Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, September 10, 2023 (EPISODE- 438)

Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, September 10, 2023 (EPISODE- 438)

Readings for Sunday, September 10, 2023 - Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A
FIRST READING: Ezek 33:7-9
Ps 95:1-2, 6-7b, 7c-9. "O that today you would listen to his voice! Harden not your hearts."
SECOND READING: Rom 13:8-10
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (2 Cor 5:19). Alleluia, alleluia! God was in Christ to reconcile the world to himself; And the Good News of reconciliation he has entrusted to us.
GOSPEL: Matt 18:15-20

Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 2287617037 -  Messenger rejected - Photo Contributor: ArtMari
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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers, and homily), for Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, September 10, 2023, by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-twenty-third-sunday-in-ordinary-time-year-a-episode-438/s-ELtJ7F6E0K6  (EPISODE-438 )
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GOSPEL THIS WEEKEND
 ["'gospel' values included in the readings: "the essence of discipleship and faithfulness to God is love, that is formed from within by God's grace. It fosters loving watchfulness inside and out, and it softens the heart and saves us from ourselves, it turns us back towards each other, and facilitates understanding, healing and reconciliation. Love, not righteousness is the key to this all]

{ Prologue -  In the letter to the Romans this weekend, we are reminded that love takes different forms. Love is faithful to its commitments and promises, love respects other people's responsibilities, love respects life absolutely, love respects other's property and loves honesty… Love respects other's rights and upholds them… In fact, Saint Paul says that love is at the heart of all the commandments... (As Our Lord taught us first). …

 Love is open to resolving misunderstandings, hurts and harm. Reconciliation, understanding and forgiveness are the central core of the gospel… Allowing God to soften our hearts…

 When there is conflict or misunderstanding, things that make the situation worse include: talking to everyone but the one we have the issue with… Gossip, and a culture of festering resentment or complaint… // The gospel says that there is no better way than face to face… ………….. not, heaven forbid, sending flaming texts or emails…..

Even if the meeting of two hearts in openness does not resolve the misunderstanding, ……. but again this is all centred in charity and love… if things have become so tense, perhaps some independent, wise and loving hearts might be able to help melt the impasse…

Inspired by these readings, I have a favourite saying…. "If one cannot say something with love and charity… don't say it at all.//.because it will do no good"….

There is a delightful twist at the end of this gospel… All is not as it seems.. If all ones sincere attempts fail, we are told in this gospel, to treat the other as a tax collector or a Gentile// .. But here is the catch.. Our Lord has shown us that this does not mean we have lost the other… Tax collectors and gentiles made up so many of those Jesus reached out to and kepty searching for – to bring them into the fold -   Many tax collectors and gentiles had responded positively to God's word… and had become Jesus' disciples - So there is always hope – they are by no means lost to us – nor do we ever give up on someone…..- love and charity always prevail…. -   FHL}.

 All of the readings this weekend are actually about the primacy of Love in Christ's vision for the Kingdom of God. Love, as saint Paul says, is the fulfillment of all the law… and love is the motivation for the prophet's words and the driving-force for the Christian community and its members to resolve misunderstandings and conflict.

 In the first reading, The Lord says to the great prophet Ezekiel… I have made you a sentinel… a watchman…..This is the true key to the role of the prophet…… forget about the fact that it sounds terrible that the prophet will be punished with death if they do not fulfil God's law… rather… if the prophet is the sentry… the watchman.. their vital role is actually a role of love and protection and concern for the welfare of everyone..

This image of the watchman reminds me of something I noticed when I visited Rome quite a few years back… the Firefighters in Rome had a wonderful name… they were called "Vigili del Fuoco" which in English is rather poorly translated as "Firefighters" just as we use here..// But, that is not actually what the word means.. "firefighter" (the word), tends to give the impression of responder to fire, reacting to a fire after it has broken out……responding to the threat of fire; whereas the words Vigili del Fuoco literally means "watcher for fire" - a watchman..// a sentry…// actively looking out for the danger of fire.. caring for the community by watching for danger… alerting them as soon as the danger is seen.. and acting immediately to put out the fire… (that is indeed what firefighters do everywhere, of course, and including in this community… they don't just respond to fires.. They also engage in community involvement to look into and point out risks and hazards to minimize the risk of fire…

 So too with the prophets of old… they were not self-righteous, superior know-it-alls. They were sentries.. – Watch-persons -  they were showing God's love by watching out for danger and alerting God's beloved people so they could respond immediately and end the danger… they lovingly/ caringly watch for dangers so as to alert people, so they can act swiftly to get to safety…

  it is an act of love and care… No wonder God is so strict with his prophets… saying.. if you fail to warn them, you will suffer the same fate… their role is like a security guard or a military watchman… if they fail to be alert.. if they do not warn people when danger is near, they have no regard for the people to protect… and they are guilty of failing to warn and protect… Looking at things that way, one can see God's absolute love for his people.. God's desire that people have every opportunity to live in the light of God's care and protection.. and walking in God's ways.

 God's Law of love…. Asks all of us to be Vigilant not only outside dangers, but also keep watch within…..…. keep guard and watch over our heart…. To ensure that we love, as God' loves, and that our hearts do not harden into legalism, lack of compassion or mercy…. Or apathy…..… we are all Sentinels… watch-persons.. vigilant for any discord, hatred, or inconsistency with the gospel. And vigilant within ourselves, where resentment, jealousy, desire, begins: in the heart…

The essence of discipleship and faithfulness to God is love, this is a love that is formed from within by God's grace.
 It fosters loving watchfulness inside and out, and it softens the heart and saves us from ourselves, It turns us back towards each other,
 and creates understanding, healing and reconciliation.
 Love, not righteousness, is the key to all of this.

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References:

 Fr Paul W. Kelly

 Bergant, D. and Fragomeni, R. (2001). Preaching the new lectionary. Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press. P. 340

 Barclay, W. (2009). The gospel of Matthew. Edinburgh: Saint Andrew.

 Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 2287617037 -  Messenger rejected - Photo Contributor: ArtMari.


Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A  (Sunday, September 10, 2023) (EPISODE- 438)

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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{{peace and compassion to you}}

My brothers and sisters, to prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries, let us call to mind our sins.
Lord Jesus, you are the image of the unseen God: Lord, have mercy.//You are the firstborn of all creation: Christ, have mercy//You are the head of the body, the Church: 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 95:1-2, 6-7b, 7c-9. "O that today you would listen to his voice! Harden not your hearts."

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (2 Cor 5:19). 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 VI
Eucharistic Prayer III
Communion side: 

(theme variation:  2)


(pre+post variation: v2-short)
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{Thanks for joining us for this time of prayer and reflection}

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 7 Audio Editor

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