Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A . - Sunday, October 29, 2023
(EPISODE:445 )
Readings for Sunday, 29 October 2023
FIRST READING: Exod 22:20-26
Ps 18:2-3a, 3b-4, 47+51. "I love you Lord, my strength."
SECOND READING: 1 Thess 1:5c-10
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (John 14:23). Alleluia, alleluia! All who love me will keep my words, and my Father will love them and we will come to them.
GOSPEL: Matt 22:34-40
Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 469506470 - Matthew 22:39 Key Bible Verses on the background of the cross on a hill, Matthew in Chapter 22, verse 39. Holy Bible. Photo Contributor: Take Photo
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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A . - Sunday, October 29, 2023 by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-thirtieth-sunday-in-ordinary-time-year-a-episode-445/s-QN6inTReSfE
(EPISODE:445 )
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Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 469506470 - Matthew 22:39 Key Bible Verses on the background of the cross on a hill, Matthew in Chapter 22, verse 39. Holy Bible. Photo Contributor: Take Photo
*Prologue Fr Paul W. Kelly
- [Gospel values included in the readings: Love God, Love Neighbour as self. Justice, especially to the stranger and outcast]
"There are many examples of how, even after the busiest days, Jesus would go up into the hills, to a lonely place, and spend the night praying to His heavenly Father. So, it is fair to say Jesus' whole life was to worship and praise the Father.
There are also many examples of how Jesus spent himself in service to others.
His whole life was one act of service and love to his neighbour…that is, all in need around him…..
These two complete realities must be two sides of the same coin…. And are not in any way in contradiction.
The great saint John Chrysostom once said: "I cannot believe in the salvation of those people who do not work for the salvation of their neighbours."
Another great monk was once heard to say to his brothers (when they focused too much on rules and not on the heart of the gospel message….) -"My friends, you have torn the gospel of Christ iN two….//.
There are two great commandments: - show your Love for God by how you love your neighbour (just as you would love and care for yourself). (or perhaps it is more accurate to say there really is only one commandment to love.. which has two facets to it….)
In any case……Splitting up these two commands seriously distorts Christ's gospel……
There are two extremes to be avoided! some would emphasise the worship of God to the point where doing anything practical for those in need seems to become an optional extra……. this is not the gospel of Jesus Christ……///
The other extreme is not right either…. some people are so caught up in social justice and practical action that they lose sight of the fact that Christian justice (Christian charity) always flows out of our relationship with God and that we are all God's children… and that it is not only our human actions… but God's will that is important…. so if someone emphasises social response and neglects prayer, worship and a sense of faith in God who is the author and Sustainer of us all…….. as essential as practical care for those in need is, it would lose its focus if we were ever to disconnect it to worship and prayer….. (it would become something merely humanistic…. And it could reflect a faulty sense that humans are their own saviours and can do all things themselves without reference to God…..)
Jesus shows us that both prayer and action are possible and necessary….. Again…I must say, I always feel that the Catholic groups of lay people such as St Vincent de Paul Society The Surfers Catholic Ladies Group, and Rosies (to name but a few but not exclude the countless other groups that do the great work)… are wonderful examples and expressions of both important aspects: Prayer and Action.
They certainly focus on practical action: - helping those in need, those who are hungry, seeking shelter, needing clothing, and also they visit people…. also, integral to this, they meet regularly to pray and reflect on Christ's gospel… This is vital – Connection to the person of Christ makes sense of and empowers their care for their neighbour….
Some many other groups and individuals model this,..// and we give thanks for them all.
In Jesus' great commandment – which is truly a "masterpiece of summing up thousands of biblical rules and regulations and observances into a few amazing words………to enshrine the very heart of its meaning: "Love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength… and love your neighbour as yourself…….." It becomes clear that every other person is truly our neighbour, especially when the person is in need. We must be loving neighbours to all people who come into our lives. No one can be excluded from being our neighbour.
Love of neighbour is at the heart of serving God /and being faithful to what God is asking of us.// Love of neighbour is not simply an optional part of our Christianity.
Saint Paul, in the second reading, says it very well….. We must take Christ as our model……… We must imitate Christ. In that imitation of Christ, we can find a whole way of living: gentleness yet strength in our dealings with others, understanding and accepting others with a clear vision of what is right and wrong.
Jesus did not just accept everything as good or anything goes. He pointed out what was not good. However, Jesus managed to do this whilst consistently keeping his eyes on the primary value of the gospel... love... received and given. That is a difficult model to imitate. Our Lord did not focus on righteousness for its own sake... his emphasis was on love and compassion and the good of all.... anything he did it was primarily motivated by the love that flowed out of him as God the Son. This is another example of the cross of Jesus. This suffering comes from living in the right relationship with the Father and one another whilst always keeping the point of this way of living front-and-centre....love, reverence and compassion. because in the end, it's all about LOVE - of God, shown in how we love our neighbour.
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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly
Abbot's Homily, The Monastery of Christ in the Desert Homily for October 22 2008.
Flor McCarthy. Sundays and Holy Day Liturgies. Year A.
Gutierrez, Sharing the Word through the Liturgical Year.
Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 469506470 - Matthew 22:39 Key Bible Verses on the background of the cross on a hill, Matthew in Chapter 22, verse 39. Holy Bible. Photo Contributor: Take Photo
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Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A . (Sunday, October 29, 2023) (EPISODE: 445 )
The Lord be with you.
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{{May Our Lord's Fidelity strenghten you.}} welcome everyone, we gather - To offer or praise, prayers and intercessions to God. On this Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A .
Coming together as brothers and sisters, with confidence let us ask the Fathers forgiveness, for he is full of gentleness and compassion
Lord Jesus, you were lifted up to draw all people to yourself: Lord, have mercy//You shouldered the cross, to bear our suffering and sinfulness: Christ, have mercy// You open for your people the way from death into 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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Memorial Acclamation
1. We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.
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Ps 18:2-3a, 3b-4, 47+51. "I love you Lord, my strength."
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (John 14:23). Alleluia, alleluia! All who love me will keep my words, and my Father will love them and we will come to them.
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PREFACE: Sundays Ordinary I
Eucharistic Prayer II
Communion side. pwk:
(theme variation: 1 )
(post version: v1-long)
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{thank you so much for taking this time with me to listen to God's word and for praising God for his goodness and care.}
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
To listen to my weekly 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: paulkellyreflections+subscribe@googlegroups.com
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 (1942-2017) - 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 Motiv MV5 Digital Condenser.
Editing equipment: -- MixPad Multitrack Studio Recording Software v10.49 (NCH Software).
NCH – WavePad Audio Editing Software. Masters Edition v 17.63 (NCH Software)
Sound Processing: iZotope RX 10 Audio Editor (Izotope Inc.)
[ Production - KER - 2023]
May God bless and keep you.
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