Twenty-eighth Sunday of the Year. Year A - Sunday, October 15, 2023 (EPISODE:443)

Twenty-eighth Sunday of the Year. Year A - Sunday, October 15, 2023
(EPISODE:443)

Readings for Sunday, 15 October 2023
FIRST READING: Isa 25:6-10a
Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6. "I shall live in the house of the Lord, all the days of my life."
SECOND READING: Phil 4:12-14, 19-20
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 22:1-14 or 22:1-10

Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: Stock Illustration ID: 536007283 - The parable of the King invited all to his Banquet - Illustration Contributor: askib
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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for the Twenty-eighth Sunday of the Year. Year A - Sunday, October 15, 2023, by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-twenty-eighth-sunday-in-ordinary-time-year-a-episode-443  
(EPISODE: 443)
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 PROLOGUE: - *28a - Gospel values included in the readings: We are deeply reassured that God walks with us to protect us and accompany us through all the highs and lows of life. We are in good and faithful hands. God's invitation is for all, but not all will accept it. Avoid apathy and distraction

 

*This parable reminds us, that the invitation is for all, but the invitation can be refused. The Kingdom is open to all but guaranteed to none.  We don't earn the Kingdom, but sadly can decline it, which would be madness!*

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Hearing these wonderful readings is deeply reassuring this weekend.

We are given the beautiful picture of the heavenly banquet feast where there are no more tears, illness, suffering, or death. On the lips of everyone are the sacred words of Scripture: "See, we were right to put our hope and trust in God. Because he has saved us."  

 

This is echoed in the superb psalm. The Lord is my Shepherd.  He knows us each by name. He protects and reassures us along the pathway of life so that we are never alone, come what may. We will be okay. Our God is with us and faithful in all his promises to us.

 

We will live in the Lord's house forever and ever, taking our place at the Heavenly wedding feast prepared for us (and for all) who accept God's wonderful invitation.

 

The Lord's parable reminds us that anyone invited to the forever feast is not invited initially because they deserve it or earned it. We are expected to live according to God's ways, but God's grace gives us the ability to achieve this way of life. We did not initially deserve the invitation, but is entirely the gracious initiative of God. Without God, we cannot deserve his invitation or earn a place in the kingdom without God's grace.  God's invitation is generous, loving and open to anyone who says "yes." – God loves us freely and wonderfully…  This love of God invites us into the family of God, and God deems us worthy of this invitation because God lovingly wants us to be part of his family. So, we should never get complacent or live proud lives, assuming we are entitled and guaranteed to receive what is always a free and beautiful gift – always to be treasured and held in awe and humility. And never taken for granted.

 

Saint Paul's letter today is superb too.  He says: "Look, in my ministry, I have been full of joy, and I have had times of sorrow and suffering too. I have been starving and satisfied at different times. Now, I am contented to live my life within the providence of God's care and demand nothing other than to take things as they come. Remaining available, eager, but detached; to respond to God's word and help build up God's Kingdom.  The Kingdom of God is not for the faint-hearted. It will be given to those who respond to the invitation, and who are prepared to embrace fully its different values and ways. With God's grace and God's vision, no hardship will be unendurable, and no eventuality will change our journey towards God.

 

We are being asked by Our Lord:  "Can you imagine God's vision for the future?  What the Kingdom looks like through God's eyes? Will you accept how different the thoughts, attitudes and priorities are for those who are citizens of the Kingdom?"

 

There is no room for arguments about who's "IN" and who's "OUT"!

 

The first ones to receive the invitation God's banquet feast are the respectable-looking people, who outwardly show they wish to live according to God's ways. However, when the call goes out for people to attend the party, they are busy with other priorities. What distracts them is not all bad, (some things were quite pressing: Properties, businesses, farms), but they are putting their focus into things that would eventually disappear and they had forgotten to invest in the Kingdom that lasts forever.

In Our Lord's time, wedding invitations went out well in advance and were accepted definitively. The final call, just before the event occurred, was a mere formality. It would be an unspeakable insult to decline when the final call arrived. They had already accepted and had made already their firm commitment.  They miss out! And so, the master sends out messengers to the highways and byways. That is, to everyone, respectable or not. All are invited. From now on, the invitation is being made, (not to a select and exclusive minority of privileged people), but in the wider public forum - to ALL people. All who respond are welcome. There is no special preference anymore.

 

Sinners, outcasts, Gentiles and Jews were all invited.

 

Those accepting the invitation are not any better than those who declined. Except the poor and the outcasts, not having any other options and seeing what a rare gift this was, accepted and attended.  Again it reminds us not to be complacent or superior, as all of us are truly blessed to be invited but we might have tickets on ourselves if we think we can presume that we deserve a permanent place without responding to it.  (It is a reminder that in this modern day and age one hears a lot of stories of people who have invited others to a party or a function and many accept but then don't turn up or cancel at the last minute, or others don't reply but turn up, causing great distress to their hosts.  The old-fashioned courtesies still apply).   This parable reminds us, the invitation is for all, but the invitation can be refused. The Kingdom is open to all but guaranteed to none.  We don't earn the Kingdom but we sadly can decline it; which would be madness!

 

And one final thought. The waifs and strays enter the banquet but then one gets kicked out for not wearing a wedding garment.  It seems unfair at first glance. However, the invitation is for all, but acceptance means a change of standards and values symbolized by being clothed in the garment that resembles and represents the Baptismal Garment of goodness and Christ-like living.  Wearing that robe with devotion and humility.. and keeping the gospel values of Christ in our hearts, very central and very safe.

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References:

Fr Paul W. Kelly

 

Bergant, D. and Fragomeni, R. (2001). Preaching the new lectionary. Year A. Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press.Cronin, G. (2003). Celebrating the Gospels. 1st ed. Liguori, Mo.: Liguori. 372-3,

 

DeBona, G. (2013). Between the Ambo and the altar. Year A. 1st ed. Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press. 263-266

 

Gutiérrez, G. and Dees, C. (1997). Sharing the Word through the liturgical year. 1st ed. Maryknoll: Orbis Books.  P. 239-40

Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: Stock Illustration ID: 536007283 - The parable of the King invited all to his Banquet - Illustration Contributor: askib


Twenty-eighth Sunday of the Year. Year A  (Sunday, October 15, 2023)  (EPISODE: 443 )
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (or/ The Lord be with You)
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{{May God's Spirit of Fortitude and self control abide with you.}} welcome everyone, we gather -  Listening to God's Word. On this Twenty-eighth Sunday of the Year. Year A

Coming together as brothers and sisters in Christ, let us prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries by recalling our sins and remembering Christs 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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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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Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6. "I shall live in the house of the Lord, all the days of my life."

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.
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PREFACE: Sundays Ordinary V
Euch Prayer II
Communion side.  pwk: 
(theme variation: 3 )

 

(post version: v1-short)
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{I am very grateful for you joining us for this special 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

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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 (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.+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++