Catholic 766 : Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C - Sunday, November 17, 2019

Homily Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C  - Sunday, November 17, 2019

First Reading: Malachi 3:19-20

Psalm: Ps 97:5-9. The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice

Second Reading: 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12

Gospel Acclamation: Luke 21:38. Alleluia, alleluia! Lift up your heads and see. Your redemption is near at hand.

Gospel: Luke 21:5-19

Image: Shutterstock licensed.  Photo by Seth Aronstam. stock photo ID: 1212006451. "Boulders from the Roman destruction of the second Temple alongside the western wall in Jerusalem, Israel."

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 Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C  - Sunday, November 17, 2019 by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/33c-faith-hope-and-love-ep-188/s-FxUK3  (EPISODE: 188)

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 It is what is inside that counts.  That could be one theme that jumps up from this weekend's scriptures.  .Our Lord, who is God made flesh, was born into this world to usher in the Kingdom of God.  He did and said many things in the furtherance of this Kingdom. But each and every action he did was an expression and a consequence of his nature as God and as a concrete exposition of the values of God in action. Our Lord today warns his disciples, yes, the ornaments and workmanship of God's Temple in Jerusalem is superb. But this beauty is merely a shadow of the inner significance of God who lives with his people. Its God within that matters. And in any case, this outer fabric of the Temple will be torn down and destroyed.. but the inner reality of God's abiding presence with his people never ends, no matter what happens.  Amidst the shocks and tragedies around every corner of this uncertain life, if we stay firmly focused upon and connected to the inner reality of Christ, in all things, we will stand strong no matter what happens.   This…

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The scene in the gospel is a really shocking one. Some people were admiring the beauty of the superb Temple of God in Jerusalem, only for Jesus to say. There will come a day when not one stone will be left lying on another.

It is unthinkable,// shocking.//

Although the temple was not a mere building. It was God's house. SO, it would be more like admiring the beauty of St Peter's in Rome, and rightly to be quite unable to comprehend or even bring oneself to think of this focal point of our universal faith lying in ruins. What a horrific thought. But, that is how shocking these words were to its listeners. And when the Temple did indeed lie in ruins after the Roman Armies destroying it. The people felt utterly lost. It must have been as if the end of the world had come. People still weep at the small part of the Temple wall that has been rebuilt. Endlessly mourning its loss.

The gospel shines its insightful light upon the massive efforts we put into building up a vision only to have it be torn down again by circumstances, whether by natural disasters and accidents, or by the negligence or malice of others.

It is timely to think of things like this, as Our Lord warns us to put our efforts into building up that which lasts forever. That which can never be touched or torn down.

This weekend, Jesus warns his disciples that there are tough, stormy times ahead, not only for him but for all who follow him and in fact for the wider community of the Jewish people in Israel in his time.

 But in the midst of this, he still offers hope:-  "Do not be fooled -- the end has not come."

He rightly predicted that there would be wars and natural disasters. many which will shake the foundations of society and frighten many. but he calls us to remain resolute and keep focusing on the gospel.

In all of this, he says. "don't be shaken. Do not be thrown by the tumult around you. Keep on working diligently without hesitation. Keep witnessing to the truth of my message. I will be with you. I will be faithful to you. even if following me causes persecution and even (for some) breakups in ordinary family and social relations."

 But again, this is an invitation to think and pray carefully about what we are putting our energies into. what are we building? Because, some buildings, (MOST buildings, are not built to last forever.) and even the ones that are intended to last forever, DON'T!!!

Jesus is not just talking about a physical building. what are we putting all our hopes and dreams and energy into? because there may be a time when exactly that which is the object of all our time, effort and energy, will be knocked down (by a natural disaster, illness, the bad-will of others, and so many other reasons). so Jesus implores us to put our energies and priorities into his Kingdom and its values that can never be torn down. The reason that the early Christians endured such persecution, such horrors, and kept faithful was they KNEW JESUS. They met him, they walked with him. Or they met those who did. So they willingly would go to their deaths for what their Lord stood for.

 We will not be left standing unless we connect ourselves to the one true spiritual building that endures forever. Christ. the Foundation stone and fortress. We need to daily deepen our knowledge and love of the person and message of Jesus . to deeply allow Our Lord to immerse us in his heart and mind. . and may we catch on fire with his person and message and values.

 And let us reflect often. Open this spiritual question about our priorities and choices.

What are we building??? Are we building something so closely connected to Christ's gospel that it will never be torn down?

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 References:

Fr Paul W. Kelly

My Daily Visitor reflections, Nov/Dec, 2010

Image: Shutterstock licensed.  Photo by Seth Aronstam. stock photo ID: 1212006451. "Boulders from the Roman destruction of the second Temple alongside the western wall in Jerusalem, Israel."

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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, A time of Christian worship and reflection" - Led by Rev Paul W. Kelly

Texts used in this programme are for the purposes of worship and prayer for listeners wherever you are.

Prayers and chants are taken from the English Translation of the Roman Missal, edition three, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy.

Scriptures are from the New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, by the national council of Churches of Christ, USA. , //adaptations to conform with Catholic liturgical norms, © 2009, by the same.

  [{selected psalms } - ***Psalm verses are (also) taken from "The Psalms: A New Translation" ©1963, The Grail (England), published by Collins. **]

 Prayers of the Faithful are adapted from Robert Borg's 1993 book " Together we pray". Published in Sydney Australia By E.J. Dwyer. (out of print).

 { "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" -published 2011, Composed and Sung by Jeffrey M. Ostrowski

Featuring the. Gloria, The Creed, The Kyrie, The Mass parts, Psalms: http://www.ccwatershed.org/chabanel/ ]]] ] COPYRIGHT @ 2018 CORPUS CHRISTI WATERSHED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. www.ccwatershed.org/vatican/Ralph_Sherwin_Videos/

"Faith, Hope and Love" theme Hymn: Words, based on 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, set to original music © 1996 by Paul W. Kelly.

For more details please visit http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au/

Contact us at paulwkelly68@gmail.com

Production by Kelly Enterprises Resources.

May God bless and keep you.

Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C

(Sunday, November 17, 2019)

 (EPISODE: 188)

 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (or/ The Lord be with You)

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 {{Goodness and kindness to you all}}

 As we begin the Holy Eucharist, let us acknowledge our sinfulness, so as to worthily celebrate the sacred mysteries.

 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

 3. Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.

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Sundays Ordinary III

 Euch prayer two

 Communion side. pwk: RH

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{I am very grateful for you joining us for this special time of prayer and reflection. }

 Go in peace.

Catholic 765 : Thirty-Second Sunday Ordinary Time. Year C- Sunday, November 10, 2019

Catholic 765 :  Homily Thirty-Second Sunday Ordinary Time. Year C - Sunday, November 10, 2019

First Reading: 2 Maccabees 7:1-2. 9-14
Psalm: Ps 16:1. 5-6. 8. 15. R. "Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full"
Second Reading: 2 Thessalonians 2:16 - 3:5
Alleluia, alleluia! Jesus Christ is the firstborn from the dead. Glory and Kingship be his forever and ever.
Gospel: Luke 20:27-38

Image:  By PopTika. Shutterstock photo ID: 776381272. Licensed use. "Purple flower growing on crack street, soft focus."

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Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the Thirty-Second Sunday Ordinary Time. Year C - Sunday, November 10, 2019, by clicking this link here:   https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/32c-faith-hope-and-love-ep-187/s-24TOI  (EPISODE: 187)
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Here we are …   We have come full circle…  this weekend features the reassuring promise within the readings of God's faithfulness to us.  This weekends reading featured, on the very first episode of this podcast, three years ago. And how time flies..  Here we are back at the start, as we begin to start the superb three-year cycle of readings anew,..  God's word is always new and fresh.  The Lord is the beginning and end of everything.  "In the face of death …  we search and listen.. and we hear silence….   As all people do….  (believers and non-believers)……  but I truly believe that the quality of that silence is very, very different for those who listen with faith and hope….///  …………   It not an empty silence that we heard when confronted with mortality…..…. It's..  … like the silence just before someone is about to reply….    like the pause immediately prior to someone is about to answer……..    (but in these cases, extended, without a defined time-limit for reply….)……… like the words of a poem I am about to read……..  it's a silence filled with the power of God's promise…  it's a silence bursting with God's eternal 'yes' to life and to us…. (It is a pregnant pause….)…..

This is the poem.. it says something that mere explanations can never capture….

 "From the voiceless lips
of the unreplying dead
there comes no word.
But in the night of Death,
Hope sees a star,
and listening Love can hear

the rustle of a wing."  

(ROBERT GREEN INGERSOLL)

To me… that poem sums up the hope we have in our God…...

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The readings this weekend are timely for the month of November, which is traditionally the time of prayer for the Souls of those who have gone before us into eternal life…   Also, as the year starts winding down, and the end of the church year is in only a couple of weeks;  the readings start looking at the end "of all things," and the promise of what is to come after that….   

We are constantly brought back to the fact that God is faithful. God keeps his promises to us. 

God has promised that each one of us is absolutely precious in God's eyes…. and that God does never cease to care for us. 

The life of every single person has eternal value. From conception to natural death. This eternal value continues far beyond what can be seen in this life.

//Our life continues on into the life of God's Heavenly Kingdom... 

The tensions, tragedies, injustices and suffering of this life, all eventually give way to God's faithfulness to all his beloved children… Us, who are his deeply cherished sons and daughters…
We are, and we will always be "God's beloved children" …..  All through this life and in the next….(forever)

Especially this month, our prayers are with the those who have gone before us…  //We believe that, one day, we will all be brought together again…in God's Heavenly Kingdom of life, peace and joy…. 

Our Christian faith does not gloss over death and its enormous impact…..   in fact,… the Cross of Christ is a very stark, shocking and central symbol of our faith.  The Crucifixion of Christ is an unflinching sign of the suffering and tragedy in so many people's lives//   The Cross is unable to be watered down and it cannot be gotten around…//….    

We believe that the Cross of Christ is a sign of God's absolute commitment to us ///…. God is in united full with us and has committed himself absolutely to us, to our condition and to our joys and sorrows, our triumphs and also our suffering. …

Jesus reveals to us God made human…..  he is the one who "stays in-there, with us," through the best and the absolute worst that life throws at us….  And Our Lord suffered AND DIED for the salvation of all. We note with significance that Christ suffered and died not only for the good and the 'worthy,' but for all his beloved children, - and particularly those considered (by the standards of the world), to be unworthy; Especially those labelled, (by some) as 'worthless'…. // 

Our lord not only endured death in order to save us, but he suffered the worst kind of death… //… And the reason he went through all of this because he loved us, and "threw in his lot" permanently with us. And he rose up to defeat the power of sin and death.  

The first reading shows a grave injustice being done to a group of people who want to be faithful to the Lord.  What is happening to them is cruel and wrong….  They continue to hold onto what is right in the face of the most brutal and inhuman treatment … trusting that God will not abandon them….   This immediately brings to mind people of every time and place who have suffered every kind of unspeakable wrong, and whose dignity and sanctity of life was completely ignored. Jesus shows us that God sees this and will not overlook these ones who suffered injustice and wrongdoing. God comes and suffers with and in these people to show us that God will comfort these. They are not forgotten, even if they were nameless and unknown to others. God demands that all people be given the dignity that has been given them by his own love. And that what we do to these little ones, we are doing to God himself. And he will not forget it or abide it.  It is also important that this unity God has with us, (his beloved children), means that God calls for an end to mistreatment, disrespect and violence, here and now, in this life! And if this urgent call is not respected, God will most certainly restore it in the next. But Our Lord's example reminds us that it is not good enough for those doing wrong to wait to cease their wrongdoing or rectify their harm until the next life.  This call is for NOW, and For all. 

The beauty of this message is that God wants justice to be done, and assistance given to those in need now -  in this life. the Lord does not want people saying:  "God will make it all right in the next life, so we will leave things as they are down here on earth and God can sort it out in the next life." …. No.  A thousand times NO.  .......God indeed has the last say in everything. That is true! But God wants us to act justly, compassionately and mercifully here and now….  Only if justice cannot be attained despite the every best effort in this life, God will ensure it is done in the next…  however, the Lord, commands and work without ceasing for that justice that is desperately needed by so many in this life ……  

Our Lord promises us that God will never give up on us….  Never abandon us….  Even if (at times) we really feel like we have abandoned…  God is still there…  - with us - and in us … always…  …

Thank goodness our Lord Jesus called out on the cross:  "My God , My God why have you abandoned me."   By this, through Jesus' own life, suffering, death and resurrection he amplifies and gives voice to all people throughout history who suffer alone, who are abandoned by others and who cry out to feel the presence and support of God. 

But God knows every one of these people's names. God sees their suffering and God will not forget them. And (just as vitally), God wants us to see them and not forget them also.  

The Gospel of Christ, as preached and lived by Our Lord, assures us that even the most unknown and unremarked suffering or injustice, done to the most invisible people in society;  God cares about them, and what happens to them and has not abandoned them - but instead constantly calls on all people of goodwill to do something about it. Even if a person does not feel God's reassurance in the midst of the suffering, God is still THERE with them. Our Lord went through precisely the same abandonment and denial of dignity.

when we run to God with all the disasters that befall us, including when we are bereaved by loss and suffering injustice…  We beg God for answers….   And although we do not hear a physical voice replying to us… (except the voice of the Scriptures..   and except the voice and response of those filled with God's love - who reach out like the hand of God, in real and practical ways…. // nevertheless I truly believe… that the silence is not an empty silence … but rather, that silence is a pause filled with promise…(like the kind of silence you hear straight after asking an urgent request of someone and in the silence, seconds before you get a reply - a positive one..  (the big difference is that in these situations, the pause between the response is extended)…  it is more of a pregnant pause…..  where the reply will certainly be….   "I will raise you up… I will bring life out of death".  

And this promise is not just for the next life.  For, God is constantly at work, bringing new life to all of the many abrupt endings and failures in life….    (big or small) 

As Jesus assures us in the Gospel: He is the God of the living.  For, to God, all are still alive.

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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly

MISSION 2000  – PRAYING SCRIPTURE IN A CONTEMPORARY WAY. YEAR B. BY MARK LINK   S.J.

2010 – A BOOK OF GRACE-FILLED DAYS. BY ALICE CAMILLE.

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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,  A time of 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,  revised - 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA)

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

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

{ Sung "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" -  by Jeffrey M. Ostrowski. The ….Gloria,  copyright 2011   ccwatershed.org. } 

"Faith, Hope and Love" hymn - in memory of  William John Kelly -     Inspired by  1 Corinthians 13:1-13.  Music Paul W. Kelly. (c) 1996 .  Updated lyrics  by Paul Kelly and Stefan Kelk, arranged and sung by Stefan Kelk. 2019.

please visit homilycatholic.blogspot.com

Production -  Kelly Enterprises Resources.  

May God bless and keep you. 


Thirty-Second Sunday Ordinary Time. Year C
(Sunday, November 10, 2019)

(EPISODE: 187 )

The Lord be with you.
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{{Kindness and grace  to you all}}

As we prepare to celebrate the great Sacramental feast of Gods love, let us pause, recall our sins, and trust in Gods infinite mercy.?
You raise the dead to life in the Spirit. Lord, have mercy//You bring pardon and peace to the sinner. Christ, have mercy// You bring light to those in darkness. 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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Sundays Ordinary II

Euch prayer two

Communion side.  PWK:  LH
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{I gratefully acknowledge and give thanks to God for your prayers at this time of prayer and reflection upon our God. }

Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.

Catholic 764 : Thirty-first Sunday. Year C - Sunday, November 3, 2019

Homily Thirty-first Sunday. Year C - Sunday, November 3, 2019

Wisdom 11:22-12:2; 

Psalm:  I will praise your name forever my king and my God

2 Thessalonians 1:11-2:2;

Alleluia, alleluia! God loved the world so much, he gave his only Son. That all who believe in him might have eternal life.

Luke 19:1-10 

IMAGE: By rudall30 stock vector images ID: 1458778802
Biblical vector illustration series, Zacchaeus climbed up into a sycamore tree to have a better view of Jesus. Licensed by Shutterstock.
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Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the Thirty-first Sunday. Year C - Sunday, November 3 2019, by clicking this link here:   https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/31c-faith-hope-and-love-ep-186/s-1IdFn  (EPISODE: 186)
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Homily Thirty-first Sunday. Year C - 

…
prologue: 
In the first reading this weekend, we have an excellent key to the reason God deals with us the way he does, in relation to our sins and mistakes....   The Lord "overlooks people's sins, so that they may repent....For you love all things that exist,  ....{and} .... you correct little by little those who trespass,
and you remind and warn them of the things through which they sin,
so that they may be freed from wickedness and put their trust in you." 

The Gospel puts this message into action.   Our Lord shows us that ostracising or rejecting and shunning people who have sinned doesn't work.  In fact it often reinforces them in their sin, as they are left nowhere else to go.  Our Lord sought out, associated with and ate with sinners ...  he shows us that all people are God's beloved children...  and the Lord only shows us our faults and errors not so that we would lose hope but so that we can see where we are going wrong and turn back to the Lord who loves us so much.   Jesus wants us to have the same compassionate and constructive approach to others who have gone down dead-end paths....  he comes near to those who have strayed and invites them to re-connect him. How else could anyone be saved if they are not given the opportunity to draw near again?  

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The gospel for this Sunday offers us one of Luke's most delightful narratives: the story of Zacchaeus, the tax collector.

JERICHO (one of the oldest inhabited cities in history), was known locally as "The City of Palm Trees," and was a very wealthy and important town. The Romans transported its date-fruits and balsam all around the known world.  All this made Jericho one of the greatest taxation centres in Palestine. 

Zacchaeus was the chief tax collector, and the Jewish people would have loathed him because he was seen as collaborating with the ruling Romans by collecting their taxes for them. He was a rich man in a very rich and prosperous area. And much of his wealth came from taking more than was fair. And so, he would have been one of the most hated men in the district. 

Zacchaeus was wealthy but he was clearly not happy. Inevitably he would have been very lonely, for he had chosen a way that made him an outcast, even if a rich one. He had heard of this Jesus who welcomed tax-collectors and sinners, and he wondered if he would have any word for him. Despised and hated by people, Zacchaeus was already longing for the love and compassion of God. 

Zacchaeus is determined to see Jesus and would let nothing stop him.  For him, mixing with big crows was a dangerous thing to do.  People would certainly use the opportunity of the crush of the crowd to give him an anonymous kick, or push as he moved through the crowd.  People would not have been able to resist.  Zacchaeus would have been black and blue with bruises that day but he would not give up. 
 
Because he was a short man, he was eager to see Our Lord so much that he did something very undignified for a man with his rank and wealth;  he climbed a tree, just like an eager child.   A Sycamore tree, with its short trunk and very wide branches in all directions, was a fairly easy tree to climb.  

When Our Lord stopped at the tree and looked up, the crowd would surely have laughed at Zacchaeus and mocked him and awaited what they thought would be a scene where Jesus stood there and told him off for his dishonesty and lack of generosity.  If they were expecting Our Lord to berate and condemn him, they must have been absolutely astounded when, instead, Our Lord spoke kindly to him and said to him, "hurry down, I must stay at your house tonight."  

We notice that Jesus is the one who invites Zacchaeus to open the door. The initiative (as always), comes from Our Lord - -  and Zacchaeus responds eagerly.  Zacchaeus accepts Jesus' invitation and, rising to his feet, also rises to the occasion, by promising to give half of his possessions to the poor and to pay back those who have been victimized by his greed and dishonesty and collusion with the hated Romans. Jesus' action of reaching out to this outcast and sinner has a profound impact on Zacchaeus' lifestyle: He is changed into a person of generosity and justice. 

There is something else really astounding here about this. Zacchaeus could have stopped at just giving what Jewish law required of fraudulent crimes like this. According to the Book of Leviticus (6: 5) and the Book of Numbers (5: 7),  he only needed to repay the value plus 1/5^th of the value. So he was saying, I am not hiding behind the minimal requirements of the letter of law. I am going to act justly and generously and go far beyond what is demanded.  How utterly changed he had become.  By Our Lord refusing to reject him and ostracise him, and by giving him space and kindness, this sinful man was given the room to repent and be transformed. 

Of course, Our Lord expects not just a change of words, but also words backed up by practical actions.

Finally, Jesus reminds us that being a true son or daughter of Abraham is not a matter of inheritance, race, or culture. Being a true member of God's family is a response to God's invitation by practical actions, as stated in the second reading this weekend,        (2 Thes 1:11). 

Zacchaeus (and all of us) are called to be "lovers of life," as the book of Wisdom beautifully puts it, (11:26). The God of our faith is the one who always forgives and who wants all people to put their trust in him, (Wis 12:2). This trust is well placed. 
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References:
Thanks to an extensive quotation from these two sources, for this week's homily.

•       SHARING THE WORD THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR. GUSTAVO GUTIERREZ.

•       THE DAILY STUDY BIBLE. GOSPEL OF LUKE. (REVISED EDITION). BY WILLIAM BARCLAY.

•       FR. PAUL W. KELLY

IMAGE: By rudall30 stock vector images ID: 1458778802
Biblical vector illustration series, Zacchaeus climbed up into a sycamore tree to have a better view of Jesus. Licensed by Shutterstock.

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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,  A time of Christian worship and reflection"  - Led by Rev Paul W. Kelly

Prayers and chants from the English Translation of the Roman Missal, edition three, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)

Scriptures from the New Revised Standard Version: © 1989,  revised - 2009. 

"The Psalms: A New Translation" ©1963, 2009,  The Grail - Collins publishers 

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

{ "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" -Composed and Sung by Jeffrey M. Ostrowski   Featuring the….Gloria,  copyright 2011   ccwatershed.org

"Faith, Hope and Love" hymn - dedicated to William J Kelly -     Inspired by 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, set to original music Paul W. Kelly. (c) 1996. Updated lyrics by Paul Kelly and Stefan Kelk, with new arrangement and vocals by S. Kelk. 2019.

for more information-  homilycatholic.blogspot.com

Production -  Kelly Enterprises Resources.   
May God bless and keep you. 

Thirty-first Sunday. Year C
(Sunday, November 3, 2019)

(EPISODE: 186 )

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 Patience to you all}}

Our Gods love and mercy knows no bounds, and so let us recall our sins so as to worthily celebrate this Holy Sacrifice.?
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//
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.  Amen.
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Memorial Acclamation

1. We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.

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SUNDAYS I

Eucharistic Prayer II

Communion side.  pwk:  LH
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{Many thanks for participating in this time of praise and reflection upon our loving God.}

Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.

Catholic 763: All Souls Day - Second of November, 2019

Homily All Souls Day - Second November

THE LITURGY OF THE WORD

First Reading: Isaiah 25:6, 7-9.

Psalm: Ps 26. "I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord, in the land of the living."

Second Reading: Romans 5:5-11

Gospel Acclamation: John 6:40. "This is the will of my Father, says the Lord. That all who believe in the Son have eternal life. And I will raise them up to life again on the last day."

Gospel: Luke 7:11-17

Image: By Rachata Sinthopachakul. Shutterstock licesne. photo ID: 1287805768. Tomb of Jesus : He is Risen : Easter Day :

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Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the All Souls Day - Second November by clicking this link here:   https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/all-souls-day-faith-hope-and-love-ep-185/s-eG5Mz   (EPISODE: 185)
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I could not think of a better person to commend our dear departed loved ones, friends and colleagues to the eternal care of, than the one who formed them with love.... and walked with them every step of their life's journey...  and loved them as a doting parent...  that is, Our God. God is love...  God who created everything from the dust...  and who never hates anything he created, because he made it... and with love beyond telling.....   We commend our departed loved ones and all souls to God, who understands us better than we even understand ourselves...   it is God Who knows every situation, every circumstance, every hardship, every context to all our actions and decisions, and every blessing and grace of each person's life.  God sees and knows everything that made us free to make the decisions we made in our lives... and God also sees all restricted us in our freedom to think and act too.....  // And amazingly, many times, we don't see those factors clearly - even in the events of our own lives! 

We mortals, act with imperfect vision and knowledge. God knows that, and sees it all and allows for these factors. God has the whole picture and sees us with clear but loving eyes. 

God who is all compassionate, merciful, kind. loving and faithful.

In his earthly ministry, Jesus physically raised from the dead only a few people.  And naturally, this astounding miracle was met with incredible wonder, awe and amazement.  But we know that the people he raised back to life, with compassion deep in his heart, would eventually go the way of all humans, and die again...  (but hopefully this time, after a long and happy life).  

These rare incidents of Christ raising the dead (in his earthly ministry), show us the heart of God towards all who mourn.  This heart is filled with unfathomable love and compassion.  Our Lord himself knew what it was to mourn the loss of loved ones.  His step father Joseph passed away at some time in his young life.  It was have been a deep loss and sadness...   He must have been tempted to raise him back up...  but he did not. Instead entrusting him to his Heavenly Father who is always faithful...  He also wept at the death of Lazarus, even though he believed in Heaven and the ultimate resurrection of all the dead...  but he still keenly felt grief and loss nevertheless...   Our Lord knows what we mean when we are deeply grieving.  

Jesus says to each of us... I WILL raise you up anew to eternal life.  To the fullness of life in Heaven.  

Those few examples of physical resurrection, (of which Christ himself is the absolute fullness of examples),  are a promise and foretaste.   This poor widows only son was raised up out of compassion  to remind everyone that God promises to raise up our bodies in the fullness of time.  it also shows Christ's faithfulness, love and care for all who are bowed down by grief and loss.  God promises to fulfil his words to us. We too, can join with those in the first reading who acclaimed:  "See, this is the one in whom we trusted. IT is God in whom we hoped. And we were right to do so, for see, he has saved us!"  

In life, and in the life of each one of us, we come across sadness, tragedies, loss and disaster.  More times than we care to count.  Some disasters are naturally occurring, freak incidents, or inexplicable developments, and other disasters are tragically due to human action; -  mistakes, sins, negligence or malice.  These are even harder to bear.  today's feast of ALL SOULS is a reminder that God is our Faithful shepherd. A good and loving shepherd and parent.. who is never just content with saving the 99% of the flock...  but who will not rest and who keeps searching until the last sheep is recovered and carried back to be reunited with everyone else. 

Jesus shows us that it is right and good to keep trusting and hoping and praying - for God is truly faithful. God is gentle and kind and compassionate. 

Today we pray for all Holy Souls.  We are consoled and peaceful in the knowledge that we are praying and commending all these precious souls into the hands of the one has has the last loving say on everything. 

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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly

Image: By Rachata Sinthopachakul. Shutterstock licesne. photo ID: 1287805768. Tomb of Jesus : He is Risen : Easter Day :

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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,  A time of Christian worship and reflection"  - Led by Rev Paul W. Kelly

Prayers and chants  from the English Translation of the Roman Missal, edition three, © 2010, The International commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)

Scriptures from the New Revised Standard Version: © 1989,  revised - 2009. 

"The Psalms: A New Translation" ©1963, 2009,  The Grail - Collins publishers 

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

{ "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" -Composed and Sung by Jeffrey M. Ostrowski   Featuring the….Gloria,  copyright 2011   ccwatershed.org

"Faith, Hope and Love" hymn - dedicated to William J Kelly -     Inspired by 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, set to original music Paul W. Kelly. (c) 1996 . Updated lyrics by Paul Kelly and Stefan Kelk, with new arrangement and vocals by S. Kelk. 2019.

for more information-  homilycatholic.blogspot.com

Production -  Kelly Enterprises Resources.   
May God bless and keep you. 

All Souls Day
(Second November)

(EPISODE: 185 )

 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

          PENITENTIAL ACT:

As we prepare to celebrate the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, let us pause, recall our sins, and trust in Gods infinite mercy.

Lord Jesus, you raise the dead to life in the Spirit. Lord, have mercy.

You bring pardon and peace to the sinner. Christ, have mercy.

You bring light to those in darkness. 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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Preface I of Christian Death

EPII

Memorial Acclamation

We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.


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SOLEMN BLESSING: 

Let us bow our heads and ask for God's blessing.

May the God of all consolation bless you,

for in his unfathomable goodness he created the human race,

and in the Resurrection of his Only Begotten Son

he has given believers the hope of rising again.

Amen.

To us who are alive, may God grant pardon for our sins,

and to all the dead, a place of light and peace.

Amen.

May we all live happily for ever with Christ,

whom we believe truly rose from the dead.

Amen.

And may the blessing of almighty God,

the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit,

come down on you and remain with you for ever.

Amen.

         

Priest:

Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.

Catholic 762 : All Saints Day - 1st November

Homily All Saints Day - 1st November

THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
First Reading: Revelation 7:2-4. 9-14
Psalm: Ps 23:1-6
Second Reading: 1 John 3:1-3
Gospel Acclamation: Matthew 11:28
Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12

Image: By Gudrun Muenz. Licensed by Shutterstock. photo ID: 682200820. "Candle lights in darkness with golden light effects and bokeh for solemn moments."
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Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the All Saints Day - 1st November by clicking this link here:   https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/all-saint-day-faith-hope-and-love-ep-184/s-lBrd9  (EPISODE: 184)
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The feast of "All Saints" is the feast of all Christians. In fact, being a disciple of Jesus implies striving to be holy as our heavenly Father is holy (Mt 5:48). We are all called to holiness…  and we are all called to be saints…  In fact, in the early years of the church, the Saints was a title used to describe members of the Christian Church living and dead…  since eternal life with Christ begins with baptism….  It has already begun, but is not fully revealed…. 

Matthew's Gospel tells us that those who are sensitive to the needs of the poor will enter the kingdom.

The eight beatitudes speak to us of the fundamental attitudes of Jesus' disciples and of all Christians. Disciples must totally trust God (poor in spirit); they must share the suffering of others (those who weep). Just as the Lord is, (Mt 11:30), so too must we be kind to others (the meek). They must fervently want justice to reign in this world (those who hunger and thirst for righteousness). Moreover, disciples must bear in their hearts the poor (the needy) - they must be ready to soften their hearts to those who are trying to turn back ..(the merciful). They must be consistent and upright in their lives (the pure in heart). They must do their best to establish peace as the outcome of justice (the peacemakers). All of this means that they will be opposed by those who refuse to recognize the rights of others (the persecuted for righteousness' sake).  Matthews Gospel goes on to put this in practical terms….. disciples are those who feed the hungry, give a drink to the thirsty, etc., in other words, those who are committed to the needy. The poor in spirit translate their love of God and of others by being in solidarity with the real poor in a material sense. In their actions for the poor, the marginalized, and the oppressed, they will encounter Jesus himself: "you did it to me." And encountering the Lord is a grace.

As Pope Saint John Paul II wrote, "It is impossible to embrace the cause of the poor, and in doing so, verify our fidelity to Christ (see John Paul II, On Human Work, no. 8), without causing resistance and hostility, without going through "the great ordeal" (Rv 7:14). Receiving the grace of being children of God (1 Jn 3:1) involves creating practical and authentic friendship and justice in our society."

Having said all this, we have known many people like this…   we know them now…  in our families, in our friends, colleagues, members of our communities…   People who have modelled in their lives, their attitudes and decisions have lived the Beatitudes…  so they saw God as he really is… and continue to see him in Heaven. 

This feast is especially for all the unnamed saints,… officially proclaimed saints have their own special feasts and memorials.. (though of course they are included today), but this is especially the feast day of the saints not listed on earthly books, but listed in God's book of life…  and we have known them.. we have lived with them.. we have been inspired by them…  we hope to join them in heaven…  

Sometimes the practicality of the Beatitudes is illustrated best by contrast…  those who are puffed up and proud, and self-focused…  those without empathy for others…  those who refuse to be kind…. Those who make excuses for injustices when they could do something to help… those who are violent and ruthless to those who cry out to mercy -even those whose predicament is sometimes of their own making…./   These people are not the ones who will inherit the Kingdom.  The Kingdom is NOT inherited by those who crush others under their feet on their way to their goals…  they are not those who abuse and use others for their own selfish ends… nor are they ones who have no concern for the plight of the poor, the outcast, the sinner, the needy….  The ones who see no fraternity in people of other places, cultures or situations, when these people are truly our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Rather, It is those who stand up for and with those who call for justice and peace who stand before God's presence.  

We thank and praise God for inspiring us by the close example of these wonderful 'lights of Christ in our lives'…  may we continue to live these virtues in our own lives…   The saints pray for us, before the very face of God. We are in wonderful company.
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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly

Gutiérrez, G. and Dees, C. (1997). Sharing the Word through the liturgical year. 1st ed. Maryknoll: Orbis Books. Pp. 278-9

Image: By Gudrun Muenz. Licensed by Shutterstock. photo ID: 682200820. "Candle lights in darkness with golden light effects and bokeh for solemn moments."
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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,  A time of Christian worship and reflection"  - Led by Rev Paul W. Kelly

Prayers and chants  from the English Translation of the Roman Missal, edition three, © 2010, The International commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)

Scriptures from the New Revised Standard Version: © 1989,  revised - 2009. 

"The Psalms: A New Translation" ©1963, 2009,  The Grail - Collins publishers 

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

{ "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" -Composed and Sung by Jeffrey M. Ostrowski   Featuring the….Gloria,  copyright 2011   ccwatershed.org

"Faith, Hope and Love" hymn - dedicated to William J Kelly -     Inspired by 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, set to original music Paul W. Kelly. (c) 1996. Updated lyrics by Paul Kelly and Stefan Kelk, with new arrangement and vocals by S. Kelk. 2019.

for more information-  homilycatholic.blogspot.com

Production -  Kelly Enterprises Resources.   
May God bless and keep you. 

All Saints Day
(1st November)

(EPISODE: 184 )

INTRODUCTION:    
The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

PENITENTIAL ACT:

Presider: Brothers and sisters, let us acknowledge our sins, and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.                       

I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.

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

Lord, have mercy.   Christ, have mercy.  Lord, have mercy.

May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.  Amen.
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Preface:  The glory of Jerusalem, our mother. (Proper of All Saints)
         
Memorial Acclamation

We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.

Presider:

          Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.