Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A. World Mission Day - Sunday, October 22, 2023 (EPISODE:444)

Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A. World Mission Day - Sunday, October 22, 2023
(EPISODE:444)

Readings for Sunday, 22 October 2023

FIRST READING: Isa 45:1, 4-6
Ps 96:1+3, 4-5, 7-8, 9-10. "Give the Lord glory and honour."
SECOND READING: 1 Thess 1:1-5b
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Phil 2:15d-16a). Alleluia, alleluia! Shine on the world like bright stars. You are offering it the word of life.
GOSPEL: Matt 22:15-21

Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 1545751649 - Christian Cross at The Colosseum. It is an elliptical amphitheatre built of concrete and stone, built in 80 AD under by Emperor Titus. It is an iconic symbol of Imperial Rome. Rome, Italy, Feb 2015 -  Important information - Editorial Use Only. Photo Contributor: Wagner Santos de Almeida
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Please listen to the audio-recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A. World Mission Day - Sunday, October 22, 2023 by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-twenty-ninth-sunday-in-ordinary-time-year-a-episode-444/s-7DPc88s9a7w  (EPISODE:444 )
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GOSPEL THIS WEEKEND
"Render to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." (Matthew 22:21).
 
The first reading from Isaiah is really fascinating. It speaks about God declaring King Cyrus to be a "shepherd," his "Anointed One"-

King Cyrus might not mean much to us thousands of years after he lived and reigned. But, it was extraordinary in his day. King Cyrus was the founding ruler of the Great Persian Empire, and although he was not Jewish, (and was of another religion), was extremely supportive of the Jewish people and issued an edict that allowed the "Jewish population to return to the Promised Land from Babylon, and he also allowed them to rebuild the temple and gave them back their treasures. . The book of Isaiah honours him as a dignified and righteous king. He is the only Gentile to be designated as an anointed one of God. The word means. "Messiah," or "a Christ" - a divinely appointed king.

Even those who are not religious, do not profess a religious faith, or have faith different from ourselves may still be enormously instrumental in promoting the values of God's Kingdom. and as such, they may very well be acting as God's servants, friends, and instruments of God's will, even if they would not themselves name it as such.

The Pharisees and Herodians, usually fierce opponents, have come together in an uneasy alliance motivated by a common hatred. They are trying to trap Jesus- They attempt a hypocritical ploy where they ask about Our Lord's loyalty to the Roman Emperor by asking whether he recommends payment of Roman taxes. They are hypocrites: The Pharisees portrayed themselves as fiercely nationalistic. They hated the Herodians, who supported King Herod, who had "sold out" as a puppet of the Roman Empire. And here they were, asking after Jesus' loyalty to the Romans. The only ones touching the coin with Caesar's head on it… are the Pharisees and the Herodians. They ought to have seen the coin as unclean and repellant. Jesus likely kept his hands right off these coins. .

Did they care about government and religious relations?. Very Likely not! They were setting Jesus up in a seemingly "no-win" situation. However, Our Lord answered wisely by affirming that there is a duty to observe civil laws and procedures but that we also owe ultimate allegiance to God, who created all things. There does not need to be a clear-cut Religion vs. Government ("either one or the other but not both"),  line here. It requires discernment. It is possible that supporting civil projects gives glory to God… It is also possible that serving God can be at the service of civil needs. Our Lord is not trying to build an impenetrable "them and us'' mentality, unlike his opponents.

 The true test is how self-serving our actions really end up being.(Or as St. Paul says.,… in the second reading, putting faith into action. and not merely words. but as power, as the Holy Spirit and as utter conviction…). Jesus was utterly sure that he owed absolutely EVERYTHING to The Father, and did not make excuses, Instead, he emptied himself entirely in service and love. This humbles us and makes us truly grateful. May we be strengthened to follow his example. in our daily life and actions…
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References:

Homily Fr Paul W. Kelly

Barclay, W. (1975). The Gospel of Matthew. Part II. 2nd ed. Edinburgh: St. Andrew Press.

"RENDER TO GOD WHAT IS GOD'S"- JOEL SCHORN

Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 1545751649 - Christian Cross at The Colosseum. It is an elliptical amphitheatre built of concrete and stone, built in 80 AD under Emperor Titus. It is an iconic symbol of Imperial Rome. Rome, Italy, Feb 2015 -  Important information - Editorial Use Only. Photo Contributor: Wagner Santos de Almeida

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Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A. World Mission Day  (Sunday, October 22, 2023)  (EPISODE: 444 )
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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{{May Our Lord's justice sustain you}} welcome everyone, we gather -  Reflect upon the Holy Scriptures On this Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A. World Mission Day

As we prepare to celebrate the paschal mystery, let us admit our failings and ask the Lord for pardon and strength.
Lord Jesus, you came to gather the nations into the peace of God's kingdom: Lord, have mercy// You come in word and in sacrament to strengthen us and make us holy: Christ, have mercy//You will come again in glory with salvation for your people: 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
3. Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.
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Ps 96:1+3, 4-5, 7-8, 9-10. "Give the Lord glory and honour."

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Phil 2:15d-16a). Alleluia, alleluia! Shine on the world like bright stars. You are offering it the word of life.
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PREFACE: Sundays Ordinary VI
Eucharistic Prayer One
Communion side.  pwk: 
(theme variation: 4 )

(post version: v2-long)

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{my heartfelt thanks for your participation in this time of reflection, prayer and praise.}

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

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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