Homily
First Reading: Genesis 18:1-10
First Reading: Genesis 18:1-10
Psalm: Ps 14:2-5. "The just will live in the presence of the Lord"
Second Reading: Colossians 1:24-28
Second Reading: Colossians 1:24-28
Gospel Acclamation: cf Luke 8:15
Gospel: Luke 10:38-42
Photograph: By Zvonimir Atletic.Shutterstock stock photo ID: 425153152. Uused under license. STITAR, CROATIA - NOVEMBER 24: Christ in the House of Mary and Martha, main altar in the church of Saint Matthew in Stitar, Croatia on November 24, 2015
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Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers, and reflections for the Sixteenth Sunday of the Year C - Sunday, July 21, 2019 by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/16c-faith-hope-and-love-ep-167/s-7u98n (EPISODE: 167)
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Both the first reading and the gospel this weekend speak of the true meaning of hospitality and graciousness; and for a Christian, these are always a symbol of openness and a welcoming attitude… an open heart… an open ear…. An open mind to God and God's word…. An openness to God's different ways…..
In the first reading…. Abraham and Sarah give hospitality to the three mysterious visitors…. This is what is expected in the culture of the time of all people towards travellers…. But there is something different here…. Somehow, Abraham KNOWS that these three visitors are not just any old travellers, but are actually Angels… representing the presence of God…. I love this scene from the bible… if anyone was to make a movie of this scene from the Bible…. I reckon the three strangers would say very little… but would just nod.. and cooperate and graciously accept the hospitality of Abraham…… it would be a delightful and very mysterious scene….. I would love to see it acted out…..(actually, the 1966 movie entitled The BIBLE, features this scene and one reviewer describes this scene of the three angels visiting Abraham as one of the best scenes in the movie… and bemoaning that more scenes like it are not featured…..)… probably because its such a key incident…
The hospitality of Abraham, which is nothing less than was expected of all hosts of his time, nevertheless is a symbol and example of the graciousness, openness, and compassion that is expected of all who follow God… and is open to all people in this way, one's heart is shown to be open to God himself….
This lesson is consolidated in the Gospel…. Its also a beautiful passage, but, it is also a very misunderstood passage.. it can be quite confusing…. It may be helpful to keep in mind that Jesus is very good friends with both Mary and Martha. He is not rebuking Martha…. But he is gently teaching her that, although he deeply appreciates and values her hospitality and welcome.. and the meal she is rushing to prepare…. In the end… these important actions are a foretaste and a symbol of the true hospitality and welcome that comes from sitting at the feet of the Lord and listening to him… learning from him… becoming a disciple of Christ and being utterly open and responsive to God's word and God's teachings…. And this is what Mary is doing …. And it is not to be taken from her…..
Unlike many oft-heard interpretations of this gospel….. Jesus is not preferring action to contemplation….. and is not rejecting Martha's ways and accepting only Mary's ways…… Jesus is not "contrasting a strictly contemplative life with the active life. Both are necessary. We venerate Martha as a saint as well as Mary. The one thing necessary is to listen to Jesus and to ponder his words deeply. Without his values and his Spirit and good news, our activity could be misguided and even harmful. We need, (and our homes need, and our world needs) the saving message, values, and Spirit of Jesus. We need to listen and be open to this first and foremost.**
Both action and contemplation are needed in the life of a Christian…. But both need to be firmly based on openness and responsiveness to Jesus' teachings and values and message….
As we have said already….Action without contemplation could be fruitless and quite misguided …. A waste of effort…… and contemplation without actions could be just self-indulgence. Both are needed in their own order… with first priority given to sitting at Christ's feet and listening to him and learning from him.
+++++
References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly
*(CARMELPRINT 2004)
SHARING THE WORD THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR. GUSTAVO GUTIERREZ.
+++
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.
NB - It is often a week or so Ahead: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks
You are welcome to subscribe to Fr Paul's homily mail-out by sending an email to this address: paulkellyreflections+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
"Faith, Hope and Love, 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.. **]
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 at paulwkelly68@gmail.com
Production by Kelly Enterprises Resources.
May God bless and keep you.
Sixteenth Sunday of the Year C
(Sunday, July 21, 2019)
(EPISODE: 167 )
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
+++++++++++++
{{May Our Lord's gift of hope encourage you.}}
As we prepare to celebrate the great Sacramental feast of Gods love, let us pause, recall our sins, and trust in Gods infinite mercy.
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.
+++++++++++++++++++++
Memorial Acclamation
1. We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
own preface
Various Needs and Occasions I
Communion side. pwk: RH
++++
{Thanks for joining us for this time of prayer and reflection}
Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.
Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers, and reflections for the Sixteenth Sunday of the Year C - Sunday, July 21, 2019 by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/16c-faith-hope-and-love-ep-167/s-7u98n (EPISODE: 167)
+++++
Both the first reading and the gospel this weekend speak of the true meaning of hospitality and graciousness; and for a Christian, these are always a symbol of openness and a welcoming attitude… an open heart… an open ear…. An open mind to God and God's word…. An openness to God's different ways…..
In the first reading…. Abraham and Sarah give hospitality to the three mysterious visitors…. This is what is expected in the culture of the time of all people towards travellers…. But there is something different here…. Somehow, Abraham KNOWS that these three visitors are not just any old travellers, but are actually Angels… representing the presence of God…. I love this scene from the bible… if anyone was to make a movie of this scene from the Bible…. I reckon the three strangers would say very little… but would just nod.. and cooperate and graciously accept the hospitality of Abraham…… it would be a delightful and very mysterious scene….. I would love to see it acted out…..(actually, the 1966 movie entitled The BIBLE, features this scene and one reviewer describes this scene of the three angels visiting Abraham as one of the best scenes in the movie… and bemoaning that more scenes like it are not featured…..)… probably because its such a key incident…
The hospitality of Abraham, which is nothing less than was expected of all hosts of his time, nevertheless is a symbol and example of the graciousness, openness, and compassion that is expected of all who follow God… and is open to all people in this way, one's heart is shown to be open to God himself….
This lesson is consolidated in the Gospel…. Its also a beautiful passage, but, it is also a very misunderstood passage.. it can be quite confusing…. It may be helpful to keep in mind that Jesus is very good friends with both Mary and Martha. He is not rebuking Martha…. But he is gently teaching her that, although he deeply appreciates and values her hospitality and welcome.. and the meal she is rushing to prepare…. In the end… these important actions are a foretaste and a symbol of the true hospitality and welcome that comes from sitting at the feet of the Lord and listening to him… learning from him… becoming a disciple of Christ and being utterly open and responsive to God's word and God's teachings…. And this is what Mary is doing …. And it is not to be taken from her…..
Unlike many oft-heard interpretations of this gospel….. Jesus is not preferring action to contemplation….. and is not rejecting Martha's ways and accepting only Mary's ways…… Jesus is not "contrasting a strictly contemplative life with the active life. Both are necessary. We venerate Martha as a saint as well as Mary. The one thing necessary is to listen to Jesus and to ponder his words deeply. Without his values and his Spirit and good news, our activity could be misguided and even harmful. We need, (and our homes need, and our world needs) the saving message, values, and Spirit of Jesus. We need to listen and be open to this first and foremost.**
Both action and contemplation are needed in the life of a Christian…. But both need to be firmly based on openness and responsiveness to Jesus' teachings and values and message….
As we have said already….Action without contemplation could be fruitless and quite misguided …. A waste of effort…… and contemplation without actions could be just self-indulgence. Both are needed in their own order… with first priority given to sitting at Christ's feet and listening to him and learning from him.
+++++
References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly
*(CARMELPRINT 2004)
SHARING THE WORD THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR. GUSTAVO GUTIERREZ.
+++
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.
NB - It is often a week or so Ahead: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks
You are welcome to subscribe to Fr Paul's homily mail-out by sending an email to this address: paulkellyreflections+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
"Faith, Hope and Love, 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.. **]
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 at paulwkelly68@gmail.com
Production by Kelly Enterprises Resources.
May God bless and keep you.
Sixteenth Sunday of the Year C
(Sunday, July 21, 2019)
(EPISODE: 167 )
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
+++++++++++++
{{May Our Lord's gift of hope encourage you.}}
As we prepare to celebrate the great Sacramental feast of Gods love, let us pause, recall our sins, and trust in Gods infinite mercy.
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.
+++++++++++++++++++++
Memorial Acclamation
1. We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
own preface
Various Needs and Occasions I
Communion side. pwk: RH
++++
{Thanks for joining us for this time of prayer and reflection}
Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.
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