Holy Thursday - THE MASS OF THE LORD'S SUPPER - 9th April, 2020

Holy Thursday  - THE MASS OF THE LORD'S SUPPER
9^th April, 2020.
(For you at Home).
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Holy week liturgies which we feature here, are specially approved shortened and adapted liturgies for this time of difficulty. You will notice that some options are not featured this year.  But we are still united in Spirit, in our Lord. 

  

 

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed vector ID: 1194922054. Biblical vector illustration series, Jesus shared with his Apostles in Jerusalem before his crucifixion, The Last Supper. By rudall30

THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
First Reading: Exodus 12: 1-8. 11-14
Psalm 115: 12-13. 15-18. R. "Our blessing-cup is a communion with the blood of Christ."
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26
Gospel Acclamation: John 13: 34
Gospel: John 13: 1-15
Homily
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Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for Holy Thursday  - 9^th April 2020, by clicking this link here:  https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-ep-218-holy-thursday-special-shortened-version-in-absence-of-assembly-2020/s-WUK8JaVKlcy :    (EPISODE: 218 )
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HOLY THURSDAY 2020
(Homily by Surfers Paradise Parish Priest, Fr. Peter Dillon). 

If the full moon that we see tonight could speak, it would be able to tell us that for thousands of years worshipping people have drawn down its light on thanksgiving festivals. Resurrection, and release from the bondage of death.
 
In the Middle-East shepherds came together under the desert moon. They took a lamb or kid from those born the previous week. They killed it, roasted it and ate it in a sacrificial meal. Through these actions, they hoped to secure fertility and prosperity for their flocks. They also took the young animals' blood and sprinkled it on their tent poles to ward off the Angel of Death.
 
This same moon could tell of a special night 3000 years ago when Moses and the Israelites killed their sacrificial lambs, sprinkled blood on their doorposts and then the very next morning made their escape from the slavery of Egypt.
 
Our full moon could tell of another special night almost 2000 years ago when the Messiah assembled his apostles in an upstairs room in Jerusalem to celebrate their last meal together. It was to be a night of profound statements, statements which summed up the ministry of the man called Jesus:
'If I, the Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you should wash each other's feet. I have given you an example so that you may copy what I have done to you.'
 
There was another statement which had its full impact the next day when the disciples looked on the Hill of Calvary: 'This is my body... This is my blood. Do this in memory of me'.
 
When the meal in the upper room was over, the disciples walked through the dark narrow streets and souks of Jerusalem. The light of the Passover moon guided them through the Gate of the Moors, making a steep descent into the Kedron Valley passing by the Tombs of the Prophets - the only sound to be heard was that of the gravel crunching under their feet. They arrived at the Garden of Gethsemane, a place they had stayed overnight occasionally before.
 
In the moonlight a solitary figure kneels in agony with sweat dropping as blood from his brow. This blood a reminder of the lamb-blooded tent poles and door posts, the reminder of the sacrificial death that awaited him. The Lamb of God will be slaughtered on Calvary at the same time as the Passover lambs are slaughtered in the Temple.
 
Another Bethlehem lamb, (for the town of Jesus birth was for centuries the provider of lambs for the daily Temple sacrifices). From the Garden Jesus could see the moonlight outline of the hills of Bethlehem to the south. Perhaps he remembered his mother telling him that when she first took him to Jerusalem as her first-born to present him in the Temple, she and Joseph could not afford to present a lamb: they gave the offering of the poor instead: two young pigeons. Mary will soon provide Jerusalem and the world with the most important sacrificial lamb ever to be born in Bethlehem and ever to be sacrificed in Jerusalem - the promised Messiah, the Lamb of God.
 
Was Jesus' final word to the Father -  "Not my will but yours be done," again a childhood family prayer taught to him by the handmaid of the Lord who herself had said "Let it be done unto me.".
 
This week, as we gather to worship and remember, under the light of the Easter Moon, let us remember how sacred these moonlight nights have been for thousands of years, not only for Christians and Jews but for the countless believers who preceded them. Let them be sacred nights for us too - nights when we remember in a very special way the culmination of the earthly journey of Jesus our Saviour.
 
Does our Full Moon see a Eucharist people?
Eucharist isn't something
You say or hear
Neither is it something you talk or philosophize about
Nor do you dogmatize Eucharist.
Instead, Eucharist is something you do and become.
Sometimes we laugh it
Sometimes we cry it
Often we sing it
We see Eucharist in another's eye
Or share it in a hand held tight
We speak Eucharist to another's ear
And listen to it from a person who needs to talk
Eucharist is both simple and profound
It desires to be our very lives.
If I the Lord have washed your feet, you should wash each other's feet
You now are my body, you are my blood
Do this in memory of me.
 
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References:
Fr Peter Dillon. PP.

R. Voight. The Eucharist (as Gift). https://www.materdeiknights.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Page-36.pdf
 
Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed vector ID: 1194922054. Biblical vector illustration series, Jesus shared with his Apostles in Jerusalem before his crucifixion, The Last Supper. By rudall30
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Holy Thursday


(EPISODE: 218 )

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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Brothers and sisters, let us acknowledge our sins,
and so prepare ourselves to 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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When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again.


Preface: Proper of Holy Thursday

Eucharistic prayer I – proper for Holy Thursday
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(No dismissal,  community departs in silent adoration and contemplation, to gather again on Good Friday) 
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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,:  http://www.ccwatershed.org/chabanel/  ]]] ] COPYRIGHT @ 2018 CORPUS CHRISTI WATERSHED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  www.ccwatershed.org/vatican/Ralph_Sherwin_Videos/   

Have Mercy – Song based on Psalm 50. Music by Paul Kelly. Added lyrics and arrangement and sung by Stefan Kelk. 2020.
For more details please visit http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au/
Contact us at paulwkelly68@gmail.com
Production by KER. 

May God bless and keep you.

A LENTEN PENITENTIAL SERVICE - (For you at home)

A LENTEN PENITENTIAL SERVICE - In preparation for Holy Week and Easter.

(For you at home)

Readings:
FIRST READING: James 2:14-26/
PSALM: 106:6-10, 13-14, 19-22. "Lord, remember us, for the love you bear your people."
GOSPEL: LUKE 15:4-7.

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed. Photo ID: 722119933. Jesus Christ crucifix cross on heaven sunrise concept, forgiving, Christian worship. By Art Stocker
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Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for A LENTEN PENITENTIAL SERVICE - In preparation for Holy Week and Easter. (For you at home), by clicking this link here:   https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-lenten-penitential-service-in-preparation-for-holy-week-2020/s-tJqjXYkBww4    
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In preparation for Holy Week and Easter …
We have been doing acts of penance, prayer and good works so that we may celebrate the joy Christ's victory at Easter, with minds and hearts made pure…

Since the pandemic has seriously restricted our ability to gather together physically, we unite in mind, spirit and heart instead, (in union with Christ)…  and given that the sacrament of penance is no available to the people… we celebrate this special penitential service…   which is an act of perfect contrition for all our sins..    Christ hears the voice of the repentant sinner…  and so we trust in his abundant mercy,… 
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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, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
Greetings.
Coming together as brothers and sisters in Christ, let us prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries by recalling our sins and remembering Christs greater mercy.

I confess to Almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, through my fault, through my fault,* .......

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

My brothers and sisters, we have, at times, neglected the gifts of our baptism and fallen into sin. Let us ask God to renew his grace within us as we turn to him in repentance.
Let us Bow our heads before God.
All pray in silence for a brief period.
 
Lord Jesus,
you redeemed us by your passion
and raised us to new life in baptism.
Protect us with your unchanging love
and share with us the joy of your resurrection,
for you live and reign for ever and ever.
Amen.
 
First Reading
A reading from the Letter of saint James 2:14-26  
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill', and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.
 
But someone will say, 'You have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith without works, and I by my works will show you my faith. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder.  
Do you want to be shown, you senseless person, that faith without works is barren? Was not our ancestor Abraham justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was brought to completion by the works.  
Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, 'Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness', and he was called the friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.  
Likewise, was not Rahab also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another road? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead.
The word of the Lord.  
Thanks be to God.
 
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 106:6-10, 13-14, 19-22
R. Lord, remember us, for the love you bear your people.
Then they cried to the Lord in their need
and he rescued them from their distress
and he led them along the right way,
to reach a city they could dwell in. 
 
Let them thank the Lord for his love,
for the wonders he does for men:
for he satisfies the thirsty soul;
he fills the hungry with good things. 
 
Then they cried to the Lord in their need
and he rescued them from their distress.
He led them forth from darkness and gloom
and broke their chains to pieces. 
Then they cried to the Lord in their need
and he rescued them from their distress.
He sent forth his word to heal them
and saved their life from the grave. 

Let them thank the Lord for his love,
for the wonders he does for men.
Let them offer a sacrifice of thanks
and tell of his deeds with rejoicing.

Lord, remember us, for the love you bear your people.
 
Gospel
Luke 15:4-7
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke
Jesus spoke this parable to them: 'What man among you with a hundred sheep, losing one, would not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the missing one till he found it? And when he found it, would he not joyfully take it on his shoulders and then, when he got home, call together his friends and neighbours? 'Rejoice with me,' he would say, 'I have found my sheep that was lost.' In the same way, I tell you, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine virtuous men who have no need of repentance.'
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Homily
When we were baptised…God made a solemn promise to us.  As the waters of baptism poured over us, God said…  this day I make you my son/  my daughter….   – God truly loves us as a loving parent loved their child….     It is our delight and our duty to fulfil this wonderful gift and grace of baptism by living faithfully the Gospel of Christ.   God's promise of eternal parenthood to us, and his promise of complete faithfulness with us through our whole life journey and into the eternal life of the Heavenly banquet, was no mere words…   it was not empty show….   God means what God does and God fulfils what God promises.  Without doubt.  So too, the promises made at our own baptism by our parents and godparents. or by ourselves and our sponsors for those baptised in adulthood…  these promises are real and solid…. 

The first reading reminds us that we are children of God in fact, as well as name.  And that our membership of God's family needs to show itself in actions and consistent attitudes and values.  and not merely words or hollow rituals…   The Sacraments are alive with the power of God's Spirit. and the source of all the sacraments is from the power and effectiveness of the Holy Spirit given over-flowingly in Baptism… we become grafted onto Christ.  joined to him forever…  what an absolute joy. What a priceless treasure…  

We have to be so careful of two extremes. Both are very bad and harmful to us in so many ways.

The first extreme is to take for granted our membership as a daughter or son of God.  We are not part time members of Christ…  occasional friends of Jesus…  we are friends, heirs and servants of the living God…   We therefore take very seriously God's direction to us that we must take our gifts and make use of them for the good of God's Kingdom.  As we heard in James' letter…   faith without good works is entirely dead.   Discipleship of Christ and membership of God's family is utterly hollow if it doesn't show itself in attitudes, actions and decisions consistent with Our Father's Kingdom. Practical actions of kindness, love, mercy and charity…  Our actions are united with the loving heart of Our Lord Jesus.

Whenever we fail and sin (when we fall). and at times when we make very poor choices or actions, the other extreme, (to be carefully avoided), is to be so "down on ourselves"..  That we cannot forgive ourselves … or we effectively refuse to allow God to give us the forgiveness that God can and does want to give us.      It is a serious and false humility to not accept God's forgiveness and mercy when it is offered.   IF God has forgiven us, we are truly forgiven indeed!   Who are we to say that God cannot or will not forgive us for our sins?   Are we greater than the God of all creation?  If I say to God, I have sinned and then say, Lord you are unable to forgive me for this, I do not deserve to be forgiven …  then I can add pride and arrogance to my sins…  For the constant message of the bible and Christ's good news is that he is the loving parent of the prodigal child who looks out for the return of his errant child day and night.. and runs to meet him when he finally and sheepishly (and possibly half-heartedly) returns..  /  like the Gospel…   Our loving God is NOT content with 99% of the sheep safe and sound…  but will not be satisfied until he searches for and finds that lost 1% and brings them home safe too.    

Today we praise the unlimited mercy of our God and Father who continually welcomes those who turn back to him after having sinned (see Luke 15);
The upcoming season of Easter (even as celebrated in these extraordinary and difficult times) remains the feast when the Church rejoices over the newness of life, and eternal life, in Christ, won for us by the death and Resurrection of Jesus.

 
Examination of Conscience
The Lord says: 'Love one another as I have loved you.'

Have I a genuine love for my neighbours? Or do I sometimes use my neighbour for my own ends, or do to them what I would not want done to myself? Have I given poor example or scandal by my words or actions?

In my family life, have I contributed to the well-being and happiness of the rest of the family by patience, kindness and genuine love? Have I been obedient to parents, showing them proper respect and giving them help in their spiritual and material needs? Have I been careful to give a Christian upbringing to those in my care, and to help them by good example and by exercising authority as a parent or carer or mentor? Have I been faithful in my heart and in my relations with others?

Do I share my possessions with the less fortunate? Do I do my best to help the victims of oppression, misfortune, and poverty? Re there times I have looked down on my neighbour, especially the poor, the sick, the elderly, strangers, and people of other races?

Does my life reflect the mission I received in confirmation? Do I share in the missionary and charitable works of the Church and in the life of the parish? Have I helped to meet the needs of the Church and of the world and prayed for them: for unity in the Church, for the spread of the Gospel among the nations, for peace and justice…..?

Am I concerned for the good and prosperity of the human community in which I live, or do I spend much of my time focusing only on myself? Do I share to the best of my ability in the work of promoting justice, morality, harmony, and love in human relations? Have I done my duty as a citizen? In times of ability, have I paid what is my due to the society I live in?

In my work or profession am I just, hard-working, honest, serving society out of love for others? Have I been faithful to my promises and contracts?

Have I obeyed legitimate authority and given due respect to its laws for the good of the community?

In any position of responsibility or authority, do I use this for the good of others, in a spirit of service, or for my own purposes?

Have I been truthful and fair, or have I injured others by deceit, calumny, detraction, rash judgment, or violation of a secret?

Have I stolen the property of others? Have I desired material things unjustly and inordinately? Have I damaged things of others or failed to show care to property I am responsible for? Have I made restitution of other people's property and made good their loss?

If I have been injured, have I been ready to make peace for the love of Christ and to forgive, or do I harbour hatred and the desire for revenge?

Where is my life really leading me? Is the hope of eternal life my inspiration? Have I tried to grow in the life of the Spirit through prayer, reading the word of God and meditating on it, receiving the sacraments, self-denial? Have I been anxious to control my vices, my bad inclinations and passions, e.g. envy, love of food and drink? Have I been proud and boastful, thinking myself better in the sight of God and despising others as less important than myself? Have I imposed my own will on others, without respecting their freedom and rights?

What use have I made of time, of health and strength, of the gifts God has given me to be used like the talents in the Gospel?  Or have I been slack and too much given to leisure?

Have I been patient in accepting the sorrows and disappointments of life?

Have I always tried to act in the true freedom of the sons of God according to the law of the Spirit, or am I the slave of forces within me?
Act of Repentance
My brothers and sisters, the hour of God's favour draws near, the day of his mercy and of our salvation, when death was destroyed and eternal life began. This is the season for planting new vines in God's vineyard, the time for pruning the vines to ensure a richer harvest.
We all acknowledge that we are sinners. We are moved to penance, encouraged by the example and prayers of our brothers and sisters. We admit our guilt and say: 'Lord, I acknowledge my sins; my offences are always before me. Turn away your face, Lord, from my sins, and blot out all my wrong-doing. Give me back the joy of your salvation and give me a new and steadfast spirit.'
We are sorry for having offended God by our sins. May he be merciful and hear us as we ask to be restored to his friendship and numbered among the living who share the joy of Christ's risen life.
 
Cleanse us, Lord, from all our sins;
Wash us, and we shall be whiter than snow.
 
 
Lord,
your sons and daughters stand before you
in humility and trust.
Look with compassion on us as we confess our sins.
Heal our wounds;
stretch out a hand of pity to save us and raise us up.
Keep us free from harm
as members of Christ's body, as sheep of your flock,
as children of your family.
Hear, Lord, the prayers we offer from contrite hearts.
Have pity on us as we acknowledge our sins.
Lead us back to the way of holiness.
Protect us now and always
from the wounds of sin.
May we ever keep safe in all its fullness
the gift your love once gave us
and your mercy now restores.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
R. Amen.
 
 LORD'S PRAYER
HAIL MARY

The Lord be with you….
 
SOLEMN BLESSING //
 
Go in peace, glorifying the Lord BY your life! 
 
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References:


Fr Paul W. Kelly

Liturgy Adapted from texts in the Rite of Penance Book Appendix II Sample Penitential Services.  PENITENTIAL CELEBRATIONS DURING LENT. First Example. –adapted- "Penance leads to a strengthening of baptismal grace."). App. Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship. Trans. ICEL. Australian Episcopal Conference. 1975.

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed. Photo ID: 722119933. Jesus Christ crucifix cross on heaven sunrise concept, forgiving, Christian worship. By Art Stocker
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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
Liturgy Adapted from texts in the Rite of Penance Book Appendix II Sample Penitential Services.  PENITENTIAL CELEBRATIONS DURING LENT. First Example. –adapted- "Penance leads to a strengthening of baptismal grace."). App. Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship. Trans. ICEL. Australian Episcopal Conference. 1975
Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989,  and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA)
"The Psalms" ©1963 The Grail - Collins publishers. 
Have Mercy – Song based on Psalm 50. Music by Paul Kelly. Added lyrics and arrangement and sung by Stefan Kelk. 2020.
May God bless and keep you.   

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord. Year A - Sunday, April 5, 2020

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord. Year A - Sunday, April 5, 2020

Readings for
FIRST READING: Isaiah 50:4-7
"My God, my God, why have you abandoned me."
SECOND READING: Philippians 2:6-11
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION  Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, king of endless Glory. Christ became obedient for us, even to death. Dying on the cross. Therefore God raised him on high, and gave him a name above all other names.
GOSPEL: Matthew 26:14-27:66

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed. Palm Sunday. Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Dominica in palmis de passione domini. Illustration - fresco in Byzantine style. Royalty-free stock illustration ID 1302202996
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Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord. Year A - Sunday, April 5, 2020 by clicking this link here:   https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-ep-217-passion-sunday-shortened-version-in-absence-of-assembly-2020/s-dqTjcNIN9sZ   (EPISODE: 217)
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Greetings everyone, wherever you may be.

This year, the words "unprecedented" and "this has not happened before in living memory"  have been used frequently to describe the unbelievable events of the world coronavirus emergency.

We continue to pray for all who are ill, those who have died, and all who have been affected in any way...  financially, emotionally, and through isolation.   A parishioner said to me the other day, "During this terrible time, i am going to hide within the arms of the Lord."   This is a very apt concept.  As each of us jump into the loving and protective arms of the Lord, who loves us utterly.  

The reference is quoting the psalms where it says..  
Psalm 32:7
You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance.

Psalm 119:114
You are my hiding place and my shield; I wait for Your word.

Psalm 17:8
Keep me as the apple of the eye; Hide me in the shadow of Your wings

This year, due to the health directives, and social quarantine, we have, again, an unprecedented situation where public Masses and liturgies are suspended, and Holy Week will be conducted without a congregation.  We all are very much aware how difficult this is and what an incredible sense of sadness this has caused in everyone. 
Our faith, fortunately, has always taught us that we are never truly alone. Christ is with us, and in us... and we are always united to Christ and with one another, in the spiritual body of Christ.  So, even as we find ourselves separated by distance, we are certainly close in Spirit. 
Due to this situation, (the coronavirus pandemic), the Holy week liturgies which we will feature here in the coming days, are specially approved shortened and adapted liturgies in this time of pandemic. So you will notice that some options are not featured this year. 
Let us put ourselves  in these times, at the service of the Lord. Let us be instruments of God's extreme compassion, love and practical charity.
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You may have heard recently that at the height of the massive quarantine of the entire nation of Italy, Pope Francis was able to walk down the usually busy streets of Rome, (now deserted), as he went on a solitary pilgrimage to a couple of historic Roman churches and prayed for all God's children affected by the pandemic. Such a humble, caring and poignant action, enhanced by the fact that he himself was recovering from a cold, (fortunately not covid-19).
 
We could hardly have imagined that, as we enter Holy week, so many people right across the globe are affected by this coronavirus emergency. Many regions and whole nations locked down or with serious restrictions. Many people battling the illness, shocking numbers of deaths, and also the terrible, untold economic and financial disruptions.
 
It is timely on this Passion Sunday, to recall Pope Francis' words from a previous Palm Sunday Mass (three years ago). The pope invited us all to contemplate the face of Jesus "not only in paintings, or photographs, or even in video depictions" but "in the faces of many of our brothers and sisters . . . who are suffering." "Jesus is in them, in each of them, and with a disfigured face, with a broken voice, He asks to be looked at, to be recognized, to be loved," In that mass, held back then in St Peter's Square with a huge crowd of 50 000 pilgrims and visitors, his message holds just as strongly today, as he celebrates Mass in the absence of a congregation. (as many areas also do… but very much in union with them – and keeping them Spiritually united.
"We have no other Lord but him: Jesus, the humble King of justice, mercy and peace", said the Pope. 
Our gentle Pope said that "Passion/Palm Sunday,":- "can be said to be bittersweet. It is joyful and sorrowful at the same time. We celebrate the Lord's entrance into Jerusalem to the cries of his disciples who acclaim him as King. It recounts the enthusiasm of the disciples who acclaim the Master with cries of joy, and we can picture in our minds the excitement of the children and young people of the city who joined in the excitement.
 
Yet, on this exact same day, we also solemnly proclaim the Gospel account of his Passion and death. Jesus, who accepts the hosannas of the crowd, knows full well that these cries of welcome will soon be followed by cries of: "Crucify him!"
 
Even as Our Lord fulfils the Scriptures by entering into the holy city in this way, he is in no way some kind of misguided peddler of illusions, no new-age prophet, no imposter. Rather, he is clearly the King and Messiah who comes in the humble role of a servant, - who obeys his Father in Heaven utterly, and goes willingly to his passion. - , He suffers all the pain of humanity. 
In this sad contrast, (from joy and acclamation – to sorrow, suffering and condemnation), our hearts experience in some small way, what Jesus himself must have felt in his own heart that day, as he rejoiced with his friends and also wept over Jerusalem. 
So as we joyfully acclaim our King, let us also think of the sufferings that he will have to endure in this coming (Holy) week. Let us think of the slanders and insults, the snares and betrayals, the abandonment to an unjust judgment, the blows, the lashes and the crown of thorns… And lastly, the way of the cross leading to the crucifixion. 
He had spoken clearly of this to his disciples: "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me" (Mt 16:24). Jesus never promised honour and success. (pk - well, not in an earthly sense, that is!). The Gospels make this clear.
 
He had always warned his friends that this was to be his path, and that the final victory would be achieved through the passion and the cross. All this holds true for us too. Let us ask for the grace to follow Jesus faithfully, not in words but in deeds. Let us also ask for the patience to carry our own cross, not to refuse it or set it aside, but rather, in looking to him, to take it up and to carry it daily. 
Christ is present in our many brothers and sisters who today endure sufferings like his own: they suffer from slave labour, from family tragedies, from diseases… They suffer from wars and terrorism, from interests that are armed and ready to strike. Women and men who are cheated, violated in their dignity, discarded…(and we can add in 2020 0 present in all suffering in any way from the many and varied effects of this terrible pandemic)…… Jesus is in them, in each of them, and, with marred features and broken voice, he asks to be looked in the eye, to be acknowledged, to be loved. (Our Lord always stood by those who were most disadvantaged, most isolated – he stood with them and promised to be with them in the joys and sorrows of life.. and he made a practical difference to people's lives.. he calls us to ensure we always do the same – faithful, serving, practical love).
It is not some other Jesus, but the same Jesus who entered Jerusalem amid the waving of palm branches. It is the same Jesus who was nailed to the cross and died between two criminals. (this is one and the same person. This is the fullness of the revelation of God with us). We have no other Lord but him: Jesus, the humble King of justice, mercy and peace. 
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References:

Pope Francis. Homily. Palm Sunday, 2017.  https://zenit.org/articles/palm-sunday-we-have-no-other-lord-but-him-full-text/  © Libreria editrice vaticana 2017. 

Fr Paul W. Kelly

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed
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Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord. Year A  (Sunday, April 5, 2020)  (EPISODE: 217)
Grace to you and peace fRomans God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (or/ The Lord be with You)
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{{Greetings}}

Coming together as brothers and sisters in Christ, let usprepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries by recalling our sins and remembering Christs greater mercy.

I confess to Almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, through my fault, through my fault,* .......

May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.  Amen.+++++++++++++++++++++
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 of the Passion
Eucharistic Prayer II

Prayer for Spiritual Communion:  My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love you above all things and I desire to receive you in my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally, Come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace you as if you were already there and unite myself wholly to you. Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen. 

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Go forth, the Mass is ended.
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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).
Have Mercy – Song based on Psalm 50. Music by Paul Kelly. Added lyrics and arrangement and sung by Stefan Kelk. 2020.
May God bless and keep you.  

A Short Liturgy Remembering the Triumphal Entry of Our Lord into Jerusalem. Year A

A Short Liturgy Remembering the Triumphal Entry of Our Lord into Jerusalem. Year A

(A Prelude to Passion Sunday)

Reading:

GOSPEL: Matthew 21:1-11. The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. 

A Brief Liturgy of the word commemorating the Triumphal Entry of Our Lord into Jerusalem. 

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Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord. Year A - Sunday, April 5, 2020, by clicking this link here:   https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-triumphal-entry-into-jerusalem-special-remembrance/s-iynJKEzDd8l   +++++

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(Image: Unsplash. By Avel Chuklanov. @chuklanov)

Greetings everyone.

Due to the unprecedented health crisis communities all around the world, Holy Week liturgies will this year be celebrated in the absence of the assembly.  Or more accurately, we are all united in the liturgies but unable to be physically present together. The sense of our union or communion (in the broadest sense of the word) with Christ and one another is very much a reality in these extraordinary rites.  

The liturgies for Holy week are special shortened liturgies with some of the options deleted as those are suited best to large gatherings. 

In the Passion Sunday liturgy this year, the commemoration of the Triumphal entry is omitted, so we thought it would be very fitting to a special remembrance of this welcoming of the Lord with Palms, by this short independent liturgy of the word, as a beautiful prelude to the Mass for this Sunday which will be published On Tuesday in anticipation of the weekend. 

God bless everyone and let's continue to pray for protection, health, recovery and a fuller sense of God's compassionate love. 

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Further information on 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. 

Have Mercy – Song based on Psalm 50. Music by Paul Kelly. Added lyrics and Arrangement and sung by Stefan Kelk. 2020. 

May God bless and keep you.