Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, September 3, 2023 (EPISODE- 437)
Readings for Sunday, September 3, 2023 - Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A
FIRST READING: Jer 20:7-9
Ps 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9. "My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God"
SECOND READING: Rom 12:1-2
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (cf. Eph 1:17-18). Alleluia, alleluia! May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our heart. That we might see how great is the hope to which we are called.
GOSPEL: Matt 16:21-27
Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 787754626 - Brussels, Belgium - July 26, 2012: Stained Glass window of the prophet Jeremiah lamenting the destruction of Jerusalem in the Cathedral of Brussels, Belgium. Important information- Editorial Use Only. Photo Contributor: jorisvo
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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers, and homily), for Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, September 3, 2023, by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-twenty-second-sunday-in-ordinary-time-year-a-episode-437/s-E4qGqSv7NMu (EPISODE- 437)
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HAPPY FATHER'S DAY
This weekend, In Australia and other parts of the world too, it is FATHER'S DAY – on the first Sunday of September, we give thanks to all Fathers; for their love, care and generosity. We pray that God grants them joy, health, and strength with their family and friends.
Also, for all fathers who have passed into eternal life. May God give them a permanent place at the heavenly feast, the reward for all their goodness and kindness. Happy Father's Day to all our Dads in the community. May God bless you and grant you peace and joy.
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Blessing:
"God our Father, in your wisdom and love, you made all things. We give thanks for the Fathers and ask you to Bless all Fathers. Grant them the wisdom and love always to be good fathers. Let the example of their faith and love shine forth. Grant that we, their sons and daughters, may honour them always with a spirit of profound respect. We also give thanks for all fathers who have now gone to their eternal rest. May they be rewarded for their goodness and kindness. Grant this through Christ our Lord." Amen.
GOSPEL THIS WEEKEND
In Australia, it Father's Day this weekend...- HAPPY FATHERS DAY
the first Sunday of September. We give thanks for all Fathers;... for their love, care and generosity... We pray that God grants them joy in their family and friends, and health and strength. \
For all fathers who have passed into eternal life.. may God give them a permanent place at the heavenly feast... for all their goodness and kindness...
["' gospel' values included in the readings: the way of God's Kingdom is the way of the Cross. Allow one's mind to be transformed by God's ways, not human ones" "Do not model yourselves on the behaviour of the world around you" / "Get behind me……(says the Lord) …. The way you think is human ways, not God's way!" ]
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"Do not model yourselves on the behaviour of the world around you" Romans 12:1-2
"Get behind me…… The way you think is human ways, not God's way!" Matthew 16:21-27
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 rebukes Peter and calls him a stumbling block.
Peter has gone from "Rock" to "Stumbling block" in seconds…
How easy it is for us to go from one minute being someone who supports 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. 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"…..
If the easy path was not so attractive…. And if the thorny path was not so shocking and awful… there would have been no problem,…. but the right way was something no one would be happy to follow unless necessary…. and the easy path is so reassuring….. 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….. saying similar things….. no wonder Jesus shot back that retort like an arrow shot from its bow…….. Jesus has been repeatedly fending off these obstacles to his true mission throughout his ministry… and this would not be the last time each other…
Jesus is saying to Peter.. and each 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……
Peter and the disciples would have grown up with a very different image of the meaning of a "messiah" or the "Christ"…. To them. It was a king… a warrior… in the mould of King David… who would come with revolution and power and cast down the regimes in control, and rule the chosen people in a Kingdom better than the days of Solomon……. God's kingdom on earth…. and earthly kingdom…. too…. Jesus had to teach them to let go of all that….. he is the messiah but a messiah, like nothing they had expected…. (even though this gentle, peaceful King, this suffering servant, is actually to be found in the ancient scriptures, but the expectation of an overwhelming warrior-king had long ago drowned-out this gentler message). Jesus' Kingdom is not of this world…… his power is the cross…. his sword is his word, and his weapon is love….. and persuasion… inclusion, forgiveness and justice……
It is interesting, though… Jesus does not speak to Peter like he dismissed Satan in the desert… But there is a big difference here…… In the desert Jesus says to The Adversary… "begone"…. "depart"…….. (The Adversary will never follow God… his pride is too overwhelming)./….. but to Peter.. he says… begone adversary… get behind me ….. its two separate ideas…... Two different things…… to the adversary he says … begone from me…. but to his trustworthy, loyal Peter… he says….. get back behind me… FOLLOW me… learn from me… Don't try to lead me…. Don't tell me how to do this…. Become my follower again…. learn the ways of the Messiah from the Messiah and not from your own pre-conceptions. . And of course, Peter does…. He had gotten out of his place and tried to drag Jesus into false visions of his mission… but Jesus would have none of that….… Peter was a quick learner. After this rebuke, he gets back to following Jesus…. Walking behind him, not in front of him (not as an adversary or an obstacle)….
This is very important for all of us.
So often, we might do something for a good motive, but sometimes that motive may be misguided. St Peter MEANT WELL, too. He pulled Jesus aside and said to him, out of the sincerest concern and affection for his master…. NO WAY!!!…. His Lord and Master, the Messiah, cannot go off and be executed in Jerusalem. This MUST NOT HAPPEN. Peter loved and respected his master and wanted to protect and preserve his life. He was trying to be a good friend, but he unwittingly was becoming an obstacle to Jesus because Peter did not understand that Jesus' whole mission was to sacrifice his life for the salvation of all. It was necessary that Our Lord MUST go to Jerusalem and be handed over and sacrificed.
If anything actually MUST NOT HAPPEN, it is that NO ONE MUST be allowed to try to stop our Lord or become an obstacle to his road to Calvary (not even Peter or any of his disciples); anyone who promotes an easy way out or watering down of the Gospel message, will be nothing but a stumbling block to be gotten around.
It is very helpful always to remember that good intentions are not the be-all and end-all. Sometimes, meaning well can end up defeating the purpose of what we are here for.
Any 'overly helpful' disciple can fall into St Peter's trap of thinking they are helping when they are not really listening and learning God's ways, unlike the ways of the world. …. We have a task from our Lord to try and comprehend his mission as fully as we can. The "overly helpful" end up doing the opposite of what God is trying to achieve. Despite meaning well, it is nevertheless misguided….
We must regularly read the scriptures to prevent this mistake 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 before coming to mass.. even read the texts reflectively again…. Before hearing it proclaimed at Mass… ever to deepen our understanding of the wonderful message and challenge of God's Word.
Jesus puts the icing on the cake at the end of this Gospel….…. "Anyone who wants to follow me must 'deny themselves' ….. Jesus knows that human pride and…. human ego is an enormous obstacle to his mission…… Jesus wants to teach and guide all his followers into a mindset that leaves behind ego, pride and self-interest…. If we are to be always true to Jesus' message… then we must accept a heavy but liberating truth…. This is not about ME…. this is not about MY needs…. this is about the good news… this is about what is best for others and all……… My comfort… my needs….. my pride…. ,me… me…. me….. it all must be left behind……. So that we can follow where Jesus leads us….and respond generously and compassionately to what happens.
Today's gospel demands deep and regular prayer, contemplation and reflection so that we can be a rock and not a block… and not only "mean well" but also "achieve well" when we act according to the Lord's vision.
References: 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).
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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly
Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed.
Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A (Sunday, September 3, 2023) (EPISODE- 437)
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (or/ The Lord be with You)
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{{gentleness and peace to you}}
Brothers and sisters, let us acknowledge our sins and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.
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.
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Ps 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9. "My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God"
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (cf. Eph 1:17-18). Alleluia, alleluia! Let your face shine on your servant. And teach me your laws
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 V
Euch Prayer III
Communion side:
(theme variation: 1)
(Welcome cycle- Good evening/morning.
A special Gold Coast welcome to everyone, especially visitors to this part of the world. We hope your stay is enjoyable and blessed.
Please check to see that your mobile devices are switched off or turned to silent.
Our Presider tonight/today is Fr…………………………
Please stand as we sing our entrance hymn: "__________" *)
(pre+post variation: v1-long)
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{Thanks, everyone, and have a grace-filled and compassion-filled week.}
Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.
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Archive of homilies and reflections: http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email: paulwkelly68@gmail.com
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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 10 Audio Editor
[Production - KER - 2023]
May God bless and keep you.
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