(EPISODE:141)
THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
First Reading: Isaiah 32:15-18
Psalm: Ps 84:9-14. R. “The Lord speaks of peace to his people.”
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11
Gospel Acclamation: Matthew 5:9
Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. Photo by Trent Szmolnik on Unsplash++++
Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the AUSTRALIA DAY NATIONAL DAY (26TH JANUARY) (EPISODE: 141) - by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-australia-day-141 (EPISODE: 141 )
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Australia Day -
In so many ways, we truly are the lucky country. True, no country is perfect, and each country and culture has its own blessing, (as well as its own share of shadow and troubles….)….but it is always nice to know that our home is a place where there is so much to be grateful for. our beautiful environment --- (and we are all too aware that lately…. The heat and drought is a massive concern - and a national tragedy --- farmers are really doing it tough...... it has been a huge burden to so many people and communities… in great hardship…. We continue to pray for desperately needed rain to all the areas in need…. and that people of goodwill shall continue to give practical and effective assistance to the areas suffering this hardship...... We are so deeply in drought.. …. The extremes of conditions and of weather in this great land.....certainly boggle the mind….
But still we know there is so much to give thanks for on this national day......the democratic freedom, a comparatively excellent standard of living, our natural resources, and any problems we might think we have in relation to overcrowding and pollution, has nothing on some of the places overseas, not to mention the situation of health and unemployment support in other nations.
Today, we give thanks to God for the many gifts we have been given, and we are reminded that we live in a commonwealth… //and that this commonwealth is for the common good…. the gifts we have are gifts to share for the benefit of each other…..
This National Day was not always called Australia Day and wasn't always celebrated on this date. The commemoration is not without its different experiences and controversy, which reflects our nation's colonial past, as with many nations. There has been a lot of high feeling in some quarters that the indigenous people of this land do not all find this day a unifying or inspiring date.
"The controversy over Australia Day on January 26 is that, for Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the day marks ...(the start of European settlement here that saw many Indigenous Australians killed, and Aboriginal culture and society forever changed. And indeed, a protest march by Aboriginal activists (as early as) January 26, 1938, declared it a "Day of Mourning".
But this resisting a particular date and name for commemoration is not just something indigenous people have taken up. Us Catholics too, in Australia, had our own problems with a celebration at the time called Empire Day. In 1911, "Australia Day" was used by the Roman Catholic community for May 24, which was usually celebrated as Empire Day, in protest at the day's allegedly Protestant character and the experiences the Catholic community suffered under that sectarian time. This slight to a day that was intended to bring the British Empire together was viewed unfavourably by some.#
The way forward is for us to see ourselves as 'all in this together. We are many cultures and traditions and we acknowledge the mistakes and wrongs of the past and we commit ourselves to truly walking together and listening respectfully to each other and giving respect to our different heritage and cultures. and committing ourselves to practical steps to keep improving the welfare of all people.
We pray that people everywhere will deepen their sense of belonging to a commonwealth for common good…. that there will be peace, respect, harmony and care for all others in our society…. that we will respect and reverence people as we would like to be treated ourselves... that we might always spare a thought for the person less fortunate, whether they be next door or in the next country……
And today, (as every day) we pray that our nation and its people develop deep within ourselves a yearning for the values of Jesus’ Beatitudes….. // Humility,// Gentleness, // A Passion and a practical commitment to working for Justice, //to be Peacemakers,// and a people who are single-minded in serving God’s good vision for the world…..
It is good for us to stop and give thanks for God’s many gifts to us in this blessed Southern land of the Holy Spirit…..
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Fr Paul W. Kelly
#Amanda Laugesen. "Australia Day to Invasion Day: A difficult history." In Sydney Morning Herald, 25 January 2017 6:30pm.
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.
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Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
“Faith, Hope and Love, A time of Christian worship and reflection” - Led by Rev Paul W. Kelly
Texts used in this programme are for the purposes of worship and prayer for listeners wherever you are.
Prayers and chants are taken from the English Translation of the Roman Missal, edition three, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy.
Scriptures are from the New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, by the national council of Churches of Christ, USA. , //adaptations to conform with Catholic liturgical norms, © 2009, by the same.
[{selected psalms } - ***Psalm verses are (also) taken from “The Psalms: A New Translation” ©1963, The Grail (England), published by Collins.. **]
Photo by Trent Szmolnik on Unsplash
Prayers of the Faithful are adapted from Robert Borg’s 1993 book “ Together we pray”. Published in Sydney Australia By E.J. Dwyer. (out of print).
{ “Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin” -published 2011, Composed and Sung by Jeffrey M. Ostrowski
Featuring the….Gloria, The Creed, The Kyrie, The Mass parts, Psalms: http://www.ccwatershed.org/chabanel/ ]]] ] COPYRIGHT @ 2018 CORPUS CHRISTI WATERSHED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. www.ccwatershed.org/vatican/Ralph_Sherwin_Videos/
“Faith, Hope and Love” theme Hymn: Words, based on 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, set to original music © 1996 by Paul W. Kelly.
For more details please visit http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au/
Contact us atpaulwkelly68@gmail.com
Production by Kelly Enterprises Resources.
May God bless and keep you.
AUSTRALIA DAY NATIONAL DAY (26TH JANUARY)
(EPISODE: 141 )
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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Coming together as brothers and sisters in Christ, let us pause and reflect upon our sins, in order to celebrate the Holy Eucharist.
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 came to gather the nations into the peace of God's kingdom: Lord, have mercy//
You come in word and in sacrament to strengthen us and make us holy: Christ, have mercy//
You will come again in glory with salvation for your people: Lord, have mercy.
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.
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Prayers Of The Faithful
READER
* For our nation on this Australia Day. that we renew our determination to work together for justice, reconciliation and the common good. (PAUSE) Lord hear us:
* For our indigenous brothers and sisters, the first peoples of Australia: that we have the grace to listen to their stories, understand their mourning, and walk gently with them on this ancient land. (PAUSE) Lord hear us:
* For country communities suffering from the oppressive heat, and the severe shortage of water. That every effort is made to provide them with the practical assistance and resources they need to manage. (PAUSE) Lord hear us:
* For children and teachers returning to school this week. that they begin the year with energy and enthusiasm for the adventure of learning. (PAUSE) Lord hear us:
+++++++Memorial Acclamation
When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again.
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Sundays Ordinary V
Eucharistic Prayer II
Communion side. pwk: LH
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Go forth, the Mass is ended.
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