Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year B - Sunday, September 5, 2021(EPISODE: 319)
Readings for Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year B
FIRST READING: Isa 35: 4-7a
Ps 146: 6c-7, 8-9a, 9b-10. "Praise the Lord, my soul! "
SECOND READING: Jas 2: 1-5
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (cf. Matt 4: 23). Alleluia, alleluia! Jesus preached the good news of the Kingdom. And healed all who were sick.
GOSPEL: Mark 7: 31-37
Shutterstock Licensed Image Credit: stock vector ID: 1554962726 -Saint-Adresse, France - August 15, 2019: Stained Glass in the Chapel of Notre-Dame-des-flots (1857) in Sainte Adresse, Le Havre, France, depicting Jesus performing a Miraculous Healing. By jorisvo
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Please listen to the audio-recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year B - Sunday, September 5, 2021
This weekend, the first Sunday of September, we give thanks to all Fathers; for their love, care and generosity. We pray that God grants them joy in their family and friends, and health and strength.
Also, for all fathers who have passed into eternal life. May God give them a permanent place at the heavenly feast; the reward for all their goodness and kindness. Happy Father's Day to all our Dads in the community. May God bless you and grant you peace and joy.
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(Homily Fr Paul Kelly).
Thank goodness for the letter of Saint James. It is such a wonderful, practical instruction that remains so very relevant today, as it did back at the time of its original writing.
Faith and discipleship have very practical implications. And following Jesus means a radical transformation of attitude, behaviour and vision. We are called to be people who see beyond appearances. And do not settle on the worldly standards of value, but to be trained by our loving God, to see the world as God sees it. And to see the true value of people and of things around us. with the standards of Christ's gospel.
The Gospel which looks into the heart of the person, not the outward appearances. // And That goes to the true Spirit of the law, and not just the letter. // which values the doing of Jesus' words more than the mere saying of them.
This is why Jesus calls us to constantly pray. to spend our time meditating on the Scriptures and pondering their meaning. / This is why we are called to gather in community, and not try and "go it alone." To be supported and challenged by the teachings of the faith community as it journeys towards the fullness of Jesus' Kingdom.
Jesus, while healing the man in today's Gospel, says to him. "BE OPENED". And he says to each one of us too. "BE OPENED!". "Be Opened" to my 'new way of seeing' in this world. Be opened to listening to God's different ways in our lives. "
We could spend a long time reflecting on the implications of the message in James' letter, our second reading today. With its resounding clarity: Do not make distinctions!. Do not judge by outward appearances!. The ordinary, worldly standard of judging by wealth or status is not applicable in the Kingdom!. In fact, if any preference is to be given; it is to the poor, the needy, the outcast, the widow, the orphan, the sinner, the one who is most struggling -
In the Gospel, the description of the physical journey taken by Jesus is a long, long one, and geographically it is a bit odd! It is a bit like saying. Comparative to local geography here, "Jesus travelled by foot from the equivalent of Surfers Paradise heading for Brisbane, via Canungra and Tamborine mountain!" That was not (in any sense) a short-cut. Quite the opposite, it's the LONG way around! This journey was purposeful, slow and isolated in many areas. [i]
It is fairly clear that Jesus was taking this slow, steady journey to go out of his way to meet people who were often forgotten, (on the edges of the geography of the area) and also it was a slow journey to take lots of quality time to be with his disciples at some length, and to slowly but surely teach them and to reveal to them His radical and true vision of the Kingdom of God, which was very different from what they expected from their previous experience and values.
In the early years of the church, it would have been a real change of mindset for Christians when they gathered together as one group, because when they met in church -- the very rich and the very poor and, (even more interesting), the master and the slave would have to sit down as equals in God's house.
We too can fall into the trap of making distinctions, judging by appearances, being partial and biased and having favouritism.
The name we use is "Christian". And being followers of Christ requires the long, slow journey of changed attitudes and actions. and a new mind, (where Christ's thinking and values replace our old earthly values). In many ways, it is a lifelong journey, and along the way, we stumble, as we may occasionally fall back into attitudes and behaviours that are not the ways of Jesus, and are really nothing more than the ways of the world around us.
So, We have to be so vigilant, and so much on our guard against these traps, these contradictions, these hypocrisies. These can arise even in the most well-meaning disciples of Christ. Any contradictions of our own behaviour as Christians are things which non-Christians (even though they may not share our beliefs) are often very quick to notice and point out. Non-Christians often claim that any perceived inconsistency in our behaviour, (as compared with the message of the Gospel), is a real barrier to our credibility. Saint James in the second reading would agree!
Saint James says that partiality, favouritism and self-interest have nothing to do with the gospel. It is also the slow and subtle start of a form of cronyism, favouritism and corruption that (in secular society as well as in religious communities) is absolutely poisonous. Any sense of entitlement or partiality can derail a community. It would certainly move it further away from the gospel of Christ. We must all be on our guard against it. It is an easy mistake to make.
We can all be tempted to trade-in the message and vision for Jesus and swap it for a pale, watered-down, self-serving imitation of Christianity. Jesus is inviting us BE OPENED Be opened to my ways, Be opened to my radical values and vision. He also offers to heal us of spiritual barriers that prevent us from seeing and hearing the truth of our own values and motives; and the truth of how close to (or far from) Jesus' true values and vision we really are in; in reality.
JESUS gives the man back his hearing - God still achieves this today. in ways that go beyond this particular historical situation.
God invites and allows people to be open and truly hear him. to truly perceive - but God knows that the more faithfully one listens to God's unique voice within our hearts, where God's Spirit lives, the better one hears what is happening outside.
We too add to the chorus of voices saying of Jesus. "He does all things well." He manages to transform the most trying of situations . passing through the bitter valley, and in his wake. making it a place of springs -
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References:
Homily – & Prologue - Fr Paul W. Kelly
William Barclay – the Daily Study Bible, on James 2, and Mark's Gospel. THE WESTMINSTER PRESS, Philadelphia. Revised Edition. 1976
Shutterstock Licensed Image Credit: stock vector ID: 1554962726 -Saint-Adresse, France - August 15, 2019: Stained Glass in the Chapel of Notre-Dame-des-flots (1857) in Sainte Adresse, Le Havre, France, depicting Jesus performing a Miraculous Healing. By jorisvo
Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year B (Sunday, September 5, 2021) (EPISODE: 319)
the Lord be with you'
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{{Shalom (peace)}} welcome everyone, we gather - Reflect upon the Holy Scriptures and the values of the Lord.
Coming together as brothers and sisters in Christ, let us prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries by recalling our sins and remembering Christ's greater mercy.
Lord Jesus, you are mighty God and Prince of peace. Lord have mercy// You are Son of God and the Son of Mary. Christ have mercy// You are Word made flesh, the splendour of the Father. Lord have mercy.
May Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.
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Memorial Acclamation
2. When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again.
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Ps 146: 6c-7, 8-9a, 9b-10. "Praise the Lord, my soul! "
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (cf. Matt 4: 23). Alleluia, alleluia! Jesus preached the good news of the Kingdom. And healed all who were sick.
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PREFACE: Sundays III
EP II
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{thank you so much for taking this time to listen to, and reflect upon God's word and praising God's goodness and care. }
Father's Day blessing -
God our Father, in your wisdom and love you made all things. With give thanks for and ask you to Bless all Fathers. Grant them the wisdom and love to always be good fathers. Let the example of their faith and love shine forth. Grant that we, their sons and daughters, may honour them always with a spirit of profound respect.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
And may almighty God bless you all, the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit. R. Amen.
Dismissal: +
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 our weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks
You are welcome to subscribe to Fr Paul's homily mail-out by sending an email to this address: paulkellyreflections+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection" - Led by Rev Paul Kelly
Prayers and chants — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)
Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA)
"The Psalms" ©1963, 2009, The Grail - Collins publishers.
Prayers of the Faithful - " Together we pray" by Robert Borg'. E.J. Dwyer, Publishers, (1993) . (Sydney Australia).
Sung "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" - By Jeffrey M. Ostrowski. The Gloria, Copyright © 2011 ccwatershed.org.
- "Faith, Hope and Love" theme hymn - in memory of William John (Bill) Kelly (1942-2017) - Inspired by 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.
"Quiet Time." Instrumental Reflection music. Written by Paul W Kelly. 1988, 2007. & This arrangement: Stefan Kelk, 2020.
- "Today I Arise" - For Trisha J Kelly. Original words and music by Paul W. Kelly. Inspired by St Patrick's Prayer. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.
Sound Engineering and editing - P.W. Kelly.
Microphones: - Shure Motiv MV5 Digital Condenser.
v Editing equipment: NCH software - MixPad Multitrack Studio Recording Software
v NCH – WavePad Audio Editing Software. Masters Edition v 12.44
v Sound Processing: iZotope RX 6 Audio Editor
[ Production - KER - 2021]
May God bless and keep you.
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