Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, June 21, 2020 EPISODE 235
Readings for 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time - A
FIRST READING: Jeremiah 20:10-13
Psalm 69:8-10, 14+17, 33-35. "Lord, in your great love, answer me."
SECOND READING: Romans 5:12-15
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION, (John 15:26b-27a).Alleluia, alleluia! The Spirit of Truth will bear witness to me, says the Lord. And you also will be my witness.
GOSPEL: Matthew 10:26-33
Image Credit: Praia do Rosa, Santa Catarina, Brasil. Photo by Cassiano Psomas on Unsplash
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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 21, 2020 by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-ordinary-12a-episode-235/s-6OUimKfCDha
(EPISODE: 235)
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PROLOGUE (Fr Paul): 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. Jesus looked into their hearts, and saw their opposition for what it is fear and feeling threatened in the comfy world that they had made. Jesus' response to these opponents was to keep going! Our Lord 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…
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12th. Sunday Ordinary Time Year A 2020 – Homily by Fr. Peter Dillon.
There is a new sensation that has snuck into our lives in recent months called fear. While it's not all Covid 19 related, the pandemic seems to be the catalyst for people to be on edge and clearly anxious. Whether it be the reliance on daily information, the confusion around contrary health directives or just the concern around what, why and how is all this happening to us at this point in time? Generally we are not a fearful people here in Australia. Certainly we are not immune to the major issues of the world, but mostly we are a people who face the problem and get on with life. This lingering uncertainty seems to have worn down our resistance and fed our anxiety.
These days, I hear of people fearful of travelling overseas, going to a crowded supermarket, fearful that their normally secure jobs may be in jeopardy and sadly, we are becoming suspicious of others. The lack of certainty that we crave, has been replaced by a form of intimidation by forces beyond our sight and control. We have become lured into becoming a "what if" people instead of "what is".
Some people have commented that they will never travel overseas again – they are too afraid. We here in the lucky country have been bred to believe that there is nothing we should be afraid of. Certainly we have been protected from many of the concerns of life that other countries have and are experiencing.
But being free from fear is something we take for granted, unless we understand that many people in our world fear something every day. Particularly those who live in the shadow of violence, uncertainty of employment, poverty, severe illness, homelessness, loneliness and death. These are genuine fears that cannot be dismissed with a kind word or a shoulder to cry on.
There is another fear that has crept into our society in more recent times and that is the fear of 'insecurity"
We ask: "what will happen to us if we don't protect our lifestyle and our future?"
"Will someone or something take away our choices and our liberty and we will be powerless against it?"
We all fear powerlessness and intimidation.
Of course this fear is not a new phenomenon. Three times in the Gospel reading today, Jesus reminds his followers not to be fearful as they anticipated what might happen to them as they prepare to take their message on the road.
Reading their concerns, Jesus appears to have a strong voice against intimidation. He does not disguise the truth that his disciples will be confronted by those who threaten, bully and intimidate others into submissive agreement. His advice is clear; not only does he not want his disciples to refuse to submit to the merchants of death, he tells them not to be afraid of them.
"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul"
If you believe deep down that you are worthless, there is no point in trying to defend anything. Anyone can intimidate those who feel worthless. But if you believe that what you are and what you stand for add up to some worth, then you will be willing to take on those who would rubbish you and your values. He argues that the Father cares deeply for the true disciple
This is Jesus' point. Your real worth before God is a more powerful force than your real fear of your persecutors. That sense of worth can outdistance the hate of all your oppressors. That is why Jesus, Jeremiah and the Christian Martyrs can face their persecution with an awesome courage: They all know their true worth can never be killed. God's everlasting love is the only real offer they can never refuse.
Similarly Jeremiah has been abandoned by his friends and thrown into prison for his preaching. He is threatened with death if he does not recant and reject his beliefs. But Jeremiah refuses to be bullied into going against what he believes to be true, because he believes "the Lord is at my side, a mighty hero". What keeps him sane amidst all his persecution and intimidation is the profound belief that God cares for him.
The fear of an unknown future we now experience may not be one of terror or persecution, but it can still be felt when we come face to face with those who oppose our beliefs or criticise our life of faith.
Holding on to a strong faith in the face of fear is never easy, but we have the constant example of those who have coped with even greater adversity than we are dealing with presently. The belief that God who has given us so much already will not abandon us now when we feel we might need him most. And therein lies our great worth and strength.
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References:
Fr peter Dillon
Prologue by fr paul Kelly
Image Credit: Image Credit: Praia do Rosa, Santa Catarina, Brasil. Photo by Cassiano Psomas on Unsplash
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A (Sunday, June 21, 2020) (EPISODE: 235 )
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.
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.
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.
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Memorial Acclamation
2. When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again.
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PREFACE: SUNDAYS I
Euch prayer two
(OPENING THEME VARIATION: 4)
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Go in peace.
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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
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Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection" - Led by Rev Paul Kelly
Prayers and chants — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)
Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA)
"The Psalms" ©1963, 2009, The Grail - Collins publishers.
Prayers of the Faithful - " Together we pray," by Robert Borg'. E.J. Dwyer, Publishers, (1993) . (Sydney Australia).
Sung "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" - By Jeffrey M. Ostrowski. The ….Gloria, Copyright © 2011 ccwatershed.org.
- "Faith, Hope and Love" theme hymn - in memory of William John Kelly - Inspired by 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.
- "Today I Arise" - For Tricia J Kelly. Original words and music by Paul W. Kelly. Inspired by St Patrick's Prayer. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.
May God bless and keep you.
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