Paul's Reflections 150th anniversary. (saturday night Mass) Seventeenth Sunday of the Year - A

24th July, 2011      Seventeenth Sunday of the Year - A

 

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150^th anniversary of St Mary’s Parish. (Saturday Night Mass: Homily by FR Paul Kelly)

 

On this very day, (the 23^rd day of July, 1861),  the newly arrived Bishop of Brisbane, James Quinn, and two French Priests,  Fr Paul Tissot and Fr Renehan, boarded the steamer named the Clarence en route to Maryborough, and arrived two days later, and stayed several days.  

 

In fact, this weekend celebrates that Fr Paul Tissot remained here from that time on and became on the 25^th July the first permanent Parish Priest of Maryborough.  Here we are 150 years later and what a joyous occasion we celebrate this weekend and in particular tomorrow when Archbishop John will preside at a Mass of thanksgiving.  

 

We thank God for the enormous blessingsn and graces he has poured upon generations of people in this town and the surrounding regions, through God’s action in the church and in the people who form the body of Christ in this place.   We humbly continue on this good work started so long ago.

 

In masses this weekend we give thanks for the countless blessings bestowed on this community and the many people:  parishioners, community members, fellow church denominations and their pastors, civic leaders, priests, religious and friends who have cooperated with what God has been doing in this place.

 

We ask for continued blessings upon our town and the people who live and work here. Lord, grant success to the work of our hands.

 

The readings are perfect for this celebration and ironically they are the ones set for this ordinary season of the year. But they could not be better chosen.  

 

In the first reading, God offers Solomon anything he desires.  We could think of many things we could ask of God if given complete freedom. Yet, al he asks for is an understanding heart: wisdom. And God readily grants it.  In the end, money, long-life, prestige, does not mean a thing if we live our lives in ignorance and without an understanding and lovingheart. Striving to do God’s will in this time and place, as our forebears did before us, with God’s grace.

 

Today, we continue to ask for this gift. Lord, above all, grant us wisdom of heart, so that we may serve you in faithfulness all our days, to your greater glory.

 

I love the gospel… the parable of the treasure buried in the field…     This parish, this church is a treasure planted in a field…   and of course as beautiful as it is, its much more than the beauty of the building… it’s the presence of God that it represents and it’s the symbol od Christian dedication and grace that it proclaims…    James Cleary and his fellow Christians believes so much in the gospel, and in Christian education and in the need for the physical presence of the Church community in the life of the city that they put their time, energy and money into working for God’s glory in establishing this catholic community which we are part of today…  

 

It was worth selling everything to obtain.. and the gospel continues to be priceless and precious and worth all our efforts to this day and beyond…

 

May God, who has so graciously accompanied and given success to our work so often in the past, continue this good work in us and bring it to perfection.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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REFERENCES:

 

·       FR. PAUL W. KELLY

 

 

Paul's Reflections Trinity Sunday 19th June, 2011 and also Body and Blood of Christ 26th June, 2011

Trinity Sunday - 17^{th June, 2011. (Saturday and Sunday Masses and Youth Mass Sunday night)}

The celebration of God as Trinity also reveals to us the true nature of God and the true meaning at the heart of the universe… community… communion… unity… sharing…. Giving and taking…. Harmony… LOVE…… the world cries out and hungers and thirst for that which God has in God's own inner nature! Jesus invites us to share in and participate in this wonderful relationship with God and with one another… and it (in turn) makes us more generous, sharing, community focused and serving and sacrificing… more loving… that is at the heart of the discipleship into which Christ calls us.

^{If we look at what Jesus hungered for and what he did not hunger for, it is very revealing… he did not hunger for money… in fact he warned us to be very wary of its hollow charms… we cannot serve both God and wealth…. He did not hunger for popularity.. and in fact by the end of his earthly life he was reviled, abandoned and condemned… the popularity contest was shockingly won by a theif and a brigand and a murderer… Barabass.. who was released instead of the innocent one!! The gospels reveal so many more thirsts and hungers of Jesus….and their opposites…. He longed to share… with others.. he thirsted for other's faith and participation…}

It breaks your heart doesn't it… seeing so many people searching for something that will truly satisfy their longings…. And yet… they go down paths that seem lifegiving.. seem attractive… but ultimately prove to be dead ends and unsatisfying…… but does it stop us…. No…. we rush down the path of the next attractive glittering possibility…. Whether it be pursuit of money, power, influence, celebrity, ….. so many things in this world and in this society cry out for our attention and invite us to get enmeshed in them…… May the Spirit of truth guide us as we discern, through the light of Jesus' words and actions, just what are the lifegiving treasures to put all our heart and soul into…

^{Can i just add, that in this parish, in so many ways, people have asked themselves "now that i am following Jesus, what shall I DO in practical ways.... to make a difference......" God has answered their prayers in many very satisfying ways that bring grace and benefit and service to so many.. people have joined the St Vincent de Paul society and done practical actions to make a difference.. others have joined the Catholic Women's League or so many of the ministries and activities of the parish's mission ... the list is wonderfully long./... there is so much to do.. and God is calling each one of us...}

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**Our archbishop, John Bathersby, has issued a nice message of encouragement and support to our young people

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THE FEAST OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST 26TH JUNE 2011

The world is hungering for what only God can truly and completely satisfy.

We see that so many people are hungry for something… in some instances it simply the necessities of life.. food, clean water, medical support, shelter, education, peace… others hunger for much more… many people seem to be hungry for and chasing their desire for things they can't have or don't really need… or else.. they just hunger for what won't really satisfy …**

(Quoting the reflection in the newsletter) ……"Hungry hearts are all around us. Those mourning the loss of a loved one, in need of a job, desperate for wise counsel, unable to curb an addiction, angry and bitter, unforgiven or unforgiving, in poor health, worried about finances, unhappy in a relationship, unsure of their commitments, hard on themselves, afraid of the world around them, and the list goes on and on. These are the people Jesus offers to feed—not with a temporary fix (which is usually what most of us want)—but an everlasting source of sustenance that can be found in the change of heart that happens each time we gather to share a meal in Jesus' name."

Jesus offers us himself – as real food for our lifelong journey….. and he offers us his word and his vision of the Kingdom… his values for living that will truly and completely transform us and satisfy us…. But it means a progressive changing of priorities and values to match with his values…

^{……Throughout all of time, including today, many of us experience a deep desire to develop personal relationships built on authenticity and common values. We do not want to settle for an average life. We want something that is great, that is new. This desire, which is a gift from God, evokes deep questions in our hearts and minds at all stages of our life journey. At times we will ask ourselves: What meaning does my life have? What purpose and direction should I give to it?}

^{Our identity is shaped through our parents, families, experiences, education, work, relationships, and the culture of our country. There will be times when we experience certainty that we are on the right path. These will be contrasted by times when we will try to recapture that certainty.}

^{Decisions that affect our lives require time and a great effort to discern. "Will I be able to live up to God's call in my life?" "Do I believe enough?"}

^{When we enter into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, Christ makes known our true uniqueness. Jesus, "in the very revelation of the mystery of the Father and of his love, fully reveals humanity to itself and brings to light its very high calling" (Gaudium et Spes, 22). Having someone to journey with in faith, to talk about these deep questions and to share experiences, is vital if we are going to answer the question – Why am I here?}

^{…... At the core of what it means to be a Christian, at the very centre is the person of Jesus and what he has done for us ………../ We firmly believe that Jesus Christ offered himself on the Cross in order to share with us his divine life and give us his love.//………..We are invited to enter into a personal friendship with Jesus and to develop it in faith. //}

^{How do we do this?//}

^{When you want to build a friendship with someone you do this by spending time with them, getting to know them and their hopes and dreams for themselves and for you. We can get to know Jesus better by reading the Gospels and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. You can speak about your life, share your feelings and reveal yourself openly with Jesus in prayer.}

^{Friendship requires listening also. You may not hear Jesus' voice in prayer but a word or phrase or image may come to you. It may be straight away or a few days later, through a conversation with a friend, a paragraph in a book, a line in a song, a feeling you notice or any number of ways. When you are open to listening, the response will show up. We also find support when those who are dear to us, share their experiences of faith, their moments of struggle and disappointment as well as their time of certainty and joy.}

^{Thank God for the faith you have received and do all you can to build up your friendship with Jesus. Spend time with him, trust in him and he will never betray you. Your friendship with Jesus will assist you to know – Who do I want to become?}

^{Remember too that you are not alone. Through Baptism we become members of this great family the Church. This is the gift of being Catholic. We carry each other, support each other and we are fed and nourished through the celebration of the Eucharist. We become who we receive and so are able to be spiritual/emotional nourishment for each other and we are sent to go out and transform the world.}

^{……if you believe, and if you are able to live out your faith and bear witness to it every day, you will become a means of helping other young people like yourselves to find the meaning and joy of life, which is born of an encounter with Christ!"}

^{Desire is a primary way that God leads people to discover who they are and what they are meant to do. An attraction to being a doctor, a farmer, a teacher, a priest or a religious, for example, helps us to discover our vocation. Discover what you desire in life. Our deepest desires, which lead us to become who we are, are God's desires for us. Expressing what you desire for your life brings us into a closer relationship with God and will ensure you know - How do I make a difference?}

^{….My young friends, ….Jesus Christ is calling on you to devote your lives to witnessing to God's love to all people, and in a special way to your contemporaries. The Church needs you to respond generously to this call to mission. Do not underestimate the incredible power you possess to do good. (Most Rev John A Bathersby DD. Archbishop of Brisbane).}

Paul's Reflections Sunday 12th June, 2011. Pentecost Sunday 2011

Pentecost Sunday 2011. Sunday 12^th June, 2011.

(Save a tree. Don't print this e-mail unless it's really necessary).

(Please note, due to various circumstances, including various parishioners being away and the weather and also the Maryborough events in town on Sunday evening, there will be no mass at Aramara this weekend. It is usually on every second Sunday of the month. We will be back to Aramara on the second Sunday of July. Sorry for any inconvenience). ///

This Pentecost, and for the last few months.... and in fact in the coming months, there is change in the wind! The new mass is slowly but surely being implemented, and has a lot of very beautiful aspects about it. I particularly like the fact that no matter where we are in the world... no matter what language the Mass is celebrated in, we will be worshipping with one voice... and with the same meaning..... we will be united and in communion with God and one another.. in Spirit, Truth and in the words for worship we use.

On a totally different tac, you know how some cars in this country have the indicator on a different side? Some European cars have the indicator on a different side; because (as we all know), they drive on different sides... In Australia, most indicators are on the right hand side of the steering wheel, to allow the gear shift to be on the left... but if you have a European car.. the indicator might be on the left... it causes some funny things... when you aren't used to it, you go to turn the corner and the windscreen wipers come on instead of the indicator... it can be frustrating until you get used to it...

Why am i saying this in mass??? Because, in my view, the same sort of thing is happening with the changes in the mass.. Things we have automatically gotten used to saying, are changing.. and we might find ourselves absentmindedly doing the "liturgical/ church" equivalent of "putting the windscreen wipers on when we were only intending to turn"... when we use the wrong responses..

I had a "V.W." for a few years (i loved that car!!) and then had to go back to a Ford (actually, i love that car too!!).... and the indicator for both of those were on different sides.. It was initially confusing..(and amusing)..... but i found a great trick to focus on what i was doing... i sat in my car before i drove it.. shut my eyes tightly and put my fingers to my temples and then said.... ... "left hand, left hand, left hand, left hand" and then... amazingly.. i drove without another worry.. with the indicators being used correctly ... (the only time it didn't work was ion rare occasions ui might have been a bit distracted and befuddled and the old habit came back.... but in the main.. that once or twice focus was enough..)...

I think the same or similar techniques can be used to get us into the changes...

To sit, to quietly focus and to repeat..

"the Lord be with you,/ and with your Spirit" ; "the Lord be with you,/and with your Spirit" ; "the Lord be with you, and with your Spirit"

The peace of the Lord be with you always/ and with your spirit....!!

Perhaps that will click us into gear... (but in any case, lets be prepared for a few gear crunches as we trip over a few new words or differently phrased sentences... I am almost halfway there... i have half of the new responses in my head.. so if i have to go back to the old ones (like i did for the nursing home masses last week... i could hardly remember the old way and had half the new/ half the old in my head... )

On this feast of Pentecost, it is really fitting to return to our ancient form the the Christian greeting... And with your Spirit. This will be an appropriate recognition that the Catholic church is a Holy-Spirit-filled church.. a "Pneumatoligical" or Spirit-filled people... We can't do a thing without the power and inspiration of God's Holy Spirit... We are a church filled and commissioned by the very breath of God.. a warm breath that gives life to all around it...

The Holy Spirit makes us disciples able to be the Warm breath of human kindness at a time of terrible coldness and need.....

Its also timely then, in this winter of cold and wet... that today out local Saint Vinnies people are launching their winter appeal... a wonderful and practical way of putting into action the warming breath of God's Spirit of justice, love and practical care...

"God breathed on us the first the day he created us. Genesis tells us that the Lord put his lips to ours and breathed in us and gave us his spirit of life. And so we became human beings. And John tells us that on the day of Pentecost, the risen Lord breathed on us a second time and gave us new life. Courage replaced caution and a fire was lit in our hearts that has scattered the darkness of fear forever. We, like those first disciples are new creations. We have been called to a heroic life, to be instruments of God's peace and mercy in his beautiful and broken world."

(St Mary's College daily diary, with weekly reflections).

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REFERENCES:

· FR. PAUL W. KELLY

· Also quoting from the St Mary's College daily diary entry on the Holy Spirit.

Paul's Reflections 6th Sunday of Easter, Year A. 29th May, 2011

29th May, 2011      6th Sunday of Easter, Year A

I ask if the collectors can take up the ordinary first collection now… as we have a special third collection this weekend,

The collection going round now is our ordinary one in support of the upkeep of priests in ministry throughout the archdiocese…. 

The special collection (at the gifts time) is in support of the Retired and Sick Priests foundation.. // after many years of dedication and care our retired and ill priests need the support of the catholic community..//there are brochures available around the church//…..   Donations over $2 are tax deductible//  Any support you can give is gratefully accepted.

 

If you didn’t come prepared and would like to donate…., please take an envelope home and consider anything you may be able to give.. thanks…..   As I say, the special collection will be at the offertory time…   and then after communion the ordinary collection will be taken up for the running expenses of this parish….   

Apologies for visitors and families who may be surprised by the two or three collections at mass..  but they are for different aspects of the church’s mission, and of course..   no pressure is intended…  people are invited to give to any or all of the collections if you are able…..…  

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The readings this weekend, are again perfect for our young one’s who are preparing to receive their confirmation…. And first holy communion….  They speak of the early church communities forming just after Jesus returned to his Heavenly Father…   and had sent the holy Spirit to the apostles and to the church….    Did you notice in the first reading how it says…. 

 

That is just like the order we are now used to…   the people had already been baptised, and now the apostles did that ancient sign of laying on of hands and prayed.. and then the Holy Spirit came down upon them…

//   wonderful!!! // 

And notice, in the gospel.. Jesus speaks about sending the Holy Spirit upon his followers…   the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth…  the Holy Spirit comes into our hearts and makes us sons and daughters of God… and joins us to God.. so that we are in communion.. in union with God and with one another..  what a special gift…. 

 

The presence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and in our church is absolutely vital.  Without the Holy Spirit of God, as we have been learning, we cannot do anything…. 

 

This truth was known right from the beginnings of the Church two thousand years ago… and so… the ancient greeting the early Christian communities gave to eachother reflected the presence and the truth of the Holy Spirit in their lives…  the priest or bishop would say “the Lord be with you”  and the people would reply.. “and with your Spirit”.,,,   this was a recognition and acknowledgement that the Spirit was present in us….    Rather fittingly.. the church is imminently about to go back to this ancient saying….    It actually never changed.. the English response we have been using for the last forty years…  the words.. “and also with you”  is actually a very loose translation and paraphrase of the latin master-edition of the Mass….    And Rome and the local bishops have decided that this translation does not capture sufficiently the recognition of the Holy Sprit, who is SO necessary for the life of the church.. so soon…  not yet.. but very (very) soon.. we will all be returning to the ancient words that say so much!!!

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I call forward to receive your sashes, the young people who are preparing to receive next weekend, their confirmation and first Holy Communion.

 

(give out sashes)

 

Let us pray…..

My friends… we give you this sash today to remind you of two things…

 

In your Baptism, your parents clothed you in a WHITE baptismal garment to remind you that (in Baptism) you have “put in Jesus Christ… and that you have clothed yourself in Jesus” (and YOU HAVE BEEN CLOTHED IN JESUS’ special message of love)….

May this sash remind you that (as Baptised Christians) Jesus is always with YOU to help YOU live his good news message.

 

THIS sash is RED.. to remind us of the fire of the holy spirit that came down upon the disciples at Pentecost….   In confirmation, you will have the gifts of the Spirit confirmed in you, to help you live as Jesus taught us… by loving, God loving your neighbour and showing love and care to yourself as well…

 

Lord Bless these sashes… may they remind us that we belong to you and you love us and care for us always…….

 

Bless these young people preparing for their confirmation and first holy communion as their time of preparation nears completion……  We make this prayer in the name of the + father, and of the son and of the holy Spirit.,

 

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REFERENCES:

 

FR. PAUL W. KELLY

 

 

 

 

Paul's Reflections 5th Sunday of Easter, Year A. 22nd May, 2011

22nd May, 2011      5th Sunday of Easter, Year A

 

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The preparation for Confirmation and First communion of our young candidates is coming along very nicely.  Once more in the preparation session, the good questions and answers are flowing…

 

The readings this weekend are rather handy…  we have been speaking to the children about how the church can do nothing without the power of the Holy Spirit activating and giving effect to everything we do.  We cannot live as disciples of Jesus without the Holy Spirit living in us….  We received the Holy Spirit in Baptism… and we get special gifts of the Holy Spirit in Confirmation…..   

 

The students have been watching for the special sign that the church uses to show that we are praying for the Holy Spirit to come down and give effect to what we are doing… It’s called the “laying of hands” and its seen in each sacrament. In this case the priest lays his hands over the gifts of bread and wine and says word such as “Therefore, O Lord, we pray: may this same Holy Spirit graciously sanctify these offerings,

the Body and + Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ,”  (as it says in the new translation of Eucharistic prayer iv which I will be using for the first time this weekend).

 

Notice in the first reading we heard today, it was about the Apostles, realising there was a need for special people to help the widows and the poor, and so they prayed to the Holy Spirit and called Stephen and other disciples to the special task of serving;  in the role we now call the Holy Order of Deacons, and the reading says…….the apostles prayed and then “laid their hands on them”, which shows the giving of the Holy Spirit for them in their special job.  See how this important sign was in the church right from the beginning two thousand years ago.

 

And in the second reading we see how God has set all of us apart to do his work in the world…   to be a royal people blessed and called to praise God and do his will.   And that, we are like living building blocks; and God is building us up to be a “spiritual house of God”…   a church, made (not of stones), but of living people… you and me….. in the world and filled with God’s Spirit, doing good work for God.  

The second reading says…  you are called out of darkness into God’s wonderful light…  In baptism we received the light of Christ….  And we became sons and daughters of the light…    with God’s Spirit living in us…  in confirmation we remember our baptism.. so that is why we feature the baptismal candle… which our candidates have brought with them today.. for a blessing….    Which we will now do.

 

(bless candles)

 

 Blessing of candles:

 

I call forward the young people who are preparing to receive their confirmation and First Holy communion…

 

Please come forward to HAVE YOUR BAPTISMAL  candle BLESSED….

 

 

Let us pray….

My friends…   this candle was given to you as a reminder of your Baptism…..   when you were Baptised, your parents were handed a special candle.. your baptismal candle, and the priest said as he gave them the candle to hold…

“Receive the light of Christ…

Parents and godparents.. this light is entrusted to you to be kept burning brightly.. it is the light of faith that your child has received.. keep that flame alive in their hearts… always growing stronger..

 

This candle reminds us that in your Baptism, you became a child of God… and a light of Christ in the world…..   you are now preparing for confirmation.. where we seal and affirm that light you received in Baptism… and also first communion, where the light of Christ in you will be strengthened… by Jesus who comes to us in the bread broken and the cup poured out for us…

 

Lord… bless these young people and help them be a light of Jesus' love to all they meet….

 

We ask this in the name of the + Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit amen.

 

My friends…   let's congratulate these lights of Christ amongst us….

 

 

 

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REFERENCES:

 

FR. PAUL W. KELLY

 

 

Paul's Reflections EASTER WEEK FOUR. YEAR A. 15TH MAY, 2011.

EASTER WEEK FOUR. YEAR A.   15^TH MAY, 2011.

 

This weekend at the different masses, we have our young ones who have begun their preparation to receive their Confirmation and first holy communion …..  

 

this Gospel we heard today is very special because it shows us that we are all friends of Jesus….  He is our Good shepherd and he walks along with us along our whole life journey… He knows us by name….  he leads us by safe paths….  He cares about what happens to us……   He is always interested to hear us tell him of our hopes, our fears… our disappointments and our failures… and he is there to reassure us and give us strength and to assure us that if we keep trusting in him, the love of God has the final word in our life….    and that last word is the promise that we are beloved sons and daughters of God….   forever …..

Jesus sends us the Holy Spirit who gives life and effectiveness to everything we do…..    and this Spirit gives us special gifts to help us to achieve what God is wanting to build in our lives and our world.

 In our sacraments, there is a special sign of the giving and descending of the Spirit upon us and that is the sign of the 'laying of hands.'  where the priest or bishop holds his hands over the person or object to be blessed and prays that the Spirit may come down upon them to give them the effectiveness to do what they need to do, the become what they are called to be….   

 

Each sacrament of the church has this sign of the 'laying of hands, and the calling down of the spirit, and I do invite the young people to watch for when these signs occur in our prayers….    in confirmation, Bishop Finnigan will place his hands on your head… and pray that the Holy Spirit be poured down upon you, and give you special gifts… spiritual building blocks to help you live as good disciples of Jesus….   

 

Traditionally, the church sees that there are seven gifts of the holy spirit, and the young ones preparing for confirmation and first holy communion are learning about them: (in fact…   the answers given in our first class last Wednesday night was very inspiring…..  because the young people (in their answers to questions) reminded us that there are actually more than seven gifts that the Spirit gives us…  In fact….., God gives us the gifts we need to be good friends and disciples of Jesus…..    and the seven traditional gifts of the Spirit are the core of those gifts……  

the Spirit gives the gift of : 

·        wisdom - the gift of being able to see things the way God sees them. To accept my life from God and be able to learn and grow through all that happens to me.

 

·        understanding  - the gift of being able to capture the meaning of God's message. To listen, to think things through and to be able to put myself in others' shoes

 

·        right judgement - the ability to see what to do in a given situation. to be able to choose and act for what is right and good and true.

 

·        courage - the ability to be able to keep doing something we know to be right and good even when it is difficult. to accept difficulties and challenges in my life cheerfully and firmly and strongly.

 

·        knowledge - the gift of knowing that God is the Father and that Jesus is his son,  and knowing about what God teaches us. to willingly learn about and develop my relationship with God and other people.

 

·        reverence - a deep respect, gentleness and care shown towards God, God's creation and people.. To have respect and care for myself, all people and all things of our world.

 

wonder and awe in God's presence. Gift of being able to appreciate and enjoy and be aware of all the amazing beauty that is in our world and the ability to see that God is at work still in our world.. to be deeply impressed and in amazement about all the wonders God has done for me, and for others and for the world and for the things that happen in life, big and small.

May we all be open to the gifts of the Holy spirit, and say 'yes' to God building us up into living stones in God's house of kindness, practical action and love…

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(extra): 

This weekend, the gospel speaks of the image of the Sheepfold: That they may have life and have it to the full. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep.  Christ’s offering of his whole self and even his life (down to the very last drop of his blood) is remembered by us at each and every Eucharist. In our Liturgy we constantly speak of this mysterious thing called the “Paschal Mystery”, which is actually about the mystery of Jesus’ life, suffering, death and Resurrection- All for the salvation of  people.  In every Eucharistic prayer, this Paschal Mystery is recalled and remembered. The word used for this remembering and for this living memorial sacrifice of Christ on the Cross, is the rather daunting Greek word: “anamnesis”, (which is a word that means …: “remembering”).

 

This weekend I will be using the new Eucharistic Prayer of Reconciliation  I. 

 

I have been speaking in the newsletter and in homily reflections about the new missal……. And its implementation…  (there is an extensive new and updated section on our parish website…    which is noted on the front page of the newsletter….  www.marycatholic.com..... Esp:  http://www.parishes.bne.catholic.net.au/maryborough/missal.htm . 

 

It explains in detail the changes and their history of development. It also has an extensive glossary of words and their meaning…..

 

Interestingly….  some of the changes turn out to be more corrections …  Since the introduction of the post Vatican II updated Latin version of the 1969 missal, we have been using the English translation of that Missal, for the last 41 years.  The new translation is actually a more strict translation of what was virtually all there in the Latin text of 1969. ….   They have simply gone back and translated what was already there! …   in a close translation rather than some paraphrasing that occurred in the previous version…..   As we mentioned in previous weeks, some of the language might be different in this new translation, such as the prayer to the Father that he will “spur us on to possess a more abundant life.”  But, really, this and many other sentences are really beautiful.   That sentence is is a beautiful and active request of God and it is at the heart of what we seek: that God will encourage us and inspire us and keep us going….  /…. May God “spur us on to possess a more abundant life” …. //.

 

Christ came to reconcile us to God and to one another. This is a major part of his mission. This Eucharistic prayer, (but also all the Eucharistic Prayers) touch upon this.

 

The beauty and the mystery of the Mass is that it is not just a meal of fellowship and unity, it is also,  (in a very powerful way),  a “Sacrifice”; Eucharist is the re-presentation of the once-and-for-all Sacrifice of Christ on the cross.

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Paul's Reflections Easter Two. Year a. 2011

Second Sunday of Easter, Year A. 2011.

 

(Fr Angelo will be celebrating the 6pm Saturday and the 8am Sunday masses this weekend. I will be celebrating the 10am Tiaro mass and several Baptisms and two weddings). So it’s a wonderful, busy week of celebrations.

 

This weekend, there are a lot of things happening in the Easter season, in the church and in the wider secular community..  These things all find a place in our prayers and thoughts..

 

This Sunday is Divine Mercy Sunday, where we recall the absolute mercy and love that Jesus has for all humanity.   This same Sunday is the day the Pope will declare the late Pope John Paul II “blessed”  - the first formal step towards canonisation.  In addition, it’s the labour day long weekend, where we give thanks for all workers and pray that their dignity and conditions will be respected and humane and dignified.

 

Also,

Over the next few weeks I will be preaching about the new Missal for the celebration of Mass in the Catholic church. Particularly the new English translation that is soon to come into effect, and its connections to our faith and practice… 

As you probably know, usually the homily is to be taken from the readings of the day or, as the Vatican II documents and subsequent liturgical documents also stress, homilies can also be based on the prayers and texts of the mass for that day.  This is most fitting at this time when the translation of those texts is about to change.

Second Sunday of Easter

 

In the readings this weekend we see the scene of the encounter between the  Risen Christ and Thomas: (Jesus) “breathed on them and said: Receive the Holy Spirit.” The Holy Spirit in the life of the church is absolutely vital. Without the Holy Spirit falling upon the church and falling upon us, everything we do would be ineffective.  The gift of the Holy Spirit  “falls upon us like the dewfall”  (which is a phrase that captures the image of the manna falling from heaven and lightly coating the ground in order to give nourishment to the people of Israel when they were journeying through the desert, with Moses leading them.  In the coming weeks we are going to be introduced to the new ROMAN MISSAL. this is a new and authorised translation of the mass. If you look at the Eucharistic prayers of both the new mass and, in fact, the present mass too, you can see that each Eucharistic Prayer always features the invocation (or ‘calling down’) of the Holy Spirit on the gifts and on the gathered Church (this is called by the Greek word: epiclesis).  Have a look at Eucharistic Prayer II and notice the role of the Holy Spirit in the Eucharistic Prayer.  In the new translation, this role of the Spirit is highlighted. (Notice the new image of the dewfall as I mentioned before).

 

Newsletter:  An outline of the structure of the Eucharistic Prayer (GIRM 79).

 

Paragraph 79 of the New Instruction on the Roman Missal says the following, relating to the structure of the Eucharistic Prayers:

 

The chief elements making up the Eucharistic Prayer may be distinguished

in this way:

a. Thanksgiving (expressed especially in the Preface): in which the priest, in

the name of the entire holy people, glorifies God the Father and gives thanks

for the whole work of salvation or for some special aspect of it that

corresponds to the day, festivity, or season.

 

b. Acclamation: in which the whole congregation, joining with the heavenly

powers, sings the Sanctus (also known as the “holy, Holy”). This acclamation, which is part of the Eucharistic Prayer itself, is sung or said by all the people with the priest.

 

c. Epiclesis (a Greek word for “calling down from on high”) : in which, by means of particular invocations, the Church implores

the power of the Holy Spirit that the gifts offered by human hands be

consecrated, that is, become Christ’s Body and Blood, and that the spotless

Victim to be received in Communion be for the salvation of those who will

partake of it.

 

d. Institution narrative and consecration: in which, by means of words and

actions of Christ, the Sacrifice is carried out which Christ himself instituted

at the Last Supper, when he offered his Body and Blood under the species

of bread and wine, gave them to his Apostles to eat and drink, and left them

the command to perpetuate this same mystery.

 

e. “Anamnesis” (A Greek word for “Remembering”): in which the Church, fulfilling the command that she received

from Christ the Lord through the Apostles, keeps the memorial of Christ,

recalling especially his blessed Passion, glorious Resurrection, and Ascension

into heaven.

 

f. Offering: by which, in this very memorial, the Church - and in particular

the Church here and now gathered - offers in the Holy Spirit the

spotless Victim to the Father. The Church’s intention, however, is that

the faithful not only offer this spotless Victim but also learn to offer

themselves,71 and so day by day to be consummated, through Christ the

Mediator, into unity with God and with each other, so that at last God may be all in all.72

 

g. Intercessions: by which expression is given to the fact that the Eucharist is

celebrated in communion with the entire Church, of heaven as well as of

earth, and that the offering is made for her and for all her members, living

and dead, who have been called to participate in the redemption and the

salvation purchased by Christ’s Body and Blood.

 

h. Final doxology (a Greek word meaning “giving glory and praise”) : by which the glorification of God is expressed and which is

confirmed and concluded by the people’s acclamation: Amen.

 

 

In the end, the new translation of the Mass texts keeps faithful to this ancient structure and re-translates the texts from the original latin prototype edition faithfully and literally… so that no matter what language we are celebrating mass in…   throughout the world, we will all be joined with one voice praising, thanking, remembering and offering ourselves to the perfect offering of Christ in the Eucharist.    For the greater glory of God and the coming of his Kingdom..

 

Paul's Reflections Fourth Sunday of Lent. A. / 3rd April, 2011 /

3rd April, 2011      Fourth Sunday of Lent. A

 

P Save a tree. Don't print this e-mail unless it's really necessary

 

This gospel of the cure of the blind man and the extraordinary response of the religious authorities around Jesus, is really quite a delightful and intriguing chapter.

 

The blind man is initially unsure what is happening, but he is sure of one thing, whatever people are making of his situation…   ‘he was blind and now he can see.”   The same cannot be said (spiritually) for the religious leaders of Jesus’ time, who really ought to know better but choose not to.

 

There is a lot of movement in this story…   there are people coming and going in this drama….   Jesus walks past the blind man, who received this free gift of sight apparently without even asking for it…  but he is certainly grateful…   then the crowd takes him to the Pharisees because they can’t believe its really the same person….   Then the Pharisees send him away..  and then the parents of the blind man come in and go.. after carefully getting themselves out of trouble….  And then Jesus goes looking for the ex-blind man and speaks with him again/….  Its all wonderful….. 

 

Now, not only has the man got his sight back… he can now see Jesus with the eyes of faith, which is an ever greater gift he has received…. 

 

The man believes in what Jesus tells him and worships Jesus.

 

The experts in the law and those considered publicly righteous, do not respond in the way they should to Jesus.  They will not listen to him, they will not see what is really going on. They will not believe even when the blind see again.   

 

These people will not let go of their stubborn and wrong beliefs that physical conditions are caused by the wrongdoing or sin of the person or their ancestors…  they won’t let go of the false belief that God is punishing sick and disabled people for their sins or the sins of others….   It might seem a strange superstition to hold on to today, and yet, (you know) if you scratch the surface, I reckon there are still a lot of people who continue to believe at some level that God does go around punishing people who have done wrong and rewarding people who have done wrong.. in this life… by way of the things and illnesses that befall them… . This gospel and the teachings of Jesus make it quite clear that this is not how God operates and that belief is wrong… and very unhelpful.    We know that there are many incidents of really good people who suffer terribly and they may not even get the respite they deserve in this life,   whilst other people who have apparently lead really bad lives…  appear happy, healthy, and even prosperous … right to the end….     

 

As it says elsewhere in scripture… “the lord makes his sun to shine and rain to fall on good and bad alike.”

 

In the midst of all the natural disasters happening around the world…... it is a very unhelpful and I think quite wrong thing to fall for the trap of thinking that this is some kind of punishment or action by God aimed at particular people or behaviours…   /   I believe that  is just not the case….    God is a God of love who wants nothing but that which is for our good…  for all people…..    its very difficult to make sense of what is happening in so many parts of the world… but we do well to avoid any simplistic explanations to placate our worries about why this has happened or whether it could happen again or here….  And so on….  I believe God’s hand is to be seen at work not in the cause of these disasters, but in the hands of those who help to heal and rebuild and help….  God is in the midst of us suffering with us and for us and helping to being life out of the worst that the world throws up at us….  

 

Jesus has, in his ministry, a series of really key teachings and points to make and he targeted particular problems in the religious system of his day.  He named some of the problems specifically and warned his followers to be on their guard about them.  Some problems can be quite insidious and hard to shake…

 

In today’s gospel, he names ‘spiritual blindness’ (which includes an unwillingness or an inability to even realise that they have a blind spot in their attitudes and behaviour).   Jesus also highlights “hypocrisy” as a major stumbling block in the religious life. It is so hard to detect these things because (by definition) If something cannot be seen or is hidden…it is hard to know that it is there. Also, if a person is not living up to what they appear to be doing outwardly, how can an observer tell the difference. It is a real problem. Jesus reminds us, that it is in the fruits that we test the health of the plant.  It is in the actions and results of a person’s life that the true health of their spirituality and religiousness shows itself.

 

Ultimately, anything done in the name of religion that does not foster greater love of God, and love of neighbour as one self, is not authentic Christianity.

 

To go through the outward observances of the law and then go out and mistreat one’s brothers and sisters around us is really one of the worst and most confusing things for Christians to do. It goes down so poorly with not only fellow Christians but also non-Christians many of whom know how they think Jesus’ disciples should be acting and why.

                                       

 

May the lord show us any areas of spiritual blindness and open us up to love more and more as he calls us to do.

 

 

 

 

 

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REFERENCES:

 

FR. PAUL W. KELLY