Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B - Sunday, (EPISODE:461)

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B - Sunday,  (EPISODE:461)

Fourth Sunday in ordinary Time, Year B - Sunday,
(EPISODE:461)

Readings for 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time - B
FIRST READING: Deut 18: 15-20
Ps 95: 1-2, 6-7b, 7c-9. "If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. "
SECOND READING: 1 Cor 7: 32-35
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Matt 4: 16). Alleluia, alleluia! A people in darkness have seen a great light. A radiant dawn shines on those lost in death.
GOSPEL: Mark 1: 21-28

Image - Shutterstock licensed Image: ID:719621203 Teachings of Jesus. Frescoes of the ancient byzantine church of Hagia Sophia in Trabzon. The remains of the ancient temple. Old church wall. JULY 4, 2017. By Nurlan Mammadzada
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Please listen to the audio-recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B - Sunday, , by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-fourth-sunday-in-ordinary-time-year-b-episode-461/s-zf6FdsXtPBv   (EPISODE: 461)
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Prologue-   When people heard Jesus speaking – they were deeply impressed by him.   His words held an utterly compelling authority. He clearly spoke with the truth of being "God the Son."  His actions and identity as the beloved son of the Heavenly Father completely backed up his words.   He is the perfection of Holiness. In the full sense of the word. A person is Holy when they are whole, integrated, and complete.  Jesus was the "complete package", so to speak. Everything he did and said, his values and priorities, and words and actions, all spoken consistently to the truth of who he is.  How can we not listen to such truth and authority?

The other readings this weekend speak of the Prophets of old. They spoke with the authority given to them by God. They were commissioned and warned only to speak what God asks them to speak and not to say anything inconsistent with the Father's will.  We are warned that there are people who are false prophets. They claim to speak for God but they speak for themselves.  They often speak confidently and persuasively, but that is not the same as speaking with truth and authority.  False prophets tell people what they want to hear and not what God wants to say. We seek to be more and more discerning in our ability to tell the difference. It is vital that we do.  
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Jesus, (in this weekend's gospel) is described as "speaking with authority" – something that both surprises and deeply impresses those who hear him. Our Lord is seen as having an authority very different from what they are used to experiencing from their regular religious leaders, who, you would think, should be inspiring figures, and one would also hope, speaking with authority -  but they were clearly not.

It goes to show, there are two types of authority;
One derives from the office that a person holds (the authority and respect due to the position a person holds),
and then there is the personal authority that speaks powerfully of the inner integrity, vision and values of THAT person.

When both are found together, then history has before them a great and impressive leader….

Jesus never had a formal office in his society (other than being rightly described as Rabbi or a teacher); however, his authority was absolute; flowing from deep within him, from the truth of who he is, (and his essential relationship to his heavenly Father);
Ironically, the true test of a person's faithfulness to God is how they respond to the embodiment of God (in Jesus). These so-called faithful followers of God failed miserably in this test because they rejected Jesus and opposed his vision.

We must stay very close to the person and message of Jesus, and learn from him, and experience his compassion and love for all people, (because this is what motivates his mission – LOVE – at the very centre and nature of God). Without that, we too could fall into the trap of living the outward appearance and missing the point inside.

It is ironic, that Jesus was unable to cast out the evil of malice and deception that was in the hearts of his opponents, who lied and deceived in order to wrongly accuse him of sedition and to have him crucified. But, they were too wilful. They were deliberately and stubbornly cooperating with evil in their hearts and choosing to oppose Jesus, and so Jesus had to die and rise again in order to break their power.

We are called by Christ to cast out (with his help) all that is destructive, hate-filled, deceptive, unjust and unloving in our lives and hearts. We do it by prayer and by reflection and by staying very close to the Lord. We must not allow ourselves to be distracted our service of God's Kingdom and the values of the gospel. So, what really counts is listening to what God wants of us here and now. Married or single, with God's help, let us strive to live that vocation well.
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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly

Homily of the Abbot – Monastery of Christ in the Desert

MISSION 2000 – PRAYING SCRIPTURE IN A CONTEMPORARY WAY. YEAR B. BY MARK LINK S.J.

Image - Shutterstock licensed Image: ID:719621203 Teachings of Jesus. Frescoes of the ancient Byzantine church of Hagia Sophia in Trabzon. The remains of the ancient temple. Old church wall. JULY 4, 2017. By Nurlan Mammadzada


Fourth Sunday in ordinary Time, Year B (Sunday, ) (EPISODE: 461)
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 greetings to you all.}} welcome everyone, we gather - Praise, Worship of God


As we prepare to celebrate the paschal mystery, let us admit our failings and ask the Lord for pardon and strength. 
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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PREFACE: Sundays III
EP II
Communion side. pwk: RH
(theme variation: 2 )
(pre+post variation: 5)
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{thanks, everyone. And may God sustain you with his grace and love. }

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 the weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks


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.

[ Production - KER - 2024]

May God bless and keep you.
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