Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, August 9, 2020
EPISODE 245
Shutterstock licensed image stock photo ID: 1211556307. Biblical vector illustration series, Jesus calms the storm. Peace Be Still. By rudall30
Readings for 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time - A
FIRST READING: 1 Kings 19:9a, 11-13a
Psalm 85:9ab+10, 11-12, 13-14. "Lord, show us your mercy and love, and grant us your salvation."
SECOND READING: Romans 9:1-5
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION, (cf. Psalm 130:5).Alleluia, alleluia! I hope in the Lord. I trust in his Word.
GOSPEL: Matthew 14:22-33
++++
Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, August 9, 2020, by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-ordinary-19a-episode-245 EPISODE 245
+++++
(Fr Paul). Prologue: In the first reading, Elijah meets God; whose presence is indicated by a "tiny whispering sound," or as a "gentle breeze," which is also translated in some texts as "the sound of sheer silence".... And then, in the Gospel, Jesus is encountered taming the wild, raging, stormy waters. God is gentle and also immensely powerful at the same time. God is more powerful than ANY storms, dramas or "clamours" in life. God is quiet but also entirely authoritative, (not needing to "out-yell" any contrary voices). His quiet but profound TRUTH will prevail over even the biggest, loudest and scariest of situations or people.
We have learnt all too well that the loudest voices in the world are not necessarily the ones that hold the key to eternal truth. Jesus' voice was by no means the loudest voice of his time, but his message is ultimate truth and life, and his gentle, quiet voice of truth has resounded powerfully down the centuries, further than any other voice ever could.
And so, whether it be storms or silence… / dramatic or ordinary…/ The message is the same: God is present and active amongst us and with us. And the signs are there, if we search and listen with the "eyes and ears" of faith.
Like Saint Peter, we too have to be willing to get out of the boat, "with heart pounding and mind racing," (and do so despite the fear, and the doubts), and all the while, keep our eyes fixed firmly on Jesus.
Fr. Paul Kelly
(References: Alice Camille; and WILLIAM BARCLAY . THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS. REVISED EDITION. 1975 . The Saint Andrew Press. Edinburgh, Scotland).
++++++++
19th Sunday Ordinary Time – Year A - 2020
One of the most helpful books I have ever read, had the rather unusual title of "The Lost Art of Walking on Water" by an American priest, Michael Heyer. It was more than just helpful, it rescued me when I felt I was sinking under the weight of too many decisions and expectations. Just like Saint Peter, it lifted me up when I felt I was sinking. I believed at the time I was up to my neck in problems, real or imagined – trying to do the impossible and not listening to the sound advice of others around me who saw and cared about what was happening.
The subtitle of the book best indicted why it helped. "Re-imagining Priesthood". The intention of the book was to remind the reader to stop trying failed solutions to the same old problems. I was instructed to name the problems honestly and search for new possibilities. While it initially made clear sense, the execution was far from easy, clinging on to unhealthy solutions, and slow to move away from the less challenging approaches, even though they were adding to the problem. Perhaps like many believers, I thought that having faith was enough to protect me from the trials of leading a busy life. What I came to learn eventually was that faith gives us the strength to face the issues, not avoid them.
Some people think that if you have enough faith, life will all be plain sailing. If that was the case then Jesus himself would have had an easy road through his short life. But we know that truthfully his life was far from worry and difficulties. Lesson number one from the book: simply wishing it was otherwise, does not shield us from the problems of life.
We see this from the life of the great prophet Elijah in our first reading. While clearly a man of faith in God, we see him flee into the desert taking refuge in a cave, a beaten and broken man. And in that deserted place of despair did he come to recognise God's presence in the whispering wind.
We see the same thing in the early Christians, when they encountered persecution they thought that the Lord had abandoned them. Yet through the guidance and inspiration of Paul and his messengers they had their faith revived and they were again able to face their trials and dangers.
The story of Peter sinking and being saved is a strange one, as it represents something that really did happen to Peter, not a parable this time, but a real event. It's a reference to his failure to acknowledge Jesus during the passion, and his restoration after the resurrection.
It is strangely comforting for us to see that at times the early Christians were weak and fearful, even though they had heard the comforting words of the Lord. In other words, they were just like us. Even though we start off thinking we are strong and courageous, however as we go along and difficulties arise we discover that our faith is really only strong when things are going well. We get caught between faith and doubt, and it's at those times, if we allow it, we can discover that in our weakness then we can best experience the strength of God. As it has been said "it's not we who keep the faith. It's the faith that keeps us."
If we are to live this life to full then we will have to contend with an outer struggle against the lure of things worldly, and an inner struggle against ourselves. To some extent, the whole life of a Christian is a kind of "walking on water, in so far as it implies walking in faith, which means relying sometimes only on the word of God. Many times we are asked to step out into the deep and unknown relying on his word and take his hand so that he may haul us on board to the safety of his presence.
+++++
References:
Homily: Fr Peter Dillon
Prologue: Fr Paul W. Kelly. (References: Alice Camille; and WILLIAM BARCLAY . THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS. REVISED EDITION. 1975 . The Saint Andrew Press. Edinburgh, Scotland).
Shutterstock licensed image stock photo ID: 1211556307. Biblical vector illustration series, Jesus calms the storm. Peace Be Still. By rudall30
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A (Sunday, August 9, 2020)
EPISODE 245
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (or/ The Lord be with You)
+++++++++++++
{{Peace and Goodness to you all}}
My brothers and sisters, trusting in Gods mercy and love let us call to mind our sins.
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
3. Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
PREFACE: Sundays VII
EP II
(OPENING THEME VARIATION: 3)
++++
{{Cheers and thanks everyone for this time of prayer and reflection - I hope you have a blessed week.}}
Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.
++++++++
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.
"Quiet Time." Instrumental Reflection music. written by Paul W Kelly. 1988, 2007. & this arrangement: Stefan Kelk 2020.
- "Today I Arise" - For Tricia J 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.
May God bless and keep you.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
No comments:
Post a Comment