Homily Seventeenth Sunday of the Year C - Sunday, July 28, 2019
First Reading: Genesis 18:20-32
Psalm: Ps 137:1-3. 6-8. "Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me"
Second Reading: Colossians 2:12-14
Gospel Acclamation: Romans 8:15
Gospel: Luke 11:1-13
First Reading: Genesis 18:20-32
Psalm: Ps 137:1-3. 6-8. "Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me"
Second Reading: Colossians 2:12-14
Gospel Acclamation: Romans 8:15
Gospel: Luke 11:1-13
Photo image; By DyziO. Shutterstock licensed image. photo ID: 350096111. JERUSALEM, ISRAEL - JULY 13, 2015: Text of the Pater Noster prayer in Hebrew and Aramaic (Jesus languages) on one of the walls within the Church of the Pater Noster on Mount of Olives. Israel –
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Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the Seventeenth Sunday of the Year C - Sunday, July 28, 2019 by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/17c-faith-hope-and-love-ep-168/s-vrP9S (EPISODE: 168)
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The word "parable" means literally that something is "laid alongside" another thing. In other words, a story or an example is put forward in order that the listener or the reader can compare or contrast a matter with something else.
In today's Gospel, it is very likely that the parable used by Our Lord is intended to contrast something with another. Jesus is virtually saying: "Do you really think that God's answer to your heartfelt prayer will only depend upon how effectively you have worn God down by repetition? Do you think God acts begrudgingly and reluctantly, like someone who does not really care but will act if you pester him so much he gives-in; just to get rid of your annoying requests??"
God is a loving, "doting" father. God would give you the world if it was for your own good. God has given us the world, (not without just limitations) for only that which is good. God eternally cares for us and gives us what we need. God ONLY desires our good. God does not do any harm to us, and God does not desire any harm for us. God always answers our prayers, but sometimes as we know all too well, the answer to our prayers is a loving but definite "NO."
We also know that God only ever answers us in love. Even if we do not fully comprehend the reply we receive to our prayers. Even if God's answer to us does not make sense. Even if he gives us what does not appear to be what we asked. The important message is that to God we are beloved children. A parent always knows that a child will sometimes ask for something to which even the most doting but responsible parent would lovingly say "NO." This reply may very well cause distress. But distress is not desired. The desire to is honestly and lovingly speak the truth and answer lovingly.
The Gospel goes on: "Ask, Seek, Knock"… What a wonderful concept. God has truly given us the true freedom of the children of God. We take this freedom seriously. We take full adult responsibility for our decisions and actions. The true meaning of Our Lord's teaching can be highlighted by looking at what he DID NOT say. If we look at what Jesus did NOT teach, we can highlight Christ's true teaching and message by bringing it into sharp contrast. For example, Jesus did NOT say "TAKE, DEMAND, SEIZE, STEAL…" Nor did Our Lord command us to "bash down the door and enter and take what you want." And naturally so, because Jesus' message was about non-violence, grace, and gentleness. So, "Ask, Seek, Knock…" These are indeed "doing words" // … (verbs)…. But they are gentle, gracious, respectful 'action words.'
This captures the true beauty of Jesus' message.
"Ask… Seek … Knock….."
Also, Jesus didn't say:
"Don't ask and you will receive."…… "Don't bother looking and you will find"…
"Don't knock and yet expect people to know that you are standing outside wanting to get in."
God gave us the freedom to engage with him as his children and to use our Christian freedom and responsibility to ask what needs to be asked, and to seek and find that which is hidden, as well as knocking at the door of opportunity. This active seeking and openness allows God's ways to be provided to us.
The gospel today and the first reading remind us of the constant pattern to authentic Christian Prayer.
First and foremost, our prayer is always a recognition of the primacy and greatness of God.
Also, our prayers should always give thanks to God for the many gifts and blessings that God has already given to us.
Prayer is for the purpose of placing God back at the centre of our lives, where God always belongs.
Prayer is intended to allow us to bend our wills to God's will and to shape us more and more into people who follow God's will in the world, and not merely our own will. After all, daily we pray May Thy Kingdom come. not may My kingdom come!
Prayer puts God's will and priorities ahead of the fads and trends of this world.
When we pray, we become aware of how great God is and how far short of God we often fall. Our prayer always contains at least an implied spirit of penitence and sorrow for our sins; as well as a heartfelt request for forgiveness and renewal. And prayer covers all of the events and people of life. True prayer is a connection to God and covers the needs we have,** and the needs of our families, our friends, our fellow parishioners and all people who struggle or hunger throughout the world….
Jesus, by teaching us the Lord's prayer, gives us not only a beautiful but simple prayer but also gives us his "mission statement." Christ shows us the focus of his Gospel, that puts God's ways front and centre in our lives…..
May Jesus (our teacher) lead us deeper and deeper into HIS perfect prayer and into his transforming ways. And through this prayer, may God's will be done, on earth as it is in heaven…
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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly
** (this paragraph adapted from _) THE DAILY STUDY BIBLE. GOSPEL OF LUKE. (REVISED EDITION). BY WILLIAM BARCLAY.
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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.
Seventeenth Sunday of the Year C
(Sunday, July 28, 2019)
(EPISODE: 168 )
The Lord be with you.
+++++++++++++
{{May Our Lord's grace and love abide in you}}
As we begin the Holy Eucharist, let us acknowledge our sinfulness, so as to worthily 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.
+++++++++++++++++++++
Memorial Acclamation
When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Sundays Ordinary VII
Euch prayer III
Communion side. pwk: LH
++++
{thank you for your company as we have given thanks and praise to our God. }
Go in peace.(glorifying the Lord by your life)
++++
Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the Seventeenth Sunday of the Year C - Sunday, July 28, 2019 by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/17c-faith-hope-and-love-ep-168/s-vrP9S (EPISODE: 168)
+++++
The word "parable" means literally that something is "laid alongside" another thing. In other words, a story or an example is put forward in order that the listener or the reader can compare or contrast a matter with something else.
In today's Gospel, it is very likely that the parable used by Our Lord is intended to contrast something with another. Jesus is virtually saying: "Do you really think that God's answer to your heartfelt prayer will only depend upon how effectively you have worn God down by repetition? Do you think God acts begrudgingly and reluctantly, like someone who does not really care but will act if you pester him so much he gives-in; just to get rid of your annoying requests??"
God is a loving, "doting" father. God would give you the world if it was for your own good. God has given us the world, (not without just limitations) for only that which is good. God eternally cares for us and gives us what we need. God ONLY desires our good. God does not do any harm to us, and God does not desire any harm for us. God always answers our prayers, but sometimes as we know all too well, the answer to our prayers is a loving but definite "NO."
We also know that God only ever answers us in love. Even if we do not fully comprehend the reply we receive to our prayers. Even if God's answer to us does not make sense. Even if he gives us what does not appear to be what we asked. The important message is that to God we are beloved children. A parent always knows that a child will sometimes ask for something to which even the most doting but responsible parent would lovingly say "NO." This reply may very well cause distress. But distress is not desired. The desire to is honestly and lovingly speak the truth and answer lovingly.
The Gospel goes on: "Ask, Seek, Knock"… What a wonderful concept. God has truly given us the true freedom of the children of God. We take this freedom seriously. We take full adult responsibility for our decisions and actions. The true meaning of Our Lord's teaching can be highlighted by looking at what he DID NOT say. If we look at what Jesus did NOT teach, we can highlight Christ's true teaching and message by bringing it into sharp contrast. For example, Jesus did NOT say "TAKE, DEMAND, SEIZE, STEAL…" Nor did Our Lord command us to "bash down the door and enter and take what you want." And naturally so, because Jesus' message was about non-violence, grace, and gentleness. So, "Ask, Seek, Knock…" These are indeed "doing words" // … (verbs)…. But they are gentle, gracious, respectful 'action words.'
This captures the true beauty of Jesus' message.
"Ask… Seek … Knock….."
Also, Jesus didn't say:
"Don't ask and you will receive."…… "Don't bother looking and you will find"…
"Don't knock and yet expect people to know that you are standing outside wanting to get in."
God gave us the freedom to engage with him as his children and to use our Christian freedom and responsibility to ask what needs to be asked, and to seek and find that which is hidden, as well as knocking at the door of opportunity. This active seeking and openness allows God's ways to be provided to us.
The gospel today and the first reading remind us of the constant pattern to authentic Christian Prayer.
First and foremost, our prayer is always a recognition of the primacy and greatness of God.
Also, our prayers should always give thanks to God for the many gifts and blessings that God has already given to us.
Prayer is for the purpose of placing God back at the centre of our lives, where God always belongs.
Prayer is intended to allow us to bend our wills to God's will and to shape us more and more into people who follow God's will in the world, and not merely our own will. After all, daily we pray May Thy Kingdom come. not may My kingdom come!
Prayer puts God's will and priorities ahead of the fads and trends of this world.
When we pray, we become aware of how great God is and how far short of God we often fall. Our prayer always contains at least an implied spirit of penitence and sorrow for our sins; as well as a heartfelt request for forgiveness and renewal. And prayer covers all of the events and people of life. True prayer is a connection to God and covers the needs we have,** and the needs of our families, our friends, our fellow parishioners and all people who struggle or hunger throughout the world….
Jesus, by teaching us the Lord's prayer, gives us not only a beautiful but simple prayer but also gives us his "mission statement." Christ shows us the focus of his Gospel, that puts God's ways front and centre in our lives…..
May Jesus (our teacher) lead us deeper and deeper into HIS perfect prayer and into his transforming ways. And through this prayer, may God's will be done, on earth as it is in heaven…
+++++
References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly
** (this paragraph adapted from _) THE DAILY STUDY BIBLE. GOSPEL OF LUKE. (REVISED EDITION). BY WILLIAM BARCLAY.
+++
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.
Seventeenth Sunday of the Year C
(Sunday, July 28, 2019)
(EPISODE: 168 )
The Lord be with you.
+++++++++++++
{{May Our Lord's grace and love abide in you}}
As we begin the Holy Eucharist, let us acknowledge our sinfulness, so as to worthily 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.
+++++++++++++++++++++
Memorial Acclamation
When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Sundays Ordinary VII
Euch prayer III
Communion side. pwk: LH
++++
{thank you for your company as we have given thanks and praise to our God. }
Go in peace.(glorifying the Lord by your life)
