complete, self-sacrificing love and mercy… Christ is “self-emptying love and service for others”…. Jesus is about giving the very last drop of his blood out of love and service to others….
Through Christ’s suffering and death, we are saved.. we are freed.. we are forgiven.. we are given hope to endure all the many “little deaths” and trials and suffering of this world.. For God has the final say.. and it is a word of hope, love and faithfulness…
In just a short while, in this ceremony, we will have the adoration of the wood of the Holy Cross….. as we show our individual veneration of the Cross… We nail, as it were, to the cross of Christ, all our sins.. our trials.. our temptations.. our failings.. our doubts.. our pride.. our selfishness.. our lack of compassion.. our failures to love… our illness.. our worries.. our thwarted priorities….
Christ’s calling out, “My God My God why have you abandoned me” give voice to and God’s presence to all everyone throughout history who has ever suffered hardship, rejection, violence, illness, injustice, war, disaster… and so much more… Christ has entered into all of this and assures us God is in solidarity with them all…. The Lord cares and suffers along with… and lifts them up…….. we are always united deeply in God’s love and faithfulness… even when things are at their worst, and seemingly at their most hopeless…..
When it comes time to venerate the cross, each of us is invited to think (quietly to oneself and to God, who is in the secret places of our heart)… Think of what you are nailing to the cross as you come, for Christ died to save us… to include us… to show us God’s mercy and that God is faithful… yes.. even in our darkest hour…..
+++++
References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly
+++
Homily Easter Sunday of the Resurrection, 2017. Year A - Sunday, April 16, 2017
Psalm:This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad.
++++
Please listen to my audio “blog” of the readings, prayers and reflections for the Easter Sunday of the Resurrection, 2017. Year A - Sunday, April 16, 2017 by clicking this link here: ######
+++++
Christ is risen. Allelulia. He has risen as he said!!
Christ, risen from the dead is the first-fruits of the eternal life promised to all who entrust themselves to him.
A special welcome and thank you to our candidates and cathechumens who tonight are fully received into the Christian faith, in the Catholic church. Thank you for your preparation… the Lord has been guiding you and with you your whole life…. Now he leads you to fuller communion with him in the church and in the faith…. Your reception and your baptism and confirmation and receiving of First holy communion is a wonderful source of renewal and strength for all of us too.. as we this season renew our faith and commitment to Christ and his grace.. Thank you to all who have supported them in this wonderful journey of faith…..
Easter, more than any other feast tells us that God has definitively the last word in all things…. And that word is a profoundly positive and definitive “YES” - first and foremost, a YES to his beloved son…Jesus Christ. Who is God the son; and all that he did and taught in his ministry… and a profound and absolute YES to life…., and to us, as his eternally cherished sons and daughters… Yes to forgiveness of sin for all who are bowed down by the past…. Yes to faithfulness no matter what trials and tragedies befall us in life…….>
- Easter… and the message of the Resurrection is about life, hope, love, forgiveness…
- The irony of the cross and the message of today’s wonderful feast…. Means that it is rather fitting on this Easter celebration to hark back to something I mentioned right at the start of Lent … on ash Wednesday… the beginning of our journey towards this moment…... For I believe that Easter could be summed up by the rather intriguing saying … “The only things that we truly possess, that have abiding and eternal value… are the things we gain by giving them away… the only things worth possessing are the things that only make sense when given…. Which achieve very little if merely stored up….… things like love, (given freely without expectation), kindness and forgiveness, (without expectation of return)…. acts of charity, (not for recognition or approval); random acts of kindness, (that no one will ever know who is responsible for them)/…/ I read a maxim once upholding that there is an odd economic principle associated with love -- the more love you give away, the more love you have. It defies all other economic principles. Our Lord Jesus, in his life, his suffering and death, and his resurrection… is the perfect example of all these wonderful qualities… and even more wonderfully, he invites us all to share in this way of living….
- This Easter, is a special time for giving thanks for and remembering and hopefully getting opportunities to share time with family and friends…
- And Easter is also about reminding us that our God is the God of New starts… and new beginnings…..
- We also remember prayerfully, all those who have gone before us.. the Resurrection gives us peace in the belief that the lord of the resurrection is faithful to his children.. and raises them up to new and eternal life in heaven… where one day we will all be reunited in joy…
- At Easter, we think of people who are struggling.., and those who feel hopeless. ….and also those who feel they will never be good enough, or worthy enough… and those who fear they can never be forgiven… For today’s feast says… YES>>>> God is with us, God will never abandon us… God truly does want to renew us and give us new hope .. new life… and indescrible mercy….
- Jesus is an unequivocal “yes” to self-sacrifice and service, and love, compassion, mercy and generosity of spirit… of thinking more of others and less of ourselves… - May God bless us and renew us in his astounding love… and ever-abiding faithfulness… and eternal care… and may our lives be more and more marked by these wonderful qualities with every new day…..
+++++
References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly
+++
Archive of homilies and reflections is at: http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email:paulwkelly68@gmail.com
You are welcome to subscribe to Fr Paul’s homily mailout by sending an email at this address:
paulkellyreflections+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Easter Sunday of the Resurrection, 2017. Year A
+++++++++++++
Brothers and sisters, let us acknowledge our sins,
and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.
Lord Jesus, you are the image of the unseen God: Lord, have mercy.//You are the firstborn of all creation: Christ, have mercy//You are the head of the body, the Church: Lord, have mercy//
++++++++++++++
Memorial Acclamation
We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Preparation of the Gifts
Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the bread we offer you: fruit of the earth and work of human hands, it will become for us the bread of life.
Blessed be God for ever.
Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the wine we offer you: fruit of the vine and work of human hands, it will become our spiritual drink.
Blessed be God for ever.
Pray, brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God,
the almighty Father.
May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands, for the praise and glory of his name, for our good and the good of all his holy Church.
Easter I p.24
Euch Prayer One p.49
++++
Go in peace, Alleluia, Alleluia
