All Souls - Second of November 2021 - (EPISODE: 331)

All Souls - Second of November 2021 - (EPISODE: 331)

All Souls - Second November 2021
(EPISODE: 331)

Homily  ALL souls DAY.  2nd NOVEMBER. 

First Reading: Isaiah 25:6-9
Psalm: Ps 26: 1-4,7-9, 13-14. "I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living."
Second Reading:  Romans 5:5-11
Gospel Acclamation: Matthew 11:28  "This is the will of my father says the Lord, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given to me, and that I should raise it up on the last day."
Gospel: Mark 15:33-39; 16:1-6 (Year B)

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed. stock photo ID: 827315317 -All Souls day. Flame from candles in lanterns and a protective mask on ground.-By Jaroslav Moravcik
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Please listen to the audio-recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for All Souls - Second November 2021 by clicking this link here:   https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-all-souls-2nd-nov-2021-episode-331/s-2gQeEhoiC1d?si=300cda2eff334b2eb6b2d52411876558   (EPISODE: 331)

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[Gospel values included in the readings: We can pray for our departed loved ones, friends, and all who went before us, just as we can pray to God for a friend who is still alive, for all are alive in Christ. Our hope and trust in God's love and mercy means that we know that God fulfils all his promises to us]

Praying for the souls of the dead is a tradition that goes back to Old Testament times, including the book of Maccabees. It is a grand and ancient tradition and a beautiful aspect of our faith.

The Catholic Church teaches us what we find also throughout the Scriptures -   God, (who lovingly formed each and every person), sees into our heart and knows what is to be found at the very core of our being.  

Today's commemoration goes to the heart of the nature of prayer..... 
Prayer is, in essence, a deep and loving conversation between us and God.  

Just as in ordinary conversations,  we can speak to our friends and ask them to spare a thought for and to help another friend or relative of ours,  so too we can continue to offer to speak confidently and lovingly in prayer to God for our fellow travellers, who have gone before us.

Jesus himself tells us. "I am the God of the living, not of the dead, for to God,  all are alive."

Who better to entrust and commend our dear departed loved ones, friends and colleagues, than the loving, merciful, just and eternal care of our compassionate God. For God is the one who formed them with love.... and walked with them every step of their life's journey...  and loved them like a doting parent...  God is love!!! ...  God who created everything from the dust...  and who never hates anything he created because he made it with love; and with love beyond telling.....   

We commend our departed loved ones and all souls to God, who understands us better than we even understand ourselves...  

It is God Who knows every situation, every circumstance, every hardship, every context to all our actions and decisions, and every blessing and grace of each person's life.  God sees and knows everything that made us free to make the decisions we made in our lives... and God also sees any and all circumstances that restricted us in our freedom to think and act too.....  // And amazingly, many times, we don't see those factors clearly - even in the events of our own lives! but God always does.  with the eyes of a loving parent. 

Our Lord shows us the heart of God towards all who mourn.  This heart is filled with unfathomable love and compassion. 

Our Lord himself knew what it was to mourn the loss of loved ones.  His beloved and faithful step-father Joseph passed away at some time in his young life.  It was a deep loss and sadness...   

As the Son of God, He must have been tempted to raise him back up...  but he did not. Instead, he entrusts his much beloved step-father to his Heavenly Father, who is always faithful and loving. 

Our Lord also wept at the death of Lazarus, even though he knew and utterly believed in the Resurrection and in the promises of Heaven ...  because he still keenly felt the pain of grief and loss and had compassion for people's suffering and grief around him too. Our Lord knows what it means to grieve deeply. 

We too can join with those in the first reading who acclaimed:  "See, this is the one in whom we trusted. IT is God in whom we hoped. And we were right to do so, for see, he has saved us!"  

In life, and in the life of each one of us, we come across sadness, tragedies, loss and disaster. Our hearts unite with Our Lord,  as we offer our prayers for all whose lives have been particularly marked with tragedy or disastrous pathways. 

Today's feast of ALL SOULS is a reminder that God is our Faithful shepherd. and a good loving parent.. who is never just content with saving the 99% of the flock...  but who will not rest and who keeps searching until the last sheep is recovered and carried back to be reunited with everyone else. 

Our Lord wants us to trust in him and come to him with all our burdens and worries...  for he is gentle and humble in heart... and promises rest for our souls...

Today we pray for all Holy Souls.  We are consoled and peaceful in the knowledge that we are praying and commending all these precious souls into the hands of the one who has the last and most loving say on the destiny of absolutely everything and everyone. 

Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord…. may perpetual light shine upon them… may they rest in peace..
 
May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen.
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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed. stock photo ID: 827315317 -All Souls day. The flame from candles in lanterns and protective mask on the ground.-By Jaroslav Moravcik

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All souls DAY -  2nd NOVEMBER. 
(EPISODE: 331)
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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Brothers and sisters, let us acknowledge our sins,
and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.

I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, through my fault, through my fault,* through my most grievous fault; therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.

May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.  Amen.
Lord have Mercy
Christ Have Mercy
Lord Have Mercy
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Memorial Acclamation
We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.
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Preface of the Dead I  - PREFACE

Euch prayer TWO  

(theme variation: 1 )
(pre+post variation: 3)

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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.
 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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All Saints Day - First November, 2021 - (EPISODE: 330)-

All Saints - First November 2021 - (EPISODE: 330)-

All Saints - First November, 2021
(EPISODE: 330)

Readings for
THE LITURGY OF THE WORD

First Reading: Revelation 7:2-4. 9-14
Psalm: Ps 23:1-6 "Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face."
Second Reading: 1 John 3:1-3
Gospel Acclamation: Matthew 11:28 Come to me all you that labour and are burdened, and I will give you rest, says the Lord.
Gospel: Matthew 5:1- 12
 

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed ID: 500927437  - All saints abstract artistic illustration, walking in line towards the Heaven. Group or line of people. By Thoom
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Please listen to the audio-recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for All Saints - First November, 2021 by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-all-saints-episode-330/s-x0UZ55YjkQR?si=efd9b049650149ba92beca4b072da312

  

(EPISODE: 330)
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* Prologue: This feast began in the East to commemorate all martyrs and was progressively adopted in the West. Celebrated on this day in the eighth century and soon widely observed. Honoured today are all holy men and women in glory with Christ: known or unknown, mighty or lowly, all whose lives were modelled on the Beatitudes and on the great commandment of love.
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References:

Prologue by Fr Paul Kelly,  (Ref. Liturgy Brisbane)

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed ID: 500927437  - All saints abstract artistic illustration, walking in line towards the Heaven. Group or line of people. By Thoom

All Saints (First November, 2021) (EPISODE330 )

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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Brothers and sisters, let us acknowledge our sins,
and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.

I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, through my fault, through my fault,* through my most grievous fault; therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.

May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.
Lord have Mercy
Christ Have Mercy
Lord Have Mercy
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Memorial Acclamation

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

Euch prayer two 

Communion side. pwk: RH
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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.

 

Thirty-first Sunday. Year B - Sunday, October 31, 2021 (EPISODE:329)

 

Thirty-first Sunday. Year B - Sunday, October 31, 2021
(EPISODE:329)

Readings for Thirty-first Sunday. Year B
FIRST READING: Deut 6: 2-6
Ps 18: 2-3a, 3b-4, 47+51. "I love you, Lord, my strength. "
SECOND READING: Heb 7: 23-28
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (John 14: 23). Alleluia, alleluia! All who love me will keep my words, and my Father will love them and we will come to them.
GOSPEL: Mark 12: 28b-34

Image Credit: Shutterstock ID: 2038984640 - crucifix hanging on a  wall with words the greatest of these is love - By Kara Gebhardt
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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for Thirty-first Sunday. Year B - Sunday, October 31, 2021, by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-31st-sunday-ordinary-b-episode-329?si=776b93b2cfc34501a881133d7fd36f08  
(EPISODE:329)
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* (Prologue:  Fr Paul Kelly)
In the Bible, and particularly by the time of Our Lord's ministry on earth, there were literally hundreds and hundreds of rules, practices, regulations and observances for a faithful Jewish Person to try to keep. If one wanted to be considered "at rights with God" then they were expected by the experts of their day, to observe each of the many rules, laws, and practices set down. Not only were there the Ten Commandments, but also there were many extra detailed rules and regulations to keep. This included requirements relating to ritual cleanliness.

So, we are all extremely fortunate that Our Lord summed up all of God's Law and the message of the Prophets in two simple commandments, which are really different sides of the one coin: Love God and love neighbour.

This also means, we actually SHOW our love for God by HOW we show love and concern, care, mercy and compassion for our neighbour {and the way we would like to be treated ourselves if we found ourselves in the same situations as our neighbour).

The complete gospel is this…… love of God, and love of neighbour as our self…… and the common denominator to both parts is "love." The meaning and heart of the gospel of Jesus Christ… is LOVE….. To be people of love…. People Who act lovingly… to everyone…(even those who do not wish us well, or who do us wrong). .. and we act in and through love because we are relating to God whose very nature is love itself……

Our Sunday worship is a deeply mysterious and sacramental expression of our weekday lives…… and our weekday lives must be an application of what we proclaim and express on Sunday….

However, this is not meant to create in us a sense of perfectionism…… we all can fall short of our basic belief in our own ability to walk the path of holiness….   And we might, at times, fail to recognise the holiness of those with whom we meet and work and live …… We can all fall into the trap of not practically applying the principles we do truly believe in and strive to live…. But again, that is what is so beautiful about Jesus command today….. Love……. It is not about driving ourselves with mechanical intensity, to treat others like we would treat God, or else we've failed……. It is about loving ourselves and being gentle on ourselves, and allowing that love and gentleness to flow out to all around us….. allowing God to instil that loving attitude in us, with our cooperation……. If we fall short, it is love, and not harshness that is there to put us on our feet again……… because the goal is not about grabbing the crown of victory, it is about growing into the most loving person we can be; and being completely united to God, who is the true source of all love.
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(Homily:  Fr Peter Dillon).
31^st Sunday Ordinary Time Year B 2021

Why is it that the instruction of Jesus to love the Lord your God with all your heart soul and mind and your neighbour as yourself sounds such a simple, yet is so difficult to practice? One might wonder why Jesus found it necessary to link the two when it would be so much easier to proclaim that we should love God. We seem to do this so often in our prayers, at mass and most passionately when we are facing a crisis. It sometimes seems that we are repeating our profession of love so often, that we might be wondering has God forgotten our love and therefore might forget us. Well, that's never going to happen. It's probably the only thing our omnipotent God can't do, to stop loving and caring for us. So why the added instruction to love our neighbour? What good does it do us, we, who are so busy loving God so much.
Even though we have known this instruction since the time of Christ, we have never quite comprehended that the two aspects can never really be separated. One doesn't really make sense without the other. Essentially Jesus is saying that to claim to do one without the other is only living half the command. Of course, it is much more comfortable to tell God of our love and dedication, but Jesus made no promise of the love of God being comfortable. In fact, there are times when he alludes to it being a demanding life of service and self-denial focussing far beyond our own circle of family and friends.

Even if we think that we have grasped the concept of what it means to love God, then we have the dilemma of deciding who my neighbour is and who is deserving of my generosity of service. It is interesting to note at this point that Jesus does not say we should be serving our neighbour, but we should be loving them as much as we love ourselves. That presumes that we first have a healthy and generous love of self, one that ensures that we provide ourselves with life's necessities, like security, nourishment and companionship. This is where the commandment starts to get quite difficult.

This is not a new teaching from Jesus, since it was already part of the Jewish creed. When asked what was the essence of the Jewish law, the teacher Hillel said, "What you hate for yourself, do not to your neighbour – the rest is commentary".

So how can we really learn to follow these teachings that seem to be beyond our capabilities?  Perhaps the closest examples of living these compound commandments can be found in the lives of the saints. Where their love of God seems to spring from their comprehension that it is not a true love of God which does not express itself in the love of neighbour. They do not allow the love of ritual to take the place of love. I'm not referring to "perfect people" but to those people who have flirted with sin and then have realised they have a long way to go. Those who have not looked for God in the sky or merely in the sanctuary of the Church, but have seen him sitting in the gutter right outside the church. Perhaps our greatest neglect is not that we don't love our neighbours, it's that we don't really know them or want to. Our shyness, our suspicion, our sense of safety can convince us that it is necessary to sometimes avoid our neighbour. Sure, we'll help them if we see them falling over in the street, but it seems to be going too far to actively seek them out when they might be too proud to ask for help, or worse when they won't thank you for coming to their aid. It's perhaps a sad reflection on our times that the closer we live together in our cities and suburbs, the further we try to remove ourselves from the lives of others, which makes the application of the two laws outlined today seem so much more difficult.

And if we do put ourselves out for the stranger or the person in need what thanks to we get? What if they come back for more? Therein lies the dilemma for all of us. Does God only believe in our love when he sees how we serve those who don't yet know him?

We would do well to remember the wise words of Mark Twain who said that one of the nicest things that can happen to a person is to do good by stealth and be found out by accident.
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References:

Homily – fr peter Dillon

Prologue - Fr Paul W. Kelly

McCarthy, Flor. 1984. Sunday & Holyday Liturgies Cycle B. Dublin: Dominican.


Image Credit: Shutterstock ID: 2038984640 - crucifix hanging on a  wall with words the greatest of these is love - By Kara Gebhardt
Thirty-first Sunday. Year B  (Sunday, October 31, 2021)  (EPISODE:329)
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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{{Joy and peace to everyone}} welcome everyone, we gather -  Listen to God's Word and contemplate the sacraments. 

As one family in Christ, let us prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries by calling to mind our sins. 

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
1. We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.
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Ps 18: 2-3a, 3b-4, 47+51. "I love you, Lord, my strength. "

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (John 14: 23). Alleluia, alleluia! All who love me will keep my words, and my Father will love them and we will come to them.
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PREFACE: Sundays VIII
Various Occasions 4
(theme variation: 1 )

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{Thank you for giving generously of  your time and prayer.}

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 our 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).

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

- "Faith, Hope and Love" theme hymn - in memory of William John (Bill) Kelly (1942-2017) -  Inspired by 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.

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

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

Sound Engineering and editing -  P.W. Kelly.
Microphones: - RODE-NT-usb-mini

Editing equipment:    NCH software - MixPad Multitrack Studio Recording Software

NCH – WavePad Audio Editing Software. Masters Edition v 12.44

Sound Processing:  iZotope RX 6 Audio Editor

[ Production -  KER -  2021]

May God bless and keep you.
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Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year B . - Sunday, October 24, 2021 (EPISODE:328)

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year B .  - Sunday, October 24, 2021

(EPISODE:328)

Readings for Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year B .
FIRST READING: Jer 31: 7-9
Ps 126: 1-2a, 2b-3, 4-5, 6. "The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy."
SECOND READING: Heb 5: 1-6
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (cf. 2 Tim 1: 10). Alleluia, alleluia! Our Saviour Jesus Christ has done away with death. And brought us life through his gospel.
GOSPEL: Mark 10: 46-52

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed. ID: 742622632 -LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ - October 25, 2017: Stained glass window depicting Jesus Christ curing a blind man. By Nancy Bauer
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Please listen to the audio-recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year B .  - Sunday, October 24, 2021 by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-30th-sunday-ordinary-b-episode-328?si=15922104f83b4ab1ac6d42720c5ccdf7  
(EPISODE:328)

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* (Prologue:  Fr Paul Kelly)
Here is a blind beggar by the name of Bartimaeus. He simply will NOT be silenced. He calls out for help even when well-meaning (but wrong-footed) people tell him to be silent. He persistently cries to Jesus for help, because he KNOWS that Jesus is the Messiah. He also KNOWS that Jesus can help him.

I can't help wondering if Bartimaeus is not the inspiration for Jesus' parable of the persistent neighbour. He keeps knocking and keeps calling out until he gets what he needs. As Jesus said in that parable, other people would have given the persistent neighbour what they needed just because they wanted him to stop irritating them and to give them peace. So, how much more can we expect God to turn a real listening ear, a sympathetic ear to people who cry out in their need! Naturally, God is very much concerned with our welfare and with what we need. God doesn't answer us merely to shut us up but out of the deepest care and compassion.

The Gospel passage also says that Bartimaeus does something very powerful: He 'throws off his cloak' (the cloak of a beggar was like a "badge" of a beggar), and goes to Jesus. He is already showing that he KNOWS he is not going back to his old life and doesn't want to.

Jesus asks him "what do you want me to do for you?"

Jesus asks all of us, "What do you want from me? Think about what you are really asking of me. What do you really want? What do you really NEED?"

Naturally, Bartimaeus is asking for his sight back. But Jesus is asking him a deeper question: "Do you realize the consequences of what you are asking? Do you understand what this request is going to lead you to receive?" For Bartimaeus, it will mean a completely new life. When he receives his sight, he will no longer be a beggar, and he will have to face a new life, a new vocation, and a new everything. This is both exciting and scary. 

A true encounter with Jesus is always a joy and a challenge. Our encounter with Jesus, is a two-way dialogue; We speak to God of our needs and hopes and fears and God replies with a (silent) question: "what is it that you are really asking?"…. and "Are you prepared for the whole change of circumstances that goes with the encounter?"

Apparently, Bartimaeus is one of the few people Jesus cured who we are explicitly told in the text that he also went on to become one of his disciples. So, it is clear that as well as regaining his physical sight, Bartimaeus (equally importantly) has shown enormous clarity of spiritual insight, into who Jesus is and what following him means.

When Bartimaeus regained his sight and Jesus tells him "go your way" and beautifully, Bartimaeus ' "way" is now to FOLLOW Jesus, because it says he follows him along "the way." He became a follower, a disciple. As he walks along following Jesus he will continue to gain NEW (spiritual) sight and knowledge. In another sense, we all gain new sight as we cast off the "cloak" of old ways and old excuses and faithfully walk along the new ways of Jesus.

We are like Bartimaeus, asking Jesus to show us and teach us deeper ways to combine mercy and justice, faithfulness to his teaching and loving compassion for those who have stumbled and are searching for answers.

As we walk along the road of God's mercy, let us explore and celebrate the richness of God's mercy and love. Like Bartimaeus let us continue to see with the eyes of faith and love, and follow the Lord along the exciting ways of the newness of sight.

We need to be very careful about spiritual blindness. It can be a very subtle thing. We must all be on our guard against spiritual blindness and we would do best to suspect that we have aspects of Spiritual blindness in our lives and search for it and put any aspects of it before our Lord for the purpose of healing.

You and I may very well have a glaring blindness to some aspects of Jesus' explicit teachings and message.

How is it that we can hear the gospel and not always realise that this very gospel is 'convicting' us of precisely the qualities it lists. How is it that when we listen to gospels we do not realize that this message is directed at us and that we might also be the Pharisees and the critics or the hypocrites. Christ asks us to be open to this possibility. To ask ourselves constantly, do I do that? How do I do this? And not too quick to say, "ah that is not me, that is other people!"   Are we sure?????

Christ invites us to be transformed…. If we ask the Lord to free us from spiritual blindness, the Lord will do it, and show us the contradictions. if we know what it is we are asking for…. And what it means for us….it is worth sitting in some discomfort as the Lord searches and reveals the flaws.

TO what extent are we capable of being blind to the challenging message and vision of Jesus? In what ways do we "listen and listen and yet 'not hear'"? In what ways do we look and look and not see……??

 
Lord, show us the light…. Help us to see… and to trust in your challenging, but healing word.

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(Homily:  Fr Peter Dillon).
Homily 30th Sunday Ordinary Time Year B 2021
 

 A riveting television documentary I watched some time ago, told of an English woman who had been blind for 40 years and through medical intervention had her sight restored. While she was thrilled with the outcome she commented that there were many things she had to negotiate that she hadn't expected. She said that when she was walking in the street people seemed to be moving so fast, and she kept missing her food when she tried to put the food on her fork. She was very surprised to find that her husband was very different than she had imagined and much better looking. Good for her.

Like Bartimaeus "Suddenly she saw" and it took some time to get used to what they had previously only imagined.

I've met people who have "seen" or rather" understood" God for the first time, and that too takes some getting used to. It requires a 'recalibration' of what was expected and how we communicate with God. Our prayer life and faith practice might change to suit the new circumstances. How God is included in the daily events might feel unusual at first, followed by a greater sense of contentment knowing that this fresh vision makes life and living a lot clearer.

Similarly, there are those who have lost sight of God, for many different reasons. They might have come to see that their work is meaningless, their children ignore them, their relationships seem lifeless or their health is fading. If God is not completely invisible, then He is certainly seen at a distance and the effort to get closer seems to be a great burden that is all too difficult when energies are low.
We might wonder what brought Bartimaeus to be desperate enough to approach Jesus. What did he know of the man Jesus and what did he believe was possible?

Jesus, the man of few words, is leaving Jericho to go to Jerusalem where he knows he will be arrested and executed. A large crowd is following him and there is a commotion. A Blind beggar, Bartimaeus shouts out: 'Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me'. First person in the New Testament, to address Jesus with the Messianic title.  The crowd is clearly insensitive to his words & needs and they start to scold the beggar. What follows is a shouting match and interestingly Jesus decides to cut through this barrier of correct behaviour to the real need. Jesus: 'Call him over', 'what do you want me to do for you? 'Be on your way, your faith has healed you'.
Jesus' purpose is not to play up to the crowd, but to be sensitive to the beggar's need. Bartimaeus is healed... physical/spiritual. He could see spiritually before he saw physically. He saw the 'Son of David', the Messiah.

A desperate choice was made Bartimaeus needing to be healed by Christ and was not afraid to ask. He had the wisdom and courage to try to change his situation. He did not just accept his restricted circumstances.


The Spirit of God is particularly real to people in great distress, who have nothing and no one else but their faith to lean on: They are the first to recognise Christ.
 The rest of the crowd were faceless, uncommitted, silencing the blind man at one moment, urging him on the next, doing whatever was most convenient, safest. Blinded because they are unthinking rule keepers, mindless chanters of the most approved political and social clichés of their time.

Jesus was going about his business, suddenly a need for an intervention of a person in need. The same can happen to us. We don't plan for people to enter into our lives with requests for help encroaching our daily schedule, but like Jesus we ask: "what do you want me to do for you?", with the implication of care, presence, attention. Christ's life and mission lead us to active care: 'May we do with loving hearts what you ask and come to share the life you promise'.

Mark seems to be suggesting that Bartimaeus was cured precisely because, although blind in the physical sense, he was better able to see than those with two good eyes. His humility entitled him to a cure. This passage comes after the sons of Zebedee, James & John, demanding seats at the right and left hand of Jesus in his Kingdom. And Mark has Jesus ask of his disciples the very same question he asked of Bartimaeus, 'What do you want?' James and John wanted power and so failed to see. Bartimaeus wanted Jesus, and so he did see.
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References:

Homily – fr peter Dillon

Prologue - Fr Paul W. Kelly

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed. ID: 742622632 -LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ - October 25, 2017: Stained glass window depicting Jesus Christ curing a blind man. By Nancy Bauer


Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year B .   (Sunday, October 24, 2021)  (EPISODE:328)
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (or/ The Lord be with You)
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{{Love and joy be with everyone}} welcome everyone, we gather -  Ponder with reverence, God's word and sacrament. 

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 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
3. Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.
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Ps 126: 1-2a, 2b-3, 4-5, 6. "The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy."

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (cf. 2 Tim 1: 10). Alleluia, alleluia! Our Saviour Jesus Christ has done away with death. And brought us life through his gospel.
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PREFACE: Sundays VII
EP II
(theme variation: 4 )

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{May God's grace strengthen your faith hope and love, and may the Lord' love surprise you, even in the trials and challenges of this week. }

Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.

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

To listen to our 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).

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

- "Faith, Hope and Love" theme hymn - in memory of William John (Bill) Kelly (1942-2017) -  Inspired by 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.

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

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

Sound Engineering and editing -  P.W. Kelly.
Microphones: - RODE NT-USB-mini

Editing equipment:    NCH software - MixPad Multitrack Studio Recording Software

NCH – WavePad Audio Editing Software. Masters Edition v 12.44

Sound Processing:  iZotope RX 6 Audio Editor

[Production -  KER -  2021]

May God bless and keep you.
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Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year B. - Sunday, October 17, 2021 (EPISODE: 327)

 Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year B. - Sunday, October 17, 2021 (EPISODE: 327)

Readings for Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year B. Mission Sunday
FIRST READING: Isa 53: 10-11
Ps 33: 4-5, 18-19, 20+22. "Lord, let your mercy be on us,  as we place our trust in you"
SECOND READING: Heb 4: 14-16
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Mark 10: 45). Alleluia, alleluia! The Son of Man came to serve. And to give his life as a ransom for all.
GOSPEL: Mark 10: 35-45 or 10: 42-45

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed. ID: 177283565- Modern stained glass window depicting a pelican wounding its breast to feed its young, an ancient Christian symbol of Jesus Christ and his Passion and Crucifixion. By Nancy Bauer
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Please listen to the audio-recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year B. Mission Sunday - Sunday, October 17, 2021 by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-29th-sunday-ordinary-b-episode-327?si=901a79331beb44e489c6ff805583a40e  
(EPISODE: 327)
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* (Prologue:  Fr Paul Kelly)

The readings this weekend speak of God who is not aloof or uninterested, but rather, God who is right there in the midst of us, sharing our suffering and pain, taking on our human condition, and lifting us up and helping people in very practical and compassionate ways….   God who gets his hands dirty and is one of us and among us to help us… to save us….
 
Jesus reiterates the ways of God -  humility, service, self-sacrifice……. - "…Anyone who wants to become great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be a slave to all. For the Son of Man, himself did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
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Jesus Chris loved us SO much that he gave himself up for us, completely. Jesus sacrificed himself to save us. He became like a slave for us.
 
As the second reading says; We have a God who is able to sympathise with us in our weaknesses, because Jesus has shared our human nature and experienced human weakness, suffering, pain, and temptation just like we all have.
 
Jesus DOES indeed know what it is like for us to experience difficulties of every kind, and he promises to walk with us and support us in the challenges and suffering of life.
 
There is a saying, "I am only human," and whilst it is good to acknowledge that we are fallible and that we can all make mistakes, that excuse can sometimes be used to justify us remaining stuck in behaviours that are destructive and in choices that are decidedly not consistent with Christs' gospel message.
 
Sure, we are human, we are fallible - but, we are also called to share in Christ's divine life….
 
So, whilst God is understanding, sympathetic and forgiving, this is even more reason why we need to dedicate ourselves to rise above the sinful and destructive behaviours that we find ourselves in.
 
God's forgiveness and our human weakness is never an invitation to say, 'this is all I am and this is all I can be. I will not change, and will always wallow in my weaknesses.' Rather, we are inspired by God's tender mercy and compassion so that we then take up our cross and keep travelling along the journey of conversion - persevere along the path of holiness, and constantly ask God to foster in us the virtues that will transform our weaknesses and make us more and more like Jesus and his values….
 
Our weaknesses are a reality that can be a big obstacle in our path to increased holiness. However, it is no excuse for stopping in our tracks! Our weaknesses are real, but are never a reason to stay 'stuck in patterns of sin.'  We need the help of God's grace to achieve this.
 
Jesus is the ultimate example of not only "God made flesh" but also of humanity fully alive and glorified. The saints; (those holy women and men who led lives of service, sacrifice and holiness), remind us that, despite our limitations and infirmities, it is possible and necessary to keep moving forward in the path of holiness. Settling for less is not God's call for us.
 
The journey we are on is one that is 'walking a fine line.' We live in a way that means we never give up because of the sins and failures we experience in our lives, and we always gratefully accept the new start that God gives us through God's compassion and mercy, but at the same time, we never allow our weaknesses to cause us to presume on God's mercy - thinking we can choose to do wrong because we know God will forgive us afterwards.
 
The gospel today is very fitting too…..
 
The disciples, (poor disciples!) have got it wrong .......again!!
 
Here are James and John coming up to Jesus and insisting that he give them places of honour and privilege in his Kingdom. How selfish, how proud, how indulgent!
 
The other disciples are angry at them, but perhaps because they too wanted those seats, (those privileges), and how dare others to ask for what they wanted! Jesus tries to show them (and us) that they have totally missed the point.
 
It is not even JESUS who allots everyone's place in Heaven. It is THE HEAVENLY FATHER. And the places will be allotted to people who have given themselves wholly to God's loving ways. Those who have suffered greatly to bring others to the good news of Christ; (those who have sacrificed themselves in loving and self-giving service), and certainly not to those seeking self-indulgence, privilege and prestige. How wrong these disciples are (in this matter at least)! These places cannot be earned without the CROSS, which is encountered in every disciple's life.
 
Jesus asks us to get rid of any kind of self-satisfaction, self-indulgence and pride. He shows us how to let go of our selfishness and give ourselves fully to others in service.
 
It is good for us to reflect deeply on this, (each of us individually, in our prayer can ask ourselves) ....." what motivates my actions?"  Really, what are my motives and priorities? What are the things that motivate me in what I do in the church and in my daily life?" Do I do things because I expect something back? Do I do it because I want a prestigious place of honour or a personal benefit for myself or those close to me?" The gospel today, and many more like it, challenges us:  We must know that this is not what Christ is calling us to.
 
Service and love, (done with Jesus' gospel values), are their own sweet reward. and with no other expectation of reward or honour. personal accolades, Personal reward, self-satisfaction – none of these are consistent with Jesus' message. Self-surrender, being servants to God and his message, compassion, self-sacrifice, loving service, mercy; this is consistent with Jesus' message.
 
Let us ask the Lord to lovingly show us our weaknesses, help us to trust in Gods mercy and compassion. Prevent us from ever presuming on your mercy, Lord, or boldly continuing to live wrongly and indulgently. Graciously spur us on, to keep going along the path to holiness. And. Lord, please inspire us to give selflessly and lovingly and to serve others as you did.
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(Homily:  Fr Peter Dillon).
HOMILY 29th Sunday Ordinary Time Year B 2021

Most religious communities have a prudent practice of appointing community leaders for set terms so that after having been a leader for a certain time, someone else in the community takes on the role, with the previous leader returning to a role with less authority and usually less responsibility. It is a very sensible way of exercising leadership, because only when we know what it means to follow do we really understand what is involved in leadership. Those who have been leaders of these communities are usually relieved to be able to be released from positions of authority, because they have come to understand that power, correctly used, can be a heavy burden.

 Some people actually seek authority because it comes with power and sometimes that power makes them feel important. Others like the prestige that it brings while others prefer the higher salary and other material rewards. All leadership requires certain positional powers that allow them to make necessary decisions, hopefully for the good of all concerned. It's been suggested that there are two types of authority, one which imposes, dominates and controls, while another type listens, liberates and empowers. I believe there is a third type which is silent, loving and trusting. It's the kind that parents use when their children have gone astray, when they hope they will come back. All three are based on an understanding of the value, or lack of it, placed on those over whom the power is exercised.

The type of power that James and John were seeking was based on envy and resentment and sought honour and glory for itself alone. They obviously thought that Jesus' kingdom was modelled on worldly kingdoms. Jesus turned that idea on its head and instead informed them that the greatest in his kingdom would be the servant of others, and he put himself forward as an example, using his power to enable, not control. Such authority mirrored the authority of God the Father. An authority, given, not presumed. He wanted them to know that authority should not be given to those who seek it, but only to those who were willing to serve, to use it for the right reasons. The cup he referred to was not a prize cup but a cup of sacrifice and suffering, of diligence and responsibility. They must understand that there is no shortcut to God's favour.

He urged the disciples not to exercise that same power that was used by the pagan leaders of the day. "They lord it over others and make their authority felt. This must not happen among you," he says. Our present age is no different when we see many forms of oppressive power and sometimes it strongly influences the young. They mistakenly believe that to get to the top in any field they may have to walk over others to get there, and once there, they can look down on others as insignificant. These people usually discover that at that height the air is rarefied and the view is far from satisfying, with the worry that someone may try to take the power away from them. Their positions are very unstable because they are founded on a fragile foundation that has little support from their followers.

None of us know in advance what the cup of life holds for us. We only find that out as life unfolds. We might imagine that after Jesus' life of service to others then his life would end in earthly glory, but as we know the opposite came to pass. To drink the cup of life, especially made difficult by a life of sacrifice and service to others, is to follow Christ. But those who share the bitterness of his cross, will also share the sweetness of his Easter victory. It would seem that James and John eventually got the message.

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References:

Homily – fr peter Dillon

Prologue - Fr Paul W. Kelly


Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed. ID: 177283565- Modern stained glass window depicting a pelican wounding its breast to feed its young, an ancient Christian symbol of Jesus Christ and his Passion and Crucifixion. By Nancy Bauer


Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year B. Mission Sunday  (Sunday, October 17, 2021)  (EPISODE: 327)
The Lord be with you.
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{{Hi everyone}} welcome everyone, we gather -  Reflection upon God's word, and encounter Christ's presence. 

my brothers and sisters, to prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries, let us call to mind our sins.

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.
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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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Ps 33: 4-5, 18-19, 20+22. "Lord, let your mercy be on us,  as we place our trust in you"

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Mark 10: 45). Alleluia, alleluia! The Son of Man came to serve. And to give his life as a ransom for all.
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PREFACE: Sundays VI
Eucharistic Prayer for Various Occasions 3
(theme variation: 3 )

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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 our 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).

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

- "Faith, Hope and Love" theme hymn - in memory of William John (Bill) Kelly (1942-2017) -  Inspired by 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.

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

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

Sound Engineering and editing -  P.W. Kelly.
Microphones: - RODE NT-usb

Editing equipment:    NCH software - MixPad Multitrack Studio Recording Software

NCH – WavePad Audio Editing Software. Masters Edition v 12.44

Sound Processing:  iZotope RX 6 Audio Editor

[ Production -  KER -  2021]

May God bless and keep you.
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