Paul's Reflections sixth Sunday of the Year - A. 25th September, 2011

Homily 25th September, 2011. Twenty - sixth Sunday of the Year - A

I think that today's gospel, although very short, is really a key teaching in Christ's gospel.  It goes to the heart of what Our Lord was doing and saying. 

 

Jesus did not come to do away with the religious tradition of his day, but rather to fulfil it. And at the heart of this religious tradition is the core of God's message. However, Jesus taught on several occasions about the danger of a mere outward observance of religion. Much more important, (and ultimately the only thing that really matters), is that one is faithful to the truth of God's message by DOING God's will, irrespective of whether one SEEMS to be living up to the message or not.  Appearances can (so often) be quite deceiving.

 

The irony of today's message is that all of us can say, "well of course! That is common sense."  OBVIOUSLY the son who said no to his father but ended up DOING his will is the righteous one, and the one who SAID he would obey his father but didn't is in the wrong.  It is so blatantly obvious. I imagine that the listeners of Jesus when he first taught this would also have probably responded,  'well of course.'  The trouble is, that we KNOW this teaching is right, but so many people still continue to fall for the trap of it nevertheless..

 

Perhaps we all keep falling into this trap, of judging by appearances and not by realities. Since none of us can see inside the heart of another, we naturally go by what we see and by what people say or how things appear to be. But, I do wonder,  why do we keep falling for the trap of appearances versus realities.  

 

This parable of the two sons is vital.

 

St Paul picks up on this same theme in his famous and popular passage in his first to the Corinthians 12:31, and following….-

"Strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing."

This teaching is so central that Saint Thérèse of Lisieux experienced a most profound and permanent inner conversion of heart whilst reading this same text from St Paul… as well as the earlier chapter 12……

Saint Thérèse writes….. "My eyes fell on the 12th and 13th chapters of the First Epistle to the Corinthians. I read that all cannot become Apostles, Prophets, and Doctors; that the Church is composed of different members; that the eye cannot also be the hand.  Without being discouraged I read on, and found comfort in this counsel: "Be zealous for the better gifts. And I show unto you a yet more excellent way." [14] The Apostle then explains how all perfect gifts are nothing without Love, that Charity is the most excellent way of going surely to God. At length I had found peace of mind.

"When I had looked upon the mystical body of the Church, I recognised myself in none of the members which St. Paul described, and what is more, I desired to distinguish myself more favourably within the whole body. Love appeared to me to be the hinge for my vocation. Indeed I knew that the Church had a body composed of various members, but in this body the necessary and more noble member was not lacking; I knew that the Church had a heart and that such a heart appeared to be aflame with love. I knew that one love drove the members of the Church to action, that if this love were extinguished, the apostles would have proclaimed the Gospel no longer, the martyrs would have shed their blood no more. I saw and realised that love sets off the bounds of all vocations, that love is everything, that this same love embraces every time and every place. In one word, that love is everlasting.

"Then, nearly ecstatic with the supreme joy in my soul, I proclaimed: O Jesus, my love, at last I have found my calling: my vocation is love. Certainly I have found my place in the Church, and you gave me that very place, my God. In the heart of the Church, my mother, I will be love, and thus I will be all things, as my desire finds its direction."" [The Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. (1898).Chapter XI ].

 

I have mentioned in a homily last year, but its so key, I will briefly repeat it.  Saint Thérèse (whose insights are so profound but simple, that she was declared to be a Doctor the Church), was all-too-aware of the dangers taught by Christ in this weekend's parable…   So much so, that Thérèse took no comfort from praise and little distress from criticism.   A person could be praised for a particular action that appears heroic and charitable…..but inwardly (perhaps unknown to others) their attitude and desires are not loving or consistent with God's ways…   And also, a person  might conceivably be motivated by deep and selfless concern but their actions are taken wrongly by others and appear to be selfish and worthy of criticism.  The message appears clear….  We are to do what is right and loving irrespective of the appearance… and be cautious in jumping to conclusions about people's motives.  They are known to God alone.

 

As I say, we know this all conceptually…   but Jesus would not have had to repeat this teaching in various forms unless he was well aware of the fact that we so often can fall for the trap of appearances.  This can cause enormous mischief and misunderstanding, and can thwart the real object of Our Lord's teaching.

 

Let us ask the Lord to help purify our inner life… and our inward dispositions and attitudes, so that everything we do, in thought, word and action, be motivated by love of God. Love of neighbour as oneself…    and may we have the strength to continue to do actions (motivated by love)  that could risk attracting condemnation and criticism of other's who base their judgement on merely outward appearances.

 

 

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<![if !supportLists]>•                     <![endif]>FR. PAUL W. KELLY

<![if !supportLists]>•                     <![endif]>The Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. (1898).

 

 

Paul's Reflections Twenty - fifth Sunday of the Year - A. Homily 18th September, 2011

Homily 18th September, 2011      Twenty - fifth Sunday of the Year - A

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We had a Deanery retreat at Ormiston on Friday night and Saturday and representatives from parishes in the deanery gathered to have a time of prayer and reflection. 


The opening scripture for this time of retreat was very pertinent.  It was St Paul to the Ephesians, chapter three:  


 ¹⁴ For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family^[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.


And Our Lord spent his ministry teaching his disciples (and us) about how we might be able to (in some small way) grasp the unimaginable depths of God's generosity, love, forgiveness and care. It is quite beyond the human concept.  this parable, this weekend, is attempting to convey a taste of that depth and breadth of God's love and generosity and inclusion....


 The Gospel this weekend is truly wonderful. Our Lord teaches us this parable to open up for us  what is really the unimaginable depths of God’s generosity, love, kindness and care. 

God’s ways are truly wonderful and they are in marked contrast with many human attitudes. This parable of the generous landowner and the workers in the vineyard really challenges us to accept a new way of thinking and acting that does not measure up what we can get from things – like one who keeps a balance sheet of what they have gotten and what they have given.

In Jesus’ time, and even in this day and age, many people seem to asses what they should put their energy and time into by what they can personally benefit from it.  In many ways, there is nothing wrong with an attitude of ‘win-win’ where everyone ends up benefitting from a situation.  The only trouble is, in this world there are many people who are severely disadvantaged and in need. And all things are not equal.  In a world where people get something only if they can give something of equal value back, there are many people who are in a dire situation because they are so poor or disadvantaged that they are not seen as being able to benefit anyone – so they miss out. They don’t fit into the system and are left on the margins.  Jesus went out to the margins and searched for these people and made special effort to ensure that they too were included in his Kingdom.  This is what the generous landowner is doing.   The workers who were left without any days work after the eleventh hour (still a term we use today) would have gone without a days food.  The landowner knew this and also knew that the harvest is plentiful and the labourers few, so he gave them what they needed  - a days food (pay). Not that they ‘earnt’ it, but that they NEEDED it.  And in any case, when it comes to God’s gifts none of us have really earned God’s favour and love, it is freely and generously given and its offered to all.

God is generous and kind. God gives us love and care and invites us to be part of his family because God is generous and loving, not because  we have earnt it.  Jesus wants us to have that same generosity and welcome to others around. They too are welcome because God is loving, forgiving and generous to them, as God is to us as well.

What a wonderful and quite revolutionary attitude.  A world-changing attitude.

What would the world be like if everyone was striving to outdo eachother in hospitality, welcome, generosity and giving,  and less about what do I get out of this?  But how is this benefitting me?  What can you give me?   Why did he get that, I should have gotten more.. and so on….

To summarise this gospel…  a writer once said….

“the world asks, HOW MUCH did the landowner give ?   But Jesus invites us to ask the better question? WHY did the landowner give as he did, (not how much did he give)?”

The answer is.. because God is generous, God is loving. God gives us what we NEED.

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REFERENCES:

·          FR. PAUL W. KELLY

·          Mark Link.  Vision. Praying Scripture in a contemporary way. Year a.

Paul's Reflections 11th Septmber, 2011. 24TH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR - A

11th Septmber, 2011      24TH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR - A

 Just some practicalities…  a quick reminder….   whenever we use a spoken response now, it’s the new translation of mass. It is important that we “keep our eyes on the card” because some of the responses are different... or start the same but end very differently. It’s helpful to grab the card and read along with it……. The card will be needed.

<!    For the Eucharistic prayer that is being used on a Sunday…  and the preface choice, just a reminder, that for several years now I have been putting on the back of the newsletter (where hymns are) and also in the online email version of the newsletter..  (particularly at the end of the document) the various Mass options that I am using for the weekend masses.”

 

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The gospel values revealed in this Weekend’s readings are really central.

 

The principles on which Our Lord’s parable is based have had such a profound effect on not only Christianity, but also legal and ethical systems throughout the world. 

 

In some ways they are common sense and simply about consistency, justice and fairness, and yet, even now the world cries out for this common sense and fairness to be applied evenly…     Even to this day, people suffer because of the hypocrisy of double standards that are actually indefensible.

 

“Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you!”  “The Golden rule”, which is so profound that it is an important part of our Western Legal system.

 

And yet, how often do people, inexplicably not follow this sensible and just principle.  People can be masters of justifying loopholes whereby they are entitled to be treated differently (often better) than others. Conversely, some people seem to justify treating others worse than they would like to be treated in the same situation. It is senseless..  

 

Our Lord strengthens this teaching in other lessons where he warns..   ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (Matt 25:40).

 

This gospel is given by Our Lord as a warning that we must be constantly on our guard against not applying the graciousness, forgiveness and charity that God gives to us, to others around us.

 

The other major problem is that some people just don’t seem to see those around them as their brothers and sisters in Christ.. or (at the very least), fellow citizens in the same commonwealth for common good…  so they act with disregard for anyone but themselves and perhaps their closest relatives and friends… 

 

Jesus rejects this approach totally as well..  He reminds us, if we do good to those who love us, what difference does that make, even the pagans and the sinners do that…    Our Lord is preaching universal fraternity and goodwill to all….  Because we are ALL God’s children…

 

The parable of the Unforgiving Servant…   is really appalling. It is very powerful.   The nasty servant has a debt to the master which he would NEVER ever be able to repay. IT is ENORMOUS….    And the master, in compassion forgives the debt entirely.   But then this nasty piece of work goes out and does not do the same to a fellow servant who has a debt to him that is quite payable in time…   maybe a 100 days, but it is manageable given time….   It is pathetic.   This nasty servant shows no empathy, no connection to others. He does not identify himself with the feelings and plight of others.   He does not see this poor fellow servant as a brothers in similar need.

 

We see this all the time in our society. It is sad and quite frankly bewildering.  This kind of attitude makes the world  a meaner and nastier place.  It is so unnecessary and so opposite to the gospel.

 

This very weekend, is the tenth anniversary of the World Trade Centre Terrorist attacks in New York and in Washington. Ten years later, it is still horrifying and frightening. 

 

The terrorists obviously did not see those they were attacking as their brothers and sisters…  they didn’t spare a thought for how they or their family would feel if someone did that to them or their loved ones?   When retaliation occurred, these terrorists are outraged when their loved ones and friends and colleagues are affected, but don’t seem to identify with the outrage and untold damage done by them.  It is totally senseless and contradictory.  It is the highwatermark of the opposite of the gospel.

 

The gospel seeks to break the cycle of hurt, retaliation and violence that comes from refusing to do unto others as I would have them do unto me…   We have seen the terrible damage done by refusing to see that we are all irreplaceable children of God. 

 

Let us pray for peace.. and healing..  and an end to hatred and violence ..  and the cycle of violence and retribution. Let us pray that the blatantly fair and reasonable message of justice and equality that comes from the golden rule, may find a home in the hearts of all.  May our communities and nations be rid of the hypocrisy of double standards and a lack of empathy and brotherhood and sisterhood…  

 

This gospel applies in big issues and in small issues of everyday life…    the small things of life, while they might not be anything like the horrors of the “911”  events and the other horrific terrorist acts of the last decades, still make life more or less tolerable. 

 

In the small things, I think of so many thoughtless and irksome things that you see people do….  And one prays to not do those or similar things in one’s own behaviour….  

 

A small but interesting example…..   the other day, I was in a long line of traffic lined up at a set of lights… I could see a car was parked at the side and indicating to come out… I knew he or she would be waiting a long time … so I let them in…       they returned the favour by immediately putting their indicators on to turn right into a cul-de-sac.  I thought to myself… what in the world are they doing..  now they have blocked the traffic and I and everyone behind me couldn’t get past. So the lights turned back to red and we were all stuck there…    while I was waiting.. this car used the cul-de-sac to simply turn around and drive in the other direction…   that was so annoying…   I was dumbfounded…  that person, ignorant of everyone behind now blocked traffic just to do an extended.  When all they NEEDED to do was turn left at the intersection, going with the flow of traffic and go around the block…. I was also embarrassed because my act of well-meaning letting them into the line, had unwittingly let this thoughtless person block the traffic, so I was wondering what everyone behind me was making of that!!!   I thought, why are people so thoughtless and ignorant.  It might be a small incident…  but I think some of this thinking shows itself in big and small ways…  

 

Whatever the situation.. I thought … well, I can’t change that person and I have no idea what they were thinking, if at all…  so all I can do is learn from this and use it to be more aware of others and their needs from my own actions and behaviours….   After all this parable today is directed at the listeners, not the unforgiving servant!

Let us continue to foster that awareness that we are all in communion with one another in the One God…   and what we do to others..  we do to God….

 

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REFERENCES:

 

<![if !supportLists]>·        <![endif]>FR. PAUL W. KELLY

 

 

Paul's Reflections St Mary's visits St Paul's: The Anglican Parish of Maryborough

(Here is the Sermon preached by Fr Jim

at the St Paul’s ceremony last Sunday. It was a wonderful morning. Thanks everyone)

 

The Anglican Parish of Maryborough

 

Sermon preached by Fr Jim

 

4 September 2011

 

St Mary’s visits St Paul’s

 

Romans 13.1-10; Matthew 18.10-20

 

Saturday a week ago, my wife Marcia and I were in Canberra for

the first ever reunion of the theological college where I studied for

ordination in the mid 1970s. A special occasion, wonderful to be

able to be there. We were able to catch up with friends, relive old

memories, recall those with whom we had shared this special

formation time, and review the courses of our own lives. Some had

come through smiling; some had died; others had not been able to

stay the distance. A family reunion within the family of God.

 

During my time in theological college, we confronted each other in

some pretty forthright and challenging ways – but this is partly what

“formation” is about. And I remember my delight, one day in the

college library, in discovering one of Israel’s proverbs, which said it

all for me: “Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens the wits of

another” [NRSV]; “As iron sharpens iron, a friend sharpens a

friend” [New Living].1 Not that it was always the clash of steel upon

steel, but that – thrown together by God’s peculiar calling, and

having no say in who might join our exclusive community - we were

good for each other … Exactly like the Christian Church!

 

Notice how relational today’s readings are. “Owe no one anything,

except to love one another.” “Take care that you do not despise

one of these little ones.” “If another member of the church sins

against you …” It is a happy coincidence that today is also Fathers’

Day, when we acknowledge that we are not self-sufficient and that

our fathers (and mothers) have shaped us for good or ill, and that

we are of their genes and share their temperaments; even as we

retain our individual identities and must assert ourselves against our

parents – in mature and appropriate ways - from time to time.

 

This all relates strongly to what we are doing together here today.

In the Reformation, the Church of England strongly asserted itself

against, and eventually separated from, the Catholic Church; each

side persecuted the other, depending on whether Catholic or

Protestant was on the throne; we each have our martyrs from that

period. Now, centuries later, we recognise our family ties in Christ

even though we now dwell in separate houses; we retain our

individual identities, but respect each other and have been working

towards being better sisters to each other.

 

Which is why Fr Paul and I are both delighted to reaffirm the

agreement we signed here two years ago … and I would like to say

again what a pleasure it is work alongside him and all of you,

Catholic and Anglican, in our shared witness to Christ’s gospel here

in Maryborough.

 

“As iron sharpens iron, a friend sharpens a friend”. What are we

doing, to sharpen each other? Certainly, we do together whatever

we can which, sadly, does not extend to our being able to make

Eucharist together; Fr Paul & I preach in each other’s pulpits; we’ve

been able to join in special celebrations together, most recently

your 150th; we share Stations of the Cross on Good Friday; we

pray for each other, and it has been very heartening for me to

know that both St Mary’s and St Paul’s have been upholding my wife

Marcia in prayer.

 

My biggest regret, however, is that our Lenten studies didn’t quite

get off the ground … St Mary’s supported them better than St

Paul’s, but it all tapered off before Holy Week. Well, Fr Paul, we’ll

have to get our heads together on this one! It may just be that Lent

studies is not the best way forward, but perhaps a lengthier daytime

study program … we’ll see … but it’s important that over they

years, we not only keep the agreement alive but strengthen it. As

iron sharpens iron …

 

Our family ties are too strong to let it be otherwise. We are not

self-sufficient; we belong to Christ and through Christ to each other –

in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

 

© the Revd James M McPherson

Maryborough Qld 4650

 

www.anglicanmaryborough.org.au

 

 

1 Proverbs 27.17.

 

Paul's Reflections Twenty - third Sunday of the Year - A. 4th September, 2011

4th September, 2011      Twenty - third Sunday of the Year - A

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On this Father’s Day weekend, the readings are rather fitting, by coincidence, because they remind us of how each and every one of us belongs to a family, (a community); ….. and it is from our influential family members and elder mentors that our values are formed and shaped. 

We give thanks to God for our Fathers… and all parents who pass on the values that matter.

To me, the Scriptures this weekend teach us that we are formed and called to be a loving community, in union with God and in goodwill and love and care with one another. That is the core of everything in the law and the prophets. It is the core of the Gospel message.

One of the big problems in our world today, seems to me is that there is this mentality of many people that they are like a solo performer who just happens to be living in a community,  rather than an inter-dependent member who is a part of the community in which he or she lives…   There are too many people who are alienated and often antagonistic to the wider values and significance of the community or family within which they exist.  It causes terrible results, as people with that mindset can act selfishly and thoughtlessly, without regard or respect for the communion good, or the needs of their brother and sister around them. This thinking at its worst would not even acknowledge they the people around them formed ANY sort of brotherhood or sisterhood of humanity.

The Christian message is that one cannot be a solo Christian. God calls and forms us to be a people of God, a chosen people and a member of the BODY of Christ. 

I think of some sayings that are consistent with the concept of belonging to a community in which Christ is present.. and in which the values of the Gospel are taught and learnt.

Sayings such as…..

·         “It Takes A Village to Raise a Child.” Others have challenged that saying, somewhat, and said..   “actually it takes a family to raise a child”…  (noting the differing values that a community can have for better or worse, as compared with a family and the values they pass on…..).

·         No man (or woman) is an island, complete of itself.

·        You start building a good neighbourhood when you yourself decide that you will be a good neighbour.

Then I think of a wonderful reflection that is quite popular…

Children Learn What They Live (1998). by Dorothy Law Nolte (1924 - 2005)

·        If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.

·        If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.

·        If they live with acceptance, they learn to love.

·        If they live with approval, they learn to like themselves.

·        … with sharing, they learn generosity.

·        ….. with honesty, they learn truthfulness.

·        ….  with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.

·        If they live  with criticism, they learn to condemn.

·        ……and so on..  

 

I would add another one…   “If children do the wrong thing and then see their parents siding with them against authorities that are rightly challenging their bad behaviour… then children learn to disrespect authority, and learn not to be accountable for their actions. They learn to be a real pain in the neck and a worry for the community.”

 

One sees that FAR too often in society..   people who have done the wrong thing and are in the wrong…  challenged by the authorities and rules that guide our community…  and their parents, instead of backing up these authorities, and seeing them as instruments of their role in transmitting values and morals, take the side of their children when the issues are actually indefensible.  Its misguided.  That is a distortion to the concept of “unconditional love.” Love is accepting the person, it is not necessarily accepting bad behaviour. In fact it can be very unloving to do so… because its choosing something that is not for their good. 

 

One often hears people say that in the old days…   when they were younger…  if the police for some reason had to drop them home to their parents because of some incident…  because they had somehow got into some problem with the law… no matter how minor… they knew they would be in equally big trouble with their parents!!  But today, all too often, one hears incidents of people being dropped back home to their parents by the authorities only to get a mouthful from the parents…  its all THEIR fault.. their child couldn’t possibly be the problem….   (it must be someone else’s child who is out all night causing trouble…   it just looks like their child….   There is a bad lookalike causing all the trouble……  or they are just being picked on…..   )….   That is really a worrying attitude.. and ultimately will do no good whatsoever.

 

And, of course, for some reason, over the years, even in the church, an erroneous concept has grown up that one can be a fully participating Christian disciple and hardly ever darken a church door…    a bit like joining a footy club and never turning up to training and never playing a game… and never paying the dues…   it is nonsensical…  but it’s a widespread attitude…   but the Scriptures say otherwise… the Christian community gathered has the presence of Christ..  and it is not an optional extra…

 

The Community, Church and wider, is an essential part of a person’s life. The family and the community, and the church community are key instruments in passing on and teaching the values and principles of the things that have abiding value.

 

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REFERENCES:

·        FR. PAUL W. KELLY

·        "Children Learn What They Live" © Dorothy Law Nolte. Excerpted from the book CHILDREN LEARN WHAT THEY LIVE.©1998 by Dorothy Law Nolte and Rachel Harris.