Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, July 2, 2023 (EPISODE- 427)

Readings for Sunday, July 2, 2023 - Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A

FIRST READING: 2 Kgs 4:8-11, 14-16a
Ps 89:2-3, 16-17, 18-19. "Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord."
SECOND READING: Rom 6:3-4, 8-11
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (1 Peter 2:9). Alleluia, alleluia! You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy people. Praise God who called you out of darkness and into his marvellous light.
GOSPEL: Matt 10:37-42

Stock Illustration ID: 158676443. oil painting illustrating a religious scene, Jesus christ and his disciples on a meadow. Illustration Contributor: Comaniciu Dan
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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers, and homily), for Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, July 2, 2023, by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-thirteenth-sunday-in-ordinary-time-episode-427-year-a-2023  (EPISODE- 427)
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Suffering Love

Even Our Lord hesitated at the enormousness of the cross..  at the garden of Gethsemane he prayed that this cup of suffering would be taken from him...  but then added (wonderfully- the post-script that we always add to every prayer we make to God) "However, not my will be done, but yours!"   Nobody rushes towards suffering or prefers the Cross. The mystery of the cross is a difficult but central reality in the life of Christ and of us all.....  And in life, there are many little crosses as we journey along our path......... Helen Keller...   the American author, political activist, and lecturer, who was both deaf and blind.  She said the most extraordinary thing once...It is challenging and difficult to comprehend this message but it is the message of the Cross.......The following are her words and this is what she said motivated her life....."I thank God for my disabilities. For through them, I have found myself, my work, and my God!"        -           WOW.   What an amazing outlook...... one that transformed everything she did and said.   Because of... and despite many major obstacles in life, she did not let stop her.

 

There is something very beautiful and central about the readings this weekend.They speak of the "cost" of discipleship. A very big difference when we follow Christ and "die to sin" - We die with Christ so that we can rise to newness of life, as the readings say.

 

It reminds us that when we become followers of Christ, it really does change our priorities. We "die" to selfishness and live to "generosity", -   And although we know that there is indeed a cost to following Christ, we do not keep a ledger - we don't count the cost. Because we follow Jesus' ways, we can be opposed by others who feel threatened by Christ's values.  We can be rejected by others whom the Gospel challenges.  We must be prepared for the fact that we may lose earthly "things" because of our discipleship and be put at a material disadvantage in terms of material priorities. Still, we are greatly encouraged to know that we are living something greater - life with and in Christ!  

 

I think of the wonderful generosity of that lady in the first reading. This lady just wanted to help a holy man, a servant of God, and she supported him in his holy work. She did it unselfishly, without expecting anything back, but because she and her husband had been so kind, they were blessed in ways they could never have imagined or expected. 

 

I was reading a reflection by the Jesuit commentator Mark Link, SJ. He was speaking about this Gospel message of "taking up one's cross and following Christ"  -  I must say, that at times I have said to the Lord,  "Look, Lord, I will follow you, and I will keep your message and values and proclaim it...  but this "taking up the cross"  and "suffering" thing....  that part!...  can we talk about that...   maybe re-negotiate it ...   I find that difficult!   "   -  I think most people baulk at the idea that there will be pain, loss and suffering in life and in our decision to follow Christ's ways.....   

 

Mark Link tells a story of a movie he once saw called "American Anthem"  -  it shows a young man who is having great difficulties coming to terms with the loss of a limb in an accident.  The man falls into a deep depression and stays in his room, with curtains drawn, not speaking to others, - passing his time in darkness....              he then contrasts this scene with another incident reported by a man called Robert Bruce... who recounted the day he was walking down a crowded street -  He heard the voice of someone singing joyfully.....and when he located the source of this uplifting singing.....He could not believe his eyes.... it was a man without legs, pushing himself along in a wheelchair, and singing joyfully and beautifully at the top of his voice....//  it is a reminder  that one person's rejection of a cross brought sadness, whilst another person's acceptance of a cross was the source of peace and joy.  This is not at all an easy message.  This is something that Our Lord not only taught us about, but he also lived this message so wonderfully.

 

There are crosses in our lives that we will surely find very difficult to accept or to carry.

 

Can we turn to the Lord and allow his grace to help us carry these burdens...   

 

May the Lord and his grace help us in our crosses and struggles...   May the Lord pass by the desert spaces and make them into a place of life-giving waters.......   and may we trust in the Lord when he bids us   ..  come to me all you who labour and are heavily burdened... and I will give you rest..... learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart, and I will give rest for your souls..."...

 

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References:

Fr Paul W. Kelly;

 

Mark Link S.J.  Vision 2000: Praying Scripture in a Contemporary Way: A Cycle.

 

Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: Stock Illustration ID: 158676443. oil painting illustrating a religious scene, jesus christ and his disciples on a meadow. Illustration Contributor: Comaniciu Dan

 

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  

 

Also found at -   https://tinyurl.com/FHLpwk

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A (Sunday, July 2, 2023) (EPISODE- 427)

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (or/ The Lord be with You)
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{{Peace and greetings to you all. as we gather - Pondering with reverence, God's word.}}

My brothers and sisters, trusting in God's mercy and love, let us call to mind our sins.
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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Ps 89:2-3, 16-17, 18-19. "Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord."

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (1 Peter 2:9). Alleluia, alleluia! You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy people. Praise God who called you out of darkness and into his marvellous light.
Memorial Acclamation
2. When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again.
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PREFACE: Sundays Ordinary III
Eucaristic Prayer II

(theme variation: 4)

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (or/ The Lord be with You)

 

{Peace and greetings to you all. as we gather - Pondering with reverence, God's word.)

 

(pre+post variation: v2-long)
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{Bless you all and May God's grace guide you each and every day.}

Go forth, the Mass is ended.

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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 the weekly mass/homily audio podcast, please click this link here: 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: Subscribe to mailing list to keep up-to-date  (https://eepurl.com/hpETjf)

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 Masters v10.27. Multitrack Studio Recording Software
NCH – WavePad Audio Editing Software. Masters Edition v 17.42

Sound Processing: iZotope RX 6 Audio Editor v.6.10.4320

[Production - KER - 2023]
May God bless and keep you.
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