Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time. -Year B - Sunday, 3 November 2024 (EPISODE: 503)

Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time. -Year B -  Sunday, 3 November 2024 (EPISODE: 503)

Readings for Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time.- Year B
FIRST READING: Deut 6:2-6
Ps 18:2-3a, 3b-4, 47+51. "I love you, Lord, my strength."
SECOND READING: Heb 7:23-28
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (John 14:23). Alleluia, alleluia! All who love me will keep my words, and my Father will love them and we will come to them.
GOSPEL: Mark 12:28b-34

Image Credit- https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/AawYmGTNbTRz0KzI8nyn?ru=Paul-Evangelion  

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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily) for the Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year B - Sunday, 3 November 2024 - by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-31st-sunday-ordinary-time-year-b-episode-503/s-iOmtAbypBzo  
(EPISODE:503)
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we are all extremely fortunate that Our Lord summed up all of God's Law and the message of the Prophets in two simple commandments, which are really different sides of the one coin: Love God and love neighbour. [FHL]

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In the Bible, and particularly by the time of our Lord's ministry on earth, there were literally hundreds and hundreds of rules, regulations, practices to be observed for all faithful Jewish people to try and keep as best they can. If anyone wanted to be considered perfect at rights with God, then they were expected by the experts of their day to observe each and every one of the many rules, laws and practices set down. They weren't just the Ten Commandments, but there were also many extra detailed rules and regulations to keep on all sorts of parts of life.

 

These included requirements related to ritual cleanliness. So we're all extremely fortunate that our Lord summed up all of God's law and all of the message of the prophets in two simple commandments, which are actually different sides of the one coin. Love God, love our neighbour.

 

Which also means we actually show our love for God by how we show love and concern, care, mercy and compassion for our neighbour, if we found ourselves in the same situation as our neighbour. The complete gospel is this, love of God, complete love of God and love of our neighbour as ourselves. And the common denominator to both parts is, of course, love.

 

It's the meaning and heart of the gospel of Jesus. Jesus Christ is love. The Father is love.

 

The Holy Spirit is love. God is love. People who act lovingly to everyone, even those who don't wish us well, or who want to do us wrong.

 

We act in and through love because we are relating to God, whose very nature is love itself. Our Sunday worship is deeply mysterious and sacramental, and it's an expression of our weekday lives. And our weekday lives must be an application of what we proclaim and express on Sunday.

 

We all can fall short of our basic beliefs in our ability to walk that path of holiness. We can fall short in moments of stress or trial, and we might at times fail to recognise the holiness of those with whom we meet, with whom we work and live. We can all possibly fall into that trap of not practically applying the principles that we do truly believe and strive to live.

 

But again, that's what's so beautiful about Jesus' commandment. Love. It's not about driving ourselves with mechanical intensity to treat others like we would treat God, or else we've failed and failed horribly.

 

It's about loving ourselves, being gentle on us, and gentle on others, and allowing that love and gentleness to flow out to everyone around us. Allowing God to put that love in our hearts and with our cooperation. If we fall short, it is love, not harshness, that is there to put us back on our feet again.

 

Because the goal is not about grabbing the crown of victory like a ruthless person who grabs the prize because it's owed them. But no, it's about growing into the most loving person we could possibly be, being completely united to God, who is the true source of all love.

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References:

 

Homily – Fr Paul W. Kelly

 

McCarthy, Flor. 1984. Sunday & Holyday Liturgies Cycle B. Dublin: Dominican.

 

Image Credit- https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/AawYmGTNbTRz0KzI8nyn?ru=Paul-Evangelion  

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Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time.  Year B  -(Sunday, 3 November 2024)  (EPISODE: 503 )
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (or/ The Lord be with You)
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{{Joy and peace to everyone}} welcome everyone, we gather -  Listen to God's Word and contemplate the sacraments. On this Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time.

As one family in Christ, let us prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries by calling to mind our sins.

Lord Jesus, you are the image of the unseen God: Lord, have mercy. .

 

You are the firstborn of all creation: Christ, have mercy.

 

You are the head of the body, the Church: Lord, have mercy.

May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.  Amen.
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Memorial Acclamation
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 18:2-3a, 3b-4, 47+51. "I love you, Lord, my strength."

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (John 14:23). ). Alleluia, alleluia! All who love me will keep my words, and my Father will love them and we will come to them.
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PREFACE: ordinary 3
Eucharistic Prayer 3
(theme variation: theme 1 )

 

(post version: v1-short)

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{2. thank you for your company as we have given thanks and praise to our God.}

1. 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 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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All Souls - Second of November 2024 - WEEKDAY FEAST

All Souls - Second of November 2024 - 

https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/IFj7NWFTHY9i9Z4cxSAY?ru=Paul-Evangelion

 

Homily  ALL souls DAY.  2nd NOVEMBER. – Year B

First Reading: Isaiah 25:6-9
Psalm: Ps 26: 1-4,7-9, 13-14. "I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living."
Second Reading:  Romans 5:5-11
Gospel Acclamation: Matthew 11:28  "This is the will of my father says the Lord, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given to me, and that I should raise it up on the last day."
Gospel: Mark 15:33-39; 16:1-6 (Year B)

Image Credit: https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/IFj7NWFTHY9i9Z4cxSAY?ru=Paul-Evangelion  
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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for All Souls - Second November 2024 by clicking this link here:    https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-weekday/s-r4f8NNvyWNO

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Jesus himself experienced suffering and death, the most terrible of deaths, in union with all who suffer and die, especially those who suffer terribly or unjustly or cruelly, and those who have died unknown, voiceless, and denied the basic human dignity and respect that all God's children without reserve inherently deserve, that is, all people, everyone. Jesus himself experienced bereavement often in his life. His heart was and is all-loving.

 

He reached out to all who are in pain and still does so to this day. Close to home, his foster father, Saint Joseph, who cared so wonderfully for him on this earth and taught him so many things in his life. Saint Joseph himself died fairly early in our Lord's short earthly life.

 

And also, Jesus' close friend Lazarus passed away after a brief illness. And Jesus himself witnessed suffering, death, and bereavement daily, many times at proximity. Jairus' daughter, the widow of Nain's only son and protector.

 

Although Jesus is indeed the Lord of Life and the Lord of the Resurrection, he keenly and compassionately saw and felt the absolute grief of losing a loved one. He felt this himself and he felt it for those around him. In Jesus' own life, he raised only a very few people from the dead, but he raised those few as a sign and foretaste of the hope of the resurrection that awaits absolutely everyone who trusts in his promises.

 

These rare but powerful signs of resurrection were done with compassion and also to assure us that Jesus is with us in everything and knows all too well the pain and loss. Think of those whom Jesus loved deeply but did not raise from the dead. A prime and glaring example, Jesus did not raise even his foster father Joseph from death, even though he loved and obeyed his earthly foster father in all things.

 

I suspect that Jesus knew that to raise his stepfather Joseph was not the heavenly Father's will. And Jesus would also not spare himself what others are not spared. Even the loss of a close family member and loved one, but those he did raise from the dead, is a promise to us all and a reminder of the power of Christ's resurrection and faithfulness.

 

Even Jesus did not avoid suffering and death but faced it with love and graciousness and a saving intention for all. Today reveals God's faithfulness, the eternal nature of love and the fact that our souls are truly eternal and destined for God and to be reunited with all our loved ones who've gone before us. Today we remember all the faithful departed and we also remember today all humans who have lived particularly tragic lives, with lives punctuated by grave difficulties, mistakes, sins and heartbreaking life paths.

 

For all whose life story did not end well on this side of heaven, we pray for their souls, knowing the infinite hope, mercy and love at the heart of God, who knows and loves every one of us better than we can even realize ourselves. We commend these people and rightly do it with confidence and hope into the God who reminds us that some situations in life seem quite impossible. To humans it might be impossible, but not to God.

 

As Jesus said himself, to God all things are possible and in this we hope. This day becomes a sign, an enormous sign of hope and promise, even in the face of death. Today's feast reminds us that each human being is precious, so infinitely precious in God's eyes, that Christ died so that everyone should live fully and that no one should be treated as disposable, as not valuable.

 

"When people die, they are not precious because they are remembered, they are remembered because they are infinitely precious and unique." This is the God who told that wonderful parable of the hundred sheep, one is lost, ninety-nine are safe, but God is not happy with just ninety-nine. God wants the whole one hundred. God keeps searching and looking and longing for that one lost soul. Even though he has ninety-nine percent retention, that's not enough for God. God wants all of his precious ones, safe where they belong.

 

We indeed praise God for the Lord's wondrous and astounding, unconditional love for us and we trust that this love will be more powerful than the sinfulness of those who die. Christ's love and mercy will be victorious over even the worst that the world can do and the individuals affected within it. We focus most of all on this day, on the gift that their life has been and on God's gift of life after death.

 

All Souls Day is an occasion to pray with those we love who have died, as well as to pray for them. It is a day to recognize that we belong to a Christian community, a family of God, in which those who have died are united with those who live. The remembrance of All Souls Day, keeping in mind the terrible suffering and death in times of war, flood, earthquake and the like throughout the world, these terrible and frightening events that still go on to this day and show no sign of abating, invite us Christians to reflect deeply upon the destructive power of sin in human lives and also to keep in mind the absolute breadth of God's love for us shown in Jesus's death.

 

All Souls Day is a day to thank God for those whom we have loved and join with them in prayer. It's also a day to reflect with sorrow and penitence on the power of human greed and sinfulness and hatred, violence and disrespect. This is a day for our hearts to lift up in compassion for the victims of these terrible occurrences in our world and to be utterly amazed by the truth that Christ's love by far outpaces the death-killing ways of this world, which causes so much misery and loss.

 

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace.

 

May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

 

Amen.

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References:

Fr Andrew Hamilton SJ writes for Jesuit Communications and Jesuit Social Services. https://catholicoutlook.org/a-reflection-for-all-souls-day-2/

 

Fr Paul W. Kelly

Image Credit: https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/IFj7NWFTHY9i9Z4cxSAY?ru=Paul-Evangelion

 

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All souls DAY -  2nd 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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Preface of the Dead I  - PREFACE

Eucharistic prayer TWO  

(theme variation: 1 )
(pre+post variation: 3)

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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 my 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 Kelly -     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.

[ Production -  KER -  2024]

May God bless and keep you.

 

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.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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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