Fifth Sunday of Lent. Year C. - Sunday, 6 April 2025 (EPISODE: 525)

Fifth Sunday of Lent. Year C. - Sunday, 6 April 2025
(EPISODE: 525) 

Image Credit- https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/toWToQGYiqYa5bB16TSV/jesus-writes-on-the-ground-and-then-says-let-he-who-is-without-sin-throw-the-first-stone?ru=Paul-Evangelion

Readings for Fifth Sunday of Lent. Year C.
FIRST READING: Isa 43:16-21
Ps 126:1-2a, 2b-3, 4-5, 6. "The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy."
SECOND READING: Phil 3:8-14
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Joel 2:12-13). Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, king of endless Glory. With all your heart, turn to me. For I am tender and compassionate.
GOSPEL: John 8:1-11
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Please listen to the audio-recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for Fifth Sunday of Lent. Year C. - Sunday, 6 April 2025 by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-fifth-1/s-UAHBshdn57N  (EPISODE: 525)
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* "Neither do I condemn you!"

In these dying days of Lent, let us ask God to kindle anew in us a deeper charity, a deeper unselfish love, to live the values of service, self-emptying and compassion, no matter what the cost, knowing the cost and still trusting that Jesus went before us in this and all things. [FHL]
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There's a beautiful little theme running through the readings this weekend that I find really delightful. "No need to recall the past. The blessings of God are not all in the past."

They are still to come. God is doing something new in this time and in this place. Saint Paul picks up this thread again when he says, "I forget the past and I strain ahead for what is to come."

God is still at work in our lives here and now. God wants us to look forward, not to dwell on the past and certainly not to be held back by past sins and past mistakes. God wants us to look forward and not dwell on the past and certainly not be bowed down or trapped by past sins and past mistakes.

How wonderful is that? That's the point about mercy. No one deserves it. Everyone deserves true justice.

Mercy, on the other hand, is sheer gift. Mercy cancels out wrongs and transgressions, not because of a sparkling defense, not because someone's found excusing clauses skillfully argued, but simply because of the free gift and response of a person who is grieved. Mercy does not suggest that the guilty are not guilty, that wrong has not been done.

It recognizes the guilt, it recognizes the wrong, but it does not demand satisfaction for the wrong. In all of this, mercy reflects the utter graciousness of the one who has been wronged and who does not allow that wrong to define them. How our Lord related to and treated this woman gives us a clear picture of the whole meaning of the gospel and the way he approaches us in our sin and weakness.

Each one of us can be that woman, a sinner, who is standing before our Lord and look how kindly and gently he treats us. There's no doubt about what the law at the time of our Lord dictated as a penalty for the type of sin alleged here. Jesus knew this too.

However, he puts the whole relationship of sin and punishment into a quite new light, mercy and compassion. In God's the law is not just about harshness and rules, but in unity with God's loving mercy and kindness and how we have acted in relation to that. Jesus time and time again has reminded us that we are whole human beings and Jesus calls us to wholeness, holiness.

So we do not do ourselves much good if we keep focusing on actions or even sins unless we can see them in the broader context of who we are as humans, created by God in love. And it's also about love and mercy and compassion. I'm sure we would all like to live out that mercy and compassion in our own lives.

Lent is when we keep reflecting on our own relationship with others. We no longer stone people to death for breaking laws, thank goodness. But tragically and shockingly, there are still places in this world where this horrific penalty still applies.

And let's face it, even in the absence of stoning per se, there are other ways of striking people down in modern society or destroying their career, their reputation or their lives because of their mistakes, their sins, their weaknesses. We've probably all seen examples where a person's sin or weakness has been thrown back in their face by others, even in situations where the sin or weakness is actually not relevant to any of the issue presently at hand. A person's fault and sins can be a powerful weapon used against them by people who have no love.

It's all too tempting for people to use a person's sins and faults against them for one's own advantage and not caring about the need or the spiritual life of the person who has sinned. Lent calls us to live as Jesus lived, with love, compassion and mercy for everyone in all creation. This is an enormous challenge.

Whenever we might be tempted to reject another person, we could benefit from thinking of this gospel passage and realize that we actually condemn ourselves if we reject others. This kind of thinking clearly does not condone the sin. Jesus is clear at the end of the gospel, go and from now on do not sin anymore.

There's no sense that the sin involved here is in any way being condoned, although we can rightly ask where is the other party, where is the man to this sin? This situation is terribly unjust and it's a trap. It's got no love or compassion or justice in it. The woman is being brought before our Lord by the Pharisees and scribes, not because they're concerned for her spiritual welfare, but her predicament is being used as a nasty cynical trap for Jesus and it is hypocrisy.

The woman is brought forward for punishment whilst the man is nowhere to be seen. In any case, this woman is herself a beloved and cherished daughter of God and she needs more than ever God's love, God's mercy and compassion at this time and she's not getting any of that compassion from those who bring her before Jesus. Isn't it interesting that there's no one more compassionate, loving and gentle towards those who have fallen than truly holy people? Not people who pretend to be holy, but people who are whole and holy inside and out.

The saints are often the first ones found amongst those who have sinned or are rejected due to all sorts of circumstances, fallen on terrible times. It's the truly holy people who roll up their sleeves and are getting in there and they're showing love not judgment. The presence of these saints among them is loving, compassionate and gentle and it's reflecting the image of Christ reaching out to people.

True disciples look nothing like self-righteous scheming experts that our Lord is encountering in this gospel. Is there anyone more judgmental, hypocritical, condemnatory and intolerant than this type of self-righteous phony that Jesus is facing in this gospel? At first glance, the true disciple and these hypocrites can look very similar, but the actions and attitudes of these people show them up for what they really are, fakes and frauds, and without love too. Jesus shows us the true response to people in their brokenness, in their sin, in their pain, whilst the self-righteous are unbending in their expectations and quite unforgiving in their demeanour, except of course when it comes to their own failings and then they'll either deny them or, as in this gospel, move on quickly and get over it and get out of there.

Jesus rejects utterly this dreadful double standard. How many situations today reflect the need for clear moral thinking? In the gospel Jesus is not afraid to call sin what it is, yet a clear idea of what is right and wrong and a clear sense of sin in no way leads to a rejection of the person, nor does anyone ever take delight in the sin or the wrongdoing or the fall of another. In Christ and in Christ's true followers, a fall of someone causes enormous sadness and a heart that reaches out to help in any way possible.

In the first reading from the prophet Isaiah, we could even say that learning to speak clearly and yet with compassion and mercy is a way of announcing the praise of God. If we look at the second reading from the letter to the Philippians, we can honestly say that we must keep our eyes very firmly on the goal and the goal is living in Christ Jesus and living as he lived in every respect of our life. We will encounter a cost and certainly a fair degree of pain for trying to live as Jesus lived but we will also be transformed.

Let's pray today for a deepening of the gift of faith in our lives and for the gift of being able to witness to our faith by speaking the truths of our faith but always with compassion, with love and mercy and with a concern for all of our brothers and sisters in Christ around us. May we hear and then live the words of Jesus in our lives. Neither do I condemn you.

Go on your way in peace and sin no more.
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-To listen to the whole Sunday Mass each week (including homily) from Surfers Paradise Catholic Parish, please visit this link: Liturgy for you at Home (by SPCP) - https:- soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks.
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References:
Homily –- Fr Paul W. Kelly(References: Fr Paul W. Kelly,

 

^McBride, D. and Hutchinson, M. (2011). Seasons of the word -Reflections on the Sunday Readings. 2nd ed. Hampshire: Redemptorist Publications, p.100;

Abbot's homily –with additions by Fr Paul Kelly http://christdesert.org/)
 
Image Credit- https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/toWToQGYiqYa5bB16TSV/jesus-writes-on-the-ground-and-then-says-let-he-who-is-without-sin-throw-the-first-stone?ru=Paul-Evangelion ]
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Fifth Sunday of Lent. Year C. (Sunday, 6 April 2025) (EPISODE: 525)
The Lord be with you.
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{{May Our Lord's courage, uphold you.}} welcome everyone, we gather - Praise and Worship of our God.

Brothers and sisters, let us acknowledge our sins and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.
Lord Jesus, you have revealed yourself as the way to the Father: Lord, have mercy//You have poured out on your people the Spirit of truth: Christ, have mercy//You are the Good Shepherd, leading us to eternal life: Lord, have mercy.//
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.
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Memorial Acclamation
1. We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.
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Ps 126:1-2a, 2b-3, 4-5, 6. "The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy."
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GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Joel 2:12-13). Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, king of endless Glory. With all your heart, turn to me. For I am tender and compassionate.
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PREFACE: Sundays Ordinary II
Euch Prayer One

(theme variation: )
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{Thank you for giving generously of your time and prayer.}

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

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).

Lenten Hymn: "Have Mercy" inspired by Psalm 50(51). Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2020.

"Quiet Time." Instrumental Reflection music. Written by Paul W Kelly. 1988, 2007. & This arrangement: Stefan Kelk, 2020.

Sound Engineering and editing - P.W. Kelly.
Microphones: - Sennheiser MK4 Cardioid Condenser; and Shure Motiv MV5 Digital Condenser.

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 - 2025]
May God bless and keep you.

Mass - Fourth Sunday of Lent. C - Sunday, March 30, 2025 (EPISODE: 524)

Mass - Fourth Sunday of Lent. C - Sunday, March 30, 2025 (EPISODE: 524)

 

Image Credit-  Lost sons -   Paul-Evangelion

Readings for Fourth Sunday of Lent. C
FIRST READING: Josh 5:9a, 10-12
Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7. "Taste and see the goodness of the Lord"
SECOND READING: 2 Cor 5:17-21
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Luke 15:18). Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus Christ. I will rise and go to my Father and tell him. Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
GOSPEL: Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

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Please listen to the audio-recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for Sunday, 30 March 2025 - by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-fourth/s-zZLYkYyueqX  
(EPISODE: Sunday, 30 March 2025)
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Homily: Fourth Sunday of Lent. Year C - Sunday, 30 March 2025
 "He was lost and is found!" 
Our Lord must have been absolutely devastated by the hateful and capricious actions of the Pharisees and the scribes, who are supposed to be great examples and leaders, and people who have dedicated themselves to serving God, to serving our Lord's Father. And, as usual, the Pharisees and scribes are on the lookout in today's gospel.

They condemn the welcome that Jesus extends to those considered as public sinners, people who, for that reason, are on the edges of society and despised by them, and, according to the Pharisees and scribes, there's no way for them to ever get back in to God's fold. They're trapped there. They're stuck.

They're prisoners of the past. And what's the good of that? This prompts our Lord to tell them a story about what God is really like. The parable of the prodigal son.

It would have to be one of the best stories of all history. The fact that Jesus, God made flesh, tells this story to show us how the heavenly Father thinks and relates to us, even when we have done wrong, even when we have gravely sinned, is truly amazing and beautiful. If the full impact of this parable hit us, it would floor us.

Of all the images Jesus could have used, he's persistently using this of an unconditionally loving parent, God as a doting father, no less. Not a stern father, not a minimalistic father, but an absolutely doting father who hopes eternally. Forgiveness comes from the welcoming person rather than from the repenting sinner.

Forgiving is giving life, not waiting for life. Failing to see the gratuitous of the love of God is failing to understand the entire gospel. Because at the heart of the gospel is God, with God's free and overflowing generous love, given not earned, neither is it deserved.

It's given freely, generously and lovingly. By converting the gospel or trying to convert it into a mere set of obligations and outside rules or a guarantee of authorities without moral worth, we make the gospel a joke or a cartoon. We make a mockery of Christ's divine love, which is dynamic and extraordinary and will not be contained by our limited concepts.

The reason Jesus told this story of the prodigal son is to appeal, try to appeal to the better judgment of the Pharisees and scribes. These scribes and Pharisees were, at the time of Jesus, known to be experts in the right application of the law of Moses and of God's law. They made themselves out to be the perfect examples of how people should faithfully obey God and to be considered at rights with God.

But it's quite clear from the prodigal son story that Jesus is trying to show them, trying to get through their blindness. Far from being the perfect model of what a good child of God should be like, they're truly revealed as acting more like the older, seemingly loyal son who, although he had done nothing wrong, was thinking and acting more like an embittered slave in his father's house than the beloved elder son. That elder son was resentful and he resented the forgiveness and reform of anyone who fell short.

Resenting when a lost son, realizing the terrible folly of their ways, comes back and is welcomed back by their loving father who's just happy to have them back, safe. Jesus was trying to get all people to stop acting like the older son, filled with duty, loveless, resentful, hard-hearted, acting like slaves of God. He wants them to stop that and start to take their rightful place as beloved, unconditionally loved sons and daughters of God.

They should be sharing in their father's genuine joy and relief. They should have the mind of their father, rejoicing when he rejoices, weeping when he weeps, sharing in his vision and sharing in the relief and joy of getting his lost son back. They should be of one heart and mind with their beloved father and join in the rejoicing when the lost are found and brought back.

Not whinging and complaining and recommending distance and rejection and making the whole issue about themselves and how much they've slaved for their master, their father, but they call him a master when all he wanted is for them to love like he does, to accept his love and to reflect that love. Our Lord is clearly saying that the self-righteous good guys have not done anything wrong according to the letter of the law, but may be just as bad a sinner or worse than those who've broken God's law and repented because they fail to grasp the very essence of the gospel. They are strangers, quite alien to the heart of God's love.

They are not living as God's beloved sons and daughters. Instead, they're acting like ill-willed, mean-spirited slaves who kept God's law only begrudgingly and for calculated expectation of reward. They don't have true love in their hearts for their father and they don't have true love for their fellow brother or sister.

Jesus is trying to say, wake up to yourselves. If you do everything out of duty and self-righteousness and judgmentalism, you're not loving, you're not forgiving, you're not gracious or inclusive. You're totally on the wrong track.

You've utterly missed the point of the and misunderstood the very nature of God. Ironically, they're acting as badly as the ones they condemn, possibly worse. This parable is also wonderful for all who have ever sinned or turned away from God by their actions or attitudes, because our Lord is imploring us to see ourselves and see others as children of a loving God, a God, a father who keeps searching for us like a doting father and who will happily welcome us back when we turn our faces to home, not because we deserve it, but because God loves us and wants the best for us and God knows that being part, being in the heart of God's family is God's plan for us and it is what is best for us.

It's what will protect us. He calls us to take on this attitude towards others too, to see them too as fellow brothers and sisters, companions on the journey, all part of one big family, loved, cherished, sometimes making mistakes, but turning back and always welcomed by God. Saint Paul sums up our true role in this world by saying, we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us, be reconciled.

May God help us to be aware that we are utterly loved children of God, each and every one of us. We are not angry slaves, but willing co-workers. Just one last comment.

It is so striking that when the older son is approaching the house and he hears music, he asks one of the servants, what's going on? And the servant tells him, the son, what the son should have known himself and the attitude of the slave of the house is much better than the nastiness of the older son. The slave says, your father is celebrating because he's got his son back and we had to celebrate. It's so sad that the son had to be told by a servant what he couldn't see or feel himself.

Let's delight in sharing in the love and mindset of God, where ministers and instruments of God's love and forgiveness in our lives and in our community.
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References:

Homily –Fr Paul W. Kelly

*Barclay, W. (1975). The Gospel of Luke. 2nd ed. Edinburgh: St. Andrew Press).

Image Credit-  Lost sons -   Paul-Evangelion
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Fourth Sunday of Lent. C (
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Sunday, March 30, 2022) (EPISODE: 524 )
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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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{{May Our Lord's Fidelity strengthen you.}} welcome everyone, we gather - To take time to reflect upon the meaning of God's word for our everyday lives.

Brothers and sisters, the Lord is full of love and mercy. And so, as we prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries, let us acknowledge our sins.
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
3. Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.
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Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7. "Tast and see the goodness of the Lord"

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Luke 15:18). Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus Christ. I will rise and go to my Father and tell him. Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
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PREFACE: Sundays Ordinary I
Eucharistic Prayer II
Communion side. pwk: RH
(theme variation: )

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

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

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).

"Quiet Time." Instrumental Reflection music. Written by Paul W Kelly. 1988, 2007. & This arrangement: Stefan Kelk, 2020.

Lenten Hymn: "Have Mercy" inspired by Psalm 50(51). Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2020.

Sound Engineering and editing - P.W. Kelly.
Microphones: - Sennheiser MK4 Cardioid Condenser; and Shure Motiv MV5 Digital Condenser.

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 - 2025]

May God bless and keep you.
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Third Sunday of Lent. C - Sunday, March 23, 2024 (EPISODE: 523)

Third Sunday of Lent. C - Sunday, March 23, 2024 (EPISODE: 523)

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Readings for Sunday, March 23, 2025 

FIRST READING: Exod 3:1-8a, 13-15
Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8+11. "The Lord is kind and merciful"
SECOND READING: 1 Cor 10:1-6, 10-12
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Matt 4:17). Glory to you, Word of God, Lord Jesus Christ. Repent, says the Lord. The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.
GOSPEL: Luke 13:1-9

Image Credit- https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/OHray3DkSy5QPreSTp12/moses-kneels-down-in-front-of-the-burning-bush?ru=Paul-Evangelion

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Please listen to the audio-recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for Third Sunday of Lent. C - Sunday, March 23, 2025 by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-third/s-OQSaam9gnaw  - (EPISODE:523)
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* (Homily: Fr Paul Kelly)
Set My People Free

In the second reading today, Saint Paul has some very strong words for the community in Corinth.  He warns them very sternly, to be on their guard and lists three great dangers that can poison any community: Complacency, Self-indulgence, and culture of Complaint and negativity. 

 

Each of these three vices is absolutely lethal to any community. Criticism, gossip and complaint in a community will rip the community apart and render it useless.

 

The readings this weekend also highlight the vital connection between God's nature and the 'doing of justice,' and between our God of love, who acts on that love in practical ways, to help those who suffer. [FHL]

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* The first reading is beautiful!

God sees the need of his people, who are being mistreated, and God is fed up and is determined to do something about it, to free them from their terrible situation. God does not want people bowed down, imprisoned and in slavery.

 

And God acts definitively in history, at his perfect timing, by calling on his servant Moses, set my people free. And God doesn't stop at that. The Lord then works with and through Moses, his brother Aaron, and the people of Israel to achieve that freedom God desires for his people.

 

It's God's action, with our cooperation, the cooperation of the people who are open and positive to God's will and are willing to listen and put themselves aside and hear God's ways, which sometimes are very challenging. Sometimes it doesn't make sense, and we might think, oh, I think I know better, or shouldn't we do this instead? But it's God who's leading us. Many people throughout history have asked, how can God stand by and see so much suffering and so much injustice in the world and do nothing? But in reality, God does something.

 

God is at work all the time. God sees and cannot stand wrongdoing and injustice in the world. God has done something and continues to do something about it.

 

Particularly, God calls and commissions people of goodwill, like Moses, and like us, to do something about what's wrong. As the saying goes, God has no other hands on earth now, but ours. God wants to use our hands, our heart, and our voices, and our actions, to bring a helping hand and a just response to those in need.

 

God is to be found in the hands and the hearts of all people who are helping in times of disaster and need. The message is, God is with you. And it's found even in God's name, which God reveals to Moses.

 

God's very name, which is mysterious and unable to be fully and completely translated. And it's so holy, we don't just go using the name all the time out loud. In fact, we avoid saying God's actual name out Loud.  Instead, replacing the name with the description: "Lord." [The name of God]

 

But God's very name means many wonderful and mysterious things. Basically translated, God's proper name can't be actually translated properly, but it's like, "I Am." It also means, among other things, "I am with you."

 

God promises to be with all who strive to work for justice in the world. God is also with the people who are suffering and in need. God's main way of relating to us is compassion, that is suffering with.

 

Not over, not behind, but with and in us. God is suffering in and with the people as close as possible to those who are enduring these experiences. We can't have anything closer than that, and it's mind-boggling.

 

Jesus really makes another very important point. There is no connection between sin and the misfortunes that might happen to us or others. Whether the cause is human willpower, like Pilate killing worshippers, or an accident, a tower collapsing on people.

 

Insult is added to injury by this very wrong suggestion that's quite old, but it still exists to this day, that somehow the poor and the sick or victims of crime or accident or disaster have somehow brought these situations on themselves or are somehow being paid back by God for their wrongdoings or deserving of misfortunes that happen to them or their dear ones. What a terrible thing to say or to suggest to people who are absolutely crushed and burdened already with suffering. Jesus makes it quite clear, this is not payment for sin.

 

If so, everybody would have a tower falling on them. Everyone would be struck down, and they're not. And the good suffer, and sometimes those who've done really bad things, get away with it, seemingly, (in this life anyway).

 

Our Lord shows that He always cares very much about the poor and the suffering, and He points out that if it really was the way of God, everyone could expect a building to fall on top of them when they did the wrong thing. For there are many, many great wrongs throughout our community and in our world, and most of those wrongs are not visited with any kind of divine or natural human disaster. So it's clear that that's not God's way of acting.

 

So Jesus in this gospel is really clearly freeing us from a misconception. On one hand, it stops us from facing the real causes of evils and wrongs befalling us. When people wrongly attribute disasters to some kind of fatalism which plunges us into not being able to do anything, so that we can only accept what's happened as something we deserved, that's disastrous.

 

To advocate an image of God as one who works through malice of others or natural disasters to punish the wicked is really a terrible distortion of the true image of God and His love and His life. And Jesus rejects that suggestion in today's gospel quite clearly. God has in His wisdom given humanity freedom, true freedom, but He wants us to use that freedom to build up, not to tear down, to heal, not to kill.

 

So God has made a world of freedom and it's unfolding, but it doesn't mean that God is willing bad to happen, but it does allow for all sorts of things that do happen and God then is there with the people to assist them. Unavoidable disasters or events or even bad things happening at the hands of malicious people is not a sign that the victim is punished. Absolutely not.

 

If one wants to see where God's hand is at work, it's not there. God's hand is at work in the middle of a tragedy, but don't look to God as the cause of the disaster. Rather, look for God's hands in the those rallying to offer help, practical help, in times of disaster and loss.

 

We see Christ in the loved ones and friends and even strangers who are helping and embracing mourners, bandaging the wounded, feeding the starving, rebuilding fallen structures and so on. That's where God's at work. A more helpful sign of the results of sin is the failure to bear fruit in situations where it should be possible.

 

Our Lord states this in the parable immediately following in verses six to nine. In the gospel, Jesus reminds us that God is not filled with anger, vengeance and summary justice, but God is a loving parent, long-suffering, greatly forbearing. God is patiently waiting for and at work encouraging our deeds for the good fruits of our faith, hope and love.

 

Jesus is not the God of punishment, but of patience, mercy, justice and love and willing fruitfulness and encouraging it. God is so patient and we are grateful for that, and we do not take it for granted.

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References:

Homily –Fr Paul W. Kelly

 

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

Image Credit- https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/OHray3DkSy5QPreSTp12/moses-kneels-down-in-front-of-the-burning-bush?ru=Paul-Evangelion

Third Sunday of Lent. C  (Sunday, March 23, 2025)  (EPISODE:523)
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

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{{Peace and Patience to you all}} welcome everyone, we gather - To offer or praise, prayers and intercessions to our loving God

 

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

 

Lord Jesus, you call your people to turn away from sin: Lord, have mercy//You teach us wisdom, and write your truth in our inmost heart: Christ, have mercy//You forgive sins through the ministry of reconciliation: 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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PREFACE: Lent II

 

EP III

 

(theme variation: 3 )

 

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{Thank you for giving generously of your time and prayer.}

 

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

 

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).

 

"Quiet Time." Instrumental Reflection music. Written by Paul W Kelly. 1988, 2007. & This arrangement: Stefan Kelk, 2020.

 

Lenten Hymn: "Have Mercy" inspired by Psalm 50(51). Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2020.

 

[ Production - KER - 2025]

 

May God bless and keep you.

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Second Sunday of Lent. Year C - Sunday, March 16, 2025 (EPISODE:522 )

Homily and Mass - Surfers Catholic Parish - Second Sunday of Lent. Year C - Sunday, March 16, 2025 (EPISODE:522 )

 

Second Sunday of Lent. Year C - Sunday, March 16, 2025  - (EPISODE:522 )

 Readings for Sunday, March 16, 2025

FIRST READING: Gen 15:5-12, 17-18
Ps 27:1, 7-8a, 8b-9, 13-14. "The Lord is my light and my salvation"
SECOND READING: Phil 3:17–4:1
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (cf. Matt 17:5). Glory and Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ! From the shining cloud, the Father's voice was heard. This is my beloved Son, hear him.
GOSPEL: Luke 9:28b- 36 - Transfiguration

Image Credit: https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/agip2BQ8CH7T1LVg7311/jesus-transfigured-on-the-mountain?ru=Paul-Evangelion

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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass – Readings, prayers and homily- for the Second Sunday of Lent. Year C - Sunday, March 16, 2025, by clicking this link here:  https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-second-1/s-oSFbgFRkUgT     (EPISODE:522 )
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* (Homily:  Fr. Paul Kelly)
This weekend's gospel of the Transfiguration of the Lord is a wonderful reminder that God's glory is around us all the time, in the people and events of life. But, it is not always as obvious as this moment Jesus experienced, where his face literally shone like light.

We have probably all had "high-point moments," when something extraordinary and special happens to us; and it is as though "the veil between this life and the next" is temporarily parted, and we glimpse Heaven - and we gain a sweet taste of God's glory and wonder - but then those moments are gone and we are back to the everyday events of life. But, those high-point, (mountain-top), moments stay with us long afterward and spur us on; reminding us that God's glory is always present.

 

The spiritual writer Thomas Merton puts it this way: "every one of us walks around the streets of this town shining like the sun; if only we knew it…. "     

Yes indeed! If only we realised this!  The Glory and grace of God, shines in and around all of His beautiful creation, mostly lost under the cover of everyday bustle.

Saint Augustine, in his writings, describes a fascinating and beautiful moment; which in many ways is like a little 'taste' of 'transfiguration' in his own life story…….

It happened when Saint Augustine and his mother Saint Monica were just talking together while they stayed in a villa at the seaside port of Ostia in Rome, Italy. They were deep in discussion; sharing their faith and their hopes……..   

Augustine writes:

  

"My mother and I were alone, leaning from a window which overlooked the garden in the courtyard of the house where we were staying at in Ostia. . . .Our conversation led us (to speak of many things)…….... And when we spoke of the eternal Wisdom, // longing for it //and straining for it with all the strength of our hearts//, for one fleeting instant //we reached out //and touched it. //...........Then with a sigh... //. we returned to the sound of our own speech, // in which each word has a beginning and an ending //- far, far different from your Word, Oh Lord, who abides forever, yet never grows old and gives new life to all things."

This beautiful little incident is like an echo of the Transfiguration of Our Lord on the mountaintop, where Jesus' divinity shines through for an instant in its fullness, and then everything returns to normal, and seems as ordinary as it was before……… But those who experience it are really never quite the same again.  They are profoundly moved, to the depth of their being, by a deep experience of God's eternal grace.

 

This glimpse of glory is truly beautiful….

 

God gives us these occasional glimpses of his glory……   a divinity which, (by the way), actually surrounds us always, but we cannot always see it. Most times we do not recognize God's glory in the midst of ordinary life.

If God is not present and active in the ordinary moments of our lives, then it makes no sense. So thank goodness that this is precisely where God IS found. 

 

And similarly, the GLORY of God in Christ was AS present and active when he was walking a dusty path between towns, looking just like any other ordinary traveller, as when he shone with pure light on that mountain top. This whole transfiguration incident is God's way of saying..   "See this profound experience of Glory...  Good! now go back to the usual programme,..... but remember.,...this man is the Holy One....  he has my complete confidence and blessing....  This is my Son....   This glory is IN him always..!! .....   at every moment..   even in the mundane ......  even in the boring and tedious moments....   and even ultimately as he suffers and dies on a cross, seeming like just another common criminal.. But, Look deeper .. look beyond appearances. See the reality.      

 

Equating a good spiritual life with only a continuous or even fairly regular "25,000-volt epiphanies" ignores the fact that we live our lives at the very effective "240-volt" level for everyday usage.

 

We must that God will give us what we need in due time and in the ways and times of God's choosing.  If we only go around looking for the dramatic mountaintop experiences of spiritual life, (or for that matter, the extraordinary moments in life), we would miss the countless little moments of ordinary grace that fill up even the most ordinary or seemingly unexceptional day.  

There are also many saints in the life of the church, who went years...  sometimes decades...  without any exceptional spiritual consolations, but continued to live the ordinary moments of graced life in exceptional devotion, faith, and good works. 

God is constantly reminding us of what Augustine himself wrote as well….….   despite that wonderful moment of grace he described in his writings… he also wrote something even more profound….  "Loving God…….You have made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You."

 

God does not always act in ways according to our own expectations. God is in charge. We are humble servants whose "eyes are always on the hand of our master; waiting for the slightest movement, so we might leap up and answer whatever is requested…

and...   at all times... "Hope in him, hold firm and take heart. Hope in the Lord!"

+++++REFERENCES:

FR. PAUL W. KELLY

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

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

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

From Saint Augustine: Confessions (Book nine, chapter 10). [Augustine. Confessions. Trans. R.S. Pine-Coffin. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1961, page 197 (paperback edition).]


Image Credit:

Second Sunday of Lent. Year C  (Sunday, March 16, 2025)  (EPISODE: 522 )
The Lord be with you.
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{{Joy and peace to everyone}} welcome everyone, we gather -  Reflect upon the Holy Scriptures and the values of the Lord. 

Brothers and sisters, let us acknowledge our sins and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.
I Confess……

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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PREFACE: Sunday Lent II
EP II
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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 the 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).

"Quiet Time."  Instrumental Reflection music. Written by Paul W Kelly. 1988, 2007. & This arrangement: Stefan Kelk, 2020.

Lenten Hymn: "Have Mercy"  inspired by Psalm 50(51). Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2020.

[ Production -  KER -  2025]

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Ps 27:1, 7-8a, 8b-9, 13-14. "The Lord is my light and my salvation"

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (cf. Matt 17:5). Glory and Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ! from the shining cloud the Father's voice was heard. This is my beloved Son, hear him.
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First Sunday of Lent. Year C - Sunday, March 9, 2025 (EPISODE: 521)

First Sunday of Lent. Year C - Sunday, March 9, 2025 (EPISODE: 521)

 

Readings for Sunday, Lent 1 Year C - March 9, 2025
First Reading: Deuteronomy 26:4-10

Psalm: Ps 90:1-2. 10-15. "Be with me Lord when I am in trouble."

Second Reading: Romans 10:8-13

Gospel Acclamation: Matthew 4:4

Gospel: Luke 4:1-13

 

Image Credit- https://creator. nightcafe. studio/creation/NDOCtXK0p5qR12GT2ZGT/jesus-is-tempted-in-the-desert?ru=Paul-Evangelion 

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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for the First Sunday of Lent. Year C - Sunday, March 9, 2025, by clicking this link here:  https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-ep-521/s-Jo1aJIOaj77  
(EPISODE: 521)
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(Fr Paul Kelly)
As Lent begins, the Church enters a period of spiritual renewal, leading to Easter, so Lent is a type of retreat. We journey inward, to places of solitude and silence, so that we can rediscover God's utter love for us and for all. Can we let our Lord, who lived in the wilderness for forty days, and who was assailed by temptations, that would later resurface in other ways during his ministry and knowing that he faced suffering and eventually the cross, but he was taking the path of love and forgiveness.

 

Can we let Jesus lead us on this journey, as we face so many different aspects of spiritual wilderness in our lives and allow his Spirit to fill us up with all the virtues that simply crowd out any sins. Virtues like love, faith and hope, and patience, goodness, chastity, temperance, diligence, kindness and humility. Jesus is ably suited to leading and guiding us through this and every other experience of wilderness.

 

{FHL}

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The message by Saint Paul in the second reading is beautiful, especially where he says God's word is very near to you. It's so close, it's on your lips, it's in your heart, and it's important that God's word resides equally in both places, the heart and the lips, not only on our lips but truly making its home in our hearts, in the very centre of who we are, completely filling our hearts with its life-giving message. In the gospel, the word of God is clearly in our Lord's heart and in his mind and soul, and of course his very being is the word of God.

 

It's also on his lips. By contrast, the tempter, the devil, as it says in the gospel today, also knows the word of God and can quote it easily. It's on his lips, but it is most certainly not in his heart.

 

The devil doesn't live the word of God, doesn't love the word of God, but is just quoting it for his own purposes. It seems like this gospel that surely inspired the great poet and playwright William Shakespeare to write, "the devil can cite scripture for his purpose. An evil soul producing holy witness is like a villain with a smiling cheek, a goodly apple rotten at the heart. Oh, what a goodly outside falsehood has."

 

So true.

 

As we listen to the gospel, it's very interesting.

 

The devil in that passage tries three times to tempt Jesus and our Lord bats these temptations away like a good cricketer, straight to the boundary. The first time Jesus' reply is, it is written in scripture. Second time he says, it is written in scripture.

 

The devil gets a bit clever and the third time he says, Ah, but scripture also says that God will send his angels to lift-up your feet, lest you dash your foot against a stone. So, the devil's changed his tactics so that he's using the scriptures to try and convince, and that doesn't work at all with Christ either. He doesn't give it any ambit.

 

Taking our cues from the gospel, Christ does not enter into long dialogues with the temptation or with the adversary. He swiftly and efficiently dismisses the wiles of the temptation and doesn't dwell on them. Like that expert cricketer who swiftly dispatches a fast delivery without delay, straight to the boundary.

 

No messing around. The evil one is the father of lies. So why would anyone spend any time listening or debating with error and hatred? Christ doesn't want us to engage in dialogues with temptation.

 

He wants us to dismiss it and move forward with him. Temptation may keep on talking at us, but if we're not giving it a hearing, it will go off and find some more appreciative audience, who hopefully will send him packing then too. Sadly, in this world, there's any number of people around who might like the company of the kind of flattery and sweet nothings that we witness being tried, quite unsuccessfully, to be given to Christ in today's gospel.

 

And so whether this Lent is about doing the extra things we do or what we give up, let's do it with the deliberate intention of not permitting those conversations with temptation to go very far in our lives. It's a bit like someone who's walking around the bushland looking for fire risks. If there's things around, things lying around that could be fuel for a disaster, you clean it up.

 

So, if there is fuel for values inconsistent with the good news of Jesus that happen to be lying around in our daily routines or attitudes, we should judiciously remove it swiftly. And if idle time itself is the match that most often gets struck when we fall into temptation, let's strive to fill those spaces with good works, prayer and healthier conversations. Better than increasing our willpower, which is a great trap we can fall into in Lent, we can build up our inner immunity by allowing God, and it is God's action in us, we allow it and God fills us up with it.

 

He fills us with everything positive, to the point where we're so full of the good things of God's virtue and grace that the bad and harmful things simply have no room to take hold inside. Lent is not primarily about what we're doing. It's more importantly about what God is doing and how we can cooperate with God's activity in our lives and in our hearts.

 

After Jesus is baptised, we're told he's led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where he experiences our human temptations. Temptations like to pre-empt the Heavenly Father's place in our lives. He feels the allure of being self-serving, of gaining worldly power over others, of controlling or dominating things around him.

 

Well, at least that's the worldly understanding of the word. But he does not fall for it. He's not going to be enthralled by it.

 

Our Lord displays true greatness by being attentive to his Heavenly Father's word in Scripture, confessing his faith that the Father has first and foremost place in his life, without any reservation. Temptation leads to losing a sense of priorities and putting God down the list of our priorities with all sorts of excuses. But they're all hollow.

 

Although Jesus is God the Son, he's also fully human, and he was truly tempted just as we are. And because he knows what temptation is like and overcame it, he can empathise and help us in our temptations. And yes, we too can overcome temptation, through reordering our life, our priorities and our heart.

 

It's good at this time of Lenten reflection to ask ourselves in prayer, do I remember to offer God the first fruits of my efforts? Do I nurture the virtue of gratitude in my heart daily? Our Lord rejects Satan's temptations for immediate gratification and power and safety. How am I going regarding these temptations in my own life? What help do I need and can find in the traditional practices of Lent that will help in those areas? Namely prayer, which includes taking time out, space, silence, stillness. Then there's fasting and practical help to the needy.

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References:

Fr Paul W. Kelly

 

William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice. Act I, Scene III, Prepare the Word;

(February 10, 2008—First Sunday of Lent), https://preparetheword.com ).

 

Image:  

First Sunday of Lent. Year C  (EPISODE: 521)

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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}}. Welcome. everyone, we gather -  Listen to God's Word and contemplate the sacraments.

Brothers and sisters, the Lord is full of love and mercy. And so, as we prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries, let us acknowledge our sins. 
Lord Jesus, you healed the sick: Lord, have mercy//Lord Jesus, you forgave sinners: Christ, have mercy//Lord Jesus, you give us yourself to heal us and bring us strength: 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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r/ 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Romans 5:12-19). Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, king of endless Glory. No one lives on bread alone. But on every word that comes from the mouth of God.
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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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PREFACE: Sundays Ordinary IV
Ep II
(theme variation: have Mercy  )

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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 the 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).


"Quiet Time."  Instrumental Reflection music. Written by Paul W Kelly. 1988, 2007. & This arrangement: Stefan Kelk, 2020.

Lenten Hymn: "Have Mercy," inspired by Psalm 50(51). Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2020. https://www.airgigs.com/user/stefankelk

[ Production -  KER -  2025]

May God bless and keep you.
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