Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, August 30, 2020 EPISODE 249
James Tissot (French, 1836-1902). Get Thee Behind Me, Satan (Rétire-toi, Satan), 1886-1896. Opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper, Image: 5 11/16 x 8 5/8 in. (14.4 x 21.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Purchased by public subscription, 00.159.153 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 00.159.153_PS2.jpg)
Readings for 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time - A
FIRST READING: Jeremiah 20:7-9
Psalm 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9. "My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God"
SECOND READING: Romans 12:1-2
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION, (cf. Eph 1:17-18).Alleluia, alleluia! May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of your heart. That we might see how great is the hope to which we are called.
GOSPEL: Matthew 16:21-27
Image Credit: James Tissot (French, 1836-1902). Get Thee Behind Me, Satan (Rétire-toi, Satan), 1886-1896. Opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper, Image: 5 11/16 x 8 5/8 in. (14.4 x 21.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Purchased by public subscription, 00.159.153 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 00.159.153_PS2.jpg)
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Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, August 30, 2020 by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-ordinary-22a-episode-249 (EPISODE: 249)
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Prologue: St Peter has just declared that Jesus is the Messiah, the chosen one, and the Son of God. Jesus has rewarded this God-inspired declaration with the statement that Peter is the ROCK…on which he will build his church.
Our Lord's church is founded on the "rock-solid profession of faith" first uttered by Saint Peter.
But now, (astoundingly), only moments later, Jesus is rebuking Peter. Calling him a stumbling block.
Peter has gone from "Rock" to "Stumbling block" in seconds…
How easy it is for any of us to go from one-minute being a person who is supporting the vision of Jesus, to being an unwitting stumbling block, or obstacle to the project!! It is very sobering stuff!!
Our Lord's instinctive reaction, even to one of his closest disciples makes sense though. He had been sorely tempted in the desert by the "adversary"…The temptations were persistent but he deflected them powerfully….. Then, time and time again… he had to shrug off the "all too subtle temptations" to "sell-out" or "take the easy path"….. Jesus has time and time again fended off the adversary's temptations…. "give them bread… give them material things they desire and then they will follow you…..'…. "give them sensations… give them wonders…. and they will follow you…."……. "never challenge them…. given them what they ask without questioning… without moving them forward…… and they will follow you….."……. "compromise with the world…. reduce your standards……. sell out…. and they will follow you…."…. and now….here is his friend… his devoted disciple…… his rock……. Peter….. the "rock on whom he will build his church," now saying similar things….. No wonder Jesus shot back that retort like an arrow shot from its bow…….. Jesus has been fending off these obstacles to his true mission constantly throughout his ministry… and this would not be the last time…
Jesus is saying to Peter.. and to each one of us…. okay… you know I am the Messiah… the Christ… the chosen one…. fine… that is only the beginning…. NOW you must listen and learn from me WHAT the true meaning of the messiah is……
To prevent this mistake, it is urgent that we take regular time to read the scriptures and deepen our spiritual and scriptural reading…. And also, these readings we hear each weekend.. are so rich and full of meaning.. It would be wonderful if we read over the coming weekend's readings, at least once or twice during the preceding week,… and perhaps just prior to coming to mass.. even read the texts reflectively again…. Prior to hearing it proclaimed at Mass… to ever deepen our hearing and perceiving of the wonderful message and challenge of God's Word.
Today's gospel demands of us deep and regular prayer, contemplation and reflection, so that we can be a rock, and not a block… and so that we can not only "mean well" but also "achieve well" when we act according to the Lord's vision.
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22nd Sunday-Ord Time-Year A-2020
Even before Jesus suggested that we all need to be cross bearers, Jeremiah knew what it was to suffer daily. He was attacked by the crowds, imprisoned and tortured. He was isolated from his family and friends, he became a laughing stock around the streets of the city, he was hurt and bewildered by how people responded to him. Many people just ignored him. If there was any person who had a reason to give up, then Jeremiah would certainly qualify, yet he doesn't give in because he claims he cannot extinguish the fire burning within him. He carried a cross before Jesus did.
But is the cross the actual suffering or the reason why suffering can be endured?
"Unless you take up your cross daily and follow me, you are not worthy of the kingdom of heaven" is a misinterpreted text. What Jesus is not saying is: 'Look everybody I want you to become a follower of mine and I can promise you a life of humiliation, rejection, pain and suffering'. Who would want to join such a group?
A cross is made up of two cross pieces, it becomes a symbol of decision. You can go one way or the other; you are at a crossroads. The word 'crisis' comes from that exact same sense. People who are suffering crucifixion are people who are anguishing over hard decisions in their lives. Jesus is saying unless you make daily decisions that make a difference, you are not worthy of me. That is the cross we must bear. It is a far harder cross than physical crucifixion. The cross gets even more difficult to carry when we truly know what we should do but we lose the courage, the motivation to actually do it.
It is often about turning "I should" into "I must" or "I will". It becomes a burden if we don't believe in the reason or the cause that compels us to carry it.
Saint Paul suggests another form of the cross to the Romans telling them that they should be transformed by the renewal of their minds. They should let go of their old ways and learn to think like Jesus. If there is to be a time of relearning, there must be a time of "reteaching". While the image or recognition of God in the world may have been obscured or blurred by competing quests, people are again looking for God but seem unable to recognise the divine presence and so we must be the teachers of who God is and what God expects.
Psychiatrist Gerard May wrote a book called 'Addiction and Grace' in it he says: 'After 20 years of listening to the yearnings of people's hearts, I'm convinced that all human beings have an inborn desire for God. Whether they are consciously religious or not, this desire for God is our deepest longing and our most precious treasure. It gives us meaning. 'But something gets in the way of our inborn desire of God. The longing at the centre of our hearts repeatedly disappears from our awareness and its energy is usurped by forces that are not at all loving. Our desires are captured and we give ourselves to things, that in our deepest honesty, we really do not want.'
It is not that when we teach Christ, we have an unreceptive audience. We are not preaching a message foreign to our human nature. When in our own way we quietly make ethical decisions, even if it costs us money, even if it means that we are not the most important consideration in the decision-making process, when we make the decisions not to cheat, not to steal, not to lie, not to be unfaithful... quietly we become witnesses to the truth in the eyes of others, the truth that is buried deep inside them. When we carry our cross daily we are so many little gongs that strike a great bell, it resonates the deepest desire for God in people, a desire which they cannot even name.
Jesus has spoken already about choice, last Sunday, at Caesarea Philippi, Who do you say I am? Now he invites choice a second time, take up your cross daily. Choose to be evangelisers, the ones who can call forth from people what's already in their hearts, a burning desire for God.
Today's gospel sets before us the starkest reality of Christian faith - the cross. Jesus reminds Peter that this is the condition of discipleship and the only way to salvation.
Our faith demands something of us, a personal commitment, and a life spent in the service of the Lord. There is no easy way out. Security and complacency are not elements of Christian life. Paradox of earthly loss for heavenly gain
This involved, for Peter and the disciples, so radical a change in their thinking that even Peter was baffled. He had been enlightened by God so that he could recognise the Messiah, he had been given the leadership of the church, yet he had failed to completely understand the message of suffering and was rebuked: 'the way you think is not God's way but man's'.
This total disregard of self which must characterise Christ's disciple is foreshadowed by the fate of Jeremiah (First reading) the call of God is so insistent - a fire burning within him - that he cannot disregard it, even though his compliance means continual suffering. He is in touch with the pain involved in serving God. In being a witness to values beyond this world. I am a daily laughing-stock, the butt of everyone's jokes.
"The word of the Lord has meant for me insult, derision all day long. You have seduced me Lord, tricked me into believing in you. And yet, when I try to forget you a fire starts to burn in my heart, in my bones. I get tired trying to block you out of my life. Life without you is too much to bear."
Paul describes the change that must take place in the disciple - he must metamorphose - be completely changed and the Greek word used for this is in Romans is the same word Matthew uses when he describes the transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain: we must undergo a metamorphosis. We can follow Christ as he wishes us to do only if we are prepared to fashion the whole of our lives on his, to forget ourselves in the loving service of Christ and of others for Christ's sake. Instead of conforming to the standards of society, we must approach life with a mind and heart transfigured.
True discipleship, taking up the Cross in imitation of Jesus, unleashes the power and love of God which burns in our hearts.
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References:
homily by Fr Peter Dillon
PROLOGUE Fr Paul W. Kelly
THE DAILY STUDY BIBLE. GOSPEL OF MATTHEW. (REVISED EDITION). BY WILLIAM BARCLAY. Concepts from William Barclay, The Daily Study Bible – Matthew vol 2).
Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed ID: 779219806. LEPOGLAVA, CROATIA - MARCH 17: Christ Giving the Keys to St. Peter, sacristy of the church of the Immaculate Conception in Lepoglava, Croatia on March 17, 2017. By Zvonimir Atletic James Tissot (French, 1836-1902). Get Thee Behind Me, Satan (Rétire-toi, Satan), 1886-1896. Opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper, Image: 5 11/16 x 8 5/8 in. (14.4 x 21.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Purchased by public subscription, 00.159.153 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 00.159.153_PS2.jpg)
Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A (Sunday, August 30, 2020) (EPISODE: 249 )
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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{{Joy and peace to everyone}}
As we begin the Holy Eucharist, let us acknowledge our sinfulness, so as to worthily celebrate the sacred mysteries.
Lord Jesus, you healed the sick: Lord, have mercy//Lord Jesus, you forgave sinners: Christ, have mercy//Lord Jesus, you give us yourself to heal us and bring us strength: 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
1. We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.
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PREFACE: Sundays Ordinary IV
Euch Prayer Three
Communion side. pwk: LH
(OPENING THEME VARIATION: 3)
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{{I pray this week brings you an ever deeper expereience of his compassion and love.}}
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).
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.
Production: KER 2020
May God bless and keep you.
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