All Saints - First November (Weekday Solemnity) 2024

All Saints - First November (Weekday Solemnity)  2024

All Saints - First November.
THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
First Reading: Revelation 7:2-4. 9-14
Psalm: Ps 23:1-6 "Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face."
Second Reading: 1 John 3:1-3
Gospel Acclamation: Matthew 11:28 Come to me all you that labour and are burdened, and I will give you rest, says the Lord.
Gospel: Matthew 5:1- 12

 Image credit: https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/yHKVT81z01nENkgSr1mj?ru=Paul-Evangelion

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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for All Saints - First November, by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-the/s-BtRmXvI7mVr  

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* Prologue: This feast began in the East to commemorate all martyrs and was progressively adopted in the West. Celebrated on this day in the eighth century and soon widely observed. Honoured today are all holy men and women in glory with Christ: known or unknown, mighty or lowly, all whose lives were modelled on the Beatitudes and on the great commandment of love.
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All Saints Day is a wonderful celebration of the countless multitudes of ordinary people who have lived lives of holiness, faithfulness and love according to Christ's commands, and Jesus' gospel.

 

And these people are now enjoying the eternal banquet feast of heaven as a reward of their goodness and kindness during their lifetime.

 

It kind of irritates me that this Solemnity of All Saints gets somewhat sidetracked by reference to the famous, well-known and officially recognised saints in heaven, since they already have their own particular feast day.

 

Some rare examples of singular holiness even have more than one feast day for the same saint, and rightly so!

 

The official saints are often praised and lauded publicly and gratefully, (and this is entirely commendable).

And, of course, this feast of all saints definitely includes those official, well-known saints, there's no doubt about that, they're definitely included, as the title of the solemnity of "All Saints" naturally proclaims.

 

But this feast is especially and pointedly for those holy men, women, and children whose names are not officially recognised, the ones who don't have their own feast day, and yet who are just as much in God's tender arms, rewarded with peace and joy and eternal bliss for their lives of grace.

 

These are people whom we have known and lived with!

 

They are family members, friends, colleagues, neighbours, members of our communities, who have lived faithfully to the Lord's Gospel and whose lives, actions and priorities reflect the wonderful Beatitudes as expressed in the Gospel today. And specifically those who are not officially canonised saints, but who most certainly are now with God and the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the angels and saints in heavenly glory.

 

These are especially those who have lived "hidden, unknown lives," where their Christian heroism and love is not seen or recognised, and whose names are not known. They are all seen and known by God and rewarded by God for the everyday discipleship in their lives.

 

It's wonderfully reassuring to know that our loved ones who served the Lord in kindness and love all their lives are now at peace and joy in heaven, reunited with all our departed loved ones, and with the officially recognised saints as well, taking their place amongst them as equals at the banquet feast of heaven.

 

Many of these unknown saints may very well have done greater acts of heroism and sacrifice than many of the officially canonised saints, but their actions and their love is not known to the world. But God knows it.

 

God is the only one who needs to see and know these acts of kindness and love, and will reward it!

 

These saints are excellent intercessors for us on our behalf. They pray for us and our intentions as they look upon the very face of God, and praise and worship God night and day.

 

They present our humble needs, fears and intentions directly to the Lord. And one day we look forward to being reunited with them. What a wonderful day that will be.

 

And as I say, we have known them. They're our parents, our brothers and sisters, our mentors and guides, our teachers, our priests, our leaders, our religious, our lay people, and also people so humble, so meek, that they are unknown to many or any. Their names are most decidedly written in the book of eternal life, as surely as the most well-known saints of history, and their example, their prayers and their love spurs us on to victory.

 

All holy angels and saints

Pray for us.

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References:

Fr Paul Kelly, 

 

(Prologue -information -  Liturgy Brisbane)

Image credit: https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/yHKVT81z01nENkgSr1mj?ru=Paul-Evangelion
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All Saints (First November)

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.

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
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Memorial Acclamation
We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.
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All Saints PREFACE

Eucharistic Prayer Two 

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Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.
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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 the 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 visting here:

https://surfersparadiseparish.us7.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=85b9ddd594b242276d423bfe9&id=002282d9e0 

Details 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 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. And (2024+) Rode Nt-1 + AI-1 Sound Mixer.

Editing equipment:    -- MixPad Multitrack Studio Recording Software v10.49 (NCH Software).

NCH – WavePad Audio Editing Software. Masters Edition v 17.63 (NCH Software)

Sound Processing:  iZotope RX 10 Audio Editor (Izotope Inc.)

Text transcription as per recorded podcast version is transcribed by TurboScribe.ai

{excellent and accurate transcription from voice to text}

[Production -  KER -  2024]
May God bless and keep you.
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Image: https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/2nSY4Dd5mxiNXsxUjnq6?ru=Paul-Evangelion

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time. . -Year B - Sunday, 27 October 2024 (EPISODE: 502)

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time.  . -Year B -  Sunday, 27 October 2024

(EPISODE: 502)

Readings for Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time.  .- Year B

FIRST READING: Jer 31:7-9

Ps 126:1-2a, 2b-3, 4-5, 6. "The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy."

SECOND READING: Heb 5:1-6

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (cf. 2 Tim 1:10). Alleluia, alleluia! Our Saviour Jesus Christ has done away with death. And brought us life through his gospel.

GOSPEL: Mark 10:46-52

https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/cHWUHWxyYH69lMx2lSj5?ru=Paul-Evangelion

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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time.  . Year B - Sunday, 27 October 2024 - by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-30th-sunday-ordinary-time-sunday-27th-october-2024-year-b-episode-502/s-fMLtLt3RQA7  
(EPISODE:502)
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Here is a blind beggar by the name of Bartimaeus. He simply will NOT be silenced. He calls out for help even when well-meaning (but wrong-footed) people tell him to be silent. He persistently cries to Jesus for help, because he KNOWS that Jesus is the Messiah. He also KNOWS that Jesus can help him. {FHL}

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I can't help but wonder if Bartimaeus is not the inspiration for Jesus' parable of the persistent neighbour, who keeps knocking and calling out until he eventually gets what he needs. As Jesus said in that parable, other people would have given in to the persistent neighbour what they needed just because they wanted to stop him from irritating them and to give them some peace again. So how much more can we expect from God, who turns a real listening ear to our problems, a sympathetic ear to all people who cry out in their need.

 

Naturally, God is very much concerned with our welfare and what we need. God doesn't just answer us to shut us up, but out of the deepest care, love and compassion. The Gospel passage also says that Bartimaeus does something very powerful.

 

As he gets up to go to Jesus, he throws off his cloak. The cloak of a beggar was like their badge to show, I'm a beggar, this is my state in life, this is my job. He goes to Jesus.

 

He's already showing that he knows he's not going back to that old life and he doesn't want to either. Jesus asks of him what seems to be an obvious question, what do you want me to do for you? Jesus asks each of us, what do you want from me? Think about what you're really asking of me. What do you really want? What do you really need? Naturally, for Bartimaeus, he's asking for his sight back, but Jesus is asking him a deeper question at the same time.

 

Do you realise the consequences of what you're asking? Do you understand what this request is going to lead you to receive? For Bartimaeus, it doesn't just mean sight, it means a completely new life. When he receives his sight, he's no longer a beggar. His role that he'd been living for so long in that society was now changed and he could never go back to that.

 

He now faces a new life, a new vocation, a new everything. This is both exciting and scary. A true encounter with Jesus is always a joy and a challenge.

 

Our encounter with Jesus is a two-way dialogue. We speak to God of what our hopes and needs and fears are, and God replies with a silent question, what is it that you're really asking? And are you prepared for the whole change of circumstances that comes with what you're really asking for? Apparently, Bartimaeus is one of the few people whom Jesus cured that we're explicitly told in the text that he went on to become one of his disciples. So it's clear that as well as regaining his physical sight, Bartimaeus, just as importantly, possibly more importantly, has shown enormous clarity of spiritual vision into who Jesus is and what following him means.

 

When Bartimaeus regains his sight and Jesus tells him, go on your way, beautifully, Bartimaeus' way from now on is following Jesus along his way because it says he follows him along the way. He becomes a follower, a disciple. As he walks along following Jesus, he will continue to gain new sight, new knowledge.

 

In another sense, he'll gain the vision to cast off the cloak of his old ways, old excuses and faithfully follow along the new paths that Jesus is leading him along. We are like Bartimaeus. We're asking Jesus to show us and teach us deeper ways to combine love, mercy, justice, faithfulness to his teaching and that compassion for those who've stumbled or are searching for answers.

 

As we walk along the road of God's mercy, let's explore and celebrate the richness of God's mercy and love. We need to be careful about spiritual blindness. It can be a very subtle thing by its very definition.

 

The thing about spiritual blindness is we really have to go looking for it because it won't be obvious. We don't know what we're not seeing. We don't know what we've blinded ourselves to spiritually.

 

It's hard enough to move along the paths of Christ's love and awareness when we're aware of those contradictions in our lives. But Lord, save us from being so inconsistent that we don't even realize it. We can't see it.

 

That would be even worse. How can we change what we don't even realize? That is some kind of worrying blindness. So, let's ask the Lord to at least allow us to see those areas of hypocrisy and blindness and show them to us and heal us of them.

 

How is it that we can hear the gospel and not always realize that this very gospel is convicting us of precisely the qualities it criticizes? How is it that when we listen to the gospels, we don't always realize this message is directed at us? That we might be the Pharisees or the critics or the hypocrites that Jesus is talking about in the gospel. It's not just those people 2,000 years ago. It could be me.

 

It could be us. So, we have to ask ourselves constantly in our prayer and our reflection and meditation, do I do that? How do I do this? And be very wary if we're very quick to say, oh, that's not me. That's other people.

 

No, that's unsettled me. I'm not going to deal with that. And just go back to very quickly the way we were always doing things, the way we were always seeing things and miss that spiritual blindness.

 

It's glaring at us. Christ invites us to be transformed. He's doing this to make us more and more free in his love.

 

If we ask the Lord to free us from spiritual blindness, the Lord will do it. The Lord will lovingly show us the contradictions. But if we ask the Lord, we have to be prepared to sit there in a bit of discomfort as we allow God to pour that healing on us and lead us through it.

 

And it doesn't always happen overnight. If we know what we're asking for and what it means for us, it's very much worth it. To what extent am I capable of being blind to the challenging message and vision of Jesus? In what ways do we listen and listen and yet not hear? How do we look and look but not see? As Jesus pointed out.

 

Lord, show us the light, help us to see, give us the courage to sit in discomfort so that we might see those areas that you need to heal in us and to trust in your challenging, loving and healing word.

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References:

Homily  Fr Paul W. Kelly

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

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{{Love and joy be with everyone}} welcome everyone, we gather -  Ponder with reverence, God's word and sacrament.

 

Coming together as brothers and sisters in Christ, let us pause and reflect upon our sins before celebrating the Holy Eucharist.

 

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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Ps 126: 1-2a, 2b-3, 4-5, 6. "The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy."

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (cf. 2 Tim 1: 10). Alleluia, alleluia! Our Saviour Jesus Christ has done away with death. And brought us life through his gospel.

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PREFACE: Sundays VII

EP II

(theme variation: 4 )

 

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{May God's grace strengthen your faith hope and love, and may the Lord' love surprise you, even in the trials and challenges of this week. }

 

Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.

 

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Archive of homilies and reflections:  http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au

To contact Fr. Paul, please email:  paulwkelly68@gmail.com

 

To listen to our weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here:  https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks

 

Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:

"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection"  - Led by Rev Paul Kelly

 

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: - RODE NT-USB-mini

 

Editing equipment:   NCH software - MixPad Multitrack Studio Recording Software

 

NCH – WavePad Audio Editing Software. Masters Edition v 12.44

 

Sound Processing:  iZotope RX 6 Audio Editor

 

[Production -  KER -  2024]

 

May God bless and keep you.

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Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time. World Mission Day -Year B - Sunday, 20 October 2024 (EPISODE:501)

Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time. World Mission Day -Year B -  Sunday, 20 October 2024 (EPISODE:501)

Readings for Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time. World Mission Day- Year B
FIRST READING: Isa 53:10-11
Ps 33:4-5, 18-19, 20+22. "Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you"
SECOND READING: Heb 4:14-16
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Mark 10:45). Alleluia, alleluia! The Son of Man came to serve. And to give his life as a ransom for all.
GOSPEL: Mark 10:35-45 or 10:42-45

 

Image Credit- https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/Tv7gd6KUmwav2vqY5j0F?ru=Paul-Evangelion

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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily) for the Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time. World Mission Day Year B - Sunday, 20 October 2024 - by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-29th-sunday-ordinary-time-year-b-episode-501/s-3U478o6F2ck  
(EPISODE:501)
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The readings this weekend speak of God who is not aloof or uninterested, but rather, God who is right there in the midst of us, sharing our suffering and pain, taking on our human condition, and lifting us up and helping people in very practical and compassionate ways….   God who gets his hands dirty and is one of us and among us to help us… to save us….
 
Jesus reiterates the ways of God -  humility, service, self-sacrifice……. - "…Anyone who wants to become great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be a slave to all. For the Son of Man, himself did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'  [FHL]
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Jesus, Chris loved us SO much that he gave himself up completely for us. Jesus sacrificed himself to save us. He became like a slave for us.
 
As the second reading says; We have a God who is able to sympathise with us in our weaknesses, because Jesus has shared our human nature and experienced human weakness, suffering, pain, and temptation just like we all have.
 
Jesus DOES indeed know what it is like for us to experience difficulties of every kind, and he promises to walk with us and support us in the challenges and suffering of life.
 
There is a saying, "I am only human," and whilst it is good to acknowledge that we are fallible and that we can all make mistakes, that excuse can sometimes be used to justify us remaining stuck in behaviours that are destructive and in choices that are decidedly not consistent with Christs' gospel message.
 
Sure, we are human, we are fallible - but, we are also called to share in Christ's divine life….
 
So, whilst God is understanding, sympathetic and forgiving, this is even more reason why we need to dedicate ourselves to rise above the sinful and destructive behaviours that we find ourselves in.
 
God's forgiveness and our human weakness is never an invitation to say, 'this is all I am and this is all I can be. I will not change, and will always wallow in my weaknesses.' Rather, we are inspired by God's tender mercy and compassion so that we then take up our cross and keep travelling along the journey of conversion - persevere along the path of holiness, and constantly ask God to foster in us the virtues that will transform our weaknesses and make us more and more like Jesus and his values….
 
Our weaknesses are a reality that can be a big obstacle in our path to increased holiness. However, it is no excuse for stopping in our tracks! Our weaknesses are real, but are never a reason to stay 'stuck in patterns of sin.'  We need the help of God's grace to achieve this.
 
Jesus is the ultimate example of not only "God made flesh" but also of humanity fully alive and glorified. The saints; (those holy women and men who led lives of service, sacrifice and holiness), remind us that, despite our limitations and infirmities, it is possible and necessary to keep moving forward in the path of holiness. Settling for less is not God's call for us.
 
The journey we are on is one that is 'walking a fine line.' We live in a way that means we never give up because of the sins and failures we experience in our lives, and we always gratefully accept the new start that God gives us through God's compassion and mercy, but at the same time, we never allow our weaknesses to cause us to presume on God's mercy - thinking we can choose to do wrong because we know God will forgive us afterwards.
 
The gospel today is very fitting too…..
 
The disciples (poor disciples!) have got it wrong .......again!!
 
Here are James and John coming up to Jesus and insisting that he give them places of honour and privilege in his Kingdom. How selfish, how proud, how indulgent!
 
The other disciples are angry at them, but perhaps because they too wanted those seats, (those privileges), and how dare others to ask for what they wanted! Jesus tries to show them (and us) that they have totally missed the point.
 
It is not even JESUS who allots everyone's place in Heaven. It is THE HEAVENLY FATHER. And the places will be allotted to people who have given themselves wholly to God's loving ways. Those who have suffered greatly to bring others to the good news of Christ; (those who have sacrificed themselves in loving and self-giving service), and certainly not to those seeking self-indulgence, privilege and prestige. How wrong these disciples are (in this matter at least)! These places cannot be earned without the CROSS, which is encountered in every disciple's life.
 
Jesus asks us to get rid of any kind of self-satisfaction, self-indulgence and pride. He shows us how to let go of our selfishness and give ourselves fully to others in service.
 
It is good for us to reflect deeply on this, (each of us individually, in our prayer can ask ourselves) ....." what motivates my actions?"  Really, what are my motives and priorities? What are the things that motivate me in what I do in the church and in my daily life?" Do I do things because I expect something back? Do I do it because I want a prestigious place of honour or a personal benefit for myself or those close to me?" The gospel today, and many more like it, challenges us:  We must know that this is not what Christ is calling us to.
 
Service and love, (done with Jesus' gospel values), are their own sweet reward. and with no other expectation of reward or honour. personal accolades, Personal reward, self-satisfaction – none of these are consistent with Jesus' message. Self-surrender, being servants to God and his message, compassion, self-sacrifice, loving service, mercy; this is consistent with Jesus' message.
 
Let us ask the Lord to lovingly show us our weaknesses, help us to trust in Gods mercy and compassion. Prevent us from ever presuming on your mercy, Lord, or boldly continuing to live wrongly and indulgently. Graciously spur us on, to keep going along the path to holiness. And. Lord, please inspire us to give selflessly and lovingly and to serve others as you did.
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References:

 

Homily – Fr Paul W. Kelly

 

Image Credit- https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/Tv7gd6KUmwav2vqY5j0F?ru=Paul-Evangelion

Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time. World Mission Day  Year B  -(Sunday, 20 October 2024)  (EPISODE: 501 )
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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{{Hi everyone}} welcome everyone, we gather -  Reflection upon God's word, and encounter Christ's presence.

my brothers and sisters, to prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries, let us call to mind our sins.

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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Ps 33: 4-5, 18-19, 20+22. "Lord, let your mercy be on us,  as we place our trust in you"

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Mark 10: 45). Alleluia, alleluia! The Son of Man came to serve. And to give his life as a ransom for all.
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Eucharistic Prayer for Various Occasions 3 (OWN PREFACE)
(theme variation: 3 )

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{Cheers and thanks, everyone, for this time of prayer and reflection - I hope you have a blessed week. }

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

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: - RODE NT-usb

Editing equipment:  NCH software - MixPad Multitrack Studio Recording Software

NCH – WavePad Audio Editing Software. Masters Edition v 12.44

Sound Processing:  iZotope RX 6 Audio Editor

[ Production -  KER -  2024]

May God bless and keep you.
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Twenty-eighth Sunday of the Year. -Year B - Sunday, 13 October 2024 (EPISODE:500)

Twenty-eighth Sunday of the Year. -Year B -  Sunday, 13 October 2024 (EPISODE:500)

Readings for Twenty-eighth Sunday of the Year.- Year B
FIRST READING: Wis 7:7-11
Ps 90:12-13, 14-15, 16-17. "Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!"
SECOND READING: Heb 4:12-13
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Matt 5:3). Alleluia, alleluia! Happy the poor in Spirit; The Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
GOSPEL: Mark 10:17-30 or 10:17-27

Image Credit- https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/wUuTIqSkjlooLojnwCtO?ru=Paul-Evangelion ++++
Please listen to the audio-recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for Twenty-eighth Sunday of the Year. Year B - Sunday, 13 October 2024 - by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-28th-sunday-ordinary-time-year-b-episode-500/s-J8ZqaXDm03o  (EPISODE:500 )
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Hello, I'm Father Paul Kelly…  - the podcast of the liturgy for the Sundays of the year…Faith, hope, and love. (EPISODE: 1)-  was first recorded exactly eight years ago this month on the 7th of October 2016 - (with a healthy lead time for the broadcast deadline on the 6th of November that same year… and today we reach the blessed milestone of episode 500.  

 

I am astounded… and delighted!   Also,  I absolutely love recording these podcasts of the Mass,  and making it available for all who are unable to be with us at mass – and are with us in prayer and in spirit-    and also for those who do join us at mass but also want to re-listen (or pre-listen) and reflect upon the prayers  and readings of the mass for the current week…(again or several times)    I myself love listening to these readings and prayers as I drive around in my car… 

 

I have been learning and upgrading and constantly attempting to improve

my audio skills and the quality of the sound – as revealed by this snippet of the very first episode… (at the time, I thought his sound quality was fantastic, but it's barely listenable 8 years later. (the bell tone in this original episode is too high pitched but it took a listener to let me know that it was irritating and then I noticed it and changed it…it took the terrible time of covid, and listeners requesting the addition of the eucharistic prayers and this has been a joy to pray too…    - Thanks be to God for his guidance and inspirations (and all who help with this beautiful work), and of course thanks be to the Lord for his living word which is more precious than anything else….and a joy on the tongue and to the ears and heart…   Here is a clip from episode one… (please note – my archival variable quality warning)

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And now- eight years later…always keeping in mind and in heartfelt prayer those who join us from their homes, their care homes, their travels and even their cars or their morning walks…..and from hospital rooms and so many other places….       here is episode 500….  God bless you and keep you all…     

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* (Prologue:  Fr Paul Kelly)
According to the psalm this weekend, wisdom comes from knowing how relatively short life really is. That is, we gain wisdom when we deeply appreciate the utter preciousness and fragility of this life.  Because life is short and vulnerable, the things that really matter, (the things that are of abiding value), become so important to discern….

The things that last are love, (self-sacrificing, unselfish love);  and our connection to Jesus and his gospel values…. 

Attachment to worldly things, to possessions and money, is an enormous obstacle. Of infinitely more value and importance would be spending all our time and energy in searching the depths of God's wisdom and deepening our appreciation of God's ways. This is our lasting treasure.

The second reading tells us that the Word of God is not just a series of letters and words on a page….  Rather; it is ALIVE and ACTIVE!
God's word gets right into our souls and penetrates our lives. God's word challenges us to weigh up our values, our attitudes and actions.

If the word is NOT doing that, if it is always just comfortable and easy and never unsettling, then we need to be wary.  A comfortable Word of God may actually be a "neutralized Word of God" or a "watered-down"  word of God. The extent to which we humans can make up excuses and self-justifications for our self-serving ways, cannot be underestimated. It needs to be carefully guarded against. The fullness of God's word searches out and reveals our self-deceptions.

In John's Gospel, it goes even further…. 
The WORD of God is Jesus. Jesus is the "eternal word of the Father"….    And we know that "the WORD became flesh and lived among us…."

So, as disciples, we must allow the Word of God to become alive in our hearts and minds and to radically transform us.

I think of Mary, the Mother of God….    I have mentioned before that Michelangelo did a painting once of Mary, at the Annunciation, being told that she will conceive and bear a son….  Mary says "Yes" to this…. 
In the painting, there is an unusual image: there is an old-fashioned "hearing-horn," at Mary's ear, like the ones people used to use to help them hear, (in times long before electronic hearing aids). This image is Michelangelo's way of symbolizing that Our Lady conceived the word of God by listening to God's message and accepting it…Taking it into herself.  "Mary conceived the word of God, by hearing and listening!" Mary brought the word of God to flesh literally in her life… We must hear God's word, spiritually conceive of it and allow God's word to become incarnate in our lives through our acceptance and action in our lives….

In the Gospel, the rich young man is basically very good….  He has faithfully kept all the laws and commandments of God….. 
(In Jesus' time there were a group of people who believed it is possible for a person to be entirely perfect in this life by actually keeping every little rule, commandment and instruction). Jesus loved what he saw as he looked into the sincerity in this man's heart. He saw the desire for his faithful observance of God's commandments. But Our Lord saw one big obstacle: the man's attachment to his worldly goods was getting in the way of him trusting entirely on God's providence and grace. Jesus looked steadily at the man and saw right into his heart and his challenge came straight from his loving heart when he said to the rich man: You need to let go, so as to be fully synchronised with God's ways. You must allow yourself to be utterly dependent on God alone…. Then you will be perfect!

This was too hard for the man… and he went away very sad. He was unable to be perfect because he was letting other things get in the way of his relationship with God….

Then Jesus says the comment about the "camel and the needle." Notice how generations have tried to water this passage down because it is just a bit too challenging. However, we remember that God's word is a finely tuned sword and it will not be blunted! Jesus words were intended to shock and the disciples' reaction indicates that his words hit their mark!  Some have tried to suggest that the eye of a needle is the name given to some kind of large door that people pass through; but no. Jesus meant what he said: This exaggeration is meant to mean what it says - It is harder for a camel to pass through the eye of a pin, than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom.  The disciples are obviously astounded by this because they reply in shock: "well then, who can be saved?????" 

Jesus answers that 'nothing is impossible for God.' Trust in God's providence allows people to let go of attachments or anything else that gets in the way of their following God. Trust in God's care, not simply on our own limited human willpower.

Jesus, by asking the man to let go of possessions, was really saying: It is not good enough to have the right personal attitudes. We need to go to the very core of injustice and detach ourselves from it. Possessiveness is found at the root of much that is wrong in society, including the desire to accumulate possessions, money, and prestige at the expense of others…

The rich man could have given all sorts of reasons why he needed to keep his attachments….   Security, or "it could be used to help him to do good"… etc….  but in front of JESUS, who is THE WORD, (who cuts more finely between the bone and the marrow), these excuses would surely have seemed weak and ineffective. The rich man turns and walks away from Jesus. Perhaps he will think about this and return later, after having thought better of what he was leaving behind. We certainly hope so.

The fact is, following Jesus' Way, takes everything we've got. The Way of God is not easy. There are significant challenges in following Christ, and if we have anything (any possession or attachment) that is possibly more important to us than Christ and his gospel, then it could very well come between us at some point of crisis when we have to make a choice or a decision. If we are detached from all things, then we will truly be free to let go of these earthly attachments, if it comes down to a choice between them and Christ's ways. We simply cannot allow our earthly attachments to be used against us in the all-out fight for the establishment of the Kingdom and its values. We cannot be baulked in times of trial if we have released our grip on possessions.  Jesus gives us strength and the grace for the hard task of being 'unbound' from anything that keeps us from the fullness of God's life-giving WORD. He encourages us by saying, anyone who gives up these things will gain everything that truly lasts and will win EVERYTHING that really matters.
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References:

2009 – A BOOK OF GRACE-FILLED DAYS.

 

Liebert, R. (1983). Michelangelo, a psychoanalytic study of his life and images. New Haven: Yale University Press.

 

SHARING THE WORD THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR. GUSTAVO GUTIERREZ

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed.


Twenty-eighth Sunday of the Year.  Year B  -(Sunday, 13 October 2024)  (EPISODE:500 )
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (or/ The Lord be with You)
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{{Peace and Goodness to you all}} welcome everyone, we gather -  Praise, Worship of God On this Twenty-eighth Sunday of the Year.

Brothers and sisters, let us acknowledge our sins and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.
Lord Jesus, you came to reconcile us to the Father and to one another: Lord, have mercy You heal the wounds of our sin and division: Christ, have mercy You intercede for us with 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 90:12-13, 14-15, 16-17. "Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!"

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Matt 5:3). ). Alleluia, alleluia! Happy the poor in Spirit; The Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
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PREFACE: Ordinary 8
Eucharistic Prayer various 2
(theme variation: theme 2 )

 

(post version: v2-long)

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{16. I pray this week brings you an ever deeper experience of Our Lord's compassion and love}

2. Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.

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Archive of homilies and reflections:  http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email:  paulwkelly68@gmail.com

To listen to the 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 visting here:

https://surfersparadiseparish.us7.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=85b9ddd594b242276d423bfe9&id=002282d9e0 

Details 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 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. And (2024+) Rode Nt-1 + AI-1 Sound Mixer.

Editing equipment:    -- MixPad Multitrack Studio Recording Software v10.49 (NCH Software).

NCH – WavePad Audio Editing Software. Masters Edition v 17.63 (NCH Software)

Sound Processing:  iZotope RX 10 Audio Editor (Izotope Inc.)

Text transcription as per recorded podcast version is transcribed by TurboScribe.ai

{excellent and accurate transcription from voice to text}

[Production -  KER -  2024]
May God bless and keep you.
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