Monday, October 28, 2019

Catholic 762 : All Saints Day - 1st November

Homily All Saints Day - 1st November

THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
First Reading: Revelation 7:2-4. 9-14
Psalm: Ps 23:1-6
Second Reading: 1 John 3:1-3
Gospel Acclamation: Matthew 11:28
Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12
Image: By Gudrun Muenz. Licensed by Shutterstock. photo ID: 682200820. "Candle lights in darkness with golden light effects and bokeh for solemn moments."
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Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the All Saints Day - 1st November by clicking this link here:   https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/all-saint-day-faith-hope-and-love-ep-184/s-lBrd9  (EPISODE: 184)
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The feast of "All Saints" is the feast of all Christians. In fact, being a disciple of Jesus implies striving to be holy as our heavenly Father is holy (Mt 5:48). We are all called to holiness…  and we are all called to be saints…  In fact, in the early years of the church, the Saints was a title used to describe members of the Christian Church living and dead…  since eternal life with Christ begins with baptism….  It has already begun, but is not fully revealed…. 

Matthew's Gospel tells us that those who are sensitive to the needs of the poor will enter the kingdom.

The eight beatitudes speak to us of the fundamental attitudes of Jesus' disciples and of all Christians. Disciples must totally trust God (poor in spirit); they must share the suffering of others (those who weep). Just as the Lord is, (Mt 11:30), so too must we be kind to others (the meek). They must fervently want justice to reign in this world (those who hunger and thirst for righteousness). Moreover, disciples must bear in their hearts the poor (the needy) - they must be ready to soften their hearts to those who are trying to turn back ..(the merciful). They must be consistent and upright in their lives (the pure in heart). They must do their best to establish peace as the outcome of justice (the peacemakers). All of this means that they will be opposed by those who refuse to recognize the rights of others (the persecuted for righteousness' sake).  Matthews Gospel goes on to put this in practical terms….. disciples are those who feed the hungry, give a drink to the thirsty, etc., in other words, those who are committed to the needy. The poor in spirit translate their love of God and of others by being in solidarity with the real poor in a material sense. In their actions for the poor, the marginalized, and the oppressed, they will encounter Jesus himself: "you did it to me." And encountering the Lord is a grace.

As Pope Saint John Paul II wrote, "It is impossible to embrace the cause of the poor, and in doing so, verify our fidelity to Christ (see John Paul II, On Human Work, no. 8), without causing resistance and hostility, without going through "the great ordeal" (Rv 7:14). Receiving the grace of being children of God (1 Jn 3:1) involves creating practical and authentic friendship and justice in our society."

Having said all this, we have known many people like this…   we know them now…  in our families, in our friends, colleagues, members of our communities…   People who have modelled in their lives, their attitudes and decisions have lived the Beatitudes…  so they saw God as he really is… and continue to see him in Heaven. 

This feast is especially for all the unnamed saints,… officially proclaimed saints have their own special feasts and memorials.. (though of course they are included today), but this is especially the feast day of the saints not listed on earthly books, but listed in God's book of life…  and we have known them.. we have lived with them.. we have been inspired by them…  we hope to join them in heaven…  

Sometimes the practicality of the Beatitudes is illustrated best by contrast…  those who are puffed up and proud, and self-focused…  those without empathy for others…  those who refuse to be kind…. Those who make excuses for injustices when they could do something to help… those who are violent and ruthless to those who cry out to mercy -even those whose predicament is sometimes of their own making…./   These people are not the ones who will inherit the Kingdom.  The Kingdom is NOT inherited by those who crush others under their feet on their way to their goals…  they are not those who abuse and use others for their own selfish ends… nor are they ones who have no concern for the plight of the poor, the outcast, the sinner, the needy….  The ones who see no fraternity in people of other places, cultures or situations, when these people are truly our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Rather, It is those who stand up for and with those who call for justice and peace who stand before God's presence.  

We thank and praise God for inspiring us by the close example of these wonderful 'lights of Christ in our lives'…  may we continue to live these virtues in our own lives…   The saints pray for us, before the very face of God. We are in wonderful company.
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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly

GutiƩrrez, G. and Dees, C. (1997). Sharing the Word through the liturgical year. 1st ed. Maryknoll: Orbis Books. Pp. 278-9

Image: By Gudrun Muenz. Licensed by Shutterstock. photo ID: 682200820. "Candle lights in darkness with golden light effects and bokeh for solemn moments."
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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.
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:
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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

Prayers and chants  from the English Translation of the Roman Missal, edition three, © 2010, The International commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)

Scriptures from the New Revised Standard Version: © 1989,  revised - 2009. 

"The Psalms: A New Translation" ©1963, 2009,  The Grail - Collins publishers 

Prayers of the Faithful -   from Robert Borg'.  " Together we pray".  E.J. Dwyer, publishers , Australia (1993)

{ "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" -Composed and Sung by Jeffrey M. Ostrowski   Featuring the….Gloria,  copyright 2011   ccwatershed.org

"Faith, Hope and Love" hymn - dedicated to William J Kelly -     Inspired by 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, set to original music Paul W. Kelly. (c) 1996. Updated lyrics by Paul Kelly and Stefan Kelk, with new arrangement and vocals by S. Kelk. 2019.

for more information-  homilycatholic.blogspot.com

Production -  Kelly Enterprises Resources.   
May God bless and keep you. 

All Saints Day
(
1st November)

(EPISODE: 184 )

INTRODUCTION:    
The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

PENITENTIAL ACT:

Presider: Brothers and sisters, let us acknowledge our sins, and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.                       

I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.

May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen

Lord, have mercy.   Christ, have mercy
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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Preface:  The glory of Jerusalem, our mother. (Proper of All Saints)
         
Memorial Acclamation

We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.

Presider:

         
Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.              




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