(view of The Sea of Galilee from Mount Beatitudes)
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, January 29, 2023 (EPISODE- 404)
FIRST READING: Zeph 2:3; 3:12-13
Ps 146:6c-7, 8-9a, 9b-10. "happy the poor in spirit, the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!"
SECOND READING: 1 Cor 1:26-31
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Matt 5:12a). Alleluia, alleluia! Rejoice and be glad. Your reward will be great in Heaven.
GOSPEL: Matt 5:1-12a
Image Credit: P. Kelly – Mount Beatitudes. Near the Sea of Galilee.
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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers, and homily), for Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, January 29, 2023, by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-fourth-sunday-of-ordinary-time-year-a-episode-404/s-mxjU6W6Aamc (EPISODE- 404)
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This weekend we hear the wonderful Beatitudes. You can imagine and visualise our Lord teaching this message on a cool, breezy day on a steep mountain, where there's a beautiful natural amphitheatre running down to the Sea of Galilee in Israel, the site traditionally held to be the place of the Sermon of the Mount. It's a magnificent and peaceful setting. I've been at that place and it's so moving.
In the Beatitudes, reading the first of the blessed and arguably the key to all others, and the key to an enormously significant cornerstone to Christ's gospel is this blessed are those who know they are spiritually poor. The Greek word here is really powerful.
It doesn't just mean having to work with not much backing behind them, it means someone who's utterly destitute, crouching or cowering with no support at all. That is, when we admit our absolute need for God and let go of ego and surrender the idea of complete self-sufficiency, then we are truly open to God and God's kingdom and the life changing gospel of our Lord in so many instances in the scriptures. And we see it so many times in our lives too. How often does pride and ego get in the road of harmony and goodwill?
How much damage does pride and ego do?
And how often?
In recent years, whenever I feel tempted to have hurt feelings over some perceived slight or misunderstanding, I pray to God to heal my pride and ego, which can be a terrible trap for any of us. It's almost counterintuitive, but I find whenever I recognise my lowliness, my need, my poverty of spirit, I feel strangely liberated. It takes the wind out of so many unnecessary worries and offended sensibilities, and perceived hurts and turns me back to God's grace and the support and sharing of those around me.
The second reading backs this message up completely. Saint Paul says to the Corinthians can't you see?
Most of you in Corinth are not rich and famous or powerful or influential. You look down on by many in earthly society as being nothing special. But know this God is using those who know they have not much to commend them in this world because in reality, they are utterly open and receptive to the message and invitation of God's kingdom.
You are best disposed to the fullness of God's grace, which the Lord wants to pour into your hearts and minds when you experience humility and spiritual poverty.
God is using the weak and those who are considered not wise by earthly standards to shame human wisdom. Christ taught us that it's very challenging for self-sufficient influential and self-righteous to detach themselves from earthly support structures and instead put their entire hope and trust in God's grace and love. This is the only thing that really lasts, the only thing that will never fail God's grace. The poor and the needy do it instinctively, for they simply have to throw themselves on God's mercy and grace, as they've been given nothing much else to help. But everyone well-off or destitute needs to similarly throw themselves on God's grace and mercy and they will indeed be enriched spiritually with the things that never fade.And, of course, those who are completely turned towards God and God's beloved children, (our sisters and brothers everywhere), are best suited to be able to reach out and help, (in very practical and compassionate ways) those who are in desperate need.
Jesus teaches us in this same sermon that whenever we recognise the dignity, uniqueness, different needs and qualities of all others. When we have empathy for others; and when we notice and feel for the pain of others. All who deeply care about the feelings of people around them and take their needs and feelings into consideration in our decisions and actions, blessed indeed are you! For you are acting just as Christ acts.
Whenever we show "ever-more-deeper" gentleness, kindness, and reverence to others, even when we might not agree on every issue, we become more and more Christ-like.
Blessed are they who long for the fullness of goodness and justice; the way a starving person hungers for food; the way someone thirsty craves desperately for water. They shall have their thirst quenched.
They who long for fairness and justice and want the "whole thing"… this is the person who knows it is not enough to be satisfied with a partial good. Blessed is the one who hungers and thirsts for goodness, which is complete.
This is not the same as unrealistic and fussy perfectionism. For a person of the beatitudes desires not cold and heartless self-righteousness or superiority; but neither would they settle for an insincere outward show of "pretend warm-heartedness" or goodness – but they long for the "real thing," -- to show true kindness and warm compassion, in all circumstances; -- which is to be found by God's grace alone.
And peacemakers; "re-builders" and 'repairers" -- people of forgiveness - who do not repay hurt for hurt … but rather return compassion and concern and pierced-sorrow, in the face of wrongs done to them or others…. Blessed are those who can Forgive (looking upon hurt and mistakes like a loving parent looks upon the hurts caused by the child they simply could never stop loving).
And may we accept forgiveness and be honest and constructive; always working for peace and harmony.
Something that "would make forgiveness and tolerance ever so much easier is one principle in life which we can sometimes lose sight of: - "There is always a reason why a person thinks and acts as they do. It may not make much sense to us, but there is some reason…. It may not always appear to be a good reason…. But if we knew the reasons people do what they do, it would be so much easier to understand and sympathise and forgive. There is a French saying that sums this up… "to know all, is to forgive all" - Or, as the novel War and Peace said, "the old man forgave much because he understood much."
We admit that we only know things partially and only God knows everything, which is why God is so very kind and merciful.
It's important for us to never forget that God, who knows all things, is also the One who is so full of kindness, compassion and mercy. We who know partly are sometimes very quick to judge and to condemn and very slow to forgive.
There must be a reason for that.
God forgives much because he knows much. Understands so much!
Finally, the Lord encourages and gives a new heart to all who do good, even when they're ridiculed or opposed for it. Stand strong, says the Lord. You will be proved to be on the right path, God's path, and you will be satisfied in full.
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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly
THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW. Volume I. (Chapters 1 to 10). REVISED EDITION. Translated with an Introduction and Interpretation by WILLIAM BARCLAY. THE WESTMINSTER PRESS. PHILADELPHIA. Revised Edition Copyright (c) 1975; Sharing The Word Through The Liturgical Year. by Gustavo Gutiérrez. Published by Orbis Books ( November 1st 1997)
http://biblehub.com/interlinear/matthew/4.htm ;
Strong's biblical concordance and greek definitions: https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?t=kjv&strongs=g2424 and other related Strong's Greek links.
Image Credit- Mount Beatitudes - p. Kelly
To listen to the Sunday Mass each week (including homily) from Surfers Paradise Catholic Parish, please visit this link: Liturgy for you at Home (by SPCP) - https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A (Sunday, January 29, 2023) (EPISODE- 404)
The Lord be with you.
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{{I gratefully acknoweldge and give thanks to God for your prayers at this time of prayer and reflection upon our God.}}
My brothers and sisters, to prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries, let us call to mind our sins.
Lord Jesus, you are mighty God and Prince of peace. Lord have mercy// You are Son of God and the Son of Mary. Christ have mercy// You are Word made flesh, the splendour of the Father. 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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Ps 146:6c-7, 8-9a, 9b-10. "happy the poor in spirit, the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!"
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Matt 5:12a). Alleluia, alleluia! Rejoice and be glad. Your reward will be great in Heaven.
Memorial Acclamation
1. We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.
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PREFACE: Sundays Ordinary III
Euch Prayer II
(theme variation: 2)
(pre+post variation: v2-short)
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{I gratefully acknoweldge 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: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks
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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.
- "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 Trisha 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.
Sound Engineering and editing - P.W. Kelly.
Microphones: - Shure MV5 Digital Condenser (USB)
Editing equipment: NCH software - MixPad Multitrack Studio Recording Software
NCH – WavePad Audio Editing Software. Masters Edition v 12.44
Sound Processing: iZotope RX 6 Audio Editor
[Production - KER - 2023]
May God bless and keep you.
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