Catholic Reflections 631 : Homily Thirtieth Sunday of the Year A - Sunday, October 29, 2017

Homily Thirtieth Sunday of the Year A .  - Sunday, October 29, 2017
THE LITURGY OF THE WORD

First Reading: Exodus 22:20-26
Psalm: 17:2-4. 47. 51. “I love you Lord, my strength.”
Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10
Gospel: Matthew 22:34-40
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Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the Thirtieth Sunday of the Year A .  - 10/17/2017 by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-30a  (Edition: 54 )
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[Gospel values included in the readings: Love God, Love Neighbour as self. Justice, especially to the stranger and outcast]

“There are many examples of how, even after the busiest of days, Jesus would go up into the hills, to a lonely place, and spend the night in prayer to His heavenly Father.  So, it is fair to say, Jesus’ whole life was to worship and praise the Father. 
There are also many examples of how Jesus spent himself in complete service of others.

His whole life was an act of service and love to his neighbour… all in need around him…..  
These two complete realities must be two sides of the same coin…. And are not in any way in contradiction.
In fact the great saint John Chrysostom once said:  “I cannot believe in the salvation of those people who do not work for the salvation of their neighbours.” 
Another great monk was once heard to say to his brothers: (when they focused too much on rules and not the heart of the gospel message….) -“My friends, you have torn the gospel of Christ in two….//.

There are two great commandments: -  show your Love for God, by how you love your neighbour (just as you would love and care for yourself).  (or perhaps it is more accurate to say there really is only one commandment to love.. which has two facets to it….)

In any case……Splitting up these two commands seriously distorts the gospel……  there are those who would emphasise worship of God to the point where doing anything practical for those in practical need seems to become an optional extra……. this is not the gospel of Jesus Christ……/// 

The other extreme is not right either…. there are people who are so caught up in social justice and practical action that they lose sight of the fact that Christian justice, (Christian charity) always flows out of our relationship with God and that we are all God’s children… and that it is not only our human actions… but God’s will that is important….  so if someone emphasises social response and neglects prayer, worship and a sense of faith in God who is the author and Sustainer of us all……..   as essential as practical care for those in need is, it would lose its focus if we were to ever disconnect it to worship and prayer….. (it would become something merely humanistic….  And it could reflect a faulty sense that humans are their own saviours and can do all things themselves without reference to God…..)

Jesus shows us that both prayer and action are possible and that both are necessary…..   Again… I must say,  I always feel that the Catholic groups of lay people such as St Vincent de Paul society, or Care and Concern, The Catholic Ladies Group, or the Knights,  …..   (to name but a few but not to exclude the countless other groups that do the great work)…  are wonderful examples and expressions of both important aspects: Prayer and Action.

They certainly focus on practical action: - helping those in need, those who are hungry, seeking shelter, needing clothing, and also they visit people….  and also, integral to this, they meet regularly to pray and reflect on Christ’s gospel…  This is absolutely vital – Connection to the person of Christ makes sense of and empowers their care for their neighbour…. 

There are many other groups and individuals who model this,..// and we give thanks for them all.  
In Jesus’ great commandment – which is truly a “masterpiece of summing up thousands of biblical rules and regulations and observances into a few amazing words………to enshrine the very heart of its meaning: …”Love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength… and love your neighbour as yourself……..It becomes clear that every other person is truly our neighbour and especially when the person is in need.  We must be loving neighbours to all people who come into our lives.  No one can be excluded from being our neighbour.
Love of neighbour is at the heart of serving God /and being faithful to what God is asking of us.//  Love of neighbour is not simply an optional part of our Christianity.

Saint Paul, in the second reading says it very well…..   We must take Christ as our model……… We must imitate Christ.  In that imitation of Christ, we can find a whole way of living:  gentleness yet strength in our dealings with others, understanding and acceptance of others with a clear vision of what is right and what is wrong.

Jesus did not just accept everything as good, or anything goes.  He clearly pointed out what was not good. However, Jesus managed to do this whilst consistently keeping his eyes on the primary value of the gospel...   love...  received and given. That is a difficult model to imitate.  Our Lord did not focus on righteousness for its own sake...   his emphasis was on love and compassion and the good of all....  anything he did, it was primarily motivated by the love that flowed out of him as God the son.  This is another example of the cross of Jesus, the suffering that comes from living in right relationship with the Father and one another, whilst always keeping front-and-centre the point of this way of living....love, reverence and compassion. because in the end its all about LOVE -  of God, shown in how we love our neighbour. 

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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly

Abbot’s Homily, The Monastery of Christ in the Desert Homily for October 22 2008.

Flor McCarthy. Sundays and Holy Day Liturgies. Year A.

Gutierrez, Sharing the Word through the Liturgical Year.

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Archive of homilies and reflections is at: 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. 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

Thirtieth Sunday of the Year A .
The Lord be with you.
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Brothers and sisters, let us acknowledge our sins,
and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.
Lord Jesus, you came to reconcile us to the Father and to one another: Lord, have mercy//You heal the wounds of our sin and division: Christ, have mercy// You intercede for us with 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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let us pray (for the grace to do God's will)


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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 IV p.30

Eucharistic Prayer II p.56

Communion side.  pwk:  RH
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Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.

Catholic Reflections 615 : Homily Fifteenth Sunday, Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, July 16, 2017

Homily Fifteenth Sunday, Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, July 16, 2017

       First Reading: Isaiah 55:10-11
       Psalm: Ps 64:10-14. “The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest.”
       Second Reading: Romans 8:18-23
       Gospel: Matthew 13:1-23

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Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the Fifteenth Sunday, Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, July 16, 2017 by clicking this link here:   https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-15th-ordinary-a
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(https://www.vangogh.net/images/paintings/sower-at-sunset.jpg)
 
The wonderful image of the sower and the seed that falls on all sorts of different environments is a truly excellent parable.  It reminds us that just as a seed has within it everything needed to produce a viable plant, it will produce nothing unless it is properly watered and nourished and finds the right soil or medium to take hold.  It is similar to the idea of a delicious meal which contains all the nutrition needed to help a person stay healthy - But the meal is useless unless it is eaten. It is also like a light bulb that has the potential to light up a room but only if it is fitted into the socket and the switch turned on!    
 
Our Lord tells us that the seed represents the WORD of GOD…  and we could also say that the seed also represents FAITH in Jesus (and faith in WHO he is, in what he teaches and (just as importantly) how he lived…..   AND……., faith in the gospel.

This “seed”  could also represent the many opportunities that we all have been given to help build up the Kingdom of God.  

We cannot underestimate how important the response and the environment with which the Word of God is received by us in helping God's values to flourish everywhere. God wants and needs our cooperation and our working with him in helping God's Kingdom Come.

True, like the first reading, God is absolutely determined that the Word that comes from his mouth will NOT return empty and will achieve what God wants.  However, we humans can cooperate with what God is doing and (sadly) we are capable of resisting and even trying to block what God is doing.  God is determined to get around our resistance and to achieve his plans, but we should not take this lightly --   The non-cooperation of people, or the resistance of people could seriously slow down the progress of God's vision for the world. God may have to take alternate steps or 'go the long way around' in achieving God's goals, due to human resistance or lack of openness.   

Just as a seed needs good soil, water, shelter, nourishment and protection, so too our faith, our knowledge, our life needs to continue to be planted and lovingly nurtured in an environment that will foster continued growth and learning.

There are many challenges in life too, we must be careful that the precious seed of faith is planted; nurtured and attended-to daily, or else it will not grow. Other things, other priorities and values might “crowd-out” the growth of faith. Setbacks and hardships have the potential to stifle what we have. We need to actively protect, promote and encourage the good treasure we have received so that it will indeed bear much fruit.

We believe that the sacraments of the Church are concrete guarantees and tangible experiences of an inner reality. So, when a priest says the words of forgiveness in the sacrament of penance, (in the name of the church and in the name of Jesus), we believe that this effectively conveys the sacrament of God’s forgiveness and healing. And when the church baptizes a person, we believe that the “God-given gift of FAITH is very much really and truly passed on in this action of pouring the water, professing Trinitarian faith and conducting the prayers.  
And if a person is baptized, faith is definitely given, (100% guaranteed)….but just like this gospel reminds us today.., if one has baptism and then hardly does anything to nurture, deepen or nourish that faith, then that real and effective “seed of faith” (which is surely there), would be rather like a seed in 'un-watered, un-tended and unplowed, hardened ground,' it can hardly be expected to bear much or any fruit. 

Mind you, God can achieve amazing results of grace and love in what seems to be the most inhospitable situations, but we never take this for granted.. and strive to give God’s word the most nurturing environment possible…  with prayer, reflection and good works.  

Have you ever seen a rather healthy looking plant springing up from a roof gutter of a house?  It shouldn't be there and how has it gotten what it needs to grow?  We don't quite know; however, life finds a way! But again, we do not underestimate the power of working in every way we can to give the seed of God's word the very best environment and every opportunity to produce the greatest harvest.  
 
Interestingly Jesus even realized that the results in his kingdom would be at times patchy, because notice he says that the good seed produces One-hundred, sixty, thirty. Notice, that is actually a declining sequence of numbers. So we have to be prepared for all sorts of results in the sowing of God’s effective word. And, although God’s word never returns without bearing fruit, it still remains very much our task to ensure that the word is given the nourishment and encouragement it needs to bear the most fruit.
 
So, in baptism, and the other sacraments. They are certainly effective, but they cannot be disconnected from the concepts of conversion of heart,// of the practice of the faith,// of personal engagement,// daily prayer, participation in the sacraments regularly, regular spiritual reading and faith-study and reflection, and of course practical, loving and compassionate  action in our daily lives and priorities. The forgiveness and healing given in the sacrament of Reconciliation (Penance) are quite real,  but the sacrament bears most fruit when watered by the moving tears of repentance and nourished by a change of heart, attitude and behaviour.     
   
Our Lord frequently begged his disciples…  pray and fast often ..  so that you will not come into the time of trial…   he appeared also to be saying..  pray and prepare so that God will give you strength during times of trial,   to avoid the cares of this world crowding in around us,…..

Our Lord teaches us that we not only ought to pray, reflect and prepare for the possibility of hard times, (and difficult environments), but we must expect them, and use every spiritual resource God gives us to nurture and strengthen the graces and gifts from God,  -   lest the wonderful seed of faith and the fruits of the Kingdom it produces might be very poor. …

God has sown the seed in the hearts of each of us, and now we must nurture and feed and water and nourish that seed of faith and love daily…/.   And even more so when we sometimes find the environment around us rocky, weedy, scorching or crowded…   then staying constantly connected to the water of life, will sustain us come what may.


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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly

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

You are welcome to subscribe to Fr Paul’s homily mailout by sending an email at this address:    
paulkellyreflections+subscribe@googlegroups.com

Fifteenth Sunday, Ordinary Time. Year A

The Lord be with you.
+++++++++++++
Brothers and sisters, let us acknowledge our sins,
and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.
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.
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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.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Preparation of the Gifts
Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the bread we offer you: fruit of the earth and work of human hands, it will become for us the bread of life.
       Blessed be God for ever.

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the wine we offer you: fruit of the vine and work of human hands, it will become our spiritual drink.
       Blessed be God for ever.
Pray, brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God,
the almighty Father.
     May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands, for the praise and glory of his name, for our good and the good of all his holy Church.

Sundays Ordinary V p.31

Eucharistic Prayer II p.56

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Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.

{below is a longer version of this homily,  an earlier draft with longer reflection:
The wonderful image of the sower and the seed that falls on all sorts of different environments is a truly excellent parable.  It reminds us that just as a seed has within it everything needed to produce a viable plant, it will produce nothing unless it is properly watered and nourished and finds the right soil or medium to take hold.  It is similar to the idea of a delicious meal which contains all the nutrition needed to help a person stay healthy - But the meal is useless unless it is eaten. It is also like a light bulb that has the potential to light up a room but only if it is fitted into the socket and the switch turned on!     
Our Lord tells us that the seed represents the WORD of GOD…  and we could also say that the seed also represents FAITH in Jesus (and faith in WHO he is, in what he teaches and (just as importantly) how he lived…..   AND……., faith in the gospel.

This “seed”  could also represent the many opportunities that we all have been given to help build up the Kingdom of God.  

We cannot underestimate how important the response and the environment with which the Word of God is received by us in helping God's values to flourish everywhere. God wants and needs our cooperation and our working with him in helping God's Kingdom Come.

True, like the first reading, God is absolutely determined that the Word that comes from his mouth will NOT return empty and will achieve what God wants.  However, we humans can cooperate with what God is doing and we can also resist and block what God is doing.  God is determined to get around our resistance and achieve his plans, but we should not take this for granted --   The non-cooperation of people or the resistance of people could seriously slow down the progress of God's vision for the world. God may have to take alternate steps of 'go the long way around' in achieving God's goals, due to human resistance or lack of openness.   

Just as a seed needs good soil, water, shelter, nourishment and protection, so too our faith, our knowledge, our life needs to continue to be planted and lovingly nurtured in an environment that will foster continued growth and learning.

There are many challenges in life too, we must be careful that the precious seed of faith is planted; nurtured and attended-to daily, or else it will not grow. Other things, other priorities and values might “crowd-out” the growth of faith. Setbacks and hardships have the potential to stifle what we have. We need to actively protect, promote and encourage the good treasure we have received so that it will indeed bear much fruit.
We believe that the sacraments are concrete guarantees and tangible experiences of an inner reality. So, when a priest says the words of forgiveness in the sacrament of penance, (in the name of the church and in the name of Jesus), we believe that this effectively conveys the sacrament of God’s forgiveness and healing. And when the church baptises a person, we believe that the “God-given gift of FAITH is very much really and truly passed on in this action of pouring the water.  
And if a person is baptized, faith is definitely given, (100% guaranteed)….but just like this gospel reminds us today.., if one has baptism and then does not much to nurture, deepen and nourish that faith, then that real and effective “seed of faith” is still there, (for sure), but it is like a seed in un-watered, un-tended and un-plowed, hardened ground, it can hardly be expected to bear much or any fruit. Mind you, God can achieve amazing results of grace and love in what seems to be the aridest of situations, but never take this for granted.. and strive to give God’s word the most nurturing environment possible…  with prayer, reflection and good works.  Have you ever seen a rather healthy looking plant springing up from a roof gutter of a house?  It shouldn't be there and how has it gotten what it needs to grow?  We don't quite know but life finds a way. But again, we do not underestimate the power of working in every way we can to give the seed of God's word the very best environment and every opportunity to produce the greatest harvest.   
 
Interestingly Jesus even realised that the results in his kingdom would be at times patchy, because notice he says that the good seed produces 100, sixty, thirty. Notice, that is actually a declining sequence of numbers. So we have to be prepared for all sorts of results in the sowing of God’s effective word. And, although God’s word never returns without bearing fruit, it still remains very much our task to ensure that the word is given the nourishment and encouragement it needs to bear the most fruit.
 
So, in baptism, and the other sacraments. They are certainly effective, but they cannot be disconnected from the concepts of conversion of heart, of the practice of the faith, of personal engagement,  …… daily prayer, participation in the sacraments regularly, regular spiritual reading and faith-study and reflection, and of course practical, loving and compassionate  action in our daily lives and priorities.
The forgiveness and healing given in the sacrament of Reconciliation (Penance)  is quite real,  but it bears fruit when watered by the moving tears of repentance and nourished by a change of heart, attitude and behaviour.     
In the Baptism ceremony, the Priest says -
 ‘You have asked to have your child Baptised. In doing so you are accepting the responsibility of training them in the practice of the faith.’
 
Elsewhere, at the Blessing, in the Rite of Baptism- -
‘The parents will be the first teachers
of their child in the ways of faith. May they also be the best of teachers, bearing witness to the faith by what they say and do, in Christ Jesus our Lord.’
 
The Church teaches that an important part of being a Catholic is understanding that we belong to a community. We are not just individuals. Being Catholic means agreeing to be formed by the message of the Gospel, and regularly listening to how the universal, Catholic, Church understands its meaning for here and now.
 
By Baptism a child has both a right and a duty to be given the fullness of their Catholic Teaching. This includes regular contact with the Catholic faith community at Sunday Mass.
 
When a child is Baptised and then rarely is given an opportunity to go to Mass, surely the child is being given something less than the “Fullness of,”(the breadth and depth), of the “practice of their faith.”
 
From time to time I am sure we have all heard someone say…..  “I am going to let my child choose whether or not to go to church when they are old enough to decide for themselves.”  
 
Parents play an important role in imparting values and habits for their child’s life. Long before a child realises the value of going to school or even healthy practices like “brushing their teeth,” their parents have INSISTED, point-blank, that these things will be done. No amount of arguing-back will stop a parent insisting that things that are good for the child must be done, // even when the child does not (yet) fully appreciate WHY it is so important.// Children depend on their parents’ wisdom to insist on what is good for them. Children’s religious knowledge and faith formation are no different. So, I say, you wouldn’t wait till your child is an adult to let them choose whether they want to brush their teeth every day, or else by the time they do choose they may not have a tooth left in their head.  So, why let someone wait until too late to choose experience and practice their faith? ……..   it is completely bamboozling….     

It is just like a seed expected to water itself. By the time a child is old enough to ‘decide for themselves’ what they want, they will not have experienced growing up as a regular member of a faith community. If the church has not been part of their life up to this point what are they freely choosing to accept or reject?  How could that really be a free choice? Do they really know what they are ‘not choosing’ since one can hardly say they were given the fullness of ritual, community and faith formation? And if the Catholic parents do not go to Mass, the child will probably get the message that this is not a life value for them either.
 
Jesus in the gospel says to us that we must nurture the seed that we have been given. And, like this nurturing, there are risks, and there are challenges. It does mean moving well and truly out of our comfort zone.
 
God has sown the seed in the hearts of each of us, and now we must nurture and feed and water and nourish that seed of faith and love daily….   And even more so when we sometimes find the environment around us rocky, weedy, scorching or crowded…   then staying constantly connected to the water of life, will sustain us come what may.}

Catholic Reflections 612 : Homily Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A. - Sunday, June 25, 2017

Homily Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A.  - Sunday, June 25, 2017


THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
First Reading: Jeremiah 20:10-13
Psalm: Ps 68:8-10. 14. 17. 33-35
Second Reading: Romans 5:12-15
Gospel: Matthew 10:26-33
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Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A.  - Sunday, June 25, 2017 by clicking this link here:   https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-12th-ordinary-a
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Poor Jeremiah,   he was only doing God’s will…..  and awful people were doing everything they could to close him down.   Jeremiah was speaking God’s message  - calling for Justice, and faithfulness, and repentance and obedience to God’s law….. and this got him immediately offside with those who were personally benefitting from BEING unjust and selfish.  So, instead of listening to his message, Because it was hard and challenging and required a mindset change….   they did what people have done throughout the generations….. they took the easiest option and tried to shoot the messenger…..    Jeremiah’s enemies did everything they could to abuse him, contradict him….   lie about him so that he would be discredited, laugh at him and attack him……..    the wonderful thing is…. jeremiah just kept telling his message, he ignored the attacks and the lies…..(although it hurt him and got him down)…… and he put his faith in God and kept going…… 
 
Jesus is the ultimate example of this complete faithfulness…… his enemies knew that there was only one way they could stop him proclaiming and living his good news message of inclusion, justice and love… and that was to destroy him… to kill him and discredit him…….  But the Word of God in Jesus cannot be silenced… and it rose up again…..   showing once and for all that the opposing forces of lies, injustice and violence… were real, but ultimately empty threats…
 
Saints and real heroes …are people who can endure any hardship, bear any indignity, face any danger, (even death)… not because they think they can’t be hurt….   no…. but because they know that what they struggle for is the TRUTH… and it is RIGHT…. and it is REAL….    and that they know their souls are safe   -
 
(and Jesus knew this perfectly….    do not be afraid of those who can harm your body……    rather fear the one who has power over your very soul).
 
Of course, Jesus had a right to fear physical harm…  there were people out there trying to kill him……   but he believed in something much bigger that physical safety in this lifetime….
 
Jeremiah had people trying to kill him…. he was right to be concerned….   for us today, the dangers are often not physical…  although occasionally in this country.. and in others places its more common….   there are people still risking their lives and freedom for the cause of justice and truth…… 
 
but for many of us.. the dangers we face are more subtle…  often spiritual… 
 
When we have everything that we need, then we can be wordlessly tempted to think that we do not need God. When we look at our world today, we see that the richer nations believe less. We must be careful not to generalize, but that surely looks like the trend.
 
Jesus preaches a very different Gospel. Jesus tells us that real happiness comes from belief in God, from seeking the will of the Father, from giving to others, from sharing what we have with those who do not have, from respect for marriage, from praying and from forgiving.
 
Jesus does not invite us to have absolutely nothing, but always the challenge is there: What are you doing with what you have? Are you loving God and loving one another? What are you doing in your daily life? Are you seeking only your own pleasures or are you seeking the Kingdom of God?
 
So often we long for material pleasures, reassurances and the delights of this world! Jesus invites us to recognize that there is another world in which the values do not exclude pleasure and delight, but in which other values are much more important. When one person's sins, others are encouraged to sin. When one person chooses to live according to the will of God, others can begin to grasp that there is another world. Jesus had a remarkable gift of convincing others of the Kingdom of God. Jesus is God, of course, but He invites us also to share His life and share that gift of convincing others of the Kingdom of God by our manner of living.
 
Okay, we may not live in a world where people are trying to kill us…..   but…  there are so many ways of ‘neutralising’ a person…. the most insidious of all is forms of aggression that seem to have been perfected in this modern world…..   we can destroy a person with our words…..    with lies and distortions…. how easy is it to say something about another that makes others think less of them,….  killing their reputation with either outright falsehoods… or even more insidious, by subtle innuendo…..   this is another way people try to remove those who threaten  them….. 
 
But Jesus assures, us….   things spoken in the dark will be brought into the light….   things whispered … will be shouted from the rooftops….   I believe that the truth will often be revealed eventually….   but not denying the damage that can be done in the meantime….   and in any case, Jesus, our role model… assures us not to ever be spooked by the power of lies and threats…..    he showed us to keep going, keep trusting and keep living and proclaiming the truth… and that those who try to oppose.. are doing so because they are threatened by the truth….  but, ultimately,  they will not win. (but let us make no mistake… enormous damage might be done in the meantime… so we need strength, grace and love…to persevere…
 
I have a saying, and I truly believe this… whenever you are doing a thing that is right and good… inevitable someone will come along and tell you to “Stop!”    - we must ignore them,…..    or… as Jesus did…   see their opposition for what it is….  fear and threat… and keep going…
 
May we love the Lord our God and may the way we live show forth clearly that the Kingdom of Heaven is in our midst, especially in the face of opposition or criticism. May we live now in such a way that gives testimony to the love of God and to life everlasting. May we have no fear!
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References:

(adapted and taken from Monastery of Christ in the desert,
and also 2008 A Book of Grace Filled Days,
and also additions by Paul Kelly).

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

You are welcome to subscribe to Fr Paul’s homily mailout by sending an email at this address:    
paulkellyreflections+subscribe@googlegroups.com

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A.

The Lord be with you.
+++++++++++++
Brothers and sisters, let us acknowledge our sins,
and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.
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.
++++++++++++++
Memorial Acclamation

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

++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Preparation of the Gifts
Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the bread we offer you: fruit of the earth and work of human hands, it will become for us the bread of life.
        Blessed be God for ever.

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the wine we offer you: fruit of the vine and work of human hands, it will become our spiritual drink.
        Blessed be God for ever.
Pray, brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God,
the almighty Father.
     May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands, for the praise and glory of his name, for our good and the good of all his holy Church.

SUNDAYS I p.28

Euch prayer two p.56

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Go in peace.

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Catholic Reflections 607 : Homily Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year A - Sunday, May 21, 2017

Homily Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year A - Sunday, May 21, 2017

THE LITURGY OF THE WORD

       First Reading: Acts 8:5-8. 14-17

       Psalm: Ps 65:1-7. 16. 20. “Let all the earth cry out to God with joy”

       Second Reading: 1 Peter 3:15-18

       Gospel: John 14:15-21

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Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year A - Sunday, May 21, 2017 by clicking this link here:   https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-easter-6a 
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The readings this weekend speak of the early church communities forming just after Jesus returned to his Heavenly Father…   and had sent the Holy Spirit to the apostles and to the church….    The readings also show that the Holy Spirit sends the disciples out into mission..  into new territories…  further afield.. to preach and to spread the word of God further and further…..   
 
Jesus, as we hear in the Gospel this weekend…  prepared the apostles for his leaving (at his Ascension) by telling them that they would never really be left alone. They would never be like orphans; but, rather, the Spirit of Truth would come (at Pentecost). It is this Spirit that helped them to know the presence of Jesus in their lives even when they were no longer able to see him with their eyes.

Jesus asked the apostles to love him and to follow his commandments, for this is the way to have life. This is the way to experience the love of the Heavenly Father. There is really only one commandment, the single command to love. If we love Jesus, then we have love for one another. When we live the values and commands Jesus lived in his own life—humility, joy, peace, compassion and love —we are doing the will of the Father.

It is also the Spirit of Truth who helps us to understand the presence of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in our lives even now and always.

In the coming week..  in some time of quiet and prayer and reflection..   let us reflect prayerfully upon some questions…….
• What is your experience of how Jesus continues to reveal himself to us today?
•     What value that Jesus lived do you find the most attractive?
•     When is the promise of the Spirit of Truth most alive in you?
•     How comforting is it to you to live in the promise that the Holy Spirit will always be with us?
 
And notice, in the gospel.. Jesus speaks about sending the Holy Spirit upon his followers…   the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth…  the Holy Spirit comes into our hearts and makes us sons and daughters of God… and joins us to God.. so that we are in communion.. in union with God and with one another..  what a special gift!!!….
 
The presence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and in our church is absolutely vital.  Without the Holy Spirit of God, we cannot do anything effective….
 
This truth was known right from the beginnings of the Church two thousand years ago… and so… the ancient greeting the early Christian communities gave to each-other reflected the presence and the truth of the Holy Spirit in their lives…  the priest or bishop would say “the Lord be with you”  and the people would reply.. “and with your Spirit”.,,,   this was a recognition and acknowledgement that the Spirit was present in us….    Rather fittingly.. the church has gone back to this ancient saying….    It actually never changed.. the English response we had been using forty years, before it was changed back to the ancient words again a few years ago)…  the words.. “and also with you”  we're actually a very loose translation; a paraphrase of the latin master-edition of the Mass….    And Rome and the local bishops decided that this translation didn’t capture sufficiently the recognition of the Holy Sprit, who is SO necessary for the life of the church.. now, since 2010, we Catholics have returned to the ancient words that say so much!!!  And, I must say, although it is an unusual phrase…  I like it..  I like how it acknowledges the presence and action of the Holy Spirit, and how this Spirit of God is with us always, bringing Jesus not only to mind, but also making him present and active in our lives, and in our hearts…  

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References:

Fr Paul W. Kelly

Celebrating the gospels  (Cronin).

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

You are welcome to subscribe to Fr Paul’s homily mailout by sending an email at this address:    
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Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year A

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Brothers and sisters, let us acknowledge our sins,
and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.
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.
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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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Preparation of the Gifts
Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the bread we offer you: fruit of the earth and work of human hands, it will become for us the bread of life.
       Blessed be God for ever.

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the wine we offer you: fruit of the vine and work of human hands, it will become our spiritual drink.
       Blessed be God for ever.
Pray, brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God,
the almighty Father.
     May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands, for the praise and glory of his name, for our good and the good of all his holy Church.

Easter V p.26

Euch Prayer II p.56

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Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life. Alleluia, Alleluia! 

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