First Sunday of Lent. Year B - Sunday, February 21, 2021 (EPISODE: 280)

First Sunday of Lent. Year B - Sunday, February 21, 2021
(EPISODE: 280)

Readings for First Sunday of Lent. Year B
FIRST READING: Gen 9: 8-15
Ps 25: 4-5, 6-7, 8-9. "Your ways, O Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant."
SECOND READING: 1 Pet 3: 18-22
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Matt 4: 4b). Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory. No one lives on bread alone. But on every word that comes from the mouth of God.
GOSPEL: Mark 1: 12-15 - Temptation

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed. ID: 150965762. Our Lord in the Wilderness. By Motortion Films.
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Please listen to the audio-recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for First Sunday of Lent. Year B - Sunday, February 21, 2021 by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-ep-280-lent-1-b-2021/s-aaUjsvbAVg9

(EPISODE: 280)

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* (Prologue:  Fr Paul Kelly)
"The Spirit impelled Jesus into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him. After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: 'This is the time of fulfilment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel'" (Mark 1:12-15).

"As Lent begins, the Church enters a period of spiritual renewal leading to Easter. Lent is a time of retreat. We journey inward to places of solitude and silence to rediscover God's love for us. To refocus and re-connect to God's priorities, and allow God to re-order our habits and choices according to God's values.

In the passage prior to this Gospel for the first Sunday of Lent, Mark writes that Jesus was baptized in the River Jordan and heard the voice confirming that his future mission was blessed by his heavenly Father.

Then, we read that Jesus was driven into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to prepare for his public mission.

The words are very powerful.  They are strong words:   Jesus was driven by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness. He was impelled, obliged, pushed with a sense of urgency and necessity!

"He lived among wild beasts,"  - We may all have heard the saying: "humans are just animals, so it's only natural to respond to our base inclinations" But Jesus shows us that we might be surrounded by wild animals, but it doesn't mean we have to act like one.

We humans have been given the rare gift of discernment; the ability to tell right from wrong. We have freedom and choice, so we are unique in being able to adapt our lives, our choices and our priorities so that we are not merely stuck in reacting only on instinct or inclinations, to any of life's events.  We have been given the human grace (by God) to rise above might otherwise have us responding at the same level of response as animals.   Having said that, I do acknowledge that some commentators on human behaviour have rather ruefully observed that many animals can act better than the way some humans treat one another.

Our lives are filled with temptation, and Jesus' life was also filled with temptation, since he was not only God, but also fully human:

The temptation to take an easier but not best path;   temptation to lose hope in difficult situations,  temptation to put ourselves and our needs,  (legitimate or not), before others,  tempted to respond to our desires rather than our duties.  And so on.  In so many ways we are assailed by temptations to take a less loving, more selfish and less compassionate path. A path that denies that God is the centre of our lives and existence.

But "angels ministered to him" as he fasted and prayed during those forty days.

Do we accept the strength of the sacraments, the support of parishioners, family and friends, and the encouragement along the difficult path that is offered at different times? Hope is one of the best defences against the temptations that weigh us down. Hope need not be over-idealistic, but can exist even under the full weight of the reality of how bad things can be for many people.  Hope is never losing sight of God's faithfulness and love, and hope is continuing to love and show the values of the gospel of Jesus even when everything around us may be going wrong.

For most of us, there is no physical desert. Our deserts and 'wildernesses" are often real, but symbolic. They are moments of dryness in our lives that come from tensions in family life, arguments with significant others, anxiety about economic distress, world conflict, and many other sources.

This Gospel passage invites us to recognize those times when we experience our own "temptations" and "temptation to despair," not taking desolation, and fear as times that reveal the face of God to us in a very close way. These are the times in which we discover our utter reliance on God. And this opens up the path to new and greater life.

Perhaps patience should be seen as one of the most powerful of the virtues… Forbearance, restraint, pause,  and "waiting in silence for God to save" are surely remedies to what would, otherwise, be a huge list of possible mistakes and dead-end pathways.

What have been "desert" moments in our lives that have caused us tension, stress, or despair? How has God been a part of these moments?  Can we let Jesus, who lived in the wilderness for forty days, (and who was assailed by the temptations that would later surface in other ways during his ministry and knowing that he faced suffering and eventually the cross; because he was taking the path of love and forgiveness. Can we let Jesus lead us in this journey as we face so many different aspects of spiritual wilderness in our lives and allow His Spirit to fill us up with all the virtues that crowd-out sin…

That is:  Love, faith and hope, and also patience, goodness, and  chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, kindness, and humility.

Jesus is ably suited to leading and guiding us through this and all other experiences of wilderness.


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Homily:  Fr Peter Dillon:   1st Sunday-Lent-Year B-2021

Have you ever been tempted to do something wickedly outrageously good? It is unfortunate that temptation only seems to lure us into doing things that are bad or wrong or unhealthy. As the journey of Lent begins again we are asked to have a serious look at how we are travelling on the road to a good moral life. A spiritual audit that might give a clear direction as to where we need to make adjustments in our thoughts, words and actions.

As children, we used to call this "the giving up time" without any real understanding of why we needed to make any sacrifices. Why do we give up or take on things specifically for these forty days? What's the point? Put simply, it's to remind us of our humanity, as if we needed reminding. It's meant to highlight both the giftedness and the fragility of our daily existence, with its choices and struggles, its celebrations and its burdens.

Today as we hear of Mark's very brief account of the temptations of Jesus, it is somewhat consoling to think that he might at least be lured by a promise of a better, more attractive life. Here again, we find Mark reminding us that the mind of Christ is not so removed from our own, such that if Jesus can resist these substantial temptations, then we too have a similar power to resist much less demanding ones.

Like Jesus, we sometimes feel as though we are living among those wild beasts that we feel are too powerful to fight off or resist. They are subtle and disguised and very alluring. They get inside our minds and convince us that we will be happier, more successful, and more popular and generally more liked. They appeal to our basic human needs for comfort and power and it doesn't take much convincing to get us to follow them or give in to them.

When you struggle over time, you start to believe that you cannot resist or change or be stronger. We accept our weakness and call it "just being human", as though that was synonymous with being powerless. It is at this point that Jesus suggests that rather than simply believing in the Good News, we become Good News.

By that I mean, that Lent is an excellent time to regain some of that strength that we have surrendered. Starting simply we should begin to do the noble and generous thing, no matter how small. Don't question its effectiveness, because it is not up to us to ensure the outcomes, but rather to do the better, kinder action. It's about making the first approach, welcoming the stranger, sitting next to a complaining co-worker, chatting with the shy neighbour, sending a kind note to a grieving parishioner, giving a compliment, visiting an aged relative. Doing the noble deed. Giving to a charity like Project Compassion, but not making a big deal about it, unless it really is a big deal – no matter what the deed, it will be noticed by you and by God and your relationship will deepen, which is the real purpose of all of this activity. In doing so you will keep the presence of God alive in the world and you will emerge stronger to tame the wild beast.

Allow yourself to see the imperfect parts of your nature and learn what needs to change, where you need to get stronger. So instead of fearing the temptations see them as meeting points of our humanity with Christ. A time of learning.
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References:

Homily by Fr Peter Dillon

Prologue - Fr Paul W. Kelly

Word on the Go, a downloadable resource from RENEW International


Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed. ID: 150965762. Our Lord in the Wilderness. By Motortion Films.

First Sunday of Lent. Year B  (Sunday, February 21, 2021)  (EPISODE: 280 )
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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{{Love and joy be with everyone}}. Welcome. everyone, we gather -  Listen to God's Word and contemplate the sacraments.

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 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
1. We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.
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PREFACE: Sunday Lent I
Ep II
(theme variation: have Mercy  )

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{Cheers and thanks everyone for this time of prayer and reflection - I hope you have a blessed week. }

Go forth, the Mass is ended.

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Archive of homilies and reflections:  http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email:  paulwkelly68@gmail.com

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

You are welcome to subscribe to Fr Paul's homily mail-out by sending an email to this address: paulkellyreflections+subscribe@googlegroups.com

Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection"  - Led by Rev Paul Kelly

Prayers and chants  — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)

Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989,  and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA)

"The Psalms" ©1963, 2009,  The Grail - Collins publishers.

Prayers of the Faithful -   " Together we pray" by Robert Borg'.   E.J. Dwyer, Publishers, (1993) . (Sydney Australia).


"Quiet Time."  Instrumental Reflection music. Written by Paul W Kelly. 1988, 2007. & This arrangement: Stefan Kelk, 2020.

Lenten Hymn: "Have Mercy," inspired by Psalm 50(51). Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2020. https://www.airgigs.com/user/stefankelk

[ Production -  KER -  2021]

May God bless and keep you.
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Ash Wed 17th February 2021. (episode: 279)

Ash Wed 17^th February 2021.  (episode: 279)

Readings for Ash Wednesday Mass -
First Reading: Joel 2:12-18
Psalm: Ps 50:3-6. 12-14. 17. "Be Merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned."
Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:20 - 6:2
Gospel Acclamation: cf Ps 94:8  "Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, king of endless glory! If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, king of endless glory!"
Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6. 16-18
Homily
Blessing and Distribution of Ashes
       Distribution of Ashes
       Song
Prayer of the Faithful

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed Id; 1189523149. Ashes in hand are prepared for the Ash Wednesday. By xmas_zest
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To listen to the audio recording of the readings, prayers and reflections for Ash Wed (episode: 279), please click this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-ep-279-ash-wednesday-2021/s-3Wa49uJAW8l  
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Prologue:  Welcome as we gather to mark the beginning of the season of Lent…   40 days of prayer, penance and self-denial (reminding us of Our Lord's forty days in the wilderness),  and to prepare us for the renewal and new life celebrated in the  Easter season. Because of Covid-safety.. the Vatican has adjusted the rite to accommodate this. "The words that are used explaining the meaning of our action with the ashes have not changed, but the moment when those words are said and especially the way the ashes are imposed will change,": "Repent,  and believe in the Gospel" or "Remember that you are dust, and you will return to dust"." These words are normally pronounced at the moment of imposing the ashes on each of the faithful, but they will now be said only once before the distribution of ashes begins,- Then the action will no longer be to touch the forehead of the faithful by marking it with ashes," - The note indicates that the priest should not touch the faithful, but rather sprinkle some of the ashes on the top of people's heads," Interestingly, this is not a novelty.  This method has long been standard practice in many Catholic areas, such as Italy, even in normal times. And sprinkling ahses on one's head as a sign of repentance and sorrow for sin, is also referred to in the old testament.(1)

Ashes , a symbol of destruction and death, are used as an ancient Judeo-Christian symbol of our journey to new life….  We use the ashes from old burnt palm branches that were used in the palm Sunday Masses (for us this year, since covid disrupted our usual liturgies last year, we use the ashes from the year before….   When we think about Lent, we generally think in terms of giving something up - a kind of 'dying' to self. But the readings for this day suggest that Lent is about beginnings: coming to new life, deepening our relationship with God and others, and transforming who we are and how we live.(2)
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Homily:
It has been said (somewhere by someone! – I cannot remember where I heard it)  that it takes about six weeks for a new habit to become engrained in our actions…   and its no coincidence that Lent is around that length of time…   fostering and promoting good habits and practices that become so familiar that they become part of our daily way of acting…  

Lent,is all about moving closer to our God whose very nature is love, compassion, generosity, self-forgetting…   its moving ever closer to the heart and mind of Jesus…  
Who is….
Love, given freely and without conditions,…..
Kindness and mercy, without expectation of return….   
Acts of charity and practical compassion, not for recognition or approval but flowing from  love alone…..     
Random acts of kindness for which no one will ever know we are the instigators.   (setting up a pattern not only for the 40 days of Lent but for every day of our lives after that....) 
 
Lent is a time of renewal to deepen that extraordinary movement of the heart ever-closer towards God.  Moving deeper into the Love of God which is its own reward....    Where we seek no other reward but to love God and be very close to God... and closer to one another.  For the glory and praise of God alone…
 
This time of prayer, penance and fasting is still a wonderful, joy-filled time of self-denial and making space for God… fostering positive habits for the year-round….  
 
Pope Francis once said, at a stations of the cross liturgy….  "The poverty of the wood, the silence of the Lord, his loving self-emptying show us the necessity of a simpler life, free from anxiety about things."
 
"The ….. ash, which we receive, is a subtle yet real reminder  of the many things occupying our thoughts, that we chase after and worry about every day, nothing will remain….. Earthly realities fade away like dust in the wind,------Lent is the time to free ourselves from the illusion of chasing after dust," he urged. "Lent is for rediscovering that we are created for the inextinguishable flame, not for ashes that immediately disappear; /// for God, not for the world; //  for the eternity of heaven, not for earthly deceit;// for the freedom of the children of God, not for slavery to things."(3)
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References:
Fr Paul Kelly

Read more at: https://international.la-croix.com/news/religion/vatican-issues-guidelines-for-the-imposition-of-ashes-in-times-of-pandemic/13633.
Taken From the resource -"Liturgia" Commentary section. © Copyright Liturgy Brisbane 2021.
https://catholicherald.co.uk/news/2019/03/07/lenten-fasting-is-a-wake-up-call-for-the-soul-pope-says/

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed Id; 1189523149. Ashes in hand are prepared for the Ash Wednesday. By xmas_zest


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In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
{{May God's Spirit of Wisdom and Awe abide in you.}}

(no penitential rite, as the ashes – given later – are the penitential act on this day).
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After the Homily - 
(Just prior to the Distribution of Ashes -  said once only):  
"Repent, and believe in the Gospel."
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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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Preface: Lent III
Eucharist Prayer II
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Communion side.  pwk:  LH
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{my heartfelt thanks for your participation in this time of reflection, prayer and praise.}
Dismissal:

Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.


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Archive of homilies and reflections: http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email: paulwkelly68@gmail.com
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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 - Christian worship and reflection" - Led by Rev Paul Kelly

Prayers and chants — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)

Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA)

"The Psalms" ©1963, 2009, The Grail - Collins publishers.

Prayers of the Faithful - " Together we pray" by Robert Borg'. E.J. Dwyer, Publishers, (1993) . (Sydney Australia).

-Lenten Hymn: "Have Mercy," inspired by Psalm 50(51). Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2020

 [ Production - KER - 2021]

May God bless and keep you.
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Sixth Sunday in OrdinaryTime, Year B - Sunday, February 14, 2021 (EPISODE: 278)

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B - Sunday, February 14, 2021

(EPISODE: 278)
Readings for 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time - B
FIRST READING: Lev 13: 1-2, 44-46
Ps 32: 1-2, 5, 11. "I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble and you fill me with the joy of salvation"
SECOND READING: 1 Cor 10: 31—11: 1
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Luke 7: 16). Alleluia, alleluia! A great prophet has appeared among us. God has visited his people.
GOSPEL: Mark 1: 40-45

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed. ID: 1193925694. Biblical vector illustration series, Jesus heals the man with leprosy. By rudall30
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Please listen to the audio-recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B - Sunday, February 14, 2021, by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-sixth-sunday-of-ordinary-time-year-b-episode-278/s-nSE1vMwBoWr  (EPISODE: 278)
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(Prologue – Fr Paul): The Gospel today is a wonderful example of God's great desire to reach out and touch us…… to include and heal us.  There is sadly much illness and suffering in the world. We pray that those who are sick, will be healed of their illness and brought out of their suffering…..and in every case may the Lord certainly touch their lives with peace and strength and assure them that God is with them in this difficult journey…. 

Today's Gospel makes it really clear that God loves us completely and desires that we be healed, freed from the burden of suffering and reunited with our community……  Jesus is the compassion of God…. And Jesus shows us the endless depths of that compassion and love for us….  God loves us so much that Jesus reaches out and touches us…

Because Jesus is God the son, he could simply have said to the leper, 'you are healed' and he would have been…. But the poor man was suffering illness,…. He was isolated from his community….. he was alone…. And Jesus reaches out and touches him to bring him back into the community… and heal his Spirit too…….. 

Jesus is not just in the midst of suffering… he is to be found abiding within the people who suffer, as well as in the people who reach out to help……  God, whose essential nature is loving and compassionate and deeply involved in our lives and who promises us much more than physical or emotional healing, but a cherished place in God's family forever. 

Those he cured would eventually get sick again and eventually all reach the end of their lives...  but he was offering them a reassurance of God's ultimate faithfulness to them -  peace through the assurance of their membership in God's family that will stay with them in this life and the next

Jesus also shows us God's attitude towards our suffering when Jesus declares "of course I want to heal you!"  God's compassion and love for others is the key to everything Jesus says and does. Jesus put people first and at the same time put his heavenly Father first, because the love of God, love of neighbour and love and care of oneself are different aspects of the same one teaching.  St Paul in the second reading..  sums up what it's all about in our ministries and service… "Whatever you do at all, do it for the glory of God. ……try to be helpful to everyone at all times, not anxious for my own advantage but for the advantage of everybody else, so that they may be saved." And that is at the heart of what we do…   everything for the honour and glory of God….
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Homily – Fr Peter Dillon:

6th Sunday-Ordinary Time-Year B-2021
If you've ever wondered why we hear so little of the Gospel of Mark with the Sunday readings then it could well be that Mark portrait of Jesus is often blunt and shocking. He seems to raise too many questions about the human nature of Jesus and he was seen by the Church Fathers as not focussing sufficiently of the divinity of Christ. However, it is this very insight into the humanity of Jesus touches people more than the high theology of John or the brilliant teachings of Matthew. When reading Mark we can more easily identify with Jesus, immersed in the strengths and weaknesses of humanity, always alive, real and struggling to be authentic. It is really only in more recent time that we have discovered how Mark brings to us the story of a man and his commitment to a broken and fragile humanity.

Today's Gospel is a prime example of the encounter with a fragile human being with its strained exchanges and emotion. As often happens we find ourselves asking questions about the nature and intentions of Jesus, so this cannot be dismissed as yet another example of Jesus doing good works.  It shines a light on a man who is capable of feeling as we often do. He seems to be critical, angry, impatient and fearful. He demonstrates strong feelings and emotions. Is this the picture we want to have of 'gentle Jesus meek and mild'?

Is the leper taunting Jesus or is he pleading with him? Is he doubting whether Jesus has the power to cure him or is he questioning whether Jesus wants to cure him? Has the leper been a social outcast for so long that he doubts whether anyone has the will to bother with him? So how does Jesus react to this challenging leper? While the translation says that Jesus had pity on him, the truer translation suggests that Jesus was indignant, saying "Of course I want to. Be cured!" Is it possible that Jesus is showing frustration? Of course, it is possible, because he was human and anger is not a negative emotion. It's only what we do with it that gives it its value. While Jesus responds with a cure, we very often would respond with a rejection or ignoring of the plea.

Mark confronts with aspects of Jesus that makes us want to ask questions about how we categorise Jesus.

Do we think of him as a person who never gets ruffled or blows up? Does his anger show when the people he tries to help, question his good intentions?

Does he ever get tired when people only seem to want him as the 'miracle worker", without accepting his; teaching that no amount of healing is going to exempt people from suffering and brokenness?

Does he get frustrated when people misrepresent him by using him for their own peculiar causes?

Does he ever want to say "enough, I need a break"?

Perhaps these questions say more about us than they do about Jesus yet it is important to allow ourselves to not make Jesus a glossy unreal man removed from the reality of life, because when we seek the answer to these questions we find that we understand the nature of the mind of Christ, which St. Paul urges us to take on. If he does not live and react like us that how can we ever hope to emulate him in our everyday life.

Through Mark's writings, Jesus stretches our capacity for compassion. He challenges our capacity for love and shows us how to overcome our initial inclinations to withdraw from the problem, and find the power to reach out beyond the comfortable to the necessary, from the barrier of common sense, to the mirror dimly the compassion of God.
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References:

HOMILY – FR PETER DILLON

PROLOGUE - Fr Paul W. Kelly

Abbot's Homilies - Benedictine Abbey of Christ in the Desert.. (2009) [online] Benedictine Abbey of Christ in the Desert. Available at: https://christdesert.org/updates/abbots-homilies

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed. ID: 1193925694. Biblical vector illustration series, Jesus heals the man with leprosy. By rudall30


Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B  (Sunday, February 14, 2021)  (EPISODE: 278)
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (or/ The Lord be with You)
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{{Hi everyone}} welcome everyone, we gather -  Ponder with reverence, God's word and sacrament. 

My brothers and sisters, we have gathered to celebrate the Holy Eucharist, - so let us pause and reflect upon our sins, so as to rejoice in Gods loving mercy. 
Lord Jesus, you came to gather the nations into the peace of God's kingdom: Lord, have mercy// You come in word and in sacrament to strengthen us and make us holy: Christ, have mercy//You will come again in glory with salvation for your people: Lord, have mercy.
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.  Amen.
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Memorial Acclamation
3. Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.
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PREFACE: Sundays V
EP II
Communion side.  pwk:  RH
(theme variation: 4 )

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{May God's love, strength, mercy and kindness guide you all this week. }

Go in peace. (glorifying the Lord by your life)

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Archive of homilies and reflections:  http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email:  paulwkelly68@gmail.com

To listen to my weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here.
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 - Christian worship and reflection"  - Led by Rev Paul Kelly

Prayers and chants  — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)

Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989,  and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA)

"The Psalms" ©1963, 2009,  The Grail - Collins publishers.

Prayers of the Faithful -   " Together we pray" by Robert Borg'.   E.J. Dwyer, Publishers, (1993) . (Sydney Australia).

Sung "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" -  By Jeffrey M. Ostrowski. The Gloria,  Copyright © 2011 ccwatershed.org.

- "Faith, Hope and Love" theme hymn - in memory of  William John Kelly -     Inspired by 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.

"Quiet Time."  Instrumental Reflection music. Written by Paul W Kelly. 1988, 2007. & This arrangement: Stefan Kelk, 2020.

- "Today I Arise" - For Trisha J Kelly.  Original words and music by Paul W. Kelly. Inspired by St Patrick's Prayer.  Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.

[ Production -  KER -  2021]

May God bless and keep you.
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Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time,Year B – In Australia we celebrate “the Sunday of the word of God, -Sunday, February 7, 2021 (EPISODE: 277)

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – In Australia we celebrate "the Sunday of the word of God, - Sunday, February 7, 2021
(EPISODE: 277)

Readings for 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time - B
FIRST READING: Job 7: 1-4, 6-7
Ps 147: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6. "Praise the Lord, who heals the broken-hearted"
SECOND READING: 1 Cor 9: 16-19, 22-23
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Matt 8: 17). Alleluia, alleluia! He bore our sickness. And endured our suffering.
GOSPEL: Mark 1: 29-39

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed. ID: 666869200 Job and his three friends. By askib
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Please listen to the audio-recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B - Sunday, February 7, 2021 by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-fifth-sunday-of-ordinary-time-year-b-episode-277/s-YWOjsB5DU2o  (EPISODE: 277)
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Message from Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Brisbane:

Homily - 7 February 2021 Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

From Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Brisbane.

 

Word of God Sunday (See APERUIT ILLIS)

 

Today is Word of God Sunday, and I begin this homily on the streets of Brisbane. That's because the Word of God was never meant to be shut up within the four walls of a Church building.

 

 There are around 2.8 million people living in this diocese. About 700,000 of those identify as Catholics, but only around 60,000 will hear the word of God at Mass this Sunday. In his Apostolic Letter introducing Word of God Sunday, Pope Francis said that "devoting a specific Sunday…to the word of God can enable the Church to experience anew how the risen Lord opens up for us the treasury of his word and enables us to proclaim its unfathomable riches before the world". So on this Sunday, I will preach as always from the scriptures, but with a special invitation for you all to join me in proclaiming the riches of the word of God before the world.

 

St Paul speaks of the Good News that's more powerful than all the bad news, even the bad news of death. The Good News he speaks of isn't a message: it's not a 'word' in the usual sense. It's the Word made flesh who is a person, and the person is Jesus crucified and risen, present among us right now, even here on the steps of the Cathedral. He's wanting to be seen and heard. St Paul stresses his responsibility and duty to share the Good News, and with many others in the Church I feel the same sense of responsibility and duty. For all kinds of reasons, many have chosen not to join us in Church, but today we want to go out and offer the Word to everyone, the Good News which is all the Church really has – not to chide or condemn anyone, not to cajole or force, not just to get people to "sign up" to the organization because we need new members, but to share a gift with everyone, especially those who need it most.

 

We want to invite you to join in sharing the Good News of Jesus with everyone in the Archdiocese, especially perhaps those who have been baptized but no longer walk with us. We want to offer all Catholics the priceless gift that is their right as someone baptized into Jesus. We want to offer them the power to rise from their sick-bed like Peter's mother-in-law, to be free of all the evil powers that can hold can hold us down. We want people to know the healing touch of Jesus in a Church which, as Pope Francis says, is a field-hospital.

 

We want everyone to know that they're welcome here. These seats are for you. This is holy ground, and it's holy because here in a special way we can see and hear the real, living Jesus. Here we can come to him together, come to him just as we are, with all our anxieties and ailments, all our wounds and weaknesses, all our quandaries and questions. We want you and everyone to know the joy of being a disciple – not perfect but, like all of us, a work in progress, on the road with others, following Jesus into the fullness of life. The journey of faith was never meant to be taken alone. It's hard work at times and pretty well impossible if we go it alone. That's not what Jesus wants for us; he doesn't ask us to do the impossible. He wants us to find sisters and brothers who travel with us, love us, support us, listen to us, advise us, even correct us if need be. That's what the Church is meant to be – not some huge, decrepit organization with ways that don't speak to my soul and rules that don't touch my life, but a pilgrim people journeying out of darkness into light – the light of Christ's mercy, compassion, forgiveness and healing.

 

On this Word of God Sunday we're making a call to all Catholics to encounter the Word of God in a new and deeper way. The call isn't harsh or heavy; it's more an invitation than any kind of command. We want to propose, not impose. If you're baptized Catholic, but feel estranged from the Church, this call is for you. Perhaps you have friends in the same situation: well, you could also invite them. This call comes not from us but through us – through us from Jesus himself. If it were just from me or from us, then forget it. But the call comes to you from Jesus. It's a call from him and to him. He calls you to himself – not for his own sake or for the Church's sake, but for your sake and the sake of the people whose lives you touch.

 

So join me in inviting anyone and everyone you know to listen to the Lord's voice which can be hard to hear with all the inner noise of our mind and heart and all the outer noise of a world full of loud voices, many of them promising life but delivering death.

 

Each parish and community has resources from Evangelisation Brisbane that will help anyone hearing these words to get involved. But there are three simple things you can do…

 

1. Sign up for the prayer outreach through the Evangelisation Brisbane website, something we can all do to support and encourage those responding to this call to go on this journey of faith.

 

2. Offer yourself as a volunteer to accompany those starting the journey by enrolling on the Evangelisation Brisbane website (we may need 10, 100 or a 1000 depending on the response we draw).

 

3. Be a welcoming presence in your community to ensure that new faces are greeted in a warm and friendly way, so that in finding you they will find Jesus.

 

My prayer is that, on this Word of God Sunday, the Holy Spirit will move in the life of every baptized Catholic, so that in the time ahead everyone will discover the deep meaning of their baptism and have their lives changed by the encounter with the Word of God himself, with Jesus crucified and risen.

 

Since the pandemic came upon us, I've been listening a fair bit to the music of Leonard Cohen who's long been a favourite of mine. His seems just the right voice for a time like this – sombre but truthful and in the end hopeful. In one of his songs, Cohen says, "There's a crack in everything; that's how the light gets in". There's also a crack in everyone, a crack in you and me. But that's how the light gets in – the light of Jesus which nothing and no-one can dispel. The call to you and to all whom you may know is a call from the light and to the light. Whatever the darkness may be, let the light in…then come, walk with us.

 

+ His Grace, Archbishop Mark Coleridge

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*Prologue- (Fr Paul) - On the 1600th anniversary of the death of the great Scripture scholar and biblical translator, St Jerome, (on 30th September last year), pope Francis announced a new Sunday celebration (around the world it is to be celebrated on the Third Sunday of Ordinary time – but the local conference of bishops moved it here in Australia to the first Sunday in February – due to our national Holiday celebration overlapping it earlier), This celebration will be known and commemorated as the "THE SUNDAY OF THE WORD OF GOD" .

The Risen Jesus, instructing two disciples on the Road to Emmaus, "opened their minds to understand the Scriptures" (Lk 24:45). Christ continues to do this in our day too.

Also, in this week focusing on the word of God, has everyone discovered that wonderful gift to the whole church that is the Prayer of the Church, or the Liturgy of the Hours.. also known as the Divine Office? This is an official series of prayers, psalms and readings for the different parts of each day. This is of course not just for priests or religious, but for all people…
Liturgy of the Hours (online service called Universalis)
{The prayer of the universal Church, seven times a day.
Office of Readings - Morning Prayer (Lauds) - Mid-Morning Prayer (Terce) - - Midday Prayer (Sext) - Afternoon Prayer (None) - Evening Prayer (Vespers) - Night Prayer (Compline)}

There are also official books available with the whole set of four weekly cycle prayers. To truly savour God's living word, day and night!

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The book of Job haunts me.  It is a powerful reflection upon the reality of suffering and loss in our lives. Job calls out to God in prayer and God is faithful to him, but it does not preserve him from the suffering, tragedy and disasters of life, which befall him in a massive way. God does not give him clear answers to his question about why there is suffering, but God does something even better.. He tells Job, trust in my goodness, justice and care. Never doubt my faithfulness to you, even in terrible seasons. Never stop trusting in my compassion and love for you even when you don't understand.  In Job, his friends come to support and comfort him. We are told that they sit with him for seven days and say nothing.  One Jewish tradition is that people who come to offer comfort to a bereaved person should not speak until the mourner speaks.  This is really good wisdom. As shown in this book too,.. for when the friends eventually start speaking they try to explain and justify why these terrible tragedies have occurred. And they make Job's suffering worse. In fact, Job is tempted to listen to their well-meaning platitudes, and start to doubt God's goodness.  His friends tell him, you must have done something to deserve this.  Not helpful at all. Job is a just man. He has not done anything to deserve this. Their speculation is wrong and hurtful and amplifies his pain.  They mean well, but they do damage.  They are right that God is good but they are wrong that bad things only happen to bad people. Very wrong.  They should have helped more by staying silent and supporting Job in his grief and depression. God cares very much about Job's condition and wants to heal his broken heart and smashed dreams. Eventually God's healing and faithfulness does indeed bring him renewed hope and strength.

Jesus travels the countryside preaching his message of the Kingdom of God, and enormous crowds of people gather. He teaches them, he heals them, he frees them from their sins, and he releases their burdens….

One gets a sense of a sea of need…. - a vast, continuous, endless line of people seeking help, searching for hope, reaching out for a helping hand.

Jesus responds to this…. what is to be done??…….So much!! – It is truly overwhelming how much need and pain and suffering there is in the world. 

Then, we hear that he rises very, very early, and goes off to a lonely place to pray to his Heavnly Father…..to connect…. To re-focus… to re-energise. (He didn't have any time in his busy day, so he made time in the quiet hours, because it was the absolutely vital source and meaning of everything he did. This gospel also shows us the importance of prayer…… Connectedness in our relationship with God…… it is absolutely vital that we too, take time out…. take a step back…. and see the big picture…… to connect to (God the father), the source and the power and the reason behind all our efforts and actions

Meanwhile, the crowds continue to search for him, and his disciples search for him and inform him that everyone is looking for him…..

The needs of these crowds are most certainly real… and they are urgent…. and immediate….. Yet, Jesus informs them that the message of his gospel is absolutely vital and so he needs to continue his journey to other people and places.  

Jesus, aware of the many urgent demands of the crowds… chooses to move on… to keep moving on;…. because "vital" overrides "urgent"…./ just as "important" overrides "pressing". (also, a worldly person might think to themselves, I will stay in this place, help these people, I can live comfortably having impressed this group of people and there is more than enough work here in this one place…  but Jesus is a perfect leader..  he is here to serve all, not just some, and he is not here to cement his own situation but for the good of others.   He must continue on his way… moving once more out of the familiar into the new… 

It must have been heartbreaking that he couldn't alone have individually touched and transformed each and every person he met. But there was no time.. and his mission was urgent, vital, and time was short// and his mission was on-going……

He leaves behind crowds of people still looking for healing, peace and hope….but he does not abandon them….His message… his presence for a short time has already brought the seeds of that hope taking root there…. In each of those many people in the many crowds, in all the places Jesus visited - ……. so many people will take away with them, deep in their hearts and minds, Christ's lifegiving message… and they will run with it…….

As Jesus message spreads to other communities… those people, too, receive his message and consolidate it, nurture it, allow it to become part of them, abiding deep within them. The holy Spirit builds on it (in and through the people who hear and respond to this)….. //

It's reassuring to us…. There is still so much to be done… so much we can do…. so little time to do it….. never enough hours in the day, //…days in the year….. // we do what we can…// and keep our eyes on the big picture…. and draw strength, inspiration and vision from our prayerful "time-out with God"…. to focus our energy… direct our choices and …. lead us mindfully through the "busy-ness" of our days with its many different possibilities and needs….. We can't do everything… We are all too aware of our limitations…. so we ask the Lord to help us do what we can do, well!  – With focus, clear priorities, and above all with love and compassion.

Lord, (in this), help us to know what is urgent… And help us to know what is vital - ….. (and adapting the words of the serenity prayer), Lord, give us the strength to leave behind even the urgent, when the vital calls us…….. and help us to know the difference…….
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5th Sunday – Ordinary Time- Year B – 2021
Homily by Fr Peter Dillon:
If you were ever looking for a symbol of someone who personifies the adage "Life is not fair", then you need look no further than our dear suffering, put-upon friend from today's first reading, Job.

He lived an upright and blameless life. He had loving wife, seven sons and three daughters and a very large plot of land. He used his wealth and influence to help others. No one who came to Job's house for help ever left disappointed.

However in a series of disasters he lost his family, his friends, his fortune and his possessions. He lost everything, except his faith in God. Job, himself, along with many others asks, what he had done to deserve such a terrible fate. Why is he chosen to be God's victim?

This question, although very prevalent in Old Testament times, is still being asked today. It was thought then that suffering was connected to a person's conduct or that they might have been paying for the trespasses of their ancestors. They argued that Job must have sinned and that he should admit his guilt before God. If enduring this suffering wasn't bad enough, he had others telling him he should repent. God would not do this to an innocent person.

In today's reading we hear Job asking the eternal question, "why me?" Even though he pleads with God for an answer, he does not seem to be graced with that answer. Job is familiar to all of us: if few of us share his innocence, all of us can share his hurt and anguish. We have all lived through some of his despair and asked some of those ame questions.

Suffering is still a big problem. Every day we witness poverty, hunger, sickness, injustice, oppression and tragedy, and every day we ask why, often adding, "Why would God do this"?

In the gospels, Jesus did not so much answer "why suffering", as much as respond to it. He did not insulate himself from people's pain. As we hear today from the Gospel, he often surrounded himself with those who were physically and mentally ill. He made himself totally vulnerable to the wounded and the sick, yet he did not preach resignation to it. He did not like to see people suffer, and while he did all that he could to make them well again, he used the problem of suffering as an opportunity to show them what God is like. By the way he gave himself to the sick, he reveals to us the compassion of God in the face of human suffering.

It is very confronting for us to have to see those we love suffer and feel helpless to make to suffering end. While it is no easy thing, while we cannot always relieve the suffering, we can share it in some way. While we come to those who suffer with empty hands, we can use those hands for comforting. We can help someone to heal but not necessarily cure them.

 If only those around Job had thought to help him with his difficulties instead of adding to them with their accusations, then he may have found a strength within himself to manage his life better.

Often within our prayers for the suffering we ask God 'to fix it', we forget sometimes that Jesus himself went down that lonely and narrow road himself. We should take comfort that Jesus followed that road to the end, and it has never been the same for Christians since he travelled it. He showed us that though it might lead to Calvary, it doesn't end there. It ends at Easter, where the passion leads to glory.

Let us also pray for those who have to witness that suffer every day. Those nurses, doctors, hospital chaplains, aged care workers, ambulance officers and so many others. These are the ones who are God's compassion in human flesh, God's care in motion. While they may wonder as we do what is the reason for all this suffer, theydo not have to luxury of stopping to seek the answer. Like Christ they know they must just continuing to care, in case others do not.
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References:
HOMILY – FR PETER DILLON

PROLOGUE - Fr Paul W. Kelly

Life Application Study Bible Large Print. 2007. Carol Stream, Illinois.: Tyndale House Publishers. Pp  1054-1055.

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed. ID: 666869200 Job and his three friends. By askib


Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B (Sunday, February 7, 2021) (EPISODE: 277)

The Lord be with you.
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{{Peace and Goodness to you all}} welcome everyone, we gather - Reflection upon God's word, and encounter Christ's presence.

Coming together as brothers and sisters, on this Sunday of the Word of God, let us ask the Fathers forgiveness, for he is full of gentleness and compassion

You were sent to heal the contrite of heart. Lord, have mercy.// You came to call sinners: Christ, have mercy. //You are seated at the right hand of the Father to intercede for us: 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
2. When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again.
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PREFACE: Sundays IV
EP I
Communion side. pwk: LH
(theme variation: 3 )
(pre+post variation: 1)
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{I pray that you have a wonderful and grace-filled week. }

Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.

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Archive of homilies and reflections: http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email: paulwkelly68@gmail.com

To listen to my weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here.
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Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection" - Led by Rev Paul Kelly

Prayers and chants — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)

Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA)

"The Psalms" ©1963, 2009, The Grail - Collins publishers.

Prayers of the Faithful - " Together we pray" by Robert Borg'. E.J. Dwyer, Publishers, (1993) . (Sydney Australia).

Sung "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" - By Jeffrey M. Ostrowski. The Gloria, Copyright © 2011 ccwatershed.org.

- "Faith, Hope and Love" theme hymn - in memory of William John Kelly - Inspired by 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.

"Quiet Time." Instrumental Reflection music. Written by Paul W Kelly. 1988, 2007. & This arrangement: Stefan Kelk, 2020.

- "Today I Arise" - For Trisha J Kelly. Original words and music by Paul W. Kelly. Inspired by St Patrick's Prayer. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.

[ Production - KER - 2021]

May God bless and keep you.
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