Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, July 30, 2023 (EPISODE- 431)

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, July 30, 2023 (EPISODE- 431)

 
Readings for Sunday, July 30, 2023 - Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A
FIRST READING: 1 Kings 3:5, 7-12
Psalm 119:57+72, 76-77, 127-28, 129-30. "Lord, I love your commands."
SECOND READING: Romans 8:28-30
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (cf. Matthew 11:25). Alleluia, alleluia! Blessed are you, Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth. You have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
GOSPEL: Matthew 13:44-52 or 13:44-46

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Stock Illustration ID: 171963344. A precious pearl in an oyster shell in a row of shells 3D render.
Illustration Contributor: Michael D Brown
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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers, and homily) for Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, July 30, 2023, by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-seventeenth-sunday-in-ordinary-time-episode-431-year-a-2023/s-004U1RZ1tcb  (EPISODE-431)
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GOSPEL THIS WEEKEND
Prologue: ["Gospel values" included in the readings:
God's wisdom –that is, having an understanding heart - is a treasure greater than gold or long life; God's Kingdom is more precious a treasure than any other earthly thing, and our efforts and priorities can reflect this] 
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In the Gospel parable today, a man discovers a treasure in a field and immediately sets about selling; EVERYTHING else he has, in order that he could HAVE THAT one perfect treasure.

The Treasure of infinite value is God's Kingdom,..//  Jesus' Good news…//  Being united forever with Jesus in God's family……/  

IT IS LIKE A RARE TREASURE… of   a price that cannot be named.

God's wisdom –that is, having an understanding heart - is also a treasure greater than gold or long life;.

God's Kingdom is more precious a treasure than any other earthly thing, and our efforts and priorities rightly reflect this.  It is worth giving up everything else to attain it…//… 

It has a richness and a depth that cannot ever be fully plumbed……  

One of these treasures is revealed in the first reading…   King Solomon is promised any gift he likes…  (he could ask for anything!)   -  but instead of asking for wealth or long life, or the defeat of his enemies,,, he asks for wisdom..  He prays for an "understanding heart."       

God offers us a way of looking at life that is more valuable than anything else…   - It changes everything we see; and everything we think.
It changes our priorities, according to God's ways of seeing things.

An understanding heart..  that can discern what is truly good and worthwhile….That is something of  abiding worth…….///  It is just so beautiful….

As I read that parable of the treasure in the field….…..I am reminded of the quote from G.K. Chesterton, (the great English scholar and writer)…  (and I am paraphrasing it liberally here)….  He writes….. 'It's not that Christianity hasn't worked, it is just that nobody's really tried it yet !' 

And he has a very interesting point there. 

I can say that after twenty-five + years of priestly ministry and reflection on the gospels;  and before that, seven years of training for the priesthood,  and also a lifetime of participation in the prayer and sacraments of the Catholic church…..     After all that, --- I can STILL truly say, feel very much like I am only just scratching the surface of the riches of Jesus' Good news.// ..//

I believe that I have plumbed a few of the beautiful depths of the Christian treasury, but having said all  that – because this exploration is of a priceless treasure; for me is truly just scratching the surface of the faith, and the gospels, the sacraments, the teaching of Christ's church, and the wonderful writings of the saints. We could not possibly read all of them before our life ends. 

The Gospel (and the sacraments and teachings of Christ's church, and its two thousand years of writings and reflections,…   four thousand when one counts the Hebrew Scriptures) ….are like a rich and huge diamond seam -  With much of it under the surface;  and at times little bit of polished or unpolished diamond peeks out through the surface.

To look at that bit only and dig no further would be the greatest tragedy of all time…..  / And quite ill-advised. 

If we dig, deeply, into the riches of the church's treasury; we will certainly find;  and if we will keep finding; and we will never get to the bottom of it. It is so Rich. 

The absolute richness of what God offers us, never ceases to astound us and draw us deeper. It never ceases to satisfy. It will never be exhausted! 

"The more we search…. the more we find! The more we find; the more we search O Lord." -- as one of the great Saints wisely observed. .

Our faith is a treasure of incredible depth. If one has searched and delved into this treasure of incredible value, and claims to have grasped this Christian Faith enough find it wanting….  I am really not sure where they have been digging!!! ???

The gospel continues to be a priceless, precious, and worthy treasure – worthy of all our efforts to explore- 

So I must admit; when one hears of people saying, that they explored the Christian faith and then went off somewhere else to find "greater truth" –
I really do wonder what they've been doing! And how  could they possibly have plumbed the depths of this infinite gift. Really what on earth were they exploring?

May God, who has so graciously accompanied and given success to our work, so often in the past, continue this good work in us and bring it to perfection.
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References:

Fr Paul W. Kelly

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed. Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Vector ID: 1432897322 - book pearl of great price, vector illustration eps 10 - Vector Formats. 300 • JPG. Vector Contributor: AStudio-1  
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Stock Illustration ID: 171963344. A precious pearl in an oyster shell in a row of shells 3D render.
Illustration Contributor: Michael D Brown


Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A  (Sunday, July 30, 2023) (EPISODE- 431)

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}}

Coming together as brothers and sisters in Christ, let us prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries by recalling our sins and remembering Christ's greater mercy.
You were sent to heal the contrite of heart. Lord, have mercy.// You came to call sinners: Christ, have mercy. // You are seated at the right hand of the Father to intercede for us: 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 119:57+72, 76-77, 127-28, 129-30. "Lord, I love your commands."

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (cf. Matt 11:25). Alleluia, alleluia! Let your face shine on your servant. And teach me your laws.

Memorial Acclamation
3. Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection, you have set us free.
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PREFACE: Sundays Ordinary I
Euch Prayer One
Communion side: 

(theme variation:  4)

(pre+post variation: v2-long)
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{May God's love, strength, mercy and kindness guide you all this week.}

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 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


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