Catholic Reflections 639 : Homily Second Sunday Advent. Year B – 10th December, 2017

Homily Second Sunday Advent. Year B – 10th December 2017
First Reading: Isaiah 40:1-5. 9-11
Psalm: 84:9-14. “Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation”
Second Reading: 2 Peter 3:8-14
Gospel: Mark 1:1-8
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Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the Second Sunday Advent. Year B 10th of December 2017- by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-advent-2b

(EPISODE: 62 )
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God's vision is much broader and deeper than our own limited perspective. We do not have the benefit of the whole picture. For us, it is just a great honour to help, in some small way, a project infinitely bigger than we could ever see or comprehend..... Life would be very different if, instead of yearning for some distant and, (at present), unattainable goal, we did all that we could here and now to bring that goal even a step or so nearer. Just to be part of God's grand project, is satisfaction enough.

A fitting quote (from Scripture commentator William Barclay), comes to mind........"In youth, because I could not be a singer, I did not even try to write a song; and I planted no little trees along the roadside Because I knew their growth would take so long and I would not see them fully grown. But now from the wisdom that the years have brought me, I know that it may be a blessed thing To plant a tree for someone else to water and enjoy, Or make a song that someone else will sing when I cannot." (William Barclay).

The goal will never be reached unless the labourers unite to make it possible, under the great architect's plan. Each one adds their little bit to a project bigger than any one of us.

In the gospel, we hear that those who were baptised also confessed their sins........ Admitting to our sins and faults is difficult. But when we do this we straighten the path between us and God. Often, the most difficult person to admit a sin to, is actually ourselves…..  For example, when the prodigal son took off with half his father's property, he probably thought very well of himself...   He thought he was a fine and clever young man who will make it big....   but, later, in extreme poverty, as he even longed to eat the scraps of pigs' food and realised his folly, he would first have to admit to himself how pathetically he had acted...  Even before he returned to his father, he had to look at himself honestly and humbly, and it must have been very deflating and difficult…..But he could not have imagined the astounding love and mercy he would receive when he made a straight path back to his father.

We must let the barriers down…  and fill in the valleys of pride and self-satisfaction.  It is not the person who desires to meet God on equal terms who will discover forgiveness, grace and compassion - but rather, the person who falls to their knees, and whispers in mortification, "Lord, I need you! I am a terrible mess without your help. Be merciful to me, for I am a sinner!"

The Prophet Isaiah in the first reading speaks of comfort for God's people. God assures the people that they have ‘done their time’ for their sins. The debt is cancelled. However, one gets a distinct feeling that God is just being kind and generous. We couldn’t have paid off the debt; but God, in his love and mercy has cancelled it and written “paid in full” anyway. Another act of astounding generosity.  Advent reminds us that God IS coming !! 

We are invited to change the way we live! And to change our thinking, so we may truly encounter the living God and understand the truth of God’s different ways.

John the Baptist was out in the desert. This is reminiscent of the People of Israel who fled into the desert and lived in the wilderness for forty years, In that time, they were utterly reliant on God’s providence. they had nothing else but the presence and leadership of God’s guiding hand. The people had to trust totally in God’s wisdom and care. For the most part, they were a humble and grateful people..  (although at times, for those who trudged the desert, pride, distrust and ingratitude got the better of many of them)

In the process of trying to give up sin and live with virtue, we often find how difficult it can be. Even after years of struggle, we can often find ourselves still facing the same sins and defects in our lives. But let us not lose hope...The Lord assures and comforts us…… that He comes to save us, not to condemn us. The secret is to trust completely in Jesus Christ. To surrender to God.  To stop wrangling with, and resisting God with our wilfulness…   We admit our need for God’s grace and mercy.

God does not operate with a conditional mindset….   and the things that show the unconditional love God has for each of us, can never be measured in favours granted or rewards given….  but rather, everything God gives us is a grace -- Gifts and blessings given, completely and unreservedly in love for all people….

By contrast we are tempted to keep score or place conditions on love,  or "trying to live as if we were an island complete of itself," A conditional way of living creates valleys and mountains – making the pathway of communication and friendship between God and ourselves very rocky. The same is true for wilfulness, pride and self-focus…..  These are obstacles to our peace and to our reception of the reality of Christ in our lives, and his unconditional love. We long to appreciate more deeply, the reality of Christ's selfless and generous presence and action amongst us.  

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References:

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

Fr Paul W. Kelly

Leonard, R. (2006). Preaching to the converted. New York: Paulist Press.

Monastery of Christ in the Desert. Abbot's Homily. Advent 2, Year B. 2008.

PrepareTheWord.com © 2008, TrueQuest Communications, LLC.
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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. 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


Second Sunday Advent. Year B
(Sunday, December 10, 2017)

(EPISODE: 62 )

Second Week

In this season of Advent, we feature an Advent Wreath – with its candles and green branches— it is a reminder of God's promise to our world: Christ, our Light and our Hope, will come.

(we light the second Advent Candle ****)


2nd CANDLE – (purple)
THE BETHLEHEM CANDLE or THE CANDLE OF PREPARATION – God kept his promise of a Saviour who would be born in Bethlehem.

O Key of David, O Flower of Jesse’s stem.... commanding at your will the gates of Heaven: O royal Power of Israel ....Come, break down the prison walls - for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death; and lead your captive people into freedom.
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O people of Sion, behold,
the Lord will come to save the nations,
and the Lord will make the glory of his voice heard.
in the joy of your heart.
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In the name of the Father, and of the son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
The Lord be with you.
(and with your spirit)

Before hearing the word of God and sharing the bread of life,
sing praise to Christ, the Alpha and Omega......

Kyrie eleison/
Christe eleison/
Kyrie eleison

May almighty God have mercy on us,
forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting Vlife.
Amen.
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Let us pray
(that nothing may hinder us from receiving Christ with Joy)
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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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Advent 1

Euch Prayer II

Communion side.  pwk:  RH
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Go in peace.(glorifying the Lord by your life)

Wait for the Lord, whose day is near,
wait for the Lord, be strong, take heart.

Catholic Reflections 637 : Homily Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe-A - Sunday, November 26, 2017

Homily Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe-A - Sunday, November 26, 2017

First Reading: Ezekiel 34:11-12. 15-17
Psalm: Ps 22:1-3. 5-6. “The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want”
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:20-26. 28
Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46

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Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe-A - Sunday, November 26, 2017 by clicking this link here:   https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-ep-60-christ-the-king-a  (EPISODE:60)
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The gospel this weekend is very special.  I have always found that it goes to the heart of Jesus’ message and mission. How different the world would be if all people took this gospel at face value. Quite literally. “just as you did it to one of the least of these…  you did it to me”.
 
There is a story told (not sure if this actually happened but it is still great), of Queen Victoria, who went on a vacation to Scotland, and one day, took a walk on one of her estates.  

On the country walk, the Queen was dressed very discretely in walking clothes. A storm blew up and Queen Victoria retreated to a neighbour’s house and asked if they would kindly lend her an umbrella.  The neighbour, not recognizing this person on the steps in the pouring rain, begrudgingly lent the umbrella, but when the Queen walked off and opened up the umbrella, it was full of holes and quite useless.   The next day, the Queen sent one of her attendants back to return the umbrella, with a polite note of thanks.   When the neighbour saw the regal attendant and realised the truth of who the visitor was, she was mortified and said in explanation:. I am so sorry, if I had known it was Her Majesty, I wouldn’t have given her that umbrella.”   (well, whether that situation happened or not, the point is a good one.)  

What did it matter WHO it was? Why would you give ANYONE  an umbrella with holes in it; which was utterly useless for its purpose? Irrespective of who they were or not!   “Anyone who turns up on our doorsteps is not only possibly royalty in disguise; today’s  gospel calls upon us to treat everyone with the reverence and graciousness we would give to Christ himself  // Why can we humans be tempted to make distinctions in the ordinary matter of respecting human dignity, which is actually due to all people. Whether they be prince or pauper, the Lord says, “what you do to these … you do it to me.”   

If the world took this very seriously and literally, the world would change profoundly… All humans would have the dignity and respect befitting God who lovingly created them. Which, I believe is the intention of Our Lord's parable.
The reading from Ezekiel… is also very fitting. The Lord will be our shepherd, lead us, guide us, heal us, …seek the lost, feed us, (The fat sheep come in for some very negative comment here in this gospel, because in this narrative they have pushed around the others and not let them eat and have pasture. The Well-off sheep have scattered the poor, needy sheep and the master is very unhappy with this.).… 

God recognises that among the people (and among every group of people)  there are some who are struggling and experiencing weakness, (as all of us do at different ways)… and some who are feeling lost, disconnected and injured…    as well as those who are strong and satisfied….   And the co-responsibility of people to support and encourage each-other is an expectation of the Kingdom.
 
Our Lord instructs us that every time you look into the face of one who is hungry, the face of a person who thirsts….  The face of a stranger…..   the face of someone in need, or someone who is ill…..   or a prisoner….   Anytime you look at even those who might be regarded as ‘the least’ (by some)………There…  you are looking and seeing the face of the Lord... //And how we respond to these people is how we are taken to be responding to the Lord himself.
 
Jesus tells us this parable because he wants us to take this message quite literally….     and act upon it……   
 
In the parable…. everyone gets a surprise about this news…..  the ‘sheep’  and the ‘goats’ alike…..  neither realised that when they fed the hungry, clothed the naked, visited the sick, visited the prisoner…. welcomed the stranger… that they were helping Christ himself…..    the wicked certainly didn’t know this…..    but in this parable… even the righteous….  (they helped these people)…but even THEY didn’t realise that by acting in this way, they were serving Christ himself, to these needy people…..
 
The Gospel from Saint Matthew reminds us that we will be judged on how well we loved. It is the way that we love one another that reveals whether we love God or not.  It is this love for one another that will confirm whether we are truly close to God or far from God…
 
We are all brothers and sisters in Christ…..   and we ask for God’s guidance and grace as we look out for others..  especially the most vulnerable…….   We move forward, joyfully remembering always that the Lord is Good…  his mercy and faithfulness endures from age to age!!”
 
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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly

New Jerome Bible Handbook. Geoffrey Chapman Publishers. 1992.

“2008 – a Book of Grace-filled Days,” by Lavonne Neff; 

 “Monastery of Christ in the Desert,” Abbott’s Homily, http://christdesert.org ; 

“Vision – Praying Scripture in a Contemporary Way. Year A”

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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. 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


Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe-A
(Sunday, November 26, 2017)

(EPISODE: 60)

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (or/ 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 are the image of the unseen God: Lord, have mercy.//You are the firstborn of all creation: Christ, have mercy//You are the head of the body, the Church: 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
(that all creation will proclaim Jesus as Lord…….)


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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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Christ the King  

Eucharistic Prayer I 

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

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.
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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.

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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.

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.}