Catholic 738: Pentecost Sunday. Year C - Sunday, June 9, 2019

Homily Pentecost Sunday. Year C - Sunday, June 9, 2019

Image; stock photo ID: 783792871. Bayeux, France - February 12, 2013: Stained Glass window depicting Pentecost, in Bayeux Cathedral, Calvados, France. - Image

Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers, and reflections for the Pentecost Sunday. Year C - Sunday, June 9, 2019, by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/pentecost-2019-year-c-with-year-a-readings/s-gptGq  (EPISODE: 161)
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(Readings of the Day are used, utilizing options offered from Year A)

First Reading: Acts 2:1-11
Psalm: Ps 103:1. 24. 29-31. 34. "Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth."
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:3-7. 12-13
Gospel: John 20:19-23
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The Holy Spirit makes us disciples, able to be the Warm breath of human kindness at times of terrible coldness and need.....

"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 in The Spirit. Courage replaced caution and a fire was lit in our hearts that has scattered the darkness of fear forever. Those first disciples became new creations and so we are. 

The new life of the Spirit has been given to us so as to call us to a heroic life, —- to be instruments of God's peace and mercy in a beautiful but broken world."

 The Gospel today, from Saint John, tells us about the coming of the Holy Spirit.  It is clear again that these early followers were hiding behind closed doors, feeling very, very fearful.  And they were not imaging the danger.  They were right to expect that they would be persecuted and harmed for being followers of Christ. The coming of the Holy Spirit takes their fears away.  Interestingly the Spirit does not take the danger away, but it gives us disciples boldness to do what is right and not be frightened into backing down.

At the heart of our Christian life, fear is taken away, peace and forgiveness are given. In turn, we as instruments and living vessels of Gods Spirit,  - we too can dispel the fears of others and proclaim peace and forgiveness that are given to us in Jesus.

Our gifts are different, each person has different gifts.  We need all the gifts that each person has so that we can continue the work of Christ in our world.  How different our world looks when we begin to recognize that each person brings his or her own gifts and that we need those gifts to live in the fullness of Jesus Christ.

We KNOW the Spirit is at work in our lives especially when the love and sacrifice we show is clearly coming from a loving hand far bigger than our own lives and our own finite motives and actions

When we do actions that are loving and unselfish, we are deeply aware that there is a power and a loving presence at work in us that is bigger than just ourselves.  ….Transcending our limitations … and not explainable only by our own actions… but bigger, ……. And "of which are freely cooperating part…."

It is God's Holy Spirit at work in and through us.  At work in the world.   A power of unselfish, sacrificing love and service. Unconditional love. That is at the heart of creation.

As the readings this weekend tell us, we become beloved sons and daughters of God, and heirs to God's kingdom. We have been given the freedom of the children of God.  But, this freedom is given to us in order that we too can live as Christ did, being all about service, sacrifice, and self-forgetting love.

"If you are guided by the Spirit you will be in no danger of yielding to self-indulgence since self-indulgence is the opposite of the Spirit, the Spirit is totally against such a thing, and it is precisely because the two are so opposed that you do not always carry out your good intentions. If you are led by the Spirit, no law can touch you. When self-indulgence is at work the results are obvious…………//  … What the Spirit brings is very different: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness and self-control. There can be no law against things like that, of course. You cannot belong to Christ Jesus unless you crucify all self-indulgent passions and desires. Since the Spirit is our life, let us be directed by the Spirit." (Galatians 5:16-26)

The Gospel this weekend also reminds us that the presence and action of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in the lives of the church will always work to remind us of all that Christ did and said, and keep us close to Christ and his values. The Holy Spirit is the "Spirit of Truth." All who live by the Spirit, strive to live authentic, honest, integrated lives built on truth.

Finally…  just an interesting insight -- …  we often read this text about how (after the Spirit descended) people of different languages and cultures could all hear and understand….. but what is interesting is…   the people were not speaking the same language… they were still speaking in the language of those different cultures…..  but even so… they could understand….  This is a reminder that the Spirit brings not uniformity, but diversity and variety…. But we are all ONE that diversity because the common language we speak is the language of God… and that is LOVE…..

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REFERENCES:

FR. PAUL W. KELLY

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

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

SHARING THE WORD THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR. GUSTAVO GUTIERREZ.

MONASTERY OF CHRIST IN THE DESERT. ABBOT'S HOMILY.

Image; stock photo ID: 783792871. Bayeux, France - February 12, 2013: Stained Glass window depicting Pentecost, in Bayeux Cathedral, Calvados, France. - Image

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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.
NB - It is often a week or so Ahead:  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,  A time of Christian worship and reflection"  - Led by Rev Paul W. Kelly
Texts used in this programme are for the purposes of worship and prayer for listeners wherever you are.
Prayers and chants are taken from the English Translation of the Roman Missal, edition three, © 2010, The International commission on English in the liturgy.
Scriptures are from the New Revised Standard Version: © 1989,  by the national council of Churches of Christ, USA. , //adaptations to conform with Catholic liturgical norms, © 2009, by the same.
 [{selected psalms } - ***Psalm verses are (also) taken from "The Psalms: A New Translation" ©1963, The Grail (England), published by Collins.. **]

Prayers of the Faithful are adapted from Robert Borg's 1993 book " Together we pray". Published in Sydney Australia By  E.J. Dwyer. (out of print).

{ "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" -published 2011,  Composed and Sung by Jeffrey M. Ostrowski 
Featuring the….Gloria, The Creed, The Kyrie, The Mass parts, Psalms:   http://www.ccwatershed.org/chabanel/  ]]] ] COPYRIGHT @ 2018 CORPUS CHRISTI WATERSHED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  www.ccwatershed.org/vatican/Ralph_Sherwin_Videos/ 

"Faith, Hope and Love" theme Hymn:   Words, based on 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, set to original music © 1996 by Paul W. Kelly.

For more details please visit http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au/
Contact us at paulwkelly68@gmail.com
Production by Kelly Enterprises Resources.

May God bless and keep you.


Pentecost Sunday. Year C
(Sunday, June 9, 2019)

(EPISODE: 161 )

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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As one family in Christ, let us prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries by calling to mind our sins.
Lord Jesus, you are mighty God and Prince of peace. Lord have mercy//  You are Son of God and the Son of Mary. Christ have mercy// You are Word made flesh, the splendour of the Father. 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

We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.

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Pentecost

Eucharistic Prayer III

Communion side.  pwk:  RH
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Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.

Catholic 737: ASCENSION OF THE LORD. Year C - Sunday, June 2, 2019

Homily ASCENSION OF THE LORD. Year C - Sunday, June 2, 2019

Shutterstock licensed Photo: ID: 1193097937. Oakland, California - September 30, 2018: Interior of the  Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension. Oakland, Alameda County, California, USA.

Our prayers and thoughts are with all who were afffected by the mass shooting in Virginia, U.S.A. These acts of senseless violence and hatred cause so much suffering and incalculable personal loss.  Let us pray for an end to violence and a deep reverence for all life.

THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
First Reading: Acts 1:1-11
Psalm: Ps 46:2-3. 6-9. "God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord."
Second Reading: Ephesians 1:17-23
Gospel Acclamation: Matthew 28:19. 20
Gospel: Luke 24:46-53
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Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers, and reflections for the ASCENSION OF THE LORD. Year C - Sunday, June 2, 2019, by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/ascension-year-faith-hope-and-love-c-2019/s-rxSrJ  (EPISODE: 160)
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Our Lord returns to the Heavenly Father, but he is still with us through the Holy Spirit. He now commissions us his disciples to continue his work; to keep spreading his message of good news and to keep living and proclaiming his gospel.

We are on the journey towards the fullness of God's Kingdom. Everything we do and say is directed towards cooperating in God's work of the Kingdom. 

If Jesus had not returned to the Father, we would still be saying "there he is over there!" or "here he is only over here!!"; But now, by returning to Heaven and sending the Holy Spirit to us, Jesus is "all IN all" because Christ makes his home in our hearts and in our world, through the Holy Spirit. All the while, we work to make our homes, our workplaces and our city, more and more places of Christian value and action. 

The Spirit helps us to make Christ present in the midst of a world which can be too-often filled with selfishness, undue privilege, arrogance; and abuse of power or authority. Tragically this world is capable of showing a terrible indifference towards the poor, the hungry and the suffering. 

As one scripture scholar puts it:** "Ascension and Pentecost are feasts of Christian maturity. We are now called to continue Jesus' mission with our insight into reality, our criteria, and decisions.

Luke's Gospel on the Ascension has a fascinating, different, focus from Matthew and Mark's versions.** In these other two gospels, the Disciples are sent out on mission. In Luke, yes they are implicitly sent on mission but they are particularly sent out, in the visible absence of Christ, to be witnesses of Christ in their words and actions in the world. Our Lord's absence is not as if he is dead and gone. Rather, he is alive, and with the Father, and he will return at the end to complete all things. In the meantime, we must be his hands and eyes and heart in the world, through the Power of the Spirit.

"For, the "power of the Spirit" (Acts 1:7) is with us. We must not stand still looking up and lamenting the absence of the Lord. We must not sit around waiting for his return in a passive kind of way. Instead, we must set out on our way to take his gospel "to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). We are now adult Christians, not immature, not passive; not merely waiting for answers or tasks to fall out of the sky… but rather shareholders in the kingdom, sons, and daughters of the eternal God, brothers, and sisters of Christ…. with a real part to play in the action. Before Christ's death, the disciples were like young students, being carefully nourished with the message.  After Christ's death, resurrection, Ascension, and with the coming of the Holy Spirit, they are now not merely waiting to be fed, they are to go out and be nourishment for others.

The Second Vatican Council strongly emphasized this. Being mature in the faith is a requirement of the gospel, and as adults, we all have our carefully thought-out, reflected upon, and prayed-about views and insights into this shared task we share in.

We are encouraged in this by the assurance that the Lord will return (Acts 1:11) because he is alive (Eph 1:20). But we are also alert, for at that time he will ask us to give an account of the talents he has entrusted to us, and the fruits we have been able to produce,"** with our work and cooperation.

Jesus' ascension tells us to "stop standing there looking up into the clouds;" There is work to be done. And, there is no time like the present. In his earthly ministry, Our Lord was in an urgent hurry to bring his gospel and his ministry to all people. He now entrusts this ministry to us, through the abiding presence of his Spirit. There is no time to lose. God wants us to be about his business right away, and, reassuringly, always giving us the 'very present' assistance of God's Holy Spirit abiding in us. 

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REFERENCES:

FR. PAUL W. KELLY,

**Gutiérrez, G. and Dees, C. (1997). Sharing the Word through the liturgical year. 1st ed. Maryknoll: Orbis Books. P. 111

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

A BOOK OF GRACE-FILLED DAYS - 2010. BY ALICE CAMILLE. 
Image reference: Shutterstock licensed Photo: ID: 1193097937. Oakland, California - September 30, 2018: Interior of the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension. Oakland, Alameda County, California, USA. Used with Permission.

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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. 
NB - It is often a week or so Ahead: 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, A time of Christian worship and reflection" - Led by Rev Paul W. Kelly
Texts used in this programme are for the purposes of worship and prayer for listeners wherever you are.
Prayers and chants are taken from the English Translation of the Roman Missal, edition three, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy.
Scriptures are from the New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, by the national council of Churches of Christ, USA. , //adaptations to conform with Catholic liturgical norms, © 2009, by the same.
 [{selected psalms } - ***Psalm verses are (also) taken from "The Psalms: A New Translation" ©1963, The Grail (England), published by Collins; **]

Prayers of the Faithful are adapted from Robert Borg's 1993 book " Together we pray". Published in Sydney Australia By E.J. Dwyer. (out of print).

{ "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" -published 2011, Composed and Sung by Jeffrey M. Ostrowski
Featuring the….Gloria, The Creed, The Kyrie, The Mass parts, Psalms: http://www.ccwatershed.org/chabanel/ ]]] ] COPYRIGHT @ 2018 CORPUS CHRISTI WATERSHED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. www.ccwatershed.org/vatican/Ralph_Sherwin_Videos/ 

"Faith, Hope and Love" theme Hymn: Words, based on 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, set to original music © 1996 by Paul W. Kelly.

For more details please visit http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au/
Contact us at paulwkelly68@gmail.com
Production by Kelly Enterprises Resources.

May God bless and keep you.


ASCENSION OF THE LORD. Year C
(Sunday, June 2, 2019)

(EPISODE: 160 )

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (or// The Lord be with You)
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Coming together as brothers and sisters in Christ, let us pause and reflect upon our sins, in order to celebrate the Holy Eucharist.
Lord Jesus, you healed the sick: Lord, have mercy//Lord Jesus, you forgave sinners: Christ, have mercy//Lord Jesus, you give us yourself to heal us and bring us strength: 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

Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.

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Ascension I

Eucharistic Prayer III

Communion side. pwk: LH
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Go forth, the Mass is ended.

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Catholic 736: Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year C - Sunday, May 26, 2019

Homily Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year C - Sunday, May 26, 2019

THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
First Reading: Acts 15:1-2. 22-29
Psalm: Ps 66:2-3. 5-6. 8. "O God let all the nations praise you"
Second Reading: Revelation 21:10-14. 22-23
Gospel Acclamation: John 14:23
Gospel: John 14:23-29

Image:  Shutterstock Licensed: Photo: By piosi, photo ID: 417676585 SLUPSK, POLAND - 21 MARCH 2016 stained glass window depicting Pentecost -

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Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers, and reflections for the Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year C - Sunday, May 26, 2019, by clicking this link here:   https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/easter-6c-faith-hope-and-love/s-QjhL5  (EPISODE: 159)
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The readings this weekend all speak of the Holy Spirit. The theme of the readings is all about the Spirit, as our Easter Season fast approaches Pentecost.

We cannot underestimate the importance of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in the life of the church. Without the Holy Spirit, the church would be ineffective and we, the disciples of Jesus, need the action and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to be effective in what we seek to achieve.

There is a line in the first reading that I really love; the words: "It has been decided by the Holy Spirit and by us"…… or as another translation puts it: "It seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us that……" This shows that the early church and its disciples when faced with new questions for new situations and new times, gathered together in prayer and actively discerned what the Holy Spirit wanted… and then they made a decision which was an authentic act of the Holy Spirit and with active cooperation from the disciples. We can see how the Holy Spirit becomes part of our lives, hearts and minds AND the major decisions of the church.  Christian life for us disciples becomes a beautiful, cooperative and unified action both of our own will and intellect and also of God's Holy Spirit. It is interesting, that this phrase has been put to practical effect in the history of the church even now. I believe that some religious orders when their Superior (their leader) is deciding to send a religious person to a new appointment or mission, they would write in the official letter of appointment this beautiful formal phrase….. "It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us that you be appointed to such and such…….." Thus there is a recognition of not only the decision-making process and wisdom of the leader but also the absolutely necessary prayerful discernment,  grace and guidance of the Holy Spirit in everything we do. 

We are invited by Christ to be "so connected to Christ" that our decisions, our actions, and our priorities will be guided by and connected to Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, without any loss of free will. I love that!

I absolutely love the Gospel today… It is mysterious, but also very profound. It is so beautiful and so important to our understanding. Jesus says that he and the Father, (through the Holy Spirit), will come and "make their home in our hearts, and make their home in us"….and that we will be connected to Christ,….. united to Christ in the very life of the Holy Trinity….…. We will be "in communion" with Christ in a very real way, through our obedience and love.

I love all the passages where Jesus, quite clearly, deliberately and explicitly speaks of the union he shares with the Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit, and how they "abide in each-other," (they live in and within each other)…  (they make a home in each other's being). .. This union/ this communion, is inviting us to share and abide in God's life….  This is his unique gift to us who become his disciples. There can be nothing more wonderful.

Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to us so that we will always be connected to Jesus (abide in Him and him in us, and Him in the Father and the Father in the Spirit)…..   we will abide in his teachings … live in his love….  and this Spirit living within us,,, will constantly remind us of his teachings and his truths……. God will truly live with his people.. and abide in and within us. God will walk with us, his people, always. And God will be the light to show us the way through our journeys through life, so we have nothing to fear even when life is far from easy or simple.

Finally, and most importantly, Jesus promises us the gift of peace. This is a gift we all long for, and for which the world longs to receive. Jesus promises us the gift of his peace… a peace the world cannot give and cannot achieve of itself…. God's peace is all we need through all the tragedies and the joys of life…  as well as the failures and successes of life….

Jesus has, with the gift of the Holy Spirit, gifted us with God's divine peace and unity and connection to God that can hardly be imagined//…. and also the very real authority to cooperate in and participate in real decisions for Christian living…..  So, in union with Christ, we participate in and discern with the Spirit for the issues and questions that come up anew in our lives…. // This authority to discern the Spirit's guidance in new questions is done by God in a way that engages us and all our talents and gifts, and uses all our faculties, - our knowledge and intellect, our understanding of the Scriptures as interpreted by the Church, which itself has been constantly inspired by the Holy Spirit down through the many ages…. This freedom to decide is also a deep and challenging responsibility, that does not give us license, but rather discretion and which frees us to be open to God's ways and values, always with the prayerful guidance and prudence of God's grace.

We can trust that God is there to guide us and direct us and inspire us as we contemplate the issue and questions of our present age. (we see this profound discernment and cooperation and love in Pope Francis's exercise of his Papal ministry, which is inspiring to Christian and non-christian people alike, throughout the world.,,,
We must trust in the power and authority and discernment that God has given us, as a body of Christ, so that we may continue to apply the gospel in each and every new situation and circumstance of daily life….. for God is with us… God abides with and in us. God guides, leads and inspires us. God's Holy Spirit shows us the way and gives us the direction.
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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly

Image:  Shutterstock Licensed: Photo: By piosi, photo ID: 417676585 SLUPSK, POLAND - 21 MARCH 2016 stained glass window depicting Pentecost -
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First Holy Communion Mass - Homily 2019

First Holy Communion

Congratulations to these, our young ones, who today, are receiving for the first time, The Body and Blood of Jesus in the Eucharist.

Sometimes we mistakenly called this “Making your first Eucharist”  but it is not your first Eucharist…   every time you attended mass and participated in the Mass, you were celebrating in the Eucharist…   you would even come forward in the communion line, and receiving a blessing…    since you were very young…  you were coming forward with your arms like this   (X)   as a sign that you wanted to be part of the Eucharist, but not yet receiving communion…

Today, and from now on, you no longer do THIS   (X)  but now come forward like this:    (hands out)   and You receive Holy Communion.,

Thank you so much to the young ones who have prepared so well for this special day…..  and thanks to your families for your support and participation in this preparation…  you are now very much ready…   (thanks too to our sacramental team…  Cathy Anderson,  Trish Fearnley,  Denise Sullivan,  Bernadette Burns,  and so many who have been of such help in making this a very special day.

The Eucharist that you are now fully participating members in, goes right back to the Last Supper when our Lord instructed his followers to take the Bread and drink from the cup…   in memory of him….   This is my Body… this is my Blood….   For over two thousand years his disciples have been faithful to this instruction.  and today, you fully join in …    Jesus gives himself to us to strengthen us to live good lives and treat others kindly…   help those in need… and stand up for the values that matter in God’s eyes….   By receiving communion, God, (Jesus)  comes and lives in your heart and in your lives and guides and strengthens you to build up the Kingdom as Jesus wants it.   What a wonderful gift.

There is one thing better than FIRST HOLY COMMUNION, and that is second holy communion…  and there is one thing better than second holy communion and that is third holy communion…     this is not your first and last time receiving communion and participating in Eucharist…  this becomes a pattern of our lives as we frequently gather as a community of Jesus’ friends and listen to God’s Word and receive Jesus so that we can have the strength to live as Jesus asks us to be. 

May God who has begun this very good work in you, bring it to perfection.

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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.
NB - It is often a week or so Ahead: 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,  A time of Christian worship and reflection"  - Led by Rev Paul W. Kelly
Texts used in this programme are for the purposes of worship and prayer for listeners wherever you are.
Prayers and chants are taken from the English Translation of the Roman Missal, edition three, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy.
Scriptures are from the New Revised Standard Version: © 1989,  by the national council of Churches of Christ, USA. , //adaptations to conform with Catholic liturgical norms, © 2009, by the same.
 [{selected psalms } - ***Psalm verses are (also) taken from "The Psalms: A New Translation" ©1963, The Grail (England), published by Collins.. **]

Prayers of the Faithful are adapted from Robert Borg's 1993 book " Together we pray". Published in Sydney Australia By  E.J. Dwyer. (out of print).

{ "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" -published 2011,  Composed and Sung by Jeffrey M. Ostrowski 
Featuring the….Gloria, The Creed, The Kyrie, The Mass parts, Psalms:  http://www.ccwatershed.org/chabanel/  ]]] ] COPYRIGHT @ 2018 CORPUS CHRISTI WATERSHED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  www.ccwatershed.org/vatican/Ralph_Sherwin_Videos/  

"Faith, Hope and Love" theme Hymn:   Words, based on 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, set to original music © 1996 by Paul W. Kelly.

For more details please visit http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au/
Contact us atpaulwkelly68@gmail.com
Production by Kelly Enterprises Resources. 

May God bless and keep you.


Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year C
(Sunday, May 26, 2019)

(EPISODE: 159 )

The Lord be with you.
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my brothers and sisters, to prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries, let us call to mind our sins.
Lord Jesus, you raise us to new life: Lord, have mercy//Lord Jesus, you forgive us our sins: Christ, have mercy//Lord Jesus, you feed us with your body and blood: 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

When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again.

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Easter V

Euch Prayer II

Communion side.  pwk:  RH
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Go in peace. (glorifying the Lord by your life)

Catholic 735: Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year C - Sunday, May 19, 2019

Homily Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year C - Sunday, May 19, 2019

THE LITURGY OF THE WORD

First Reading: Acts 14:21-27

Psalm: Ps 144:8-13. "I will praise your name forever my king and my God"

Second Reading: Revelation 21:1-5

Gospel Acclamation: John 13:34

Gospel: John 13:31-35

Homily

Image:  By Art Stocker Shutterstock licensed  photo ID: 563425426 Silhouette male thought positive rise hand on the beach background. Christian praise God - man standing up for wellbeing open arms over nature sun concept victory spirit wisdom - Image

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Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year C - Sunday, May 19, 2019 by clicking this link here:   https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/easter-5c-faith-hope-and-love/s-6sYXR  (EPISODE: 158)
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We want to love with the love that Christ (God) loves.  Because we are limited human beings and we are speaking about Divine Love, which is infinite and unfathomable, we will very likely not attain the fullness of this Love until the fullness of the Heavenly Kingdom. But here and now we already live the beginnings of God's love forming and growing within us. 

Love is a universal concept held by sacred and secular cultures throughout the world and through history. Christian love is a particular and extraordinary concept which challenges us to deepen our understanding and practise in accordance with Christ's vision.  And we desire to deepen our understanding and our living of this profound way of loving that Christ has opened to doors to.  

In the first reading today, there is a delightful line: "they put fresh heart into the disciples…" and encouraged the people to persevere in the trials and difficulties that they faced in their following of Christ.   It is a reminder, that the purpose of Christ's Church, and all its members, is to encourage, support and strengthen each other; and to be instruments of God's grace, strength, encouragement, power, and mercy to all people.   

God, (as the second reading reminds us), is making "All things new"   -  God is constantly at work in his disciples making us a new creation, in God's image.  We are being re-shaped and re-fashioned in the image of Christ and his Gospel. This is a subtle, and daily process that continues throughout life. And when we look back, we see the graces, blessings and re-creating that God has wrought in our lives and the lives of our family and friends around us. 

One of the ways that God 'renews us'  is by giving us new starts and new beginnings.  This is an essential aspect of our discipleship. Let us make no bones about this, following Christ and his Gospel vision is very challenging and difficult.   Jesus is offering the world a new commandment of Love that challenges us to go so much deeper than some concepts of love held by the world. In other ways, Christ is extending the natural selflessness and unconditionality that one finds in families: parents for their children,  the unbreakable bonds of bloodlines.... and making this the image of God's love for his people...  a loving parent for his beloved children..  and his challenge for how we live in this world...   as brothers and sisters in Christ, one family within the human family..  united by blood.. the blood of Christ. 

The readings are very encouraging, this weekend. For we are reminded, that "God lives with his people…...  God is known as "God-with-them"... and our God lives in our midst; walking along with us; constantly at work taking the pain and tears from our midst. God is at work fashioning "healing and peace" in the hearts of his beloved people.

Then we move to the gospel…  an intriguing piece of text. It starts by saying…   "After Judas had gone…"   That is a rather interesting beginning sentence: Jesus makes his speech as soon as Judas, (his betrayer), has left the table to go and sell-him-out!!  ...literally..... "Judas has left the building"  - not just physically, but spiritually. He has withdrawn his support from Christ and his message, (his gospel). 

Judas has left the table of the Lord. And, as he leaves, Judas takes with him Judas' selfishness, his greed, his desire for money, his misguided desire for power, his focus on his own needs.  Now, those who remain at the table are all there voluntarily, and with their hearts and minds set on following Jesus and his Kingdom. Now, the ones who remain with Jesus, although they still suffer from weakness; and sometimes doubt, and sometimes stumbling; but nevertheless those who surround him are now a group who are totally dedicated to service, love, and sacrifice: According to Jesus' vision!!!

Now is the time! Jesus now begins his final instruction to them before he suffers and dies. when a person realises that their time is very short, and that their hour is upon them, and that they will shortly die, their deeply held values and desires inevitably come to the fore.  And what Christ said and did just before he died shows us very profoundly the things that God thinks are REALLY important and central and what is not.  What Jesus did NOT say at this intense moment is as important as what he DID say. For example, Jesus knew that his time had come to suffer and die, so he says, "listen, my dear children, I am not going to be with you longer... I must tell you this because it is very important. remember this, above all else...   And what does he say??  well, he does Not say...  'above all else even if you are not practising the message of the gospel at least appear to be.'  He definitely did not say that! Neither did he say, "listen, my time is short, so remember this if you remember nothing else:  appearing righteous and keeping the letter of the law is more important than everything else - disassociate yourselves with all who fall short or stumble."  he certainly did not say that either!!   What he did say, and thanks be to God, is:  How you love is what matters above all. 

He continues to teach us, even to this day, what he means by love, but what a wonderful message.  Saint Paul picks up on this powerfully and Saint Therese also writes deeply on this truth.  If I do even a good thing for a bad motive and without love, it will do me no good whatsoever and will not please God.  Love and compassion is so central.  Doing good and keeping God's law is not unimportant of course, but if we do not do these and other things with the love of God in our heart flowing out into actions motivated by God's love, we have utterly missed the point.  So, just before he suffers and dies, he deeply desires to make it clear: "People will Know you are my disciples, first and foremost, above any other quality, by the way you love one another! ….  This is truly beautiful. The quality of one's love, compassion, mercy, and practical care will be the touchstone of the "Disciple-follower-and-friend" of Jesus Christ…..    If this is not witnessed, the lack of love and compassion; mercy, gentleness, and justice, will (without a doubt)  be the single-most damaging sign to others of our witness as disciples of Christ. This is what people look for in a Christian. When they see it, they are inspired and moved. And when they do not see and experience it, they are scandalized, discouraged and lose hope and trust, perhaps even faith.

Love…  true Christian love….   A love that puts others first…   seeks what is truly best for the other, even if it is at the cost and sacrifice of our own personal ambitions and desires. This is a love that serves and suffers, sacrifices.... and puts oneself last… and others first (or at least putting others needs as equal to our own).  This is the image Jesus wanted to leave with his disciples before he suffered and died for all. In short; before he showed them the perfect love that holds nothing back, and which strips itself of everything, even that which one may be entitled to...… Christ even lays down his precious, unique life for his friends and even for those who call themselves his enemies. ….. 

They will know you are Christian by your love…. 

They will know the quality of our Christianity, by the depth, quality and practicality of our love……

How truly beautiful…..   "They will know we are Christians by our LOVE."

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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly

Image:  By Art Stocker

Shutterstock licensed  photo ID: 563425426

Silhouette male thought positive rise hand on the beach background. Christian praise God on Thanksgiving day man standing up for wellbeing open arms over nature sun concept victory spirit wisdom - Image
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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.
NB - It is often a week or so Ahead: 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,  A time of Christian worship and reflection"  - Led by Rev Paul W. Kelly
Texts used in this programme are for the purposes of worship and prayer for listeners wherever you are.
Prayers and chants are taken from the English Translation of the Roman Missal, edition three, © 2010, The International commission on English in the liturgy.
Scriptures are from the New Revised Standard Version: © 1989,  by the national council of Churches of Christ, USA. , //adaptations to conform with Catholic liturgical norms, © 2009, by the same.
 [{selected psalms } - ***Psalm verses are (also) taken from "The Psalms: A New Translation" ©1963, The Grail (England), published by Collins.. **]

Prayers of the Faithful are adapted from Robert Borg's 1993 book " Together we pray". Published in Sydney Australia By  E.J. Dwyer. (out of print).

{ "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" -published 2011,  Composed and Sung by Jeffrey M. Ostrowski 
Featuring the….Gloria, The Creed, The Kyrie, The Mass parts, Psalms:  http://www.ccwatershed.org/chabanel/  ]]] ] COPYRIGHT @ 2018 CORPUS CHRISTI WATERSHED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  www.ccwatershed.org/vatican/Ralph_Sherwin_Videos/  

"Faith, Hope and Love" theme Hymn:   Words, based on 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, set to original music © 1996 by Paul W. Kelly.

For more details please visit http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au/
Contact us atpaulwkelly68@gmail.com
Production by Kelly Enterprises Resources. 

May God bless and keep you.


Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year C
(Sunday, May 19, 2019)

(EPISODE: 158 )

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
+++++++++++++
Brothers and sisters, let us acknowledge our sins and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.
You raise the dead to life in the Spirit. Lord, have mercy//You bring pardon and peace to the sinner. Christ, have mercy// You bring light to those in darkness. Lord, have mercy//
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.  Amen.
+++++++++++++++++++++

Memorial Acclamation

We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Easter IV

Euch prayer III

Communion side.  pwk:  LH
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Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.

Catholic 734: Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year C - Sunday, May 12, 2019

Homily Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year C - Sunday, May 12, 2019

Image:  By altanakaShutterstock licensed stock photo ID: 245350027.  Mother and son playing on the beach at the sunset time. Concept of friendly family. -  

THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
First Reading: Acts 13:14. 43-52
Psalm: Ps 99:1-3. 5
Second Reading: Revelation 7:9. 14-17
Gospel Acclamation: John 10:14. "We are his people, the sheep of his flock"
Gospel: John 10:27-30__
This weekend, we give thanks to God for all mothers....   on this mother's day weekend...   In Australia and the USA, that celebration is today.....   other nations have different dates...  and we give thanks for the care and love of mothers....   and pray that they receive joy, health and peace....  
Prayers of Intercession:  
Let us pray in heartfelt thanksgiving to God, for all Mums on this Mother's Day weekend. That God bless them .  for their unconditional love and care. ………..(PAUSE)……. Lord hear us
---
For those who have passed into eternal life.....especially all dear-departed mothers, who have gone to their eternal rest and remain in cherished memory.. that they now be enjoying the heavenly and eternal banquet feast of the Kingdom.....  . ………..(PAUSE)……. Lord hear us
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Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year C - Sunday, May 12, 2019 by clicking this link here:   https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/easter-4c-faith-hope-and-love/s-JeoqB  (EPISODE: 157)
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The famous songwriter Irving Berlin, who is well known for writing hit songs like "Putting on the Ritz"  and  the smash hit…."I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas," which is reportedly the best selling musical single of ALL TIME,  Berlin was once interviewed and a clever reporter asked him, "Is there any question you've never been asked, that you would like someone to ask you?" "Well, yes, there is one," Berlin replied. He posed the question himself: "What do you think of the many songs you've written that DID NOT become hits?" Then he answered his own question: "My reply would be….. that I STILL think they are ALL wonderful." Then he added, "God, too, has an unshakable delight in what--and whom-- GOD has made. God thinks each of His children is wonderful, and whether they're a 'hit' in the eyes of others or not. GOD will always think they're wonderful." Irving Berlin really got the truth of the gospel spot on. 

I reckon any parent knows the truth of this story in a profound way…   loving each of their children without reserve.

And this brings us to the essential truth about our faith--it is grounded in God's wondrous LOVE for us, just like an unconditionally loving parent.

At times we may not feel very lovable, we may even push that love away at times…--but we cannot keep God from loving US. That is God's very nature. God is a shepherd – (a very, very good one – ,,,,,the best, in fact). God is love.

Today on Good Shepherd Sunday we remember the truth that God always searches for the one who is lost, or who feels unworthy or unloved and carries them in His arms. Anyone who would follow Jesus (the good shepherd)  as a disciple must also be prepared to abide in God's compassionate love.
The GOSPEL today is short but straight to the point.. It says so much; in fact it says everything in these lines….
"no one will ever steal (my sheep) from me."
&…..
"The Father and I are one."
This is so reassuring to us…..

Jesus promises God's complete faithfulness to us, now and forever…..   Jesus makes us God's children… and Our Lord will be with us to feed us, shelter us and guide us through life, and into eternal life of Heaven……   

Christ promises to be our shepherd and care for us.. and cherish us through the tragedies and struggles of life…  of which there can sadly be many……

We know too well, that in life, there are many obstacles… there are setbacks… There seems, at times, to be unassailable worries and trials, but our God (revealed in Jesus, the Good shepherd), promises to be with us and guide us through these and all trials and struggles…. This is a source of abiding hope and strength.

throughout the world and even close to home,  we regularly hear of disasters, (whether they be natural disasters, or human-made suffering); where many people are experiencing all sorts of hardship and pain…..   including those who silently suffer and whose plight is not known to the world. We keep them all in our prayers…  and we take strength and consolation from Christ.. who is our good shepherd…. Who is one with the father.. and makes us one with him…  who knows each of us by name and who knows every human being by name (including those forgotten and abandoned and considered unimportant by the standards of the world). God never forgets even one of them, and God never forgets us.
 
The hear of our good shepherd;  who cares for and loves each and every human being, must be broken with grief for anyone suffering ……  anyone who has been treated without the respect and dignity that all people have…  as beloved children of God…..  irrespective of race, culture or tongue….  For Jesus is the light to all nations…  and all peoples…. …

Let us commend all who suffer, to the gentle shepherd's care… and let us re-commit ourselves each day, to showing practical care and support to all those we encounter, those in need..,.  for (in Christ) they are truly our brothers and sisters, and they are fellow members of the Good Shepherd's flock….  

May the world be reshaped, with the peace, care and gentleness that the good shepherd wants for the whole world… and all people in it. 
Let us continue to be people of hope, love, justice and compassion…..   and may we be instruments in God's hands, of Christ's vision of care; valuing everyone, even those considered by others to be "the least" -May the Lord show us the full meaning of the fact that "God loves each and every person completely."
  +++++

References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly
Vocations day resources.

Image:  By altanakaShutterstock licensed stock photo ID: 245350027.  Mother and son playing on the beach at the sunset time. Concept of friendly family. -
+++
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.
NB - It is often a week or so Ahead: 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,  A time of Christian worship and reflection"  - Led by Rev Paul W. Kelly
Texts used in this programme are for the purposes of worship and prayer for listeners wherever you are.
Prayers and chants are taken from the English Translation of the Roman Missal, edition three, © 2010, The International commission on English in the liturgy.
Scriptures are from the New Revised Standard Version: © 1989,  by the national council of Churches of Christ, USA. , //adaptations to conform with Catholic liturgical norms, © 2009, by the same.
 [{selected psalms } - ***Psalm verses are (also) taken from "The Psalms: A New Translation" ©1963, The Grail (England), published by Collins.. **]

Prayers of the Faithful are adapted from Robert Borg's 1993 book " Together we pray". Published in Sydney Australia By  E.J. Dwyer. (out of print).

{ "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" -published 2011,  Composed and Sung by Jeffrey M. Ostrowski 
Featuring the….Gloria, The Creed, The Kyrie, The Mass parts, Psalms:  http://www.ccwatershed.org/chabanel/  ]]] ] COPYRIGHT @ 2018 CORPUS CHRISTI WATERSHED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  www.ccwatershed.org/vatican/Ralph_Sherwin_Videos/  

"Faith, Hope and Love" theme Hymn:   Words, based on 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, set to original music © 1996 by Paul W. Kelly.

For more details please visit http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au/
Contact us atpaulwkelly68@gmail.com
Production by Kelly Enterprises Resources. 

May God bless and keep you.


Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year C
(Sunday, May 12, 2019)

(EPISODE: 157 )

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (or// The Lord be with You)
+++++++++++++
Brothers and sisters, the Lord is full of love and mercy. And so, as we prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries, let us acknowledge our sins. 
Lord Jesus, you are the image of the unseen God: Lord, have mercy.//You are the firstborn of all creation: Christ, have mercy//You are the head of the body, the Church: Lord, have mercy//
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.  Amen.
+++++++++++++++++++++

Memorial Acclamation

Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++Easter III

Euch Prayer II

Communion side.  pwk:  RH
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Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.