Catholic 759 : Twenty-eighth Sunday of the Year. Year C - Sunday, October 13, 2019

Homily Twenty-eighth Sunday of the Year. Year C - Sunday, October 13, 2019

https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/28c-faith-hope-and-love-ep-181 

First reading. 2 Kings 5:14-17

Responsorial Psalm 97:1-4. "The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power"

Second reading. 2 Timothy 2:8-13

Alleluia, alleluia! For all things, give thanks to God. Because this is what he expects of you in Christ Jesus.

Gospel. Luke 17:11-19

Image credit:  By Renata Sedmakova. Shutterstock licensed photo ID: 1074985211. PARMA, ITALY - APRIL 16, 2018: The fresco Jesus healing the ten lepers in byzantine iconic style in Baptistery probably by Grisopolo from 13. cent. -
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Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the Twenty-eighth Sunday of the Year. Year C - Sunday, October 13, 2019 by clicking this link here:   https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/28c-faith-hope-and-love-ep-181/s-ukEwd  (EPISODE: 181)
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PROLOGUE:  >From the most ancient times...    including in the time of Abraham and Moses....   right through to the time of Christ's disciples, one of the most important things for a true disciple is to continue to have and to foster a humble, grateful, remembering heart.  When a a person or a community forgets the blessings of the past, and ceases to be grateful for what we have rather than be sad about what we have not.... everything goes awry.  A grateful humble, remembering heart is our duty and our salvation...   this is Faith, Hope and love. 
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A writer, (whose name is not known), once declared….
 
"Happy are they who dwell not on what they have not,
but rather,
Happy are the ones who give thanks, for all that they do have."
 
"A boy by the name of Jermaine Gardner was born with one eye, no nose, and a misshapen face. Doctors said he would be severely disabled and likely with little chance of intellectual development. His mother wondered what would become of him in this world.
 
Four years later…..   this young child was sitting in the day room of a Medical centre where he had received countless hours of treatment already….   This time he was not here for more medical treatment… but instead, he was  playing a "thank-you" piano concert for 200 hospital employees. His astounding musical genius was discovered accidentally when he was still a baby. He now can wonderfully play over 200 classical compositions….. .... and he has played with world-famous singer and piano player…. Stevie Wonder.
 
The four-year-old's "thank-you" concert raises the important question: How grateful am I for what I have? And how do I show this gratitude?   

This child grew up to be an adult.....  In 2014 his mother wrote an update: Jacqueline Kess-Gardner says :  "Jermaine was recently diagnosed with Aspergers and has embraced the diagnosis. He continues to perform, write music, and has, recently, authored a Science Fiction book, (which is a wonderful allegory or parable of the experience of people with Aspergers, pk). The journey continues and I continue to give God the glory. God is not finished with this story yet."
 
And the gospel today, is a very fitting reminder of the importance of being grateful for the gifts that God has given us…

So often it is all too easy to remember and stew over the things that have gone wrong…..  the burdens and struggles……   but it can be at the expense of forgetting and minimising all the wonderful things that Go provides to us.  There are so many things to be thankful for in life, that its so important to take the time out to remember them, and to give thanks…..   
 
In the gospel featuring of the "ten lepers"…
I remember a few years ago, some prep-school students were drawing pictures based on the bible… their teacher asked them to draw their favourite bible story.....  and one child had a drawing featuring Our Lord reaching out to touch  ten, large, spotty, "cat-like" animals. When the teacher asked the child what this drawing was about…(which bible scene is this about??).....   the child replied confidently:  "that's Jesus healing the ten leopards !"    (Isn't that cute!!! …   It makes sense, though, as children probably wouldn't likely recognize the word "leper"  as different from leopard). What I would like to know, though, is when the "leopards got cured, did they lose their spots?" :) 
In any case, The readings remind us that "There is nothing better, and more and more necessary than a grateful, remembering heart." (pk) 
One of the lepers (not leopards!) was a Samaritan…  Samaritans were hated by the Jewish people of the time…..   they were not accepted ….  But here was a group of lepers that included Jewish people and a Samaritan as well. What this shows is that these other Jewish lepers have accepted a Samaritan among them; rejection, marginalisation and Pain has brought them together. There is no distinction amongst these outcasts…….. suffering and exclusion has brought them together into one community.      Also, Jesus accepts people with no distinctions…….  They are all in need of healing, and he gives them all what they need…..irrespective of where they come from or what they believe. 
 
However, the Samaritan is the only one who comes back to give thanks. In Jewish law… a person was not considered 'purified' or healed until the priests declared them clean again.. so they could be healed but not yet officially recognized… So, the other nine go off to fulfil the "letter of the law"  of the requirements for purity, but the Samaritan realizes, 'wait a minute,  I am ALREADY healed and purified by Jesus.. So, he immediately turns back to give thanks to the source of that healing and grace...  Thanks to God, (to Jesus who is God made flesh). Samaritans were considered inferior and half pagan, and also Samaritans were considered "impure" and not to be associated with. Yet, the Samaritan here in this gospel is the only one who opens his heart to the Lord (v. 15) and who expresses the real content of purity.
 
The clean of heart are not those who merely observe rules and appear irreproachable, or who belong to a particular group of people, but rather those who are consistent and whose hearts and attitudes match their outward actions;……. People who act with humility, appreciation, and gratitude, for the overwhelming and generous graces that they have received.
 
The Samaritan is the one who remembers Jesus — This man is grateful;  He is doubly marginalized as a leper and as a "foreigner". And so, while Jesus is on the way to Jerusalem where he will be killed at the hands of the defenders of formal legal rules about purity, Jesus gives life to this man who is truly pure in heart: "your faith has made you well."
 
It is all too easy to be tempted to "stew over" the things that have gone wrong… all the hurts and snubs and mistakes..  There are so many things to be grateful for in life, and it is so important to take the time out regularly, to remember the many blessings and graces…, and to give heartfelt thanks…..and keep them in the front of our minds. Especially for times of struggle.


In the old testament, the people of Israel regularly forgot the many blessings that God had given them and that led to grumbling and complaining.     //  Forgetting, grumbling and ruminating on the negative,  can so easily lead to failing to count our blessings, which can then lead to turning away from God. …
St Paul in the second reading captures this well.  He basically is saying…  I have suffered everything for the gospel…  however.. I will continue to trust in God and praise him… I will continue to focus on the GOOD news, because it is more powerful than bad news.. and no matter what happens.. there is more good news than bad.. and the good news of Christ will have the last word in everything…  
 
It is really important to regularly sit at personal prayer-time, with a journal and a pen in hand…..and spend some quality time writing down any and every blessing, grace and joy that has come our way this day, this week.. this month..  or any time throughout our life….  In this prayer exercise, the object is to list ONLY the positive things that come to mind, the things we are grateful for… the countless gifts God has showered upon us….big and small….  Extraordinary as well as ordinary…..  It will certainly keep our sense of perspective…. I truly believe that if we sat in prayer writing down all the blessings and gifts that we receive daily, we would fill that book of thanksgiving.. that book of graces… in days.. and by the end of the year we would have books piled up to the roof…..
Even specialists in emotional health remind us that what we focus on positive or negative can have profound effects on our sense of wellbeing…   it's a bit like if we eat the wrong types of food .. not very nourishing food that is not full of the nutrition we need, if we eat too much junk food.. if we take into our bodies too much of the wrong things it will be bad for us…  Same with what we focus on in our daily lives..  if we take in the negatives and minimize the positives…  it will distort our perceptions and be bad for us.   That is not to say we should be unrealistic or in denial about the many real difficult issues and struggles in life; but the sense of perspective helps us to keep turning to God and trusting that God's care is still with us.. God's blessings are, (as the psalms remind us), "not all in the past…" and we continue to praise God and trust in God's faithfulness and care. 
  
Remembering Jesus Christ as St Paul asks us to do in the second reading…… (2 Tm 2:8) is about accepting Jesus' message of love without building up purely legal or religious boundaries and walls.

it always strikes me as incredibly important that the word we use to describe what we do here on Sundays as a community of faith is called "Eucharist"… which is an ancient Greek word that means 'thanksgiving.'  This is not only what we do here on Sunday… It is also the people we are called to be in Christ…  It is right and it is just to be people who 'always and everywhere…(- in word and in action) -  give the Lord thanks and praise!"
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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly

MISSION 2000  – PRAYING SCRIPTURE IN A CONTEMPORARY WAY. YEAR C. BY MARK LINK S.J. - which quotes the Jermaine gardner story.

SHARING THE WORD THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR. GUSTAVO GUTIERREZ.

Jermaine gardner:  :   

 https://www.amazon.com/Incredible-Journey-Jermaine-Gardner-Story/dp/0972653805         update 2014 from Jacqueline Kess-Gardner :  "I am the Author of this book and the journey continues. Jermaine was recently diagnosed with Aspergers and has embraced the diagnosis. He continues to perform, write music, and has, recently, authored a Sci Fi book. The journey continues and I continue to give God the glory. He is not finished with this story yet." (Please note this is not a sponsored advertisement, but a link to the biography which I find personally inspiring).


Image credit:  By Renata Sedmakova. Shutterstock licensed photo ID: 1074985211. PARMA, ITALY - APRIL 16, 2018: The fresco Jesus healing the ten lepers in byzantine iconic style in Baptistery probably by Grisopolo from 13. cent. -

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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-eighth Sunday of the Year. Year C
(Sunday, October 13, 2019)
(EPISODE: 181 )

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
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{{Hi everyone}}
Coming together as Gods family, let us call to mind our sins.?
Lord Jesus, you call your people to turn away from sin: Lord, have mercy//You teach us wisdom, and write your truth in our inmost heart: Christ, have mercy//You forgive sins through the ministry of reconciliation: 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
1. We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.

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own preface

Various Needs and Occasions . IV

Communion side.  pwk:  RH
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{Thanks everyone, and have a grace-filled and compassion-filled week.}

Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.

Article From Jet Magazine. (USA) Dec 5, 1988 edition P 14. Johnson Publishing Company. 

Catholic 758 : Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C - Sunday, October 6, 2019

Homily Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C   - Sunday, October 6, 2019

First reading. Habakkuk 1:2-3,2:2-4 

Responsorial Psalm. Psalm 94:1-2,6-9. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. 

Second reading. 2 Timothy 1:6-8,13-14 

Alleluia, alleluia! The word of the Lord stands forever. It is the word given to you - the good news.

Gospel      Luke 17:5-10 

 

Image licensed by Shutterstock:  By Lazarenka Sviatlana. stock photo ID: 1354734821, Doorman at the door on the background of blurred people.
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Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C   - Sunday, October 6, 2019 by clicking this link here:   https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/27c-faith-hope-and-love-ep-180/s-d6FQK

 (EPISODE: 180)
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Prologue:  God always answers our prayers. However, sometimes the answer is a loving but firm NO!  Amazingly, in the Gospel this weekend, the Apostles ask the Lord what seems a fairly sensible thing... they ask the Lord to increase their faith.  Our Lord basically says, NO. Its not the amount of faith you have, its your application of whatever faith you have. Faith is about action, and living consistently in the values of the faith.  Our Lord says, even a small seed of faith can produce astounding results, if we put ourselves in God's hands and set about the work of service we have been called to.  God's grace is more than sufficient. Let us humbly set to work in this excellent task.  
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In this weekend's gospel, Our Lord teaches that in the life of a community all people must deny their own self-focused designs, and develop a healthy detachment from "self." 

We are indeed heirs to God's Kingdom and sons and daughters of God….  But Our Lord warns us that pride is the beginning of many sins…. If we develop a sense of entitlement or presumption// if what we do fills us with a sense that God owe us something…or that others owe us something, this is can be highly corrosive…//   Everything we do must be for the building up of God's Kingdom alone, or else it will unwittingly contribute to the building up of the "Kingdom of ME," at the expense of "the Kingdom of God"….  It becomes a form of "idolatry,"

Our Lord uses the example of the servant.  In those days, a servant could not merit anything of their own. The master, (often hard and demanding, but hopefully fair), was entitled to the servant's efficient service. This was expected as the "norm." It was not normal to thank a servant for doing what was merely their job. The servant could often be the hardest working, most dedicated labourer in his master's house, and unquestionably fully committed to everything that was for the good of the family they worked for,-- but should this person demand gratitude and extra reward for this? ... Isn't the servant only being diligent in performing what is expected of them?  

Looking at things from a self-serving mindset is the opposite of what Our Lord is teaching his disciples…  And it also taints and lessens all the good work that a Christian disciple can do, if they turn around and expect something other than merely the sense that they may have helped build up God's values.

I think we can benefit from this gospel teaching very much…….   Just think of all the good work done by so many. And then imagine if, later on, down the track…  a person who has done so much for the community, metaphorically 'calls in the debt' by demanding something be done for them and citing, (as a reason of their demand), all the work they had done in the past -- suggesting that all that work entitles them to demand a benefit….    In doing so, they have absolutely, (according to this parable), cancelled out all credit for the Kingdom of God…. And forgone reward in the Kingdom……  And also this undermines the original good motive of doing what was needed simply for the sake of doing good itself, and helping build God's Kingdom…..    we need to be on guard for this always…..   in ourselves and in others…. As it derails the real direction of the community's efforts – towards God's priorities.

I must admit, as jarring as this image is, I really, really like this concept. It is a refreshing antidote (and corrective) to a world where 'what's in it for me,' and a sense of 'entitlement' can pervade every corner of society. Pride and an inflated sense of one's own importance is often at the centre of a lot of conflict, misunderstanding, disunity, frustration and resentment. In the gospel this weekend Our Lord reminds us that we are servants and disciples of God's word….  Our duty is to teach, to witness and to live the values of the gospel, no matter how challenging these values are, and irrespective of the opposition or the ridicule we will receive from some sections of secular society. And certainly despite of any criticism or praise, cost or reward that comes from doing our job. 

I think of our own communities, with the increase in the legal requirements for safeguarding, all workers and volunteers have had to undertake even more compliance courses, and fill out and provide more information for the ministries they conduct. This has been very demanding and difficult for many people. And we are so grateful for the patience and generosity of so many. But there has been some outrage, too, because it has been a very trying and demanding process. This gospel, though, made me stop and think. Are we to be too outraged?  Yes, there are many volunteers…  yes, it is out of the goodness of one's time and energy.  But, as Christians, is anyone really just a volunteer… or are we all doing what is needed to ensure the work of the gospel is fulfilled in this place? At any cost.


Living the gospel is difficult… and challenging… and it will often meet with opposition or challenges……. The Apostles realise the seemingly impossible demands of discipleship.   So, they in today's gospel that Our Lord "increase their faith."

Our Lord' reply to his disciples is a stinging rebuke. In effect, he says, 'More faith? If you had any faith at all - faith as puny as a tiny mustard seed - you could do great things!' But doing great things is not the point, as the parable goes on to explain. What is required is merely doing what is expected. A servant's job is not in itself extraordinary, and nor is it dramatic or "histrionic."  The work of a servant does not draw attention to itself.  A faithful worker does what the master commands, namely, both the fieldwork as well as serving at the table. Similarly, disciples who are servants of the Lord must do what they are commanded, even forgiving others seven times a day if necessary. Though this may seem extraordinary, it is in fact merely part of our daily job.


Our Lord using a striking, dramatic and rather outlandish example….of the mulberry tree, when commanded to be uprooted and transplanted in the sea.  Naturally, there is nothing to be gained by a mulberry tree in the sea…  it would die there../  but it is an ancient version of our modern military saying..  "if your senior officer commands you to jump, don't ask why, just ask: how high?- or, even better, ask no questions and do it immediately"   The Lord calls his disciples to listen to his gospel and DO what is asked of them..  . even if it seems quite difficult or confusing or even if it seems mundane.



So, surprisingly, Our Lord says NO to the disciples when they ask for more faith. Instead, he reminds them (and us), that abundant faith is not required for discipleship. Even a little bit of faith is sufficient to do great things. It is not the quantity of faith, it is how one puts it into action. If we put even the smallest amount of faith into action and place our efforts in the hands of God's grace, astounding and good things will be produced. 

People of faith are not only those who do great, dramatic or extraordinary feats of wonder and bravery for God and Church. Actually, faith is as readily expressed in ordinary, everyday acts of service, love and kindness.

Our Lord instructs disciples that 'faith' is expressed in action… and even more precisely in obedience to him. THE GOSPELS teach us that obedience to God is not something that lessens us or demeans us but is actually an expression of love, and of faith. 

This image of the servant disciple is put forward by Our Lord as the ideal image of how we should see our calling as disciples – to be servants with tasks in relation to God and God's Kingdom, rather than any sense of entitlement, reward, or even the idea that we can somehow earn or merit God's love or that God should thank us for doing what is merely necessary for our wonderful task of building up God's Kingdom, and for giving unceasing thanks to God for what is rightfully God's. (And, what is rightfully God's is…- "Everything!") 

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References:

Fr Paul W. Kelly

SHARING THE WORD THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR. GUSTAVO GUTIERREZ.

Living Liturgy – Homily reflection notes.

Prepare the Word, reflections 2013.

Image licensed by Shutterstock:  By Lazarenka Sviatlana. stock photo ID: 1354734821, Doorman at the door on the background of blurred people.
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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-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C 
(Sunday, October 6, 2019)

(EPISODE: 180 )

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (or/ The Lord be with You)
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{{Peace and Goodness to you all}}

Brothers and sisters, as we prepare ourselves to celebrate the Lord,s supper, let us recall our sins and acknowledge them in silence.?
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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Memorial Acclamation

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

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Sundays Ordinary VIII

Eucharistic Prayer III

Communion side.  pwk:  LH
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{I pray this week brings you an ever-deeper experience of his compassion and love. }

Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.

Catholic 757 : Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C - Sunday, September 29, 2019

Homily Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C   - Sunday, September 29, 2019

READINGS:     

Amos 6:1, 4-7;  

Psalm: "Praise the Lord, my soul!"

1 Tim 6:11-16;   

Alleluia, alleluia! Jesus Christ was rich but he became poor. To make you rich out of his poverty.

Lk 16:19-31

Shutterstock licensed photo ID: 313796105 DUBLIN, IRELAND - AUGUST 16, 2015: Homeless Jesus statue on August 16, 2015 near Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
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Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C   - Sunday, September 29, 2019 by clicking this link here:   https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/26c-faith-hope-and-love-ep-179/s-MBrrD  (EPISODE: 179)
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Prologue:  This weekend, Gods word emphasises the importance of empathy and compassion. --  particularly, having the eyes of compassion, which are not blind to the suffering of others around us.  The readings give a "big serve" to all who enjoy every kind of luxury but who are quite ignorant of people in extreme need (for even the basic necessities) - - People who are "hidden in plain sight."  The lord wants everyone to know that the sick, the poor, the outcast, are very dear to him.  They are cherished children, as dear to God as the most lofty person on earth.  The Lord desperately wants us to see and recognise our fellow brothers and sisters and to respond to them as we would a brother or sister in need.  Their welfare is our welfare, since we belong to the same family of God.   This is faith, hope and love. 
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The Parable in this weekend's Gospel is often called The Story of "Lazarus and "Divés".  These are supposedly the names of the poor man, who certainly is called Lazarus, and the rich man, who is actually not named - and I think he is deliberately not given a name in this parable.
 
The word "Divés" is a Latin word which translates as "Rich". So, it is actually not a name, but rather a description.
 
In many Biblical stories, and in the culture of the time, the importance of the person is often shown by the fact that they are given a "name". To know the name of someone is to know and understand the importance of that person.
 
It is an error, then when commentators attempt to give a name to the rich man, when it is clearly not intended in the parable. This story is deliberately turning the usual conventions on their head. Usually, the rich and influential person is regarded as so important that they must have a name in the drama, whilst the unimportant, insignificant character of the poor person remains nameless, as well as being without food, shelter or supplies. However, Our Lord's parable makes it quite clear that the most important person in this story is Lazarus! The whole point of the story is to overturn the usual expectations of status and importance. Tragically, this point is also lost on the rich man who, even in the torment of Hades, still misses the point badly.
 
He ignorantly requests Abraham to command Lazarus to cross over to Hades to serve him with a little taste of water. However, his request is rightly denied. Lazarus is poor no longer! he is no longer unseen and without value in the eyes of those around him. He is no longer at the beck and call of the powerful and influential who would only have noticed him if he were of some practical use to them at the time – (and if he was of no use to them, he would be quite invisible to them).
 
As St. Basil said in one of his homilies on this parable, "Tell us the reason why you have received your possessions. Is it so that God may be unjust? God who unequally distributes those goods necessary to life? Why are you rich and another poor? To the hungry belongs the spare bread that you keep. To the naked, the cloak you keep tucked away. You commit as many injustices as there are people to whom you could give."
 
One of the great failings of the rich man in this parable is that he is ignorant and apathetic to the poverty and need of people around him; -- people who turn out to be his brother, and his sister in God's Kingdom. … SO, these needy people are co-heirs to the Kingdom which this uncaring man will never inherit….
 
This parable invites us to change our way of seeing things. The gospel tells us in countless ways that the last will be first. Our Lord calls upon us to truly build up a world based upon true gospel values….. a world and a Kingdom of God which is filled with many people like Lazarus, who are despised now by those who, according to the parable, do not deserve to have a name.
 
The parable leaves no room for doubt. The unnamed rich man tries to say he had no idea about the plight of the poor. However, "Father Abraham" will have none of this! He dismisses this categorically, saying "you have the word of God to listen to." The words and teachings of the Scriptures are more than enough to guide us in how we should live.
 
In spite of the clarity of the gospel message, we admit that we too can look for excuses or ask for more obvious signs before we respond to the blatant demands of justice and compassion.  The priorities of the gospel are really quite plain enough, without any further embellishment…. we only have to pay attention.-  to look, and listen and feel....
 
Those who ignore the poor are rejected by the Lord. Saint Paul gives us the reason for such a behaviour: "the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil." Greed leads us to place our trust in money, when all true power rightly comes only from God. This is why Paul calls it 'idolatry.' And the poor are victims of this distorted worship, which separates people by a great chasm, -- unable to be crossed over.
 
But all is not lost… This parable continues on from the earlier parables in this section. Although we are told that the rich man faced a great gulf between himself and the Kingdom of God, where Abraham and Lazarus in Paradise. …. Jesus has already given his carefully attentive listeners a hint… and a key… There is actually one way out of this seemingly impossible situation -- In theory, this rich man can be saved….. But he is so ignorant that he cannot even comprehend it; and so in practise he probably will never access this reprieve… He must act just as the foolish younger son did in the parable of the Prodigal Son…. He must, come to his senses and see the folly of his ways. He must say to his heavenly Father (from the depths of his heart) --…. "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against earth… I no longer deserve to be called your son, treat me as one of your hired servants…. "….. Because we KNOW, (from Jesus' own lips), what the Heavenly Father's response will be to those who realise their error, and who awake from their apathy, truly repent… and turn back…….
 
Again. Luke's gospel is particularly addressed to influential and affluent Gentiles who want to be good Christians. Our Lord did not tell this parable so that people will give up in despair, because their unavoidable destiny is Hades. He teaches this parable to wake them up from their apathy, and get them to show their fraternity to those who are bowed-down.
 
Someone once write into a publication to share a little example:  One day they received an appeal from a reputable foreign mission, asking for an aid donation. The person wrote a little cheque out to support the mission appeal and felt good about it. Then they went out to the local shopping centre and promptly spent twice as much on discretionary spending. Suddenly this person shares that their eyes were opened and they were overcome with a sense of shame as they realised the chasm between the two actions. This person quickly returned home and wrote five more cheques out, explaining that they were doing this to "catch a few more 'Lazaruses,' at the door"….(or even further afield)…….
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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly
SHARING THE WORD THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR. GUSTAVO GUTIERREZ.
Fr. John Fuellenbach, SVD, (Rome), Sabbatical Lectures 2007. Rome. (Notes of Paul Kelly)
A BOOK OF GRACE-FILLED DAYS. BY ALICE CAMILLE. (2010)
Photo Credit: Shutterstock licensed photo ID: 313796105 DUBLIN, IRELAND - AUGUST 16, 2015: Homeless Jesus statue on August 16, 2015 near Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
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"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.
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May God bless and keep you.
Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C 
(Sunday, September 29, 2019)
(EPISODE: 179 )
The Lord be with you.
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{{Peace and greetings to you all.}}
{{We have gathered to Listening to God's Word. }}

As one family in Christ, let us prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries by calling 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.
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Memorial Acclamation
2. When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again.
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own preface
Various Needs and Occasions .  III
Communion side.  pwk:  RH
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{Thank you for giving generously of  your time and prayer.}
Go forth, the Mass is ended.