Friday, February 18, 2022

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C - Sunday, February 20, 2022 (EPISODE: 351)


Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C - Sunday, February 20, 2022
(EPISODE: 351)
Readings for Sunday, February 20, 2022 - Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C
FIRST READING: 1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-25 ++
Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 8+10, 12-13. "the lord is kind and merciful"
SECOND READING: 1 Corinthians 15:45-50 ++
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (John 13:34). Alleluia, alleluia! I give you a new commandment. Love one another as I have loved you.
GOSPEL: Luke 6:27-38

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed 1828646321 Be merciful bible words with the sky over mountain background – Contributor: -Naitham
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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C - Sunday, February 20, 2022 by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-seventh-sunday-of-ordinary-time-year-c-episode-351?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing  (EPISODE:351 )
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*Prologue (Fr Paul Kelly)
What does it mean for us to, (as St Paul says so wonderfully in the second reading), "bear the image of the one of Heaven?" Or, as another translation says: "be modelled on the Heavenly man, (Jesus)."

Surely it means, we open ourselves up to the Lord's grace, teaching and values and allow ourselves to be reshaped into an icon of Christ's grace, mercy, and compassion.   It means a deeper union with Christ – to the point of exercising our thinking, abilities, and powers in union with how Christ acts.

The first reading is quite challenging…   David has been persecuted quite unjustly by King Saul, who is suffering from terrible delusions and jealousy and paranoia about David.  David has been nothing but loyal to him but Saul will not be satisfied.  War breaks out but David and his army are given the chance to kill Saul and David refuses to do so.  This is not the first time this will happen. 

 

It's a striking lesson…   Just because we have been given the power to lift up and to cast down, and simply because we have within us the ability to kill or to heal, does not mean that we should use our freedom to destroy, to avenge or to harm.  David unites himself to God's patient, loving forbearance -  he does not lower himself to repay the wrongdoing of others with the same behaviour. He does not return bad for bad. Rather, he uses God's perfect antidote; – returning love and kindness for wrongdoing. Cancelling it out, rather than multiplying it. This is a radical and otherworldly solution, but clearly, it is Divine wisdom. 

 

As David says so beautifully ….  "Today the Lord put you in my power, but I would not raise my hand against the Lord's anointed.'"  In this instance, David used his ability to be modelled upon the values and actions of God's ways and not human ways… and the results are refreshing, surprising and wonderful.   Once where it seemed only one solution to the problem of King Saul and David.  One strikes the other down. Now there is a beautiful second option… reconciliation and rebuilding.   We are invited to give from God's gracious and compassionate love within, rather than to mirror or give back what one receives from the selfish, narrow actions of others.

 

Our Lord confirms this Heavenly mindset in the gospel….  He teaches us a very challenging message that goes against base instinct…  Do good to those who harm you and pray for them…   go further than the minimum……

 

The word "love" used by Our Lord in this teaching is not the same as for family or friends or a spouse…  but it's a love that wishes the best and only the good for another, irrespective of their actions.  Wanting for everyone that dignity and respect and good that anyone deserves as a child of God, whether they themselves have acted in ways befitting of their status as children of God.

 

Do this, and 'you will be children of the Most-High, for God himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.'

 

BE generous, not stingy or selfish; loving and compassionate, not gossiping, or judging; Merciful, not vengeful and precious. .... The standard by which we will be judged is going to be the standard with which we treat others!

 

Are we tempted to be offended when someone slights us?   Are we outraged when someone wrongs us?    But then we look at Our Lord…  who is deserving of all honour, obedience, and service… 

At times, each of us has offended the Lord, slighted him…  not given God his due, deliberately or carelessly chosen to do what is wrong…   God would have been within his rights to become furious, to lash out, the punish, to cast us away….  But God does not…   (thank goodness!).   {So many times I thank God that we humans do are not God because the results would be disastrous and capricious}. Rather, Our Lord is full of love, mercy, and forbearance…    

 

Thanks be to God, that the Lord does not choose to exercise his rights against us when we have wronged him time and time again. And if we are truly to model ourselves on the Heavenly Person, and bear the image of the one of Heaven, then we too must have the same attitudes and responses when we are offended, slighted or wronged.    How different would the world and our local communities be if this was the full reality? 

 

Otherwise, as Jesus points out if our goodness and kindness go no further than our family and friends and those we are already in goodwill with, what difference is that from the pagans and the sinners… they are kind to their kin and friends…    Christ invites us to be fully immersed in his ways, not just dipping our toes into the waters of baptism we have received.  

 

The golden rule is in many ways a universal rule…  also found in other religious traditions.  (Jewish, Greek, even Confucian) …  but in each of these traditions. it is framed negatively and in a limiting way…  namely…   "don't do things to people you wouldn't like people to do to you." But in Christ, this teaching goes much further! …  It is expressed in a wonderfully positive light!  and not merely a negative one…    That is, it is not merely refraining from doing what you would not want to be done to you, but also doing the good things for others that you would want people to do for you!   Christ's saying itself, "goes the extra mile…"  

 

A commentator on today's first reading shared this insight too….-  "David, an anointed messiah, shows mercy in taking king Saul's sword and water jug. I cannot help but see a foreshadowing of the cross when the sword in the hands of another soldier, pierces the side of a king, the son of David, to give us the greatest mercy of all. The water and blood flow from Jesus' side in our Baptism and in the Eucharist, feeding us until we too enter the deep sleep of the Lord."

-To listen to the whole Sunday Mass each week (including homily) from Surfers Paradise Catholic Parish, please visit this link: Liturgy for you at Home (by SPCP) - https:- soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks.   

((References: Fr Paul W. Kelly; Barclay, W. (1975). The Gospel of Luke. 2nd ed. Edinburgh: St. Andrew Press). 

(Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed. 1828646321 Be merciful bible words with the sky over mountain background – Contributor: -Naitham)

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Homily (Fr Peter Dillon)

7th Sunday Ordinary Time Year C 2022

If you were challenged by the paradoxical teachings of Jesus in the Gospel last week, then hold on to your hat, because this week he moves things up a gear with even more confronting teachings that must have been very difficult for the disciples to hear. We must remember that prior to Jesus gathering his trusty disciples their teachings were all to be found within the writing of what we know as the Old Testament. To them is was simply their sacred scripture and was both law and instruction for life. They were depend upon the scribes and the scholars of the temple to keep them informed and, since most of these humble disciples neither read not wrote they would have committed the teachings to memory and revelled in the grand sagas of kings and warriors who fought on the side of God.

 

But before we take on the Gospel, it is worth taking a brief look at the events and the relationships in our first reading from 1st Samuel. Often we gloss over some of the Old Testament readings because consider that they were written for different people in a vastly different time. However, when it comes to human nature and frailty, very little has changed over those many years. People are still suspicious, envious, greedy and threatened by the power and conviction of others, so it is worth making sure that we don't miss some of those key elements that underpin what might be happening both then and now.

 

David and Saul are two very significant and powerful men, both leading figures in a heartbreaking story of friendship, betrayal and misfortune. Both are anointed by God and become kings, and both must confront the challenge of ambition, power and madness.

**(apologies but technical problems make the next section of the recording unusable--

**While they are connected through marriage and initially have a love and respect for each other, what starts out as loyalty and attachment, soon turns into a quest to remove each other since they each come to threaten each other's rise to power, to the point where murder is seen to be the only solution.

 

Fortunately the wise King David comes to realise that if he wants his subjects to treat him with respect and dignity then he too must do the same to his ailing father in law. It is only when this generous loves becomes a reality that the impasse is broken between the two men.

 

It with this background knowledge that Jesus disciples would have been very familiar with that Jesus gives now gives as his most difficult teaching.

 

"Love your enemies and do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you and pray for those who treat you badly". Why, "because the amount you measure out will be the amount you will be given back"

 

Note that Jesus is not asking his disciples to fall in love with their enemies, but rather to be challenged to be determined about their enemy's welfare, to be stubbornly gracious and to refuse to pay back violence with violence. Of course, we understand why this would have been so contrary to what the disciples had heard from their own scriptures and even experienced in their community living)***

 

 The revenge and payback method of appeasement has been part of human thinking from the beginning of humanity. Even our civil laws today suggest that those who have been wronged by others are entitled to some form of compensation. Fortunately, we have moved away from the eye for an eye method of extracting justice.

 

Jesus goes on to tell them that hatred can only be defeated by love: injury can only be healed by forgiveness, and evil can only be controlled by goodness. We can fall into a trap of thinking that Jesus must have tried to make it easy for his followers to live his message, to make it more palatable, but in fact the opposite is really the case. If they were to be the teachers of others then they had to be the model of example. Even in his own life Jesus had to work hard at honouring his own ethic. As we know it ultimately cost him everything, but in doing so he confused his enemies with his love. He offered love first even though he knew the return would never measure up to what was being offered.  That is sometimes the only way we can pass on these tough but important lessons, by trying them out. Not dismissing them as being too difficult or pointless without putting them to the test. Lived with pure intentions and honesty of spirit, then these gifts can create worth in others, they can stop the contagion of meanness, that can so consume our world.

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References:

prologue by Fr Paul W. Kelly

 

Homily by Fr Peter Dillon


Barclay, W. (1975). The Gospel of Luke. 2nd ed. Edinburgh: St. Andrew Press

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed.


Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C  (Sunday, February 20, 2022(EPISODE:  351)
The Lord be with you.
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{{May God's Spirit of Wisdom and understanding abide in you.}}

Our Gods love and mercy knows no bounds, and so let us recall our sins so as to worthily celebrate this Holy Sacrifice.
(option two on the cards):

 

Have mercy on us, O Lord.

-          For we have sinned against you.

Show us, O Lord, your mercy.

-          And grant us your salvation.

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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Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 8+10, 12-13. "the lord is kind and merciful"

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (
John 13:34). Alleluia, alleluia! I give you a new commandment. Love one another as I have loved you.


Memorial Acclamation
1. We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.
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PREFACE: Sundays Ordinary I
Euch prayer two
Communion side.  pwk:  RH

(theme variation: v1/full )

(pre+post variation: v2-short)
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{heartfelt thanks to you all for uniting in prayer and reflectying upon God's goodness and care.}

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 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.

Sound Engineering and editing -  P.W. Kelly.

 

Microphones: -      Shure MV5

 

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 -  2022]

May God bless and keep you.

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[ Production -  KER -  2022]

May God bless and keep you.

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Thursday, February 10, 2022

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C - Sunday, February 13, 2022 (EPISODE: 350)


Readings for Sunday, February 13, 2022
FIRST READING: Jer 17:5-8
Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4+6. "Happy are they who hope in the Lord."
SECOND READING: 1 Cor 15:12, 16-20
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Luke 6:17, 20-26). Alleluia, alleluia! Rejoice and be glad. Your reward will be great in Heaven.
GOSPEL: Luke 6:17, 20-26

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed. Item ID: 559112293 - GALILEE, ISRAEL - DECEMBER 3: The statues of Jesus and Twelve Apostles in Domus Galilaeae on the Mount of Beatitudes near the Sea of Galilee in Galilee, Israel on December 3, 2016- Contributor: alefbet
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Please listen to the audio-recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C - Sunday, February 13, 2022  by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-sixth-sunday-of-ordinary-time-year-c-episode-350?si=e6093e3e250043f290aa8b5d79d6b4c7&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing  
(EPISODE: 350)
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* (Prologue:  Fr Paul Kelly)
Here we are at EPISODE: 350  of this podcast of the Mass   -   now into our sixth year.   I started recording this series on October 1st 2016, and now we are up to the grand episode number 350. We have made additions and improvements to the quality over the years, both sound-wise, and musically, and we have also been blessed by the addition of a second voice for the wonderful readings and prayers of intercession.  And, most importantly, God's beautiful and nourishing word is truly such a blessing and a joy to proclaim and to reflect upon each week. We are truly blessed to be (as the reading says beautifully this weekend) "like trees planted beside the flowing waters").
The poor tree planted beside the running stream is rich indeed! 


that  wondrful line in the readings for this weekend. "like a tree planted near flowing waters…. that thrusts its roots into the stream". 'when the heat comes. It feels no alarm. Its foliage stays green.'
is a truly beautiful and restful image.
 
It is what we all are called to become. People who are focused on God—. Brought into union with the Lord. Finding our centre, our balance, and focus in God. And drawing our life and meaning from The river of Life—. God is the source of all nourishment and refreshment. And staying focused. Knowing what is life-giving and what is a dead-end!!! And living in that knowledge.
 
This weekend, as we listen to God's word, ( as we plant ourselves too, beside the flowing and renewing water of God's word), The Gospel today says 'happy are those who are spiritually poor. And oppressed' and woe to those who are comfy and cozy. This version of the gospel spells out that God intends to turn earthly standards and values on their head. The poor, the oppressed, the needy; these are the first in God's values and concerns. So God is preparing us for a different way of thinking, in order to engage us in a different way of acting and living.
 
Sometimes modern listeners can miss some of the subtlety of Christ's message. For example, it does at first glance look like anyone who is well off or wealthy is coming in an enormous serve. But we have to remember that Luke's Gospel, (especially), was addressed to influential, wealthy and powerful people in the Gentile community. Luke is not collecting an orderly account of Christ's life and teaching, in order to bash powerful and influential people from here to kingdom come. The whole gospel is an invitation to people, rich or poor, influential or powerless, to become willing members in the Kingdom, where values are reshaped and a new way of relating is formed. Luke is inviting the influential and powerful to have a new mind and heart.  Luke encourages his readers and listeners to use their influence, their position, and their good fortune to keep in mind their brothers and sisters, whom Christ loved so much, and spent his life and ministry helping.
 
There is another beautiful quote I stumbled across. "The one who loses wealth loses much. But the one who loses the spirit loses everything." It is good to adjust and re-calibrate our priorities, resources, and values; -  Keeping them connected to the source of lasting meanin; God. And God's offer of eternal life.
 
The source of all life, all meaning and all lasting value, Is God. 
 
All that is lasting: love, compassion, and connection with God and union with one another, as one family in Christ, these elements of that life-giving stream that sustains us and directs us, in good times and in bad.
 
I was reading a quote from a person who wrote down thoughts about their life, as they faced their final illness. This writer, by the name of Lee Atwater. Died at a very early age from a brain tumour. He was a man who had amassed enormous wealth and power and prestige in his short life. But admitted himself that he felt a deep inner restlessness. And a "poverty of spirit." He writes: "In my illness, I discovered insight into what was missing in society. And it was indeed missing in me too: A little heart; and a lot of brotherhood. We must speak to this 'spiritual vacuum' that lies at the heart of our society."
 
What are some of the dead-end roads we are tempted to drive down in our lives? What 'things' do we put our energy and time into that are not life-giving or lasting, in comparison with the eternal waters offered by Jesus?
 
Let us be aware, and prayerful, about the things that give us lasting life and satisfaction. And the things that sap our energy and leave us empty.
 
Jesus can show us how to put ourselves near the flowing waters. To renew and reconnect us to the true source of life. Christ himself! 
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(Homily:  Fr Peter Dillon).
6th Sunday Ordinary Time Year C 2022

A paradox, by dictionary definition, is 'a seemingly contradictory statement that is nevertheless true'. In today's gospel, Jesus' statements are paradoxical. They seem contradictory, but they're true. The poor are blessed, he says but the rich are unfortunate. Given today's economic conditions, we would have said just the opposite: the rich are fortunate, but the poor (and we always put ourselves in that category) are not. We would have said it because that's our experience, both in our own circumstances and in the world around us. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. We say it, but not Jesus. He blesses the poor and curses the rich. As if that wasn't bad enough, Jesus goes on to add other paradoxes. Nobody likes to be hungry, sad or hated, but Jesus calls fortunate people who find themselves in these circumstances. Ours is a religion of paradoxes, and the ultimate paradox is Jesus himself. He made himself poor in order to enrich us. He made himself sin (in St Paul's words) in order to save us. He died in order to enter his glory and bring us life. And there are the continuing paradoxes that should mark our pilgrimage of faith. We must die to ourselves so that Jesus can fill us with his life. We must suffer dryness of spirit before God will refresh us. We must recognize the hand of a good God amid the world's evils. And, finally, we too must die in order to live.

Why so many paradoxes? The paradoxical Jesus and his paradoxical blessings and curses, our personal paradoxes of death and life, of pain and glory?
The answer is in one word Jesus uses in today's gospel. That word is NOW.

The rich are consoled NOW, the full are satisfied NOW, those who laugh are happy NOW. What Jesus curses is not their riches, satisfaction or laughter. Nothing wrong with them in themselves, because they are the very rewards he promises to those who are now poor, hungry and sorrowful.

What Jesus is attacking is the shortsightedness of people who live only for now. Their curse is that they have no future because they do not believe in a future. Condemned to the eternal present. In a sense they are cursing themselves. Jesus is merely pointing out their awful condition. Now is their only horizon, and their selves are their prison. Now people must be selfish people. But they do not even possess fully those selves upon which they lavish so much time and energy. There is a prophetic anger in Jesus' words, almost as if our stupidity upsets him. He must use strong language to shake us out of our complacency. He is asking us to wake up before it is too late, before the future comes and reveals how tattered our riches, how shallow our satisfaction, how hollow our laughter.

Hellfire preaching was once a popular method for inducing in sinners the fear that would bring about conversion. Jesus is not using that method here. He does not want us to be afraid. Instead, he is asking us to be realistic. THINK ABOUT IT. The dark side he shows here is our doing, not his. He merely exposes our pretenses for the shabby defenses they are. They will not last, he shouts, so place your trust in what will.

Learn the poverty that God will enrich. Do not be so filled with self that there's no room for God. Taste the hunger that God will satisfy. Do not stifle the desire that drives you to reach for him. And experience the bitter sorrow of our human condition which Jesus shared. Do not turn your back on those who suffer, do not ignore the evils in our midst. If you do these things, you will be happy indeed.

Today we are asked to give to the poor, the hungry, the weeping and despised in our midst. Not because they are deserving, even though they might be; not because we will feel good about it, even though we might; not because we'll get a spiritual reward, even though we probably will. But to give because chances are we will never see the good that comes of it. To give because it may even go to somebody we might consider undeserving. To give just because it is the thing that the disciple of Christ is called to do.

The beatitudes, as these sayings have become known, are not prescriptions for becoming poor or hungry or sad or afflicted. They are addressed to those who are already involved in committing themselves to the kingdom, and they give instances of what happens when the kingdom arrives in this broken world. They speak of the variety of experiences that people go through as a result of getting involved in God's way of doing things. They are the promise that God can handle the poverty, the hunger, the tears, and the rejection.
They are the promise that God can handle all these things and lift his people out of them. They are the reminder that God is not committed to keeping his people at a level of being hurt and wounded, but rather a vision of a God who reverses tragedy. That is the good News that he has come to bring.

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References:

Homily – fr peter Dillon

Prologue - Fr Paul W. Kelly

Vision – PRAYING SCRIPTURE IN A CONTEMPORARY WAY. YEAR C. BY MARK LINK S.J;

A BOOK OF GRACE-FILLED DAYS. BY ALICE CAMILLE. 2010;

DAILY STUDY BIBLE. GOSPEL OF LUKE. (REVISED EDITION). BY WILLIAM BARCLAY

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed. Item ID: 559112293 - GALILEE, ISRAEL - DECEMBER 3: The statues of Jesus and Twelve Apostles in Domus Galilaeae on the Mount of Beatitudes near the Sea of Galilee in Galilee, Israel on December 3, 2016- Contributor: alefbet


Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C  (Sunday, February 13, 2022(EPISODE: 350)
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
(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 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: -  Shure Motiv MV5 Digital Condenser.

Editing equipment:    NCH software - MixPad Multitrack Studio Recording Software

NCH – WavePad Audio Editing Software. Masters Edition v 12.44

Sound Processing:  iZotope RX 6 Audio Editor

[ Production -  KER -  2022]

May God bless and keep you.
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Friday, February 04, 2022

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C - Sunday, February 6, 2022 (EPISODE: 349)

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C - Sunday, February 6, 2022
(EPISODE: 349)

shutterstock_2084122570.jpg

Readings for Sunday, February 6, 2022

FIRST READING: Isa 6:1-2a, 3-8
Ps 138:1-2a, 2b-3, 4-5, 7c-8. "In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord."
SECOND READING:
1 Cor 15:1-11 or 15:3-8, 11
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (
Luke 5:1-11). Alleluia, alleluia! Come follow me, says the Lord. And I will make you fishers of my people.
GOSPEL:
Luke 5:1-11

{Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed.ID: 2084122570 - Sitges, Spain - November 14, 2021: calling of the holy apostles Saint Peter and Saint Andrew in Aragonese Gothic style, both saints leaving their fishing boat in the Sea of Galilee to follow Jesus Contributor: Pieruschka}.
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Please listen to the audio-recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C - Sunday, February 6, 2022  by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-fifth-sunday-of-ordinary-time-year-c-episode-349?si=7f49026ef9d54435ad38b3b265a48844&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing  
(EPISODE: 349
)

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* (Prologue:  Fr Paul Kelly)
On the 1600th anniversary of the death of the great Scripture scholar and biblical translator, St Jerome, 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 IS  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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In the first reading, the Prophet Isaiah is called by God, but he looks at himself and says, "I am not worthy"…….and so, in response "God sends an angel to touch Isaiah's lips with a smoking-hot ember and tells him that God has now MADE him worthy… // It is God's judgement to deem him worthy of the task he is being assigned, and it is not for Isaiah second-guess his own usefulness to God.

So, it is not the place of (even) the great prophet Isaiah to tell God what he feels he might be worthy of or not worthy of.

And in any case, there is a lesson here. It is not all about our efforts and will-power, but rather it is primarily about God's grace. 

The Prophet Isaiah learns this lesson in the first reading and similarly with Saint Peter in today's Gospel.

Thank goodness for the early disciples. We look up to these wonderful people. But, they are also revealed to be people with weaknesses, foibles, sinfulness, failure, and, (at times), a shocking lack of trust; and hesitancy of faith. And at other times they show fear, and sometimes even cowardice. Because of this list of flawed leaders, it reveals how good and wise God is; and how utterly dependent we ALL are, on God's grace. It is not so much about us, but about God!

Without God's grace, we can do nothing. 

God makes use of the humble things we have to offer and transforms them according to God's good purposes.

Jesus is not ever saying to us that we should wallow in our sin, or use it as an excuse to stay stuck in our old ways. We know we should never say: 'this is as good as I can be….' // However, God also wants to remind us that our worthiness is not the issue, because actually- (as many great saints throughout history remind us by their own life-stories); none of us is worthy of ourselves. It is God who makes us worthy. We never earn God's love, it is freely given as a generous act of graciousness. None of us is worthy without God; except that we are all lovingly created by God and are made worthy of God's love by God's action. It is God who calls us. And it is God alone who knows what we are capable of. God calls us to fulfill our capabilities. 

The difference between the saint and the sinner is not their worthiness before God, but their determination NOT to stay stuck in their weakness or their own wilfulness or limitations, but to put their trust and all their cooperation and openness into God's hands. We are then transformed into instruments of God's love and grace. Living, cooperating instruments in the hand of God, the perfect artist.

St Peter, Saint Paul, Isaiah, Jeremiah…… King David… Saul…. Moses……. the list goes on and on: Great people. People who did God's will. But, ALSO, these same people were at times, terribly weak and sinful. Who sinned. Sometimes they even betrayed their calling or resented or doubted it. But, neverthelessit was God who called them. God knew them and what they truly could do, and held them to that. They trusted in God's wisdom, mercy and guidance, and of course, relied on God's grace.

Again we can reflect on our own experiences of weakness and forgiveness, both by the Lord and by others. Being forgiven is a humbling experience, but one that allows us, like Isaiah, to step forward and volunteer for the Lord's work.

All of us are invited to reflect on our own refusals, (big and small), where we at times declined to accept God and His power and His presence. God is not there to frighten us, nor to condemn us to be frozen into inaction by our limitations; but, rather, God loves us into being everything God wants for us.

Whenever we accept forgiveness for our weaknesses and failings and put our reliance and our cooperation into God's grace, then we are able to be given over to the work of the Lord.

As with Saint Peter, we can doubt many times and we can deny but eventually when we believe and trust, our lives can be transformed into a reflection of God's mercy, God's compassion and graciousness.

It would be ridiculous for a pencil to refuse to be taken into the hand of a great artist, claiming that it is not talented enough to draw a masterpiece. And it would also be crazy for a pencil to claim credit for the work that was wrought through its important use. Naturally, we know that we are not inanimate objects, and we are not merely passive objects in God's action. God has lovingly and graciously willed that we will always be conscious, helpers, co-workers, and cooperators… heirs and family, participating in God's work. But we always keep in mind whose work it is we are doing and guard against relying too much on our own efforts or our own virtues and going down dead-end paths, and we also avoid the other extreme, inaction when faced with our limitations. Both extremes (which we are called to avoid carefully), are based on putting ourselves in the centre of things instead of God.

But there is more. Did Jesus learn something from his previous rejection in his hometown? He preached alone and this met with utter rejection. The crowd almost killed him. He narrowly escaped being thrown off a cliff. Now, he goes and calls followers to join him, support him and be companions on the journey; AND, what a hard journey it is. He (as always) calls a community around him.

Simon Peter experiences a great miracle. In the least expected situation, not on a mountain top somewhere, but in the ordinariness of his workplace; he experiences this amazing event because he was humble enough to listen to someone telling him how to do the job he knew so well. Our Lord shows him a new and dramatic and different way… and the results are huge……..

This is a timely reminder to us:

We must connect the gospel to our daily words, actions, and priorities, or it will not make sense.

Secondly…. We …. (Just like the disciples), need to work together… in unity… and in community. Like the disciples who were ALL needed to help haul in the enormous catch of fish…

We must always take our cues, as best we can discern them, from Christ… If it is only about our own individual efforts and priorities, our toil may be heavy and it may be misdirected. We never want to work like slaves on something and find that our struggle was mysteriously fruitless; like the fisherman who laboured all night (and applied all the experience and wisdom of their trade and still caught nothing), but, then Jesus asks them to trust him and follow his ways and do the same activity but under his direction, and they catch more than they can hold. 

Jesus' ways are not the most ordinary, and not the most logical. However, they are the way of the gospel, and only by following Our Lord, (which is almost always the road less travelled), can we hope to bear fruit for Jesus good news……

Today let us ask the Lord to deepen our faith and give us the courage to proclaim his marvellous deeds. Let us be able to say: Here I am, Lord. Send me!"
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(Homily:  Fr Peter Dillon).
I believe the biggest problem facing our Church these days is not materialism, secularism or even communism. I think it is self-esteem, or rather the lack of it. The belief that we are not good enough or worthy enough in God's eyes for the love that is bestowed upon us. We can't quite understand that God would be so generous to us and not expect something significant in return. Well, I suppose God does expect something, that we would love one another as much as God loves us. But for some people that is too high a price to pay.

A sense of unworthiness is not a modern-day phenomenon, all three characters in today's readings had all done great and courageous things for God and even they had low opinions of themselves.

Isaiah says he is a man of unclean lips, Paul does not think he is worthy to be called an apostle and Peter suggest that Jesus should leave him since he believes himself to be a sinful man. None of them is wrong in their self-assessment, but they had not yet comprehended the depth of God's love and the implications of that love on their lives.

While arrogance and self-promotion are not attractive qualities a sense of unworthiness and inadequacy is slowly killing growth and mission in the Church. The more people concentrate on what they cannot do and their perceived lack of talent, the more those who have accepted their giftedness as well as their inadequacies will be left to carry the message of the Gospel.

Perhaps it is a symptom of our present age that people's fear of failure has stopped them from stepping up and saying "What can I do for my Church, my faith for my God". It is due in part to a trend that when we say the role of the Christian is to serve, many people believe they are the ones to be served. We are the customer and we should be able to pick and choose where when and how we get what the Church has on offer.

Clearly, Jesus does not write us off because we are sinners. He has other plans because he believes that sinners have a future not just a past. He cannot force us to accept this opportunity, but the invitation is constantly offered.

Happily, Jesus did not take Peter's advice to put some distance between them. It has become clear that Jesus did not come to be a hermit hiding away, but rather he came to do the opposite. He travels into people's lives not away from them, so that they might eventually realise that despite their shortcomings and lack of personal gifts they are worthy of being loved, and Jesus calls them to a new way of seeing themselves.

Instead of blaming Peter for his failure to catch fish, he tells him to keep trying, to launch out into the deep. To take an even bigger risk of humiliation among his peers. Possibly our church has not encouraged risk-taking and involvement in the past. Maybe we have presented an image of God who judges and blames, of a hierarchy who ignores or dismisses. But Jesus, who is the living example of what we should be as a church, sees that Peter has greater possibilities. He challenges him beyond what he thinks he is capable of.

Each of us has a possibility that we are fearful of trying. When we question this potential we should be open to Jesus asking, "how far are you prepared to trust me?"
Not only does our church lack priests and religious, but we lack people who are prepared to launch out into the deep, and take up the challenge to be active in their faith.

It is at this point that we need to ask if we simply want to sit in the boat and let others do the work, or are we prepared to get our feet wet and see what living our faith actually feels like.
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References:

Homily – fr peter Dillon

Prologue - Fr Paul W. Kelly

Gustavo Gutierrez, Sharing the Word through the liturgical year

The Abbot, Monastery of Christ in the Desert,
http://www.christdesert.org/  ;

reflection from Madonna Magazine, Jan-Feb 2007.

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed.ID: 2084122570 - Sitges, Spain - November 14, 2021: calling of the holy apostles Saint Peter and Saint Andrew in Aragonese Gothic style, both saints leaving their fishing boat in the Sea of Galilee to follow Jesus Contributor: Pieruschka


Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C  (Sunday, February 6, 2022(EPISODE:  )
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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Ps 138:1-2a, 2b-3, 4-5, 7c-8. "In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord."

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (
Luke 5:1-11). Alleluia, alleluia! Come follow me, says the Lord. And I will make you fishers of my people.
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PREFACE: Sundays IV
EP I
Communion side. pwk: LH
(theme variation: 3 )
(post communion option -
v1-lshort)
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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 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:
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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 (Bill) Kelly (1942-2017) -  Inspired by 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.

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


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

Sound Engineering and editing -  P.W. Kelly.
Microphones: -  Shure Motiv MV5 Digital Condenser.

Editing equipment:    NCH software - MixPad Multitrack Studio Recording Software

NCH – WavePad Audio Editing Software. Masters Edition v 12.44

Sound Processing:  iZotope RX 6 Audio Editor

[ Production -  KER -  2022]

May God bless and keep you.

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