First Sunday of Lent. Year A - Sunday, March 1, 2020

Homily First Sunday of Lent. Year A - Sunday, March 1, 2020

 Readings for 1st Sunday of Lent – A

 FIRST READING: Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7

 PSALM: Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14+17. "Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned"

 SECOND READING: Romans 5:12-19

 GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Matthew 4:4b). Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, king of endless Glory. No one lives on bread alone. But on every word that comes from the mouth of God.

GOSPEL: Matthew 4:1-11 – Temptation

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed ID: 778363450 "Mount of Temptation next to Jericho - a place where Jesus was tempted" - By  Sopotnicki

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Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the First Sunday of Lent. Year A - Sunday, March 1, 2020, by clicking this link here:   https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-ep-209-lent-1-a-2020/s-KkQer   (EPISODE: 209)

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Prologue:  Our Lenten journey has well and truly begun.  It is a wonderful time of extra prayer,  reflection and penance - in order to re-focus our sights upon Christ and his gospel. this weekend we hear of the temptation of Our Lord in the desert.  I had always seen this time as a preparation for Christ's public ministry - and in a sense that perfectly true. But it's more than that.  It turns out that this is his first and definitive battle (and victory),  in God's war against the derailing effects of temptation, (to ignore the Fathers will in a distorted and self-justified attempt to follow our own will). This has wracked the human condition since the beginning. In the desert, Christ strikes the first blow against humanity's alienation from God.  This is faith,  hope and love. 

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Our Lord wastes no time going straight to work of achieving his Heavenly Father's mission.  Jesus is God made human,  the new Adam.  and he quickly sets about reversing the failures to temptation that has been around since from the beginnings of humanity and which we still face today.  

Although Jesus is God he is also completely human like us,  so in his humanity, he faces temptation and defeats it.  

We can see this forty days in the desert as a massive battle between for forces of the Gods Kingdom and the forces of evil.  Our Lord shows us how to take on temptation and not succumb to its distortion of the truth.  

 Our Lord uses prayer,  fasting and intense focus on the will of the Father to cut through the lies of the evil one. 

We notice too that Satan turns up to assail him near the end of his forty days.  Our Lord would have been tired,  extremely hungry and at his physical and emotional weakest.  and this is when Satan begins his cowardly attacks. It's good to keep in mind - we are often attacked by temptation when we are at our lowest and most vulnerable. The powers and values that oppose the kingdom of heaven do not fight fair, but we must be prepared. 

What is also fascinating is God turns even a malicious temptation by the enemy as a means to strengthen and reinforce the steely resolve of his faithful ones.  Jesus was tried and passed through the trial with flying colours. where Adam and his ancestors failed,  Jesus succeeded and schools us in how to deal with temptation ourselves.  

We learn that temptation is deceitful.  it often comes in the form of taking a good thing and luring us to use a good motive or a good thing for a bad or excessive reason. 

• 1 Corinthians 10:13 New International Version (NIV). God never lets us face more than we can handle and gives us the help to escape its clutches.  

there are two areas of temptation

•  temptations to people in leadership positions 

and

personal temptation.

First satan appeal to Our Lord as a leader.  

• the temptation to show, to prove and to be 'relevant' to an audience.
• Tempted to be popular and spectacular.
• The temptation to use "power" over others.

and see how Jesus counters it:

 "temptation to be relevant" and prove oneself, is countered by prayer and discernment of The Father's will. 

temptation to be spectacular to convince.  v. obedience and humility.

temptation to power v. vulnerability and trust in God's providence and grace being sufficient. 

Temptations in our personal needs- 

• actions to meet our physical needs. Not trusting that our true needs will be given us without recourse to the extreme and the controlling. 
• Confirm/test god's will and love.  presume on it. when we already have been shown Gods love and care in so many ways.  Our Lord knew he had been very powerfully affirmed and commissioned,  to test that or to ask for more confirmation would have been mere self-indulgence.  
• Pride and power.

• Devil wants to trick us to think –
• God has abandoned us
• And that we can handle temptation on our own.

But,  Our Lord shows us that the real question we need to focus upon ;

•  "Is this what God the Father wants for me?   Can I do this thing and truly love God and delight in God…."   ?? 
• Is this choice putting God as the source and destination of our delight and our goals. 

It's very telling that after this extreme tussle in the wilderness - Christ commands satan to be off and he goes.  Jesus has succeeded in fending off the prideful and misleading lies of the tempter and afterwards, we are told Angels come to tend to him and give him what he needs.  

There is more than a sense that his army come to support him in this first of many victories and give him what he needs which he KNEW would be provided by his Father and not from rash acts of wilfulness, force or pride. 

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References:

Fr Paul W. Kelly

From  Wilkins, M. (2004). Matthew : NIV Application Commentary. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan. E-edition. November 2014. Around p 153-164.

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed ID: 778363450

"Mount of Temptation next to Jericho - The place where Jesus was tempted" - By  Sopotnicki

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First Sunday of Lent. Year A

(Sunday, March 1, 2020)

(EPISODE: 209)

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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{{May Our Lord's empathy abide in you.}}

 As we begin the Holy Eucharist, let us acknowledge our sinfulness, so as to worthily 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.

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Memorial Acclamation

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

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Sunday Lent I

Eucharistic Prayer II

Communion side.  PWK:  RH

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{I gratefully acknowledge and give thanks to God for your prayers at this time of prayer and reflection upon our God. }

Go in peace. (glorifying the Lord by your life)

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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: paulkellyreflections+subscribe@googlegroups.com

Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection"  - Led by Rev Paul Kelly

 Prayers and chants  — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)

 Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989,  and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA)

 "The Psalms" ©1963, 2009,  The Grail - Collins publishers. 

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

 Lenten Hymn: "Have Mercy"  inspired by Psalm 50(51). Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019. 

 [ Production -  KER -  2020] 

 May God bless and keep you

Third Anniversary of William John (Bill) Kelly 8th June 1942-27th February 2017

Remembering with love, William John (Bill) Kelly on the occasion of the third anniversary of his passing into eternal life. 27th February 2017. 

A special prayer and reflection Liturgy in thanksgiving for the life of William John (Bill) Kelly.  Lovingly known to us his family as Dad. 

May he rest in the Peace of Christ. 

Please visit this link for the prayer and reflection: 

 

https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/in-remembrance-of-william-john-kelly-on-the-third-anniversary-of-his-passing-27th-february-2017/s-V8A2F

Ash Wednesday - Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Ash Wednesday - Wednesday, February 26, 2020

THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
First Reading: Joel 2:12-18
Psalm: Ps 50:3-6. 12-14. 17. "Be Merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned."
Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:20 - 6:2
Gospel Acclamation: cf Ps 94:8
Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6. 16-18
Homily
Blessing and Distribution of Ashes
       Distribution of Ashes
       Song
Prayer of the Faithful

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed stock vector ID: 590506187. Banner with bowl with ashes of some palm branches that represents the beginning of the Lent on Ash Wednesday.By PenWin
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Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the Ash Wednesday - Wednesday, February 26, 2020 by clicking this link here:   https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-ep-208-ash-wednesday-2020/s-EVwqs  (EPISODE: 206)
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PROLOGUE

We begin today the great season of Lent.  Which is a season of six-and-a-half weeks' length, which is modeled on the forty days in the wilderness, with prayer and fasting, that Our Lord undertook, prior to beginning his public ministry.   The Lenten season is slightly longer than forty days as it does not include the weekends, largely because every Sunday is considered a little-Easter in itself.  Lent is marked by a spirit of additional prayer, penance and fasting and acts of charity.   It is a wonderful season of renewal and growth as we prepare for the great feast of Easter. 

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Ash Wednesday is neither a Sunday nor a holy day of obligation,

Yet churches across Australia and the world are often packed. Why is this day and its ceremony so important and popular with so many? ...  whether they be Catholic or not...  since anyone who wants can come forward to receive the ashes...  I believe it is because we want to be marked with ashes as a sign of repentance and new beginnings, and of recognizing our real need for God's generous love, grace and mercy in our lives.

 

The ashes are made from the palm leaves used on Palm Sunday,  the previous year.

 

These ashes, then, are the product of a "death" - in the sense that these dead palm branches,  having been used as such a powerful symbol in Palm Sunday, have been dried out and burned and turned into a fine powder of ash. We use this sign of death at the beginning of Lent to mark our journey from death toward a new life. 

When we think about Lent, we generally think in terms of giving something up - which is a kind of 'dying' to self.

 

But the readings for today suggest to us that merely 'giving up' something cannot be an end in itself.

Lent is about beginnings,m about allowing God to help us to :

1.       Come to new life,

2.       Deepen our relationship with God and others, and

3.       Transform who we are and how we live.

 

Why do we perform Lenten deeds of penance (alms-giving, prayer, fasting)?

 

Not for the passing reward of public acclaim,  but for the everlasting reward of God's transforming grace (see second reading).

 

Our penance is thus "rewarded" by a deeper relationship with God and each other that comes from returning to God with our whole heart (see first reading). And the reward is given now.

 

One an anonymous writer once described this Lenten time by saying:

LET TODAY BE THE END OF WHO WE HAVE BEEN AND THE BEGINNING OF WHAT GOD HAS CALLED US TO BECOME.

 

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POPE FRANCIS has been attributed to the following SUGGESTIONS FOR FASTING!

It is never too late to give something up for Lent.

Nor is there a rule that prevents you from changing your fasting objects during Lent.

 

And so, if you want to fast this Lent:

Fast from hurting words and say kind words

Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude

Fast from anger and be filled with patience

Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope

Fast from worries and trust in God

Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity

Fast from pressures and be prayerful

Fast from bitterness and fill your heart with joy

Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others

Fast from grudges and be reconciled

Fast from words and be silent so you can listen

{Attributed to Pope Francis}.

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Back in 2011, I was on a pilgrimage, in the desert region in what is now the country of Jordan. I saw and touched the waters of the Jordan river where John the Baptist was baptizing…. and it was a profound moment of reflection and faith. 

 

This Gospel reminds me that, after Jesus was baptized, the voice of his Heavenly Father said… "this is my son, my beloved….  I am well pleased with him… listen to him…."….   So, what did Jesus do next….    he had just received the most perfect and most important and public affirmation from none other than God the Father, himself....  and in response, Our Lord Jesus felt absolutely impelled, by the Holy Spirit, to go immediately into the wilderness for 40 days…..    This tells us that the love and favour of the Heavenly Father was more than sufficient for everything Our Lord truly needed. ……    Since he knows he has that love and faith place in him, then Christ knew that fame, fortune, possessions or earthly influence meant nothing……..    And the wilderness… the desert reminded him of his total connection to his Father in heaven, and the need to reject anything that was not of his Father …..   If people were to listen to him.. he must speak ONLY that which comes from his Father's will …. His father's word….. this needed a deep time of preparation and prayer…. And letting go of everything, except that which lasts forever…….

 

Love, given freely without expectation,

Kindness and mercy, without expectation of return….   

Acts of charity not for recognition or approval but for the sake love alone…..     

Random acts of kindness for which no one will ever know we are the instigators.   (setting up a pattern not only for the 40 days of Lent but for every day of our lives after that....) 

 

Lent is a time of renewal to deepen that extraordinary movement of the heart ever-closer towards God.  Moving deeper into the Love of God which is its own reward....    Where we seek no other reward but to love God and be very close to God... and closer to one another.  For the glory and praise of God alone…

 

This time of prayer, penance and fasting is still a wonderful, joy-filled time of self-denial and making space for God… fostering positive habits for the year-round….  

 

To mark the start of the Lenten season last year, Pope Francis prayed the traditional Stations of the Cross at St. Anselm Church in Rome. He said, "We will never move forward if we are heavily weighed down," he continued. "The poverty of the wood, the silence of the Lord, his loving self-emptying show us the necessity of a simpler life, free from anxiety about things."

 

"The small mark of ash, which we will receive, is a subtle yet real reminder that of the many things occupying our thoughts, that we chase after and worry about every day, nothing will remain," he stated. "Earthly realities fade away like dust in the wind," he said, reminding Catholics that no material possessions or wealth go with them past the grave.

 

"Lent is the time to free ourselves from the illusion of chasing after dust," he urged. "Lent is for rediscovering that we are created for the inextinguishable flame, not for ashes that immediately disappear; for God, not for the world; for the eternity of heaven, not for earthly deceit; for the freedom of the children of God, not for slavery to things."

"We should ask ourselves today: Where do I stand? Do I live for fire or for ash?" 

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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly

https://catholicherald.co.uk/news/2019/03/07/lenten-fasting-is-a-wake-up-call-for-the-soul-pope-says/

 

+ Quotes from the commentary section in :  "Liturgia" © Copyright Liturgy Brisbane 2020. 

 

Pope Francis on giving up for Lent,,...  similar in theme to this message:   https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2019/03/give-up-gossiping-for-lent-pope-suggests/

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed stock vector ID: 590506187. Banner with a bowl with ashes of some palm branches that represents the beginning of the Lent on Ash Wednesday. By PenWin
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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: paulkellyreflections+subscribe@googlegroups.com

Ash Wednesday  (Wednesday, February 26, 2020)  (EPISODE: 206 )

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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{{Goodness and faithfulness to you all}}

 

No penitential rite, ashes after Homily replaces this.

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Memorial Acclamation
Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.

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Preface: Lent III
Eucharist Prayer II
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Communion side.  pwk:  LH
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{my heartfelt thanks for your participation in this time of reflection, prayer and praise.}

Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord. 

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Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection"  - Led by Rev Paul Kelly

 Prayers and chants  — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)

 Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989,  and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA)

 "The Psalms" ©1963, 2009,  The Grail - Collins publishers.

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

 {Sung "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" -  by Jeffrey M. Ostrowski. The ….Gloria,  copyright 2011 ccwatershed.org. }

 "Have Mercy" Lenten theme, words inspired by Psalm 50 (51). Music:  written by Paul W. Kelly.  Arranged and sung with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk 2020.

 [ Production -  KER -  2020]

 May God bless and keep you. 

 

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, February 23, 2020

Homily Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, February 23, 2020

Readings for 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time - A
FIRST READING: Lev 19:1-2, 17-18

PSALM: Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 8+10, 12-13. "The Lord is kind and merciful."

SECOND READING: 1 Cor 3:16-23

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (1 John 2:5). Alleluia, alleluia! Whoever keeps the word of Christ, grows perfect in the love of God.

GOSPEL: Matt 5:38-48

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed photo. ID: 2772179 Model of Jerusalem dating from the time of the Second Temple. By Khirman Vladimir
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Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, February 23, 2020 by clicking this link here:   https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-ep-207-seventh-sunday-ordinary-time-a/s-ccYMT  (EPISODE: 207)
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Note:  continuing from last week....   the source and the goal of discipleship is to share in the heart of God....   to dwell in God's love and reflect God's love....   love is at the heart of everything. to become truly Christ-like; not only in our appearances but in essence...  which is to BE love...   // this changes everything...   we focus not on perfecting external actions...  but put all our energies into allowing God's love and compassion to grow in our hearts and flow out into our attitudes and actions...   //

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Saint Paul uses a wonderful image to show us that God is building us up into a worthy dwelling place for him to live in us. But he says that we are not being formed into any old home for God,…… "We are invited to become not just an occasional holiday shack for God, but a permanent home and, (even moreso...), a "Temple" for God to live in.  And the Greek word for "temple" used here implies not just the facade of the Temple of Jerusalem, but the inner sanctuary - the "Holy of Holies" (where only one priest could enter at a time. Apparently the priest on duty had a rope tied around them so if they fainted or died while in this inner sanctuary they could be hauled out by the rope without anyone else entering!)   
 
So, each of us is invited to become, body, soul and mind,  an extremely holy place for God to dwell. 
 
What renovations do we need God's grace to create in us, to make us a worthy place?  (a temple)? 
 
A temple is building which is "purpose built". Every room and every item in that place is there for the purpose of worshiping God (who abides in that temple), and for doing God's works. …… 
 
So, our lives, and everything about us, is similarly put to the use of God; We become willing instruments of God's Kingdom…  We are God's temple, says Saint Paul, and this is an amazing thought. 
 
This weekend, with the Gospel, there are two words that bear deeper reflection; and need a bit of clarification.  
 
Firstly we are told by Jesus:  "Be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect" – 
This is not an invitation to perfectionism (which is quite a different thing).  
In fact, we actually see in Our Lord's life and ministry, that he was the opposite of a "nit-picking" legalist, who was prickly around other people because they didn't do everything "just right." The Greek word "perfect," here, actually means "Telios" that is (like the word 'telescope')/ an unfolding to achieve its maximum potential/  achieving full capacity/ Reaching maturity/ Becoming whole or complete…/  "To be best suited for its purpose"…. (For example.. a 'tailored suit' is Telios – that is, it is designed to perfectly fit the wearer's proportions)
….
So, we are invited to allow God's Kingdom to fit us like a designer Baptismal garment/.. matching just right !/ …. But, we are the ones who are being shaped to fit God's ways, and not the opposite... of us trying to cut-down God's Kingdom to suit our convenience.   
 
The second problematic saying is "love your enemies"… 
This is extremely difficult for teaching. "Pray for those who hurt you"…… 
Firstly the Greek word used here is not like the love of husband and wife. Also, this word is (understandably) nothing like the love that one has for a family member or a close friend…. It is 'agape" - That is, the different kind of love that wishes well to the other, show basic human respect and indicates an act of reason. It is not so much a love coming from the heart, but (surprisingly in this situation), it is a decision (made by the head and enabled by a conscious, considered resolution), 
 
It is a deliberate choice to SHOW respect/ kindness, restraint, and regard to all people, irrespective of their actions, and irrespective of our feelings towards them. 
 
For doing this is mirroring how God treats us all. 
 
(This does NOT mean that we become doormats or punching bags for Christ! That would be unjust and unacceptable. And in any case, Jesus is giving this teaching to disciples, most of whom would have been quite capable of knocking the head off someone who slapped them even once!  Christ's new followers would have needed to use their willpower not to strike back !. Christ is teaching us that, Abiding in God's love, we don't have to lower our response or attitude, to that of those who seek to harm us. We do not need to return evil for evil – which would simply continue the vicious cycle of violence and hate.  
 
This is asking us something that does not come naturally. The bonds of natural affection and friendship are in some ways easier, but this is about the call of God's love - not the limits of the "bare minimum" God might expect. 
 
To the demands of the law, there are always limitations and exceptions …./ But to the claims of love, there are limits or exceptions/  And such a concept as "limits" makes no sense, to one who loves.
 
"A basic mistake in earthly wisdom is to think of life in terms of the law, instead of love. If we love a person deeply, passionately, humbly and selflessly, we will be quite sure that (in a poetic sense) if we were to give that person all we possessed, we will still be in default; That if we gave that person the sun, the moon and the stars, we will still be in debt, (a willing debt of love, that is !)/ 'One who is in love is always in debt'; The last thing that enters their mind is that they have earned a reward or can demand a response. If a person has a legalistic view of life, they may think constantly in terms of reward that has been won and what is "owed" to them;/ But, if a person has a loving view of life, the idea of reward would be jarring. …. (Again, here I think of parents… They love their children unconditionally… They give because they love… If they were doing it for reward or expecting the balance sheet one day to be truly "evened up"…., they will most certainly be waiting a long time !…… but that is not how a loving parent acts… and God does not think that way either… 
 
(Jesus invites us to enter into this mindset deeper and deeper each day). 
 
How much is sufficient? how much is enough? when given to one's beloved?…..
(how long is a piece of string?) …. It is a totally different way of seeing the world…"# 
 
So, Are we ready for this astounding invitation, from today's Gospel?"A person will be perfect ('Telios') (GSN5046) …. (or to put it more precisely… "mature and fit for the purpose for which we were created)," when we reflect the image and likeness of God, (for that is what God intended from the beginning of creation) (The Book of Genesis).
 
God's qualities are A universal benevolence and kindness, unconquerable goodwill, 
Constant seeking of the highest good of every person. 
God is love and shows love (to the saint and to sinner alike). 
No matter what people do in response, God seeks nothing but their highest good. 
 
Jesus is laying down three great rules—(which I feel anxious to lay down without watering it down or explaining it away, even though it calls us to go deeper than is comfortable or familiar)….The Christian avoids resentment or retaliation for insults, 
(no matter how deliberate); returning kindness and reverence, in the face of injury. 
 
The Christian does not stand or fall upon their legal rights or on any other rights they may believe themselves to possess; The Christian thinks not about their right to do as they like, but rather think always of our duty to be of help and to do good work with all our ability for the glory of God. We cannot achieve this alone. This can ONLY be achieved when the grace and love of God abide in us and flows outwards, into actions of kindness, mercy and compassion. "When we love, we are a sign and sacrament of the Kingdom of God… And, Jesus says to us:  'Love !, (not as others love but as I love), and BE that SIGN !"   
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References:
 
Fr Paul W. Kelly
 
Strong's Biblical Concordance: HelpsBible.com. copyright © 1987, 2011 by Helps Ministries, Inc.
 
# Barclay, W. (1975). The Gospel of MATTHEW. 2nd ed. Edinburgh: St. Andrew Press.
 
Cronin, G. (2003). Celebrating the Gospels. 1st ed. Liguori, Mo.: Liguori.
 
DeBona, G. (2013). Between the Ambo and the altar. 1st ed. Minnesota: Liturgical press.
 
Hodge, Vincent.  Note on the Greek word for "Temple," used in 1 Corinthians 3:17,  also see http://www.godrules.net/library/strongs2b/gre3485.htm

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed. ID: 2772179 Model of Jerusalem dating from the time of the Second Temple. By Khirman Vladimir
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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: paulkellyreflections+subscribe@googlegroups.com

Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection"  - Led by Rev Paul Kelly

Prayers and chants  — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)

Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989,  and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA)

"The Psalms" ©1963, 2009,  The Grail - Collins publishers. 

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

{Sung "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" -  by Jeffrey M. Ostrowski. The ….Gloria,  copyright 2011 ccwatershed.org. } 

"Faith, Hope and Love" theme hymn - in memory of  William John Kelly -     Inspired by 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.

"Today I Arise" - For Patricia Kelly.  Original words and music by Paul W. Kelly. Inspired by St Patrick's Prayer.  Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019. 

[ Production -  KER -  2020] 

May God bless and keep you. 
Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A
(Sunday, February 23, 2020)

(EPISODE: 207)

The Lord be with you.
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{{May Our Lord's gift of dignity and community enliven 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 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

3. Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.

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Sundays Ordinary VI

Euch prayer two

Communion side.  pwk:  RH
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{Many thanks for participating in this time of praise and reflection upon our loving God.}

Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.