Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, October 8, 2023 (EPISODE:442)
Readings for Sunday, 8 October 2023
FIRST READING: Isa 5:1-7
Ps 80:9+12, 13-14, 15-16, 19-20. "The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel"
SECOND READING: Phil 4:6-9
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (cf. John 15:16). Alleluia, alleluia! I call you friends, says the Lord. Because I have made known to you everything I have learnt from my Father.
GOSPEL: Matt 21:33-43
Image Credit: Shutterstock licensed image: Stock Photo ID: 44008519 - stone Heart and red petals. Photo Contributor: Isame
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Please listen to the audio-recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, October 8, 2023 by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-twenty-seventh-sunday-in-ordinary-time-year-a-episode-442/s-2f1RFrl4B7B
(EPISODE:442)
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["'gospel' values included in the readings this weekend: that God is long suffering, and patient. God trusts us, and gives us the blessing and gift and responsibility of autonomy – in the hope and trust, that we will use this freedom and discretion well and only for good}
God lovingly desires to give us what we need, patiently calls us back to obedience. Of course, time ends up running out, sooner or later. God expects us to bear the fruits of the Kingdom of Heaven]
This gospel says a lot of good things about our God and some very disappointing things about our human response to God's generosity and patience.
The image of the unsatisfactory vineyard would be a very familiar one to the people of Israel, as shown by the first reading. The Lord puts all this love and care into building for his people a fruitful and life-giving environment, and what he gets back is "sour grapes."
What causes bitter grapes is too much acid and not enough sugar. The fruit might be too small and too crowded or just be a wild variety of grape. It is a fitting image because if we foment bitterness, resentment, harshness, negativity, and a lack of cordiality in our lives, and if we crowd out our time and energy with too many competing priorities, or if we allow pride and wilfulness to be our way, it will produce a bitter and pitiful harvest. The fruits will not be good.
We see that God is extremely loving. The owner of the land did not just give them an empty parcel of land and said, "there you go, now build a vineyard and give me the fruits of it." Rather, the Master plants it himself, fences it off, builds accommodation and security and then builds the winepress for the fruits to be processed.
The landowner is not a control freak. He hands over the vineyard and does not stand over them or set up an oppressive system to make sure they do the right thing. He trusts his tenants and entrusts the job to them and then steps back from it to give them time to do their job unhindered.
The Master is extremely patient. He is certainly not ruthless. After the very first messenger was sent and rejected, he would have been entitled to destroy the wicked tenants immediately, but instead, he continues to give them the benefit of the doubt, (Perhaps there has been a miscommunication. Perhaps there is a reason for this shocking behaviour). The master is being more than reasonable. He sends a long line of messengers to ask for what is his. There is no acid or bitterness to be found in God, his fruits are all patience, forbearance, and compassion. He is very long-suffering, giving many chances for change and growth, but in the end, he must have the fruits of the vineyard as he deserves.
The master spares nothing. He even risks his most precious treasure, his beloved son, and sends him to sort this out peacefully. As the great Easter hymn says, "To ransom a slave, God gave away his own son!" What an astounding act of love and unearthly generosity to his ungrateful people.
Finally, when their rebellion and arrogance is no longer in doubt, the Master demands the fruits be given, and again acts prudently, lovingly and justly – this cannot go on like this….., And so, he hands over the vineyard to people who will care for it and use it as intended?
In many ways, and through the people we meet, God sends us all sorts of invitations and opportunities…., inviting us to widen our hearts and adjust our attitudes? Meanwhile, with God's help, we continue working peacefully, positively, and respectfully, and with grateful hearts.
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Fr Paul W. Kelly
Barclay, W. (1975). The Gospel of Matthew. Part II. 2nd ed. Edinburgh: St. Andrew Press].
Image Credit: Shutterstock licensed image: Stock Photo ID: 44008519 - stone Heart and red petals. Photo Contributor: Isame
Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A (Sunday, October 8, 2023) (EPISODE: 442 )
The Lord be with you.
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{{May God's Spirit of Wisdom and Awe abide in you.}} Welcome everyone, we gather - Pondering with reverence God's word. On this Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A
As we begin the Holy Eucharist, let us acknowledge our sinfulness to celebrate the sacred mysteries worthily.
option two on the cards/ Have mercy on us, O Lord./ For we have sinned against you./ Show us, O Lord, your mercy. And grant us your salvation.
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 80:9+12, 13-14, 15-16, 19-20. "The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel"
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (cf. John 15:16). Alleluia, alleluia! I call you friends, says the Lord. Because I have made known to you everything I have learnt from my Father.
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PREFACE: Sundays Ordinary IV
EUCH PRAYER II
Communion side. pwk:
(theme variation: 2 )
(post version: v2-short)
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{I gratefully acknoweldge and give thanks to God for your prayers at this time of prayer and reflection upon our God.}
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
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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