Homily Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C - Sunday, 3 March 2019
Responsorial PSALM. PS 92:2-3, 13-14, 15-16. “Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.”
Reading 2. 1 CORINTHIANS 15:54-58
Alleluia. PHILEMON 2:15D, 16A
Gospel. LUKE 6:39-45
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Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C - Sunday, 3 March 2019 by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-8c-episode-143 (EPISODE: 143)
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On Sunday 24th February 2019, a tragic incident occurred in one of our Parish Churches: Saint Vincent's Catholic Church, Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast. A Young man climbed onto the roof of the Saint Vincent's Church in the early hours of the morning, while the church was closed, and fell through a skylight in the roof and fell ten metres to the floor. He passed away from his injuries in the church. I and the Catholic community of Surfers Paradise extend our heartfelt and deepest sympathies to the family and friends of those involved in this tragic incident. We are praying for all involved and we will continue to keep them in our thoughts and prayers. May he Rest in Peace. Sincerely, Fr Paul.
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Reflection by Fr Paul: -
The thing to keep us going in this time of turmoil is to keep our eyes and our hearts fixed firmly upon the example and message of Jesus. Christ and gospel show us clearly God's priorities and values. This reveals Jesus' profound concern for the poor, the vulnerable, and the abused. Our Lord demands justice, peace, and healing for those wronged. These are extremely uncertain and upsetting times, and we need more than ever to stay focused on Christ’s priorities of practical action, respect, and unrelenting protection of human dignity, (particularly the young as well as vulnerable adults). Also, respectful listening and understanding, and leadership that serves the needs of people in need. We continue to pray and work for Christ's vision to be fully present for all people.
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On Sunday 24th February 2019, a tragic incident occurred in one of our Parish Churches: Saint Vincent's Catholic Church, Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast. A Young man climbed onto the roof of the Saint Vincent's Church in the early hours of the morning, while the church was closed, and fell through a skylight in the roof and fell ten metres to the floor. He passed away from his injuries in the church. I and the Catholic community of Surfers Paradise extend our heartfelt and deepest sympathies to the family and friends of those involved in this tragic incident. We are praying for all involved and we will continue to keep them in our thoughts and prayers. May he Rest in Peace. Sincerely, Fr Paul.
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A word to the entire community of the Archdiocese of Brisbane. From Archbishop Mark Coleridge. Brisbane, Archdiocese. Australia.
In the meantime, we pray for all those who have been abused and their loved ones, and we commit ourselves anew to doing everything possible to ensure that the Church is a safe place for all, especially the young and the vulnerable.
These last few weeks have been bruising for the Catholic Church in Australia. It seems that everywhere we turn we see stories about the Church and its failures with child sexual abuse.
The news of Cardinal George Pell’s conviction on historical child sexual abuse charges has shocked many across Australia and around the world, including the Catholic Bishops of Australia. The Bishops agree that everyone should be equal under the law, and we respect the Australian legal system. The same legal system that delivered the verdict will consider the appeal that the Cardinal’s legal team has lodged. Our hope, at all times, is that through this process, justice will be served.
These last few weeks have been bruising for the Catholic Church in Australia. It seems that everywhere we turn we see stories about the Church and its failures with child sexual abuse.
We have to accept that. The Church will never walk away from its responsibilities in this area. We have much to atone for. We have much to do and much to continue learning.
But today I want to say a word about the Church that’s almost never mentioned in mainstream media.
It’s the Church that you’re part of every day and, often enough, through the night as well. Because of what you do, the Church changes lives for the better, and it does so through the power of the Gospel. Yes, we face serious challenges now, but there is a whole dimension of the Church that should never be forgotten.
It’s the Church that works every day with refugees who have come to Australia seeking a better life. You help them to find accommodation, to fight for a permanent stay and to reunite with loved ones.
It’s the Church that works on the frontline with domestic violence victims. You help them and their children in the toughest moments that they will face. You walk with them at every step, especially when they feel helpless.
It’s the Church that works with Australians with a disability. You help create a society that welcomes, includes and respects people with a disability as people first – and you support them to follow their dreams.
It’s the Church that works with people on the poverty line. You provide them with accommodation, meals and support when they have nowhere else to turn.
It’s the Church that works with the homeless. You bring a friendly smile, food and warmth to them. Most of all, you help by spending time with them.
It’s the Church that works with people living with dementia. You brighten their lives, you relate to the real person and you provide support for their families.
It’s the Church that provides pastoral support to prisoners. You sit with them, listen to their stories and provide counselling.
It’s the Church that works to protect our environment. You help raise awareness of our common home, the earth on which we live and the need to preserve it for those who come after us.
Of course, it’s the Church that has educated millions of Australian children over generations. Your work in that area continues to have a major impact on our young people and the future of our country.
And it’s the Church that has provided first-class medical treatment in our hospitals for generations. You have literally saved lives and continue to save lives. You have also accompanied the dying with tender care.
And it’s the Church that has provided first-class medical treatment in our hospitals for generations. You have literally saved lives and continue to save lives. You have also accompanied the dying with tender care.
Thank you for all this and more – because that’s not an exhaustive list of what you do from day to day in the Catholic Church.
At this time, I wanted you to know that your work is priceless and that it does not go unrecognised.
Thank you for your work in parishes, schools, hospitals and on the frontline wherever it may be.
It’s work that should make you both proud and humble - proud for what has been achieved and humble before the God whose gifts make it all possible and who is as close to us now as ever before.
+Mark Coleridge
Thank you for your work in parishes, schools, hospitals and on the frontline wherever it may be.
It’s work that should make you both proud and humble - proud for what has been achieved and humble before the God whose gifts make it all possible and who is as close to us now as ever before.
+Mark Coleridge
Reflection by Fr Paul: -
The thing to keep us going in this time of turmoil is to keep our eyes and our hearts fixed firmly upon the example and message of Jesus. Christ and gospel show us clearly God's priorities and values. This reveals Jesus' profound concern for the poor, the vulnerable, and the abused. Our Lord demands justice, peace, and healing for those wronged. These are extremely uncertain and upsetting times, and we need more than ever to stay focused on Christ’s priorities of practical action, respect, and unrelenting protection of human dignity, (particularly the young as well as vulnerable adults). Also, respectful listening and understanding, and leadership that serves the needs of people in need. We continue to pray and work for Christ's vision to be fully present for all people.
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A Seventeenth-Century French writer with quite an unpronounceable name has some very interesting quotes that fit with this weekend's readings........
"If we had no faults, we would not take so much pleasure in noticing those of others."
"(most) faults (are) more pardonable than the means by which one tries to hide them."
“We gain more by letting our real selves be seen than by pretending to be what we are not.” François VI, Duc de La Rochefoucauld, (1613 –1680)
Also,
Inspired by the gospel today, I have long felt that "unless one can say something out of love, (motivated by compassion and goodwill), any intended correction that we might be tempted to offer to another will miss the mark." / That is to say, "if one cannot say something with love and compassion, don't say it at all." And so, we have no right to criticize unless we ourselves are free of faults. Which simply means that we have no right to criticize at all. If we happen to be intent on fixing up faults and weaknesses, we would be much more productive by inviting Christ to pour his healing and challenging grace upon our own sins and omissions, rather than focusing on others.
Jesus warned that no teacher can lead his scholars beyond the stage which he himself has reached. Our Lord is teaching us that he desires anyone who follows him to become a true teacher by example, (from being attentive students of him and his ways). He makes it clear that we cannot be true disciples of him unless our closeness to him and his teachings leads to us becoming more and more like him in thought, word, and action. This is because Christ desires us to be teachers by example... modelling our lives and priorities on his. This requires us to be really alert, attentive and be self-aware - open enough and humble so as to notice and address the areas of spiritual blindness that we all can suffer from. Lest we foolishly try to lead people; only for both leader and follower to fall into a hole.
Speaking the words of Christ could very well have limited effect if our everyday actions and attitudes contradict them and drown them out. The loudest, most effective message we send is most often by the unspoken eloquence of our actions and priorities.
And surely, the best way to show the truth and primacy of Christianity is to show by our lives that actively following in the footsteps of Jesus, produces outstanding men and women. - compassionate, reverent, generous, loving, gentle, just, inclusive and merciful.
The fruits and results of our lives and what we say and where we spend most of our time and energy is a powerful revealed of where our heart truly lies... Our Lord so wisely pointed out that nothing speaks louder about the truth of a person than what they do and say in unguarded moments. " few things show the state of a person's heart better than the words SPOKEN, when talking freely, unguardedly, and saying the first things that comes into ones' head."
When our hearts are very close to Our Lord’s, the unguarded and surprising moments in life will still lead to a pouring forth of the fruits of the spirit, lying so close to the surface….love, joy, peace, patience, self-control, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and gentleness.
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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly
Barclay, W. (1975). The Gospel of Luke. 2nd ed. Edinburgh: St. Andrew Press
Link, Mark J. 1994. Action 2000 Praying Scripture In A Contemporary Way. Year C. Allen, Tex.: Tabor Pub.
François VI, Duc de La Rochefoucauld, (1613 –1680). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fran%C3%A7ois_de_La_Rochefoucauld_(writer)
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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.. **]
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{ “Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin” -published 2011, Composed and Sung by Jeffrey M. Ostrowski
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May God bless and keep you.
Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C
(Sunday, 3 March 2019)
(EPISODE: 143 )
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 Gods family, let us call to mind our sins.
Lord Jesus, you raise us to new life: Lord, have mercy// //Lord Jesus, you forgive us our sins: Christ, have mercy//Lord Jesus, you feed us with your body and blood: Lord, have mercy//
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.
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Memorial Acclamation
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 VIII
Euch prayer III
Communion side. pwk: RH
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Go in peace. (glorifying the Lord by your life)
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