Homily and Mass - Surfers Catholic Parish - Second Sunday of Lent. Year C - Sunday, March 13, 2022 (EPISODE:355 )

Second Sunday of Lent. Year C - Sunday, March 13, 2022
(EPISODE:355 )

Readings for Sunday, March 13, 2022
FIRST READING: Gen 15:5-12, 17-18
Ps 27:1, 7-8a, 8b-9, 13-14. "The Lord is my light and my salvation"
SECOND READING: Phil 3:17–4:1
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (cf. Matt 17:5). Glory and Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ! from the shining cloud the Father's voice was heard. This is my beloved Son, hear him.
GOSPEL: Luke 9:28b-36 - Transfiguration

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed. ID: 598720718 - BACKGROUND, Blur –Contributor: -Here
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Please listen to the audio-recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for Second Sunday of Lent. Year C - Sunday, March 13, 2022 by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-ep-355-lent-2c-2022?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing  
(EPISODE:355 )
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* (Homily:  Fr Paul Kelly)
This weekend's gospel of the Transfiguration of the Lord is a wonderful reminder that God's glory is around us all the time; in the people and events of life. But, it is not always as obvious as this moment that Jesus experienced, where his face literally shone like light.

We have probably all had "high-point moments," when something extraordinary and special happens to us; and it is as though "the veil between this life and the next" is temporarily parted, and we glimpse Heaven - and we gain a sweet taste of God's glory and wonder - but then those moments are gone and we are back to the everyday events of life. But, those high-point, (mountain-top), moments stay with us long afterward and spur us on; reminding us that God's glory is always present.

 

The spiritual writer Thomas Merton puts it this way: "every one of us walks around the streets of this town shining like the sun; if only we knew it…. "     

Yes indeed! If only we realised this!  The Glory and grace of God, shines in and around all of His beautiful creation, mostly lost under the cover of everyday bustle.

Saint Augustine, in his writings, describes a fascinating and beautiful moment; which in many ways is like a little 'taste' of 'transfiguration' in his own life story…….

It happened when Saint Augustine and his mother Saint Monica were just talking together while they stayed in a villa at the seaside port of Ostia in Rome, Italy. They were deep in discussion; sharing their faith and their hopes……..   

Augustine writes:

  

"My mother and I were alone, leaning from a window which overlooked the garden in the courtyard of the house where we were staying at in Ostia. . . .Our conversation led us (to speak of many things)…….... And when we spoke of the eternal Wisdom, // longing for it //and straining for it with all the strength of our hearts//, for one fleeting instant //we reached out //and touched it. //...........Then with a sigh... //. we returned to the sound of our own speech, // in which each word has a beginning and an ending //- far, far different from your Word, Oh Lord, who abides forever, yet never grows old and gives new life to all things."

This beautiful little incident is like an echo of the Transfiguration of Our Lord on the mountaintop, where Jesus' divinity shines through for an instant in its fullness, and then everything returns to normal, and seems as ordinary as it was before……… But those who experience it are really never quite the same again.  They are profoundly moved, to the depth of their being, by a deep experience of God's eternal grace.

 

This glimpse of glory is truly beautiful….

 

God gives us these occasional glimpses of his glory……   a divinity which, (by the way), actually surrounds us always, but we cannot always see it. Most times we do not recognize God's glory in the midst of ordinary life.

If God is not present and active in the ordinary moments of our lives, then it makes no sense. So thank goodness that this is precisely where God IS found. 

 

And similarly, the GLORY of God in Christ was AS present and active when he was walking a dusty path between towns, looking just like any other ordinary traveller, as when he shone with pure light on that mountain top. This whole transfiguration incident is God's way of saying..   "See this profound experience of Glory...  Good! now go back to the usual programme,..... but remember.,...this man is the Holy One....  he has my complete confidence and blessing....  This is my Son....   This glory is IN him always..!! .....   at every moment..   even in the mundane ......  even in the boring and tedious moments....   and even ultimately as he suffers and dies on a cross, seeming like just another common criminal.. But, Look deeper .. look beyond appearances. See the reality.      

 

Equating a good spiritual life with only a continuous or even fairly regular "25,000-volt epiphanies" ignores the fact that we live our lives at the very effective "240-volt" level for everyday usage.

 

We must that God will give us what we need in due time and in the ways and times of God's choosing.  If we only go around looking for the dramatic mountaintop experiences of spiritual life, (or for that matter, the extraordinary moments in life), we would miss the countless little moments of ordinary grace that fill up even the most ordinary or seemingly unexceptional day.  

There are also many saints in the life of the church, who went years...  sometimes decades...  without any exceptional spiritual consolations, but continued to live the ordinary moments of graced life in exceptional devotion, faith, and good works. 

God is constantly reminding us of what Augustine himself wrote as well….….   despite that wonderful moment of grace he described in his writings… he also wrote something even more profound….  "Loving God…….You have made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You."

 

God does not always act in ways according to our own expectations. God is in charge. We are humble servants whose "eyes are always on the hand of our master; waiting for the slightest movement, so we might leap up and answer whatever is requested…

and...   at all times... "Hope in him, hold firm and take heart. Hope in the Lord!"

+++++REFERENCES:

FR. PAUL W. KELLY

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

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

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

From Saint Augustine: Confessions (Book nine, chapter 10). [Augustine. Confessions. Trans. R.S. Pine-Coffin. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1961, page 197 (paperback edition).]


Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed. ID: 598720718 - BACKGROUND, Blur –Contributor: -Here


Second Sunday of Lent. Year C  (Sunday, March 13, 2022)  (EPISODE: 355 )
The Lord be with you.
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{{Joy and peace to everyone}} welcome everyone, we gather -  Reflect upon the Holy Scriptures and the values of the Lord. 

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

May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.  Amen.
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Memorial Acclamation
2. When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again.
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PREFACE: Sunday Lent II
EP II
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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 my weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here:  https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks

Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:

"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection" - Led by Rev Paul Kelly

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

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

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

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

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

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

[ Production -  KER -  2022]

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Ps 27:1, 7-8a, 8b-9, 13-14. "The Lord is my light and my salvation"

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (cf. Matt 17:5). Glory and Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ! from the shining cloud the Father's voice was heard. This is my beloved Son, hear him.
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First Sunday of Lent. Year C - Sunday, March 6, 2022 (EPISODE:354)

Readings for Sunday, Lent 1 Year C - March 6, 2022

First Reading: Deuteronomy 26:4-10

Psalm: Ps 90:1-2. 10-15. "Be with me Lord when I am in trouble"

Second Reading: Romans 10:8-13

Gospel Acclamation: Matthew 4:4

Gospel: Luke 4:1-13

Image Credit: Photo by Bernd Dittrich on Unsplash
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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for the First Sunday of Lent. Year C - Sunday, MARCH 6, 2022 by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-ep-354-lent-1c-2022/s-FjRfLdm3ifs?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing  
(EPISODE: 354)
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(Fr Paul Kelly)
The message, by Saint Paul (in the second reading) is really beautiful....  Especially where he says: "God's word is very near to you... It is on your lips and in your heart."

 

And it is important that God's word resides equally in both places. Not only on our lips but truly making its home in our hearts.  Completely filling our hearts with its life-giving message.   

 

In the gospel, the word of God is clearly in Our Lord's heart and mind, and soul and being... and also on his lips...

 

By contrast, the devil knows the Word of God and can quote it easily. It is indeed only on his lips. It is most certainly not in his heart, and he does not live this word that he speaks so glibly and he certainly does not love the Word.  It is scenes like this gospel that surely inspired William Shakespeare to write: "The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose. An evil soul producing holy witness Is like a villain with a smiling cheek, A goodly apple rotten at the heart!"   {William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice. Act I, Scene III}

 

Taking our cues from the Gospel today, we see Our Lord fasting and praying for forty days in the wilderness. There is a long tradition in Christianity, and it begins with the way Our Lord deals with temptation and with the devil in this week's Scripture. The tradition can be summed up like this:  "Never enter into discussion with the tempter." Christ does not enter into long dialogues with temptation or with the adversary. He swiftly and efficiently dismisses the wiles of temptation and does not dwell on it. The evil one is the father of lies, so why lend an ear to distortion and falsehood.  

 

And so, whether this Lent is about the extra things we do or the things we give up, let us do it with the deliberate intention of not permitting those conversations with Temptation to go very far in our lives. If there is fuel for values inconsistent with the good news of Jesus lying around in our daily routines, we should judiciously remove it. And if idle time itself is the "match that most often gets struck," we can strive to fill those spaces with good works, prayer, and healthier conversations. 

 

Temptation may keep on talking, but if we're not giving it a hearing, it will go off to find a more appreciative and receptive, less discerning audience. Sadly, in this world, there is any number of people around who might like the company of the kind of flattery and sweet nothings that we witness being tried (quite unsuccessfully) on Christ in today's gospel.  

 

In Lenten time, one not infrequently hears a person say: "I am going to try harder.  I am going to put more effort, more willpower into not 'falling down' in those areas of weakness or sin that I struggle with time and time again. ....  As commendable as this is, the danger is that it is actually focusing more and more attention on the areas we are trying to overcome. Giving it attention and in some ways entering into dialogue with temptation. Also, isn't this just patching up the fortress walls where they have already been breached? ...  It would be more effective to work on the inside of the home so that if the enemy breached the outer perimeter once again, and entered, he would find no quarter. There would be nowhere to hide or to stay. No way ahead, only room for retreat. 

 

Instead of desperately putting our energy into putting up more defences and focusing with fear on areas we desperately hope will not overtake us again, and if the defences fail, despite all our best willpower and attention, we are left utterly vulnerable and defeated.  Better than, increasing our willpower, we can build up an inner immunity, (filled with everything positive), to the point that we are so full of the good things of God's virtues and grace that they completely crowd out anything harmful and there is no room for it to take hold inside.

 

 "As we begin Lent we make our resolutions to practice some form of self-denial – often fostering particular good habits for our lives, such as intentionally taking more time and space for prayer, and giving of our resources to the poor and the needy.  

 

But, Lent is not primarily about what WE do – It is more importantly about what GOD is doing. And how we cooperate with God's activity in our lives.  

 

Basically, it is about "Opening ourselves up to God's love and being humble enough to admit our need for God, and our need to change….even if it would be easier and more comfortable to leave things as they are.

 

Our Lord was never content with just leaving things where they are...   He lovingly chose to move out of his comfort zone to focus on what really matters. 

 

After Jesus is baptized, he is led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where he experiences our human temptations to pre-empt the Heavenly Father's place in our lives. He feels the allure of being self-serving; of gaining worldly power over others; and of controlling or dominating things around him, (worldly understanding of the word). 

 

But Our Lord displays true greatness by being attentive to his heavenly Father's word in scripture and confessing his faith that the Father has first place in his life. Temptation leads to losing our sense of priorities; and putting God down the list of our priorities.

 

Although Jesus is God the Son, he is also fully human and he was truly tempted just as we all are. Because he knows what temptation is like and overcomes it, he can empathise and help us in our temptation and YES, we too can overcome it, through re-ordering our life, our priorities, and our heart. 

 

It is good at this time of Lenten reflection to ask ourselves in prayer: 

Do I remember to offer God the first fruits of my own efforts?

Do I nurture the virtue of gratitude in my heart?

Jesus rejects Satan's temptations of immediate gratification, power, and safety. How am I doing in regard to these temptations in my own life? 

What help do I find in the traditional practices of Lent: prayer, fasting, practical help to the needy?

 

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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly

William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice. Act I, Scene III, Prepare the Word;

 

(February 10, 2008—First Sunday of Lent), https://preparetheword.com ).

Image: Photo by Bernd Dittrich on Unsplash


First Sunday of Lent. Year A  (Sunday, February 26, 2023)  (EPISODE: 354)

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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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{{Hi}}. Welcome. everyone, we gather -  Listen to God's Word and contemplate the sacraments.

Brothers and sisters, the Lord is full of love and mercy. And so, as we prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries, let us acknowledge our sins. 
Lord Jesus, you 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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r/ 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Romans 5:12-19). Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, king of endless Glory. No one lives on bread alone. But on every word that comes from the mouth of God.
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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 Ordinary IV
Ep II
(theme variation: have Mercy  )

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

Go forth, the Mass is ended.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

[ Production -  KER -  2022]

May God bless and keep you.
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Ash Wed 2nd of March 2022. (episode: 353)

Ash Wed 2nd of March 2022. (episode: 353)

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

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed Id; 1189523149. Ashes in hand are prepared for the Ash Wednesday. By xmas_zest
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To listen to the audio recording of the readings, prayers and reflections for Ash Wed 2nd of March 2022. (episode: 353), please click this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-ep-353-ash-wednesday-2022?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

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Prologue:  Welcome as we gather to mark the beginning of the season of Lent…   40 days of prayer, penance and self-denial (reminding us of Our Lord's forty days in the wilderness),  and to prepare us for the renewal and new life celebrated in the  Easter season. Because of Covid-safety, the Church has adjusted the rite to accommodate this. "The words that are used explaining the meaning of our action with the ashes have not changed, but the moment when those words are said and especially the way the ashes are imposed will change,": "Repent,  and believe in the Gospel" or "Remember that you are dust, and you will return to dust"." These words are normally pronounced at the moment of imposing the ashes on each of the faithful, but they will now be said only once before the distribution of ashes begins,- Then the action will no longer be to touch the forehead of the faithful by marking it with ashes," - The note indicates that the priest should not touch the faithful, but rather sprinkle some of the ashes on the top of people's heads," Interestingly, this is not a novelty.  This method has long been standard practice in many Catholic areas, such as Italy, even in normal times. And sprinkling ashes on one's head as a sign of repentance and sorrow for sin is also referred to in the old testament. (1)

Ashes, a symbol of destruction and death, are used as an ancient Judeo-Christian symbol of our journey to new life….  We use the ashes from old burnt palm branches that were used in the Palm Sunday Masses.   When we think about Lent, we generally think in terms of giving something up - a kind of 'dying' to self. But the readings for this day suggest that Lent is about beginnings: coming to new life, deepening our relationship with God and others, and transforming who we are and how we live. (2)
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Homily:

Lent is a time of Prayer, Penance and Good Works; Which are three aspects of the one thing.

From ancient times this Lenten observance reflects the three central concerns we have in life: Our duty to God (prayer), our duty to our bodies (fasting) and our duty to others (almsgiving). 
The purpose of fasting and abstinence is not to punish ourselves, nor is it a time of testing our willpower and personal strength, but rather, it is to teach us detachment from whatever may keep us from a closer connection to God. In self-denial and in giving of our time to more prayer and good works, our hearts move even closer to God.  Distractions like excess food or any other things that take up our time and energy are avoided, helping us become more focused, attentive and charitable. 

In this Lenten fasting, we also remember and imitate the example of Jesus, who fasted 40 days in the wilderness, as he prepared to begin his life-giving ministry. 
For us also, its also a recognition that sin has not only personal consequences but also sin has communal dimensions - and so Lent provides us as a community a means of expressing our common repentance. #

Lent is a six-week gift to the church from God….  As a time of nurturing positive habits of prayer, self-denial and giving of our time and resources for worthy causes… to build up our spiritual health…. and build up good spiritual habits and attitudes that become so automatic and natural to us that we do them without hesitation, and for no other reason than our love for God,  so that as the reading says today....our left-hand does not know what our right hand is doing.

We have been given such treasures and gifts by God and they are priceless.  We are sorry that sometimes we don't recognise the treasure from God and confuse it with the rubbish and static of OTHER things that distract our attention./ 

The only gifts worth having are actually the ones we give away./ The kind of gifts that are pretty useless if locked away and not used. /Gifts like love, given freely without expectation, kindness and forgiveness without hoping for something in return….    acts of charity, not for recognition or approval, but from the love of God welling up inside us.      Random acts of kindness and compassion, that no one will ever know we are the ones responsible for.// 

The gospel has a lot of wisdom in it… those things are done for no other reason but the love of God and not for anything else, call us to a deep inner movement of the heart towards God because it does not get any other reward but to serve and love God in each other… actions for the glory and praise of God alone…
So, let's make this time of lent the wonderful, Joy-filled gift that it really is. A time of peaceful self-denial and of making space for God… fostering positive habits that will last well beyond forty days.....and may God who has begun this good work in us, bring it to perfection… in the secret of our own hearts…
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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly

#Elizabeth Harrington – Liturgy Brisbane  © Liturgybrisbane. 

William Barclay – St Matthew - commentary


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


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

(no penitential rite, as the ashes – given later – are the penitential act on this day).
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After the Homily - 
(Just prior to the Distribution of Ashes -  said once only):  
"Repent, and believe in the Gospel."
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Memorial Acclamation
Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.
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Preface: Lent III
Eucharist Prayer II
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{my heartfelt thanks for your participation in this time of reflection, prayer and praise.}
Dismissal:

Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 [ Production - KER - 2022]
May God bless and keep you.
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