Catholic 752: Twenty-first Sunday of the Year C - Sunday, August 25, 2019

Homily Twenty-first Sunday of the Year C  - Sunday, August 25, 2019

First reading. Isaiah 66:18-21
Responsible Psalm. Psalm 116:1-2. "Go out to all the world, and tell the good news"
Second reading. Hebrews 12:5-7,11-13
Gospel.          Luke 13:22-30

Photo by Luca Florio on Unsplash

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Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers, and reflections for the Twenty-first Sunday of the Year C  - Sunday, August 25, 2019, by clicking this link here:   https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/21c-faith-hope-and-love-ep-174/s-ltwZu   (EPISODE: 174)
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Prologue:   Can we say with great confidence:  I am a member of the Christian Faith, and I also know and love Jesus.   It is so important that these two statements can be said. Since, the readings this weekend make it clear that paper membership of a group is not enough - we have to Know the Shepherd and hold his values and show that in our actions and attitudes. On the Last day, the Lord will judge us not by how well we can recite the list of ten commandments and other rules of the Church,  The Lord will judge us on how we loved, as he loved. He will welcome those he recognises as his beloved children by the fruits of their lives.  Its a sobering message but as we deepen our understanding and knowledge of the person of Jesus, his gracious love and compassion is what brings us home to him. 
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I remember once when I was at university, (back around 1986 I think it was), well before mobile phones .. And, for some reason which I can no longer remember, I needed to make a phone call to someone and I didn't have any coins for the public phone, nor much cash for that matter. ....  It was rather urgent to contact this person, is all I recall, and so I decided to use the reverse-charges request through the operator..  (wow has technology changed now)...   By the way, this involved an Operator, (a real live person, not a computer voice, who would dial the number while you listened on the line.. they would then say to the person being called......  "a reverse charges call from a Mr Paul Kelly... will you accept the call?".....    and I could hear the person on the other end (whom I was trying to contact), saying...  "no"  and the call then cuts out... that was that.  I felt very flat and frustrated. I was disappointed, to say the least...   the one time I had used this facility and the person declined it...   If they had accepted I would have explained the reason...  Clearly, the person didn't recognise me or couldn't work out the connection so they declined... very deflating.   

That is a bit like the readings today...    except you are trying to get through to someone you know really well and whom you assume they know you really well too..  only for them to say..  "sorry I don't know you!!"  Wow. What a shocker !!!    

I wonder what it would be like for me to be knocking on Heaven's doors and saying "let me in, Lord, Its me!  Look I have the badge and the membership card"… only to hear God say in reply: 'I am sorry! Who are you? ...I don't know you! And I don't know where you come from!  you must have the wrong door." 
That, for anyone, would be devastating .....… and terrible!

Who we truly are, includes how we live and act.  How we respond to God's invitation to be disciples is essential. Everyone is invited to respond to God's invitation as well. We are warned not to become complacent. Our Lord also warns us not to become elitist. We are not to become people who exclude others.

We gain entry into the Kingdom not by our badge of membership alone, but by being recognisable as a disciple of Christ by our love and faithfulness to God's message, and by being true friends of Jesus … in action as well as in name…. Knowing Jesus and being known by Jesus….. in our lives and choices….  


So, this is the unsettling message of today's Gospel. 

The people listening to Jesus' parable (his own people, - The people of Israel), would have been very concerned by his message and they would say what is on the lips of the people in the parable.

The people are really saying words to the effect of this: "But, we ate with you, we heard your teaching! We are your fellow People of Israel. We are the Chosen People of God. We have Abraham as our Father and the Prophets as our divine inheritance. We are the saved people, and the privileged people of God's promise." 


The shocking reply would be too awful to contemplate: "Sorry, I don't know you and I do not know where you come from!" What does he mean 'I don't know where you come from???????" They come from his own PEOPLE, but this is clearly not enough, according to Jesus. 

People from other nations and cultures, who are not part of the chosen people, are welcomed into God's family and God's house ahead of those who have gotten cosy and self-satisfied in the presumption that their place in God's house is assured by simply being a member of a group. Jesus is warning all who follow him that a place in God's house is offered to all who actually respond to his values and teachings and to his invitation, irrespective of their background and culture or membership. 


It is a sobering reminder to us all that we need to be constantly open to God's surprising wisdom and teachings. We must never fall for the trap of thinking that we have gotten the message and that we having nothing more or new to learn about God's ways.

Jesus, throughout the Gospels, constantly has to teach his disciples that they have an enormous amount to learn, (a lifetime and beyond to learn), about God's ways and God's wisdom. Anyone who thinks they have already arrived at the fullness of what it means to be a follower of Jesus, anyone who thinks they are living out the perfect example of what a follower of Jesus should be, ought to be very humble and very careful. 

Discipleship in Christ demands of us constant vigilance, and a humble, openness of heart-and-mind, and a willingness to have our attitudes changed by God's wisdom. Jesus also seems to be inviting us to be welcoming and open to an ever-increasing group of people throughout the community and the world. just as God extends this warm welcome to everyone.

To be a follower of Jesus is to be open and always ready to be surprised and to respond in different ways to what God is doing. Being a faithful disciple of Christ also means being always alert to the dangers of taking our membership of God's family for granted and resting on our laurels. It is rather about being ready with an open mind and heart. 

God will say "I KNOW you"  when we have, through our lives and actions shown that we really and truly KNOW and (at least) start to comprehend the person, message and values of Jesus and his very different ways…. and live it.  
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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly

Photo by Luca Florio on Unsplash
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Archive of homilies and reflections:  http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email:  paulwkelly68@gmail.com

To listen to my weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here.
NB - It is often a week or so Ahead:  https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks

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

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

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

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

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

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

May God bless and keep you.

Twenty-first Sunday of the Year C
(Sunday, August 25, 2019)

(EPISODE: 174 )

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (or// The Lord be with You)
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{{May Our Lord's care, comfort you}}

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 are mighty God and Prince of peace. Lord have mercy//  You are Son of God and the Son of Mary. Christ have mercy// You are Word made flesh, the splendour of the Father. Lord have mercy. 
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.  Amen.
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Memorial Acclamation

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

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SUNDAYS I

Euch prayer two

Communion side.  pwk:  LH
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{my heartfelt thanks for your participation in this time of reflection, prayer, and praise. }

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

Catholic 751 : Twentieth Sunday of the Year.. Year C - Sunday, August 18, 2019

Homily Twentieth Sunday of the Year.. Year C - Sunday, August 18, 2019

First Reading. Jeremiah 38:4-6,8-10. Jeremiah is punished for criticizing the wealthy for their corruption and their injustice to the poor.
Responsorial Psalm. Psalm 40:2-4,18. A prayer for God's help. "Happy the people the Lord has chosen to be his own".
Second Reading. Hebrews 12:1-4. Let us persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus.
Gospel Reading. Luke 12:49-53. Jesus has come not only to bring peace but also division.

Image: Licensed by shutterstock - ID: 770558059
++++Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the Twentieth Sunday of the Year.. Year C - Sunday, August 18, 2019 by clicking this link here:   https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/20c-faith-hope-and-love-ep-173/s-UmSQG  (EPISODE: 173)
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Prologue: We believe that the Lord is the King of Peace...  the Lord of Love....   His Kingdom values are about compassion, service, self-forgetting love, mercy and inclusion.  which is why the readings this weekend seem more than a little jarring...   
Our Lord says, he has come to start a fire...  and wishes it were blazing already...  he warns of divisions in even the closest relations...   
But of course, it is not Our Lord who desires divisions and strife... yet, he needs to warn his followers that the conflict in values will lead to terrible persecution and estrangements -  (The price of peace would be watering down God's message... and telling people what they want to hear instead of the truth, and that is unacceptable).  But the values Christ represents are life-giving and beautiful and well worth the cost...  +++
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Poor Jeremiah, the prophet! It could not get any worse for him. The enemy is holding his people to siege. There is no way out. God tells his faithful prophet Jeremiah: "This is what you must tell the people// and also tell the King - Surrender! Leave the city, or you will surely perish !"

This is definitely NOT what the King and his people want to hear. They want to keep resisting. They want to win. But Jeremiah will not tell them what they want to hear. there are plenty of others who will tell them what they want to hear, if not to save their own skin and so as not to annoy, but in order to climb up the ladder of influence, or so they think.

Jeremiah, however, only speaks God's word and he does so at a great cost. So, what do they say about him for doing his job faithfully? "Let Jeremiah be put to death: he is unquestionably disheartening the remaining soldiers in the city, and all the people too, by talking like this. The fellow does not have the welfare of these people at heart so much as its ruin." // It makes one wonder how often people have been accused of disloyalty and lack of care for the welfare of others just because they see a major disaster resulting. The problem for poor Jeremiah is that he can do nothing else but speak the truth, irrespective of the response. And so, he gets thrown down a muddy well for his troubles, and sinks deep into the mud and becomes hopelessly stuck. he will die there unless someone helps him. As it is, someone does indeed feel sorry for him manages to drag him out of the muddy well.

There is a name in the Bible for people who tell others only what they want to hear: They are called "false prophets." False prophets get pretty short shrift from God.
Then, by contrast, we see the likes of Jeremiah, who steadfastly and devoutly speaks God's word, in season and out of season, irrespective of popularity or whether or not people want to hear it. he simply MUST speak the truth…//

 But just as there are "false prophets," who tell people things they want to hear even when the truth is quite different, there are also "false critics." These are people who go around telling people unpleasant things and "telling things like it is" in a way that divides and hurts. These too are not necessarily real prophets just because they are getting rejected and causing divisions. That would be a grave mistake too.

There may be people walking around with a 'kick me' sign on them whose words and behaviour almost provokes or invites rejection or uproar. The test of whether a person is speaking prophetically is not that they are causing trouble and having to hire security guards, nor merely because they have ruffled others feathers. Such people may be self-defeating stirrers.

The true test of a prophetic person is the consistency of their words and behaviour with that of Christ and his Kingdom, and the whole picture, not just selectively chosen elements. Jeremiah spoke what God asked him to speak and not just his own hobby-horse or for his own adulation (or for his own rejection, for that matter). That is a major difference.

I also think to myself, if we are tempted to be challenging, we ought to start with ourselves, and challenge and unsettle the deep-seated pride and selfishness and enmeshment that we find in our own hearts, before starting on changing the world and getting others offside.

And also, no matter how "true' something is, no matter how much we might want to "fix up" a situation or a person, (which is probably an unhelpful way of approaching matters), if we do not act with love, or speak with love, it will (as Saint Paul says) "do me no good whatsoever." I doubt our words would have any effect if we spoke the truth without love.

True prophets are not self-proclaimed nor are they self-appointed. And really, I think we need to live the gospel more than go around pointing out errors. Putting the gospel values into action by our lives, which is one of the greatest acts of discipleship: proclaiming the Gospel by our actions.

It has always struck me that Jesus went around doing good and living the gospel and it was most often others who followed behind him saying "why did you do that?" or "stop doing that." Meanwhile, Our Lord had already moved on to the next project for the building up of the Kingdom and the next set of good work and actions. He indeed preached but even more, he acted; and mostly it was others who were doing the questioning and the finger-wagging.

A light example of this: Martha was rushing around busily getting the meal ready and getting steamed up that Mary was sitting at Our Lord's feet listening to him instead of helping her. Martha got flustered and asked the Lord to tell Mary to come and help her. He gently declined, saying Mary had chosen the better part. Martha's request could very well have been irritating and unpopular but she was not speaking or acting prophetically by speaking out, even though she felt strongly about it. Just because we feel strongly about something and speak up to the annoyance of others does not make us a prophet and nor does it make us right.

This theme continues in the gospel, which seems to be one of those really challenging and confounding scriptures. For the most part of the gospels, we see Jesus as the Good and gentle Shepherd. He usually tells the wonderful parable of the foolishly doting and forgiving father of the prodigal son, and yet now in this passage, there seems a real shock. Our Lord says the surprising words: "Do you suppose that I am here to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather a division." this seems rather surprising to say the least and out of character. Surely we are not mistaken when we understand Jesus as loving, forgiving, gentle, peace-loving, and fore-bearing??// In other situations, Jesus speaks of Peace, and "turning the other cheek" and putting down one's sword. So what is all this talk of "division" and "fire" and setting one person against another and families against each other?

This is not the first passage where Jesus warns his would-be disciples to be very clear about what it means to follow him. Jesus has warned his disciples…. Be aware of the cross… COUNT THE COST of what it means to follow him…… There is indeed a high personal cost to be paid for being a faithful servant of God. It is a very difficult role. Following Christ will lead to times of rejection, ridicule and opposition. Being a faithful follower of God's values will sadly lead to divisions, and even the real possibility of alienation between family members and social structures, and so much more.

However, Jesus is really just warning his followers to be aware of what they are getting into. Jesus is absolutely not encouraging and desiring conflict, opposition, and division, but, rather, he KNOWS that there are no "fence-sitters" in the Kingdom of God. You are either with him or against him. Jesus is declaring the sad reality that he and the Good news he is proclaiming, and the Kingdom of God that he is establishing will become like a "lightning rod" to all who hate what the Kingdom represents. Despite deeply desiring peace and love, he KNOWS that people will line up on one side or another. This division (based on conflicting values) will not fall along political, religious or even filial (family) lines, but will tragically mean that people of the same social standing or people who belong to the same household could quite likely find themselves opposing each other in their values and actions. Even the closest of family members might find themselves standing for different sides. Jesus wants us to know the cost……

As the great scripture commentator, William Barclay writes: "Jesus' coming would inevitably mean division; --- in point of fact it did!! That was one of the great reasons why the Romans hated Christianity--it tore families in two. Over and over again a person had to decide whether he loved better his kith and kin or Christ and his Gospel. The essence of Christianity is that loyalty to Christ has to take precedence over the dearest loyalties of this earth. One must be prepared to count all things as loss, but for the excellence of Jesus Christ."

You know the irony of all this? The divisions were over values we cherish so deeply. The divisions occurred because Jesus taught us to be gentle, to reach out to the outcast and offer the hand of forgiveness to the sinner and the outcast. The conflict and division occurred because Jesus was really LIVING the message of true peace… and the fullness of the new image of God's Kingdom, which included all people. This led to the most virulent opposition by those whose interests were not served by such an otherworldly world-view. Jesus turned on its head the unjust and "un-Kingdom-like" standards which kept some on the 'inner' and a lot of people hopelessly left on the 'outer,' with no way of inclusion. Those few who were the 'inside' wanted things to stay just the way they were. It was very cosy and profitable for them as things were. No wonder Jesus went to great lengths to prepare his disciples for trouble. He taught them to be as "wise as serpents but as gentle as lambs."

As Jesus reminds us in the Gospel, neither family ties nor fear of submitting to rejection, ridicule or persecution should stand in the way of salvation which comes from an uncompromising and costly proclamation of the good news, and of standing up for the truth as taught by Christ. **
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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly


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

**Joel Schorn: PrepareTheWord.com. PrepareTheWord.com, ©2012, TrueQuest Communications, LLC. 20th Sunday of the Year. - C. 18th August, 2013.

Image: Licensed by shutterstock - ID: 770558059
+++Archive of homilies and reflections:  http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email:  paulwkelly68@gmail.com

To listen to my weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here.
NB - It is often a week or so Ahead:  https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks
You are welcome to subscribe to Fr Paul's homily mail-out by sending an email to this address: paulkellyreflections+subscribe@googlegroups.com

Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
"Faith, Hope and Love,  A time of Christian worship and reflection"  - Led by Rev Paul W. Kelly
Texts used in this programme are for the purposes of worship and prayer for listeners wherever you are.
Prayers and chants are taken from the English Translation of the Roman Missal, edition three, © 2010, The International commission on English in the liturgy.
Scriptures are from the New Revised Standard Version: © 1989,  by the national council of Churches of Christ, USA. , //adaptations to conform with Catholic liturgical norms, © 2009, by the same.  [{selected psalms } - ***Psalm verses are (also) taken from "The Psalms: A New Translation" ©1963, The Grail (England), published by Collins.. **]
Prayers of the Faithful are adapted from Robert Borg's 1993 book " Together we pray". Published in Sydney Australia By  E.J. Dwyer. (out of print).
{ "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" -published 2011,  Composed and Sung by Jeffrey M. Ostrowski 
Featuring the….Gloria, The Creed, The Kyrie, The Mass parts, Psalms:   http://www.ccwatershed.org/chabanel/  ]]] ] COPYRIGHT @ 2018 CORPUS CHRISTI WATERSHED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  www.ccwatershed.org/vatican/Ralph_Sherwin_Videos/  

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

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

May God bless and keep you.
Twentieth Sunday of the Year.. Year C
(Sunday, August 18, 2019)
(EPISODE: 173 )
The Lord be with you.
+++++++++++++{{May Our Lord's empathy abide in you.}}

Coming together as brothers and sisters, with confidence let us ask the Fathers forgiveness, for he is full of gentleness and compassion
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
When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again.
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Sundays Ordinary II
Euch Prayer One

Communion side.  pwk:  RH
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{I am very grateful for you joining us for this special time of prayer and reflection. }
Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.

Catholic 750 : The ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY INTO HEAVEN – 15TH AUGUST 2019

Homily The ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY INTO HEAVEN – 15^TH AUGUST 2019

THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
First Reading: Revelation 11:19; 12:1-6. 10
Psalm: Ps 44:10-12. 16. "The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold."
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:20-26
Gospel Acclamation:
Gospel: Luke 1:39-56

Image Credit:  By Isogood_patrick.  Licensed by Shutterstock. photo ID: 333247343

ROME, ITALY, JUNE 13, 2015 : interiors and architectural details of Trinita dei Monti church, june 13, 2015 in Rome, Italy –

+++Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for The ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY INTO HEAVEN – 15TH AUGUST  by clicking this link here:   https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/feast-of-the-assumption-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary-2019-faith-hope-and-love-ep-172/s-Pd75R  (EPISODE: 172)
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The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 15 August. Solemnity
This feast originated in Jerusalem before the fifth century as the "Falling-Asleep of the Mother of God." It was adopted in Rome in the mid-seventh century and was renamed the "Assumption" in the next century. It celebrates Mary's passing over, body and soul, from this world into the glory of her risen Son.
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On this wonderful feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, I think of some wonderful quotes from saintly people throughout the church's history. And most recently, Pope Francis writes:  

"Mary first conceived Jesus in faith and then in the flesh, when she said "yes" to the message that God gave her through the angel. What does this mean? It means that God did not want to become a man by bypassing our freedom; he wanted to pass through Mary's free assent, through her "yes." He asked her: "Are you prepared to do this?" And she replied: "Yes." But what took place most singularly in the Virgin Mary also takes place within us, spiritually, when we receive the word of God with a good and sincere heart and put it into practice. It is as if God takes flesh within us; he comes to dwell in us, for he dwells in all who love him and keep his word. It is not easy to understand this, but really, it is easy to feel it in our heart."   —Pope Francis, October 12, 2013

"Christ's resurrection and Ascension is the first-fruits and foretaste of the destiny of all who trust in his promises"  Where Mary went, we hope to follow too, at the Resurrection.
St Augustine says: "Before conceiving the Lord in her body she had already conceived him in her soul". She had made room for the Lord in her soul and thus really became the true Temple where God made himself incarnate, where he became present on this earth. Thus, being God's dwelling place on earth, in her the eternal dwelling place has already been prepared; -  it has already been prepared forever. And this constitutes the whole content of the Dogma of the Assumption of Mary, body and soul, into heavenly glory, expressed here in these words. Mary is "blessed" because – totally, in body and soul and forever she became the Lord's dwelling place. ......, Mary does not merely invite our admiration and veneration, but she guides us, shows us the way of life, shows us how we can become blessed, how to find the path of happiness." (St Augustine)

Or another wonderful quote from the East, from Saint John Damascene:......

"It was fitting that she, who had kept her virginity in childbirth should keep her own body free from all corruption even after death. It was fitting that she, who had carried the Creator as a child at her breast, should dwell in the divine tabernacles…it was fitting that God's Mother should possess what belongs to her Son and that she should be honored by every creature as the Mother and the Handmaid of God."  – [St. John Damascene (East)]

And this wonderful quote from Saint Gregory of Tours. I had never heard this before but it is BEAUTIFUL ! ;

"When finally the Blessed Virgin had fulfilled the course of this life, and was now to be called out of this world, all the apostles were gathered together from each region to her house…and behold the Lord Jesus came with his angels and, receiving her soul…at the break of day the apostles lifted the body with the couch and laid it in the sepulcher, and they guarded it awaiting the coming of the Lord. And behold the Lord again stood by them, and commanded that the holy body be taken up and borne on a cloud into paradise, where now, reunited with (her) soul…" – [St. Gregory of Tours (West)]

Isn't that wonderful! 

Finally,  a quote from Pope Benedict XVI:

"By looking at Mary's Assumption into Heaven we understand better that even though our daily life may be marked by trials and difficulties, it flows like a river to the divine ocean, to the fullness of joy and peace. We understand that our death is not the end but rather the entrance into life that knows no death. Our setting on the horizon of this world is our rising at the dawn of the new world, the dawn of the eternal day."  POPE BENEDICT XVI
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Together… we (a community of disciples, following Christ, under the patronage of Mary, who was assumed into Heaven body and soul…..// standing within the catholic tradition // celebrate our unity today…..

In so many ways, Mary is a wonderful inspiration for us…. It is very good that we take an example from Mary as the most excellent disciple and follower of Jesus….and his good news….
We only need to think of the different ways Mary inspires us as a follower of Christ: ….

· Mary is a woman of Faith…… she said "YES" to what God was doing in her life, even though the future was filled with confusion and fear….

 It does inspire us in our own lives… when we experience confusion, lack of certainty. When things are not going the way we planned…… it does not mean we have no direction…. If we hold on and hold firm to our beliefs and vision… and fundamental trust in each other and in God…. Then we can weather the storms.. and even be prepared to go with where some unexpected turns might take us, as long as we maintain our values and our hope….

· Mary is a woman of graciousness and concern for the needs of others…. it was Mary who pointed out to Jesus the wine had run out at the wedding at Cana, to prevent the bride and groom embarrassment…

o We can be inspired by Mary to have a real love for others, a concern for their feelings. Looking out for people and their needs, so that if there is anyone embarrassed, anyone vulnerable, anyone struggling, AND we do use every opportunity to support them, respect them, reinforce and even do anything in our power to head-off anything that might not respect the dignity, confidence and basic respect…. and love that people deserve….

· Mary is an example of wisdom and learning…. through the many confusing things that happened in her life, she pondered and treasured the events in her heart… and kept faith…

o We too then can be inspired to be open-minded and open-hearted…. When new ways of looking at things come along… when the unexpected comes along, we are willing to consider their meaning for us… and open to adjusting our expectations in light of new experiences. We can be inspired by a person like Mary never to say, now I have found my comfort zone… so I will only do things this way… (and I don't like being stretched so I won't go that way……) and I will only respond to people if they do things that way and not any other way……

· Mary is an example of a woman of power and strength….and with a thirst and hunger for justice and right… Mary's song of praise when she met Elizabeth is the song just like from the lips of the Old Testament prophets… who are pointing out God's passion of the poor and the lowly.. and those wrongly treated…. Mary is exalting and rejoicing in the fact that the poor are being lifted up.. while the powerful and ruthless get thrown down from their proud positions…..

o So we can be inspired in our lives to rejoice and be very passionate about all people being treated with equal dignity.,.. and we too can jump for joy when things happen that are right and just and fair … when we see wrongs being put right… and we too can speak up when something is not right… and work together to find solutions where there are obvious injustices…… Mary certainly did….

· Mary is a model of not only motherhood… but also of discipleship……. Mary is shown in the scriptures as being someone who joined Jesus in his travels and was one of his followers… not just one of his family members… Mary was not put off when Jesus said "who are my mother and brothers … they are anyone who listens to my word and follows it…. so we see Mary, rather than being deeply offended… goes "right.. then I shall be your disciple AS  your family……" Mary was with the disciples when the Spirit descended upon them at Pentecost…….
o Mary's way of following Jesus was well ahead of her time…. It is an inspiration for us celebrating the many different ways we can be disciple….. the many different paths… We too can refuse to say – there is only one way of doing things… and everyone has to do it that way…… we can be respectful of tradition, but open to exploring the new variety and diversity even within the traditions….

finally… Mary is the hope of all Jesus' followers.. all believers… and by that, I mean that Mary's assumption body and soul into heaven is what Jesus promises will be the future of all who follow Jesus and believe in him….. we will one day be in heaven with Jesus and be united body and soul with God….. Mary because of her faithfulness was granted this grace immediately at the end of her life…. so that we may hope in Jesus promises for us too……

Mary is not mentioned many times in the scriptures……However……although not much has been told in the scriptures about Mary… what has been said…. says it all……… and makes Mary an excellent and inspiring model of discipleship……..

+++++References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly

Image Credit:  By Isogood_patrick.  Licensed by Shutterstock. photo ID: 333247343

ROME, ITALY, JUNE 13, 2015: interiors and architectural details of Trinita Dei Monti church, June 13, 2015, in Rome, Italy –
+++Archive of homilies and reflections:  http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email:  paulwkelly68@gmail.com

To listen to my weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here.
NB - It is often a week or so Ahead:  https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks
You are welcome to subscribe to Fr Paul's homily mail-out by sending an email to this address: paulkellyreflections+subscribe@googlegroups.com

Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:"Faith, Hope and Love,  A time of Christian worship and reflection"  - Led by Rev Paul W. Kelly
Texts used in this programme are for the purposes of worship and prayer for listeners wherever you are.
Prayers and chants are taken from the English Translation of the Roman Missal, edition three, © 2010, The International commission on English in the liturgy.
Scriptures are from the New Revised Standard Version: © 1989,  by the national council of Churches of Christ, USA. , //adaptations to conform with Catholic liturgical norms, © 2009, by the same.  [{selected psalms } - ***Psalm verses are (also) taken from "The Psalms: A New Translation" ©1963, The Grail (England), published by Collins.. **]
Prayers of the Faithful are adapted from Robert Borg's 1993 book " Together we pray". Published in Sydney Australia By  E.J. Dwyer. (out of print).
{ "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" -published 2011,  Composed and Sung by Jeffrey M. Ostrowski 
Featuring the….Gloria, The Creed, The Kyrie, The Mass parts, Psalms:   http://www.ccwatershed.org/chabanel/  ]]] ] COPYRIGHT @ 2018 CORPUS CHRISTI WATERSHED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  www.ccwatershed.org/vatican/Ralph_Sherwin_Videos/  

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

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

May God bless and keep you.
The ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY INTO HEAVEN – 15^TH AUGUST 2019

(EPISODE:172)

The Lord be with you.
+++++++++++++
My brothers and sisters, trusting in Gods mercy and love let us call to mind our sins.Lord Jesus, you are mighty God and Prince of peace. Lord have mercy// 

You are Son of God and the Son of Mary. Christ have mercy//

You are Word made flesh, the splendour of the Father. Lord have mercy. May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.  Amen.
+++++++++++++++++++++
Memorial Acclamation
2. When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
PREFACE:  THE GLORY OF MARY ASSUMED INTO HEAVEN

EUCH PRAYER  ii

Communion side.  pwk:  RH
++++

Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.

Catholic 748 : Nineteenth Sunday of the Year C - Sunday, August 11, 2019

Homily Nineteenth Sunday of the Year C  - Sunday, August 11, 2019

First Reading. Wisdom 18:6-9. The Hebrew people awaited the salvation of the just.
Responsorial Psalm. Psalm 33:1,12,18-22. Happy the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Second Reading. Hebrews 11:1-2,8-19. We will look for the city designed and built by God.
Gospel Reading. Luke 12:32-48. You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.

Photo Credit: Photo by Braden Collum on Unsplash
++++
Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the Nineteenth Sunday of the Year C  - Sunday, August 11, 2019 by clicking this link here:   https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/19c-faith-hope-and-love-ep-171/s-sftAY  (EPISODE: 171)
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Prologue:

The story of Abraham is extraordinary because, even without seeing the promise fulfilled, Abraham never stopped believing in it. Abraham trusted in the promise, expected its fulfilment, and lived it as a deep truth even though he would not see the promise completely fulfilled in his lifetime.  Abraham is a wonderful model of faith. he didn't need to see it fulfilled or hold it in his own hands, in order to set his life according to the promise.

God's word was enough for him.

When Jesus says God is pleased to give us the Kingdom, is that good enough for us?

Or will we cling to different 'backup" , material comforts, / or bury our hearts along with them?

God is faithful to his promises to us.  Our Lord fulfils these promises and assures us that we truly are beloved children of God and heirs to God's Kingdom.  We believe in this and live in this promise... with Faith, Hope, and Love.

(adapted from PrepareTheWord.com. PrepareTheWord.com, ©2012, TrueQuest Communications)

+++

I remember once when I was having lunch at a Cafe and when I went up to pay, and as I was walking away, the bloke behind the counter absentmindedly said: "enjoy the rest of your life". 😀,   I think he meant, "enjoy the rest of your day" -   but goodness me, it made me smile - and also gave me a bit of a surprise. I thought to myself, I hope he doesn't know something I don't !!! 😂. 
But in some way, we all should not only enjoy the rest of our lives but, even more importantly, cherish each day and the savour the lives of those around us and deeply acknowledge in our hearts with appreciation and reverence,  the beautiful and fragile gift of life that we have all been given.... and be quite intentional about putting this gift of our lives at the service of the gospel - which is Christ's gospel of life and love. 
Being prepared, as the readings remind us this weekend, is not merely being ready for the end of our lives.  but it also being ready to respond wherever and whenever God is at work in our lives.  God wants us to be able to leap up and join in,  at any time when God is working away at something here and now.

How prepared am I, and how does my awareness of the need to 'always be ready' to respond to our Master affect my everyday actions, choices, behaviour, and priorities.** 

It reminds us of the sobering meaning: of making us think about what we want to achieve in this life, because time is comparatively short, and there is only a relatively limited time to build upon the things that last…. even for people who live very long and healthy lives, time goes by so fast and one hundred years is really not that long a time.  so for everyone time is to be savored. 

The readings today focus on two major themes…..    Faith…..   and  Readiness….. 

Faith is about putting our trust and belief into something even if we cannot see the results now or in the near future.   Faith allows us to keep going forward, according to our vision and values, even when the goal seems out of sight and even at times when the prize seems unlikely to be achieved.  

The Second reading reminds us of Abraham, our father in faith, who trusted in God's Promise;  - even though he did not live to see the full results of it. But God kept his promise, and Abraham trusted in this promise and was rewarded.   So too with Moses. Moses is promised by God that God will always be with him and his people and that God will lead them to the promised land.  God does indeed achieve this promise, after a very long and trying journey of forty years… and Moses only gets to glimpse the achievement of this promise at the end of his life, but he does indeed know that God fulfilled his promises.  

Our faith and trust in God allow us to keep going, especially when things are tough because we are right to trust in God's promises…..  but we also know God's timelines are not our own…. it can be helpful and reassuring to know that God keeps his promises,  and also that God achieves his promises in his own time and his own way -  we might be expecting God to fulfil our hopes in days or weeks or perhaps years:  but God works away constantly and works in the hearts and minds and events of life,  so it might take years,  decades or longer but God achieves what God sets out to do.  Who am I to demand that Gods plans all be fulfilled in my time and with me as its witness. That is prideful; Gods kingdom doesn't revolve around me, but we are all delighted participants in Gods wonderful plan.  We put our trust in God and our hope in him and humbly walk in his paths, doing our bit.  Offering our small contribution to the much bigger picture God is painting.  

The other theme this weekend is READINESS>……  Be watchful ! …   stay alert !.   Be ready !…..   Be about the work that the master has given you! None of us knows the time or hour….  This can be understood in several ways….

There is no time like the present to do God's work.   As I mentioned, even a long life is too short to achieve everything that could be done to build up the Kingdom. 

Also, the end times will come at a time that no one expects…..  but also….

even if our lives turn out to be very long, and even if the end of time is indeed a long way off, there is still good reason to be urgent in our work….. A faithful disciple of Jesus should be alert and ready and busy, because, the Lord may want us to respond immediately to something God is doing in our lives, and if we are not ready, we may miss the opportunity or we may be unprepared to respond or unable to act in a way that helps to cooperate with God's action in our lives.  

God's grace and activity is constantly coming into our lives and if we are not alert… if we are not ready…. We could miss countless opportunities to participate in building up God's Kingdom. God invites us to participate eagerly and swiftly and respond to God's many initiatives in our lives, the lives of others, and in the life of the community..

There are so many ways God is at work in our daily life… we simply cannot afford to miss the many opportunities that come our way because our attention is distracted or because we are focusing on the wrong priorities… 

There is a strange passage in the gospel…  if the master finds the servants at home doing his work, the master will put an apron on and get the servants to sit down and the master will wait on them.  I rather like the idea of being a servant of God given how gracious and loving God is.  This image of the master sitting down the workers and serving them is really delightful. … Jesus had said in another gospel and in a different passage... "I come among you as one who serves."  It is clear that if the master finds his servants at work doing good, then their minds and hearts have become more like the masters, and so they deserve to be treated more like a co-worker and a member of the family than merely a servant. They now have the mind and values of the master…. And they are no longer acting like a mere slave who only does work because they are forced to, or only does what is right when being supervised, We are disciples who are active, alert and immersed in the work of the Kingdom; we are shareholders in the Kingdom and not merely hired, day-workers who are not necessarily committed to the bigger vision and the full project… And What a wonderful project it is!

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

REFERENCES:

Fr Paul W. Kelly

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

PrepareTheWord.com. PrepareTheWord.com, ©2012, TrueQuest Communications

Photo Credit: Photo by Braden Collum on Unsplash
+++
Archive of homilies and reflections:  http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email:  paulwkelly68@gmail.com

To listen to my weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here.
NB - It is often a week or so Ahead:  https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks

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

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

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

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

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

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

May God bless and keep you.

Nineteenth Sunday of the Year C
(Sunday, August 11, 2019)

(EPISODE: 171 )

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
+++++++++++++
{{May Our Lord's gift of dignity and community enliven you. }}

As we prepare to celebrate the paschal mystery, let us admit our failings and ask the Lord for pardon and strength. 
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.
+++++++++++++++++++++

Memorial Acclamation

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

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

own preface

Various Needs and Occasions  II

Communion side.  pwk:  LH
++++
{I gratefully acknoweldge and give thanks to God for your prayers at this time of prayer and reflection upon our God. }

Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.

Catholic 749: Australian Solemnity of Mary of the Cross (Mackillop) August 8th.

Homily Australian Solemnity of Mary of the Cross (Mackillop) August 8th.

THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
First Reading: 1 Kings 17:8-16
Psalm: Ps 62:1-8. "My soul clings to you; your right-hand holds me fast."
Second Reading: Colossians 3:12-17
Gospel Acclamation: Matthew 27:55
Gospel: Matthew 6:25-34


Photo Credit: By JM Smith. photo ID: 1112535938.  "PENOLA, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, NOVEMBER 2017; Cottages along the heritage trail of Petticoat Lane, Penola, South Australia, home of Australia's only officially recognized Saint, Mary Mackillop – Used under license from Shutterstock.

++++
Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the Australian Solemnity of Mary of the Cross (Mackillop) August 8th. by clicking this link here:   https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/solemnity-of-mary-of-the-cross-mackillop-faith-hope-and-love-ep-170/s-pTe0n  (EPISODE: 170)
+++++
 Prologue:
In Australia(solemnity) and New Zealand (feast Day) ... St Mary of the Cross, Virgin. 08 August.  Solemnity
Born in Melbourne (Australia) in 1842. Died in Sydney on this day in 1909. Took the religious name Mary of the Cross. Responding to the isolation of colonial families, she pioneered a new form of religious life to provide education for their children. She and her sisters shared the life of the poor and the itinerant, offering special care to destitute women and children. Remembered for her eagerness to discover God's will in all things, for her charity in the face of calumny, and for her abiding trust in God's providence.
+++++++++
Some wonderful quotes from the Life of Saint Mary of the Cross, Mackillop, give us a superb taste of her spirituality and faith:

"Whatever troubles may be before you, accept them bravely, remembering Whom you are trying to follow. Do not be afraid. Love one another, bear with one another and let charity guide you all your life. God will reward you as only He can."


And this quote: 
"Find happiness in making others happy."

And this:
"We must teach more by example than by word."


"Let us all resign ourselves into His hands, and pray that in all things He may guide us to do His Holy Will ... When thoughts of this or that come I turn to Him and say: "Only what you will, my God. Use me as You will".


"Be eager in your desires but humbly patient in their accomplishment."

"Remember we are all but travelers here."

"never see a need without doing something about it"

"Pray to be ever ready for God's will, even when it takes you by surprise."    1880

"Do all you can with the means at your disposal and calmly leave the rest to God."    1891


"Try to at least excuse what you cannot understand."   1877

And my absolute favourite quote from her:
"Many things that seemed unaccountable worries have proved indeed to be hidden blessings."  – 1870
++++
 
For most people… it is easy to be gracious when everything is going well….  When people speak well of us and treat us nicely….     And everything is going our way….   Flowing according to plan……..But it takes a saint to be gracious in times of intense difficulty…… when everything seems to be going wrong.   
 
Jesus is the model for all saints…  and a saint is so named because they allow the person and message (and qualities) of Jesus to shine through their lives and find a home in their actions and attitudes…..
 
Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop is a wonderful example of that…  It is an absolute miracle of God's grace that such a wonderful woman has been canonized by the church so that Mary MacKillop's life might be an inspiration to Christian discipleship everywhere.
 
It is utterly amazing that someone who was once excommunicated by the church, (albeit unjustly and wrongly – the judgement being reversed by the bishop who proclaimed it, and who repented of his mistake on his deathbed)   would  be proclaimed a saint, …   whose praises are sung throughout the world…….   But it is this 'grace under fire'   this gracious reflecting of God's love and faithfulness and justice, even in the face of lies and condemnation, that show the qualities that Jesus speaks of in the beatitudes…
 
Saint Mary MacKillop's life is also an example of complete trust in God's providence….   But this is not some kind of helpless waiting around and doing nothing …  but, rather Saint of the Cross (MacKillop) knew that God's providence was revealed through the love and care of human beings… So, Mary became famous for her attitude (and actions)summed up in that  saying..I quoted earlier: "never see a need without doing something to help." 

Mary saw a need for education, for shelter and for support of those most in need.. namely poor children, and destitute men and women.. and so set up schools and shelters for people in need….
 
We can all make a difference  by responding to the needs around us and believing  that we can make a difference, with God's grace and providence. ….
 
May Our Lord inspire us to be people of care, compassion, graciousness and love (in season and out of season) – to respond to the setbacks and acts of malice in the world the loving way Mary Mackillop did, with compassion and perseverance, and may we also continue to be people of practical action, making a difference to those most in need..
+++++
References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly


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

To listen to my weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here.
NB - It is often a week or so Ahead:  https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks

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

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

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

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

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

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

May God bless and keep you.

Australian Solemnity of Mary of the Cross (Mackillop) August 8th
(EPISODE: 170 )

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
+++++++++++++


My brothers and sisters, trusting in Gods mercy and love let us call to mind our sins.
Lord Jesus, you were lifted up to draw all people to yourself: Lord, have mercy//You shouldered the cross, to bear our suffering and sinfulness: Christ, have mercy// You open for your people the way from death into life: Lord, have mercy//
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.  Amen.
+++++++++++++++++++++

Memorial Acclamation

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

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

preface of Saints I

EUCH PRAYER 

Communion side.  pwk:  RH
++++
{Bless you all and May God's grace guide you each and every day.}

Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.