Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C. Sunday, 16 February 2025
Image Credit-
FIRST READING: Jer 17:5-8
Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4+6. "Happy are they who hope in the Lord."
SECOND READING: 1 Cor 15:12, 16-20
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Luke 6:17, 20-26). Alleluia, alleluia! Rejoice and be glad. Your reward will be great in Heaven.
GOSPEL: Luke 6:17, 20-26
++++
Please listen to the audio-recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C - Sunday, Sunday, 16 February 2025 by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-sixth
(EPISODE 518)
+++++
* (Prologue: Fr Paul Kelly)
God's beautiful and nourishing word is truly such a blessing and a joy to proclaim and to reflect upon each week. We are truly blessed to be (as the reading says beautifully this weekend) "like trees planted beside the flowing waters").
The poor tree planted beside the running stream is rich indeed!
That wonderful line in the readings for this weekend. "like a tree planted near flowing waters…. that thrusts its roots into the stream". 'when the heat comes. It feels no alarm. Its foliage stays green.'
is a truly beautiful and restful image.
It is what we all are called to become. People who are focused on God—. Brought into union with the Lord. Finding our centre, our balance, and focus in God. And drawing our life and meaning from The river of Life—. God is the source of all nourishment and refreshment. And staying focused. Knowing what is life-giving and what is a dead-end!!! And living in that knowledge. [fhl]
++++++++++++
This weekend, as we listen to God's word, ( as we plant ourselves too, beside the flowing and renewing water of God's word), The Gospel today says 'happy are those who are spiritually poor. And oppressed' and woe to those who are comfy and cozy. This version of the gospel spells out that God intends to turn earthly standards and values on their head. The poor, the oppressed, the needy; these are the first in God's values and concerns. So God is preparing us for a different way of thinking, in order to engage us in a different way of acting and living.
Sometimes modern listeners can miss some of the subtlety of Christ's message. For example, it does at first glance look like anyone who is well off or wealthy is coming in an enormous serve. But we have to remember that Luke's Gospel, (especially), was addressed to influential, wealthy and powerful people in the Gentile community. Luke is not collecting an orderly account of Christ's life and teaching, in order to bash powerful and influential people from here to kingdom come.
The whole gospel is an invitation to people, rich or poor, influential or powerless, to become willing members in the Kingdom, where values are reshaped and a new way of relating is formed. Luke is inviting the influential and powerful to have a new mind and heart. Luke encourages his readers and listeners to use their influence, their position, and their good fortune to keep in mind their brothers and sisters, whom Christ loved so much, and spent his life and ministry helping.
There is another beautiful quote I stumbled across. "The one who loses wealth loses much. But the one who loses the spirit loses everything." It is good to adjust and re-calibrate our priorities, resources, and values; - Keeping them connected to the source of lasting meanin; God. And God's offer of eternal life.
The source of all life, all meaning and all lasting value, Is God.
All that is lasting: love, compassion, and connection with God and union with one another, as one family in Christ, these elements of that life-giving stream that sustains us and directs us, in good times and in bad.
I was reading a quote from a person who wrote down thoughts about their life, as they faced their final illness. This writer, by the name of Lee Atwater. Died at a very early age from a brain tumour. He was a man who had amassed enormous wealth and power and prestige in his short life. But admitted himself that he felt a deep inner restlessness. And a "poverty of spirit." He writes: "In my illness, I discovered insight into what was missing in society. And it was indeed missing in me too: A little heart; and a lot of brotherhood. We must speak to this 'spiritual vacuum' that lies at the heart of our society."
What are some of the dead-end roads we are tempted to drive down in our lives? What 'things' do we put our energy and time into that are not life-giving or lasting, in comparison with the eternal waters offered by Jesus?
Let us be aware, and prayerful, about the things that give us lasting life and satisfaction. And the things that sap our energy and leave us empty.
Jesus can show us how to put ourselves near the flowing waters. To renew and reconnect us to the true source of life. Christ himself!
+++++++++++++
References:
Homily –Fr Paul W. Kelly
Vision – PRAYING SCRIPTURE IN A CONTEMPORARY WAY. YEAR C. BY MARK LINK S.J;
A BOOK OF GRACE-FILLED DAYS. BY ALICE CAMILLE. 2010;
DAILY STUDY BIBLE. GOSPEL OF LUKE. (REVISED EDITION). BY WILLIAM BARCLAY
Image Credit: https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/cjeGDg5RRUMARSQ8MDf9/the-crowd-faces-jesus-jesus-preaches-in-a-level-place-near-the-sea-of-tyre-and-sidon-in-ancient-isra?ru=Paul-Evangelion
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C (Sunday, Sunday, 16 February 2025) (EPISODE 518)
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (or/ The Lord be with You)
+++++++++++++
{{Hi everyone}} welcome everyone, we gather - Ponder with reverence, God's word and sacrament.
My brothers and sisters, we have gathered to celebrate the Holy Eucharist, - so let us pause and reflect upon our sins, so as to rejoice in Gods loving mercy.
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.
+++++++++++++++++++++
Memorial Acclamation
3. Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
PREFACE: Sundays V
EP II
(theme variation: 4 )
++++
{May God's love, strength, mercy and kindness guide you all this week. }
Go in peace. (glorifying the Lord by your life)
++++++++
Archive of homilies and reflections: http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email: paulwkelly68@gmail.com
To listen to our 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 (Bill) 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: NCH software - MixPad Multitrack Studio Recording Software
NCH – WavePad Audio Editing Software. Masters Edition v 12.44
Sound Processing: iZotope RX 6 Audio Editor
[ Production - KER - 2025]
May God bless and keep you.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
No comments:
Post a Comment