Mary Mother of God. Year A - Wednesday, January 1, 2020

Homily Mary Mother of God. Year A - Wednesday, January 1, 2020

First Reading: Numbers 6:22-27

Psalm: Ps 66:2-3. 5. 6. 8. "May God bless us in his mercy."

Second Reading: Galatians 4:4-7

Gospel Acclamation: Hebrews 1:1-2. Alleluia, alleluia! In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets; now he speaks to us through his Son. Alleluia.

Gospel: Luke 2:16-21

Image Credit: ID: 628121756. Shutterstock licensed - Blessed Virgin Mary with baby Jesus. Artistic abstract modern colourful design. Digital illustration made without a reference image. By Thoom.
++++Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the Mary Mother of God. Year A - Wednesday, January 1, 2020 by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-ep-197-mary-the-mother-of-god-2020/s-3R4Cm  (EPISODE: 197)

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A new calendar year has begun.  2020 has arrived.  and what better start than to commend this brand new year to the intercession,  protection and guidance of Mary the Mother of God.  Mary,  the first and most perfect disciple of Christ.  May God bless this new year with his grace and love.  

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Someone asked me the other day,  what do you think will happen to you this year.  I replied, "I don't know.  I don't have 'twenty-twenty' vision. !!! 😊

But, I do know this.  God is with us.   and this new calendar year,  2020, upon us. May God bless us all with a happy, healthy and grace-filled year.

It is a time for new starts and looking forward to how we can be the best disciples of the gospel that we can be. Always with the help of God's love. 

2020 is not just another year…..   rather, it is another year "for" !!!   (For being humble servants in God's Kingdom).  It is quite accurate to say that what is about to begin, in the old style of wording,  is truly the Year of Our Lord, 2020

What better way of celebrating the beginning of a new calendar year than by dedicating it to the care and intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, and the first and most perfect disciple. 

Mary the Mother of God is a wonderful inspiration for us.           

Mary's prayers and example assist us as we dedicate ourselves to  help (in any ways that God asks of us),  to establish God's kingdom in the places we live and work and socialise.

We have so much for which to be grateful: All the people and events for which we are truly and deeply thankful; including our families, our friends, our brother and sister parishioners, the wider community, our nation: which is blessed with so many natural gifts and the gift of relative peace and freedom, and we are truly grateful for the gift of our Church too; the gift of our faith, which makes us beloved daughters and sons of God.  This gift allows us to see all the people around us and throughout the whole world,  especially those most desperate and needy, as our brothers and sisters in the one family of God. 

It is so important to have a grateful, remembering heart. The Blessed Virgin Mary always had a remembering heart, even when, (and especially when), things were going terribly wrong and did not make the slightest sense. Mary the mother of God pondered, prayed, praised, thanked and cherished and trusted in God.

May God transform all our efforts for the good, for God's own good purposes and may our cooperation in Gods work this year bear abundant fruit for God's Kingdom.     

 We think of our loved ones, friends and fellow parishioners who have passed away this last year past, and pray for all our departed loved ones, as we continue to commend them to the ongoing and eternal care of God. We trust that they are now enjoying the peace and reward of God's eternal kingdom,  where one day we will all be reunited.  

And we offer up prayers for all our loved ones, friends, colleagues and parishioners, that God may hold them in the palm of his hand this coming year.

It is a good thing for us to make new year's resolutions, knowing that only with God's grace and guidance can these resolutions bear much fruit…

At the start of 2020, we pray this year will be filled with grace and happiness and peace. And, when we speak of a happy new year, we know that God's idea of happiness is a fresh and challenging one. 

"Look at Mary and Joseph kneeling before the manger. They must have been physically and emotionally exhausted. They have travelled 157 kilometres (three days walk back then), from Nazareth to Bethlehem on foot or on the jolting back of a donkey. They must be extremely hungry. They have not had a real meal since they left Nazareth some three days ago. They must be cold in this damp cave, in the midst of winter. It must have been terribly distressing for them to find no room, even among their relatives in their ancestral home or at the Village Inn.

Yet in the midst of all of this, Mary and Joseph are truly the happiest people ever to walk the face of this earth. Here in Bethlehem, they are teaching us the amazing paradox that it is only when we surrender ourselves utterly in the love and service of Jesus, that we find true happiness and peace. A happiness that this world can never give and no one can take from us. A joy and peace that is not dependent on the smooth sailing of events and situations around us.  Peace and serenity in even the worst of situations. 

So on this first day of the New Year let us ask for the grace to know Jesus more intimately, love him more fully… and follow him more closely" ((quote from Fr Rodney Kissinger, S.J.)*

…..So that this may be a truly Happy New Year according to God's vision for the world.

May God bless us and keep us in faith, hope, love and health in this new year 2020 and beyond. May Mary, the beloved Mother of God, pray for us in good times and in times of trial, temptation and hardship, and keep us in her tender care  as we faithfully follow our beloved Lord into this new and exciting year of possibilities.

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References:

Fr Paul W. Kelly

#Quote from Fr Rodney Kissinger, S.J.

Image Credit: ID: 628121756. Shutterstock licensed - Blessed Virgin Mary with baby Jesus. Artistic abstract modern colourful design. Digital illustration made without a reference image. By Thoom

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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 Kelly

Prayers and chants — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)

Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, revised - 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA).

"The Psalms" ©1963, 2009, The Grail - Collins Publishers. 

Prayers of the Faithful - from "Together we pray". by Robert Borg'. © 1993. E.J. Dwyer, Publishers.

{Sung "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" - by Jeffrey M. Ostrowski. Including The Gloria. Copyright © 2011 ccwatershed.org} 

"Today I Arise – Saint Patrick's Song" (To Patricia Joy Kelly), Composed by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and Sung, with adjusted lyrics by Stefan Kelk.  2019. © 2019 Paul W. Kelly.

"Faith, Hope and Love" hymn - in memory of William John Kelly - Inspired by 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Music Paul W. Kelly. © 1996. Updated lyrics by Paul Kelly and Stefan Kelk, arranged and sung by Stefan Kelk. 2019.

Please visit homilycatholic.blogspot.com

Production - KER.            May God bless and keep you. 

Mary Mother of God. Year A
(Wednesday, January 1, 2020)

(EPISODE: 197)

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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{{May God's Spirit of  Wisdom and Awe abide in you. }}

my brothers and sisters, to prepare ourselves to?celebrate the sacred mysteries, let us call 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

1. We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.

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Virgin Mary I

EUCH PRAYER  II

Communion side. pwk: LH
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{May God's love, strength, mercy and kindness guide you all this year. }

Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.

Catholic 774 : The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary And Joseph. Year A - Sunday, December 29, 2019

Homily The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary And Joseph. Year A - Sunday, December 29, 2019

Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 3:2-6, 12-14; 

Responsorial Psalm. 127:1-5. R. Happy are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.

Colossians 3:12-21;

Gospel Acclamation. Colossians 3:15, 16 (JB). Alleluia, alleluia! May the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, and the fullness of his message live within you. Alleluia!

Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23

Stock illustration Shutterstock licensed image - ID: 586044503 – "Holy family of Jesus, Mary and St Joseph the worker."  Artistic abstract religious design. By Thoom.
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Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Year A - Sunday, December 29, 2019 by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/feast-of-the-holy-family-a-faith-hope-and-love-ep-196/s-chwZ2     (EPISODE: 196)    
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prologue:  

"'The Christian family ... can and should be called a domestic church'" (2204). To see the family as the Church "in miniature," and to call the Church itself the "family of God," are ideas that have been present from the early centuries of Christianity.

... The family has a high vocation in the Church. ...because it is a "communion of persons," it is "a sign and image of the communion of the Father and the Son in the Holy Spirit." the family reflects the Father's work of creation." Moreover, the Christian family "is called to partake of the prayer and sacrifice of Christ," and it "has an evangelizing and missionary task" (2205).

The Holy Family of Jesus Mary and Joseph are a wonderful expression of the union and cooperation we are all called to as we work for the building up of Gods kingdom,  which includes working together as one and joined as one big family in Christ.  

This weekend let us pray that families will be given every support because this is where the faith is often first handed down,  and this is where the values of Christ can most effectively be modelled in action.  all that is good and life-giving about families is an expression of God's kingdom of unity, peace and love and mutual support.  May Holy family inspire us deeply to reaffirm our decision to respond to every event and surprise in our lives as a loving,  compassionate family.  and like Mary and Joseph may we be quick to respond to what God is doing in our lives. 
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In many ways, today's feast and readings continue on the Christmas message. God is truly with us in our lives and in the ordinary daily events of life.

It is nice that the Feast of the Holy Family follows on so closely the celebration of Christ's birth. Christmas is a special time for families; For treasuring the gift of our families; for being close to family and friends. And remembering with love, those who have gone before us. And given us so much love, friendship and care. They still smile upon us from the Heavenly banquet feast. / 

Speaking of family, there is also the blessing of the family that is our parish community and fellow Christian communities. And in many ways, this is the key. "Being family" in the parish and in the wider community is where we put into action what Our Lord spent his life and ministry modelling so perfectly. He truly included others-  All others! - into his family. and into his priorities. This is very important. Our daily lives are truly meant to be transformed, in a VERY REAL WAY, by Our Lord's message that we are to treat everyone we meet as beloved members of The Lord's family.

Our Lord was born into our world. He was also born into a human family. He too experienced the joys and struggles of family life. It may have been a close family. But things were far from always being a case of 'happy families.' Rather, The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, faced difficulties, struggles and grave dangers in their time. This includes having to flee for their lives to Egypt, as refugees, in order to escape the deadly jealousy and malice of King Herod. Herod meant to find Our Lord and kill him if he found him. His murderous jealousy was so bad, he was killed many infants of the same age, in an attempt to destroy the Messiah. It is a horrible situation.

To Our Lord, family meant a lot. He had the greatest respect for his parents. And he was highly critical of anyone who dared to neglect their duty to their parents under the weak excuse of some religious obligation. To him, the duties to the family were an expression of the mutual duty of care and love that we owe to our beloved Father of all, in Heaven.

But, in another place in the gospel, Our Lord makes a "seemingly" contradictory statement about his family. When his mother and other relatives come to see him, they cannot get inside because of all the crowds. So they call for him and send a message to him to let him know they are there. Our Lord replies: -" Who are my mother. Who are my brothers? They are anyone who hears my words and keeps them. They are my brother, my sister and my mother."

Mary, that first and most perfect of disciples, rose to the invitation, and was Our Lord's Mother in fact and also in "discipleship of his Word." All are invited to respond to this wonderful invitation. Jesus welcomes us to be real members of his family and to be part of God's life. And at the same time, we are challenged to treat everyone around us as if they are our relatives. For in Christ, that is exactly who they are!

In fact, it is precisely because family means everything to Our Lord, that he can make this stunning claim. He loves his family. He continues to show care and devotion to his mother, Mary, -(And he was an obedient and attentive son to his step-father, the humble Joseph). The image of God that Our Lord presents to us is revealed as a loving and inclusive community. Father, Son and Spirit. Three persons in one God. A family, in itself; - Sharing perfect union, communion and one nature as God. It is into this community that Our Lord invites each of us. We are welcomed and 'implanted' into the very life of God. We share the inner relationship of God as members of God's family.

So, Our Lord is not narrowing the definition of the family but he is quite literally extending the definition of family. To include many others and to exclude no-one from the invitation.

How would the world be different if all people truly saw each other as if they were related as blood relations? What would it be like if the people being treated as the 'least' in this world were suddenly recognized by everyone as if they were just like their own sister, brother, or mother?

As I drive along in my car, I often reflect on people's values revealed by how they drive.

Who amongst us if we were stuck behind some cautious driver, would not check their behaviour if they realized the person in the car ahead of them was their own sister or mother. Would we tailgate someone to pressure them to move out the way, to the point that they panic and almost run off the road? Would we do that to our own mother? Surely we wouldn't sharply overtake one of our own family members – leaving them panic-stricken at the said of the road? Would we erratically or aggressively drive towards another car until it almost crashed, if it was our own sister?  Our Lord is saying, in a real way we are all brothers and sisters in Christ.

So presumably when people are tempted to treat another poorly, they cannot be thinking of the people around them as their brother, their sister and their mother. The people on the news locked in violent attacks and counter-attacks on their enemies, obviously do not see the other as if they are a beloved member of their own family. If they thought like this, how many conflicts could be solved humanely?  Our Lord's life and ministry show that this is not just a pipe-dream, but a real world-changing attitude. Difficulties and conflicts occur even in families, but the ties of family are often an enormous motivator for finding respectful solutions, long after other connections have broken down.

Our Lord was never stuck on exclusive membership of anything. And so he invites us to be family members of his, along with everyone else. There is plenty of room for everyone.

May this profoundly affect our daily lives. May it give to the world a deeper sense of respect and reverence for the dignity of every human person, and give us a sense of peace as one family of many nations, cultures and languages. This is what the world longs for, and for which it quietly hopes.
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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly


http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20060707_levada-valencia_en.html

MY DAILY VISITOR REFLECTION, December 26th. Holy Family.

stock illustration Shutterstock licensed image - ID: 586044503 – "Holy family of Jesus, Mary and St Joseph the worker."  Artistic abstract religious design. By Thoom.

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Archive of homilies and reflections: http://homilycatholic. Blogspot. om. u
To contact Fr. Paul, please email paulwkelly68@gmail. om

To listen to my weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here.
NB - It is often a week or so Ahead: https://soundcloud. om/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. om

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.. Dwyer. (out of print).

{ "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" -published 2011, Composed and Sung by Jeffrey M. Ostrowski
Featuring the. loria, The Creed, The Kyrie, The Mass parts, Psalms: http://www. cwatershed. rg/chabanel/ ]]] ] COPYRIGHT @ 2018 CORPUS CHRISTI WATERSHED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Www. cwatershed. rg/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. om 
Production by Kelly Enterprises Resources.

May God bless and keep you.

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary And Joseph. Year  A
(Sunday, December 29, 2019)

(EPISODE: 196)

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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{{May God's Spirit of Knowledge and reverence}}

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.

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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Nativity of the Lord II

Eucharistic Prayer II

Communion side. PWK:  LH
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{I pray that you have a wonderful and grace-filled new Year.}


Go forth, the Mass is ended.

--

Paul W. Kelly

Surfers Paradise Catholic Parish,

50 Fairway Drive,

Clear Island Waters,

Queensland, 4226

Ph: 07 5572 5433 

www.surfersparadiseparish.com.au

Please consider the environment before printing this email

This message contains privileged and confidential information intended only for the use of the addressee named above, unless otherwise stated.  If you are not the intended recipient of this message you are hereby notified that you must not disseminate, copy, or take any action in reliance on it.  If you have received this message in error please notify the Archdiocese of Brisbane immediately.

Mass Times for Christmas at Surfers Paradise Catholic Parish 2019

 Mass Times for Christmas at Surfers Paradise Catholic Parish 2019

Sacred Heart Church – 50 Fairway Drive, Clear Island Waters

St Vincent Church – 40 Hamilton Ave, Surfers Paradise

Stella Maris Church – 254 Hedges Ave, Broadbeach

NO SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION ON CHRISTMAS EVE OR PRIOR TO CHRISTMAS MASSES. 

CHRISTMAS IN OUR PARISH

CHRISTMAS MASS TIMES

CHRISTMAS EVE – TUESDAY 24^TH DECEMBER:

5.00PM VIGIL MASS – STELLA MARIS CHURCH, BROADBEACH

6.00PM VIGIL MASS – ST VINCENT’S CHURCH, SURFERS PARADISE

5.00PM FAMILY MASS – SACRED HEART CHURCH, CLEAR IS. WATERS

8.00PM MASS – SACRED HEART CHURCH, CLEAR IS. WATERS

12MIDNIGHT MASS – SACRED HEART CHURCH, CLEAR IS. WATERS

CAROLS COMMENCE AT 11.30PM

CHRISTMAS DAY – WEDNESDAY 25^TH DECEMBER:

7.00AM STELLA MARIS CHURCH, BROADBEACH

8.30AM STELLA MARIS CHURCH, BROADBEACH

8.00AM ST VINCENT’S CHURCH, SURFERS PARADISE

10.00AM ST VINCENT’S CHURCH, SURFERS PARADISE

9.00AM SACRED HEART CHURCH, CLEAR IS. WATERS

12NOON POLISH MASS / 4PM ITALIAN MASS, CLEAR ISLAND WATERS

NO CHRISTMAS DAY EVENING MASS AT CLEAR ISLAND WATERS

Catholic 773 : Feast of the Nativity of the Lord. Year A (24-25th December). (Episode 195)

Catholic 773 : Feast of the Nativity of the Lord. Year A (24-25th December). (Episode 195)

The Feast of the Nativity of the Lord. Year A

"THE LONG WAIT" IS OVER.

[The Readings for the Mass During the Night, aka "Midnight Mass" will be read at all Masses in this parish at Christmas Eve and Christmas day]

THE LITURGY OF THE WORD

First Reading: Isaiah 9:1-7

Psalm 95:1-3. 11-13. "Today is born our saviour, Christ the Lord."

Second Reading: Titus 2:11-14

Gospel Acclamation: Luke 2:10-11. Alleluia, alleluia!. Good News and great joy to all the world: today is born our Saviour, Christ the Lord. Alleluia!

Gospel: Luke 2:1-14

Image: Shutterstock Licensed. By Alexander Hoffmann. stock photo ID: 61891489. nativity scene with hand-coloured figures made out of wood.

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Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers, and reflections for the "The Feast of the Nativity of the Lord. Year A" - by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/christmas-mass-a-faith-hope-and-love-ep-195/s-QU38l   (EPISODE:195)

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Hello everyone and happy Christmas.

It is such a beautiful time, this Christmas Season. We celebrate God who loved us so much that he pitched in with us and made his home with us… to share our joys and sorrows, our graces and temptations, our successes and failures.

Let us pray this Christmas for all the values Christ was born to establish… that they will take hold deeply in our hearts and in our world… peace, compassion, love, generosity, mercy, justice and so many more…

Let us all rejoice in the Lord, for our Saviour has been born in the world. Today true peace has come down to us from heaven.

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The Long Wait is over. The Christ-child is born to a world crying out for his love and peace. A world so poor, in so many ways.   

As a poet writes: 

"What can I give Him, poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;

If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;

Yet what I can,// I give Him; (I) give my heart. (1)

The wonder of this Christmas season is shown by the sight of so many people… family, friends, and parishioners gathered together at Christmas masses and at wonderful gatherings for meals. Christmas is about family. And through, the Birth of Our Lord, that first Christmas night, we are all made, forever, brothers and sisters in God's family. We are all one beloved family in Christ, who loves us beyond words.

(Tonight/Today) we gather to give thanks and praise to God who loved us so very much that he became human, (one of us), and came close to us, so as to share our joys and sorrows, our successes and failures, our hopes and fears and to save us from the mess we have made by any of our wrong choices and actions… and more wonderfully…to make us members of God's family forever. (And the beautiful thing is we didn't have to earn or prove that we somehow deserve this love); God's love for us is always "just there!" ... just like the love of unconditionally loving family and friends...

and it is never going away!

"Wonderful is His name,

Counsellor to the meek

the Son was born of flesh

to give power to the weak. (2)

Christmas, at its heart, is the most beautiful love story. It is a celebration of the absolute and astounding depths of God's love for us. And God even goes to the point of naming us beloved children.

Christmas is about how our God chose to be very near to us, (closer than a heartbeat). God gave us the best Christmas gift possible... the gift of himself ....the gift of membership of God's family. It is this perfect and unselfish gift that is remembered in the tradition of giving of presents at Christmas... Or even better just being there for each-other, and keeping loved-ones and friends in mind. A symbol of God's generous gift of his being with us in everything. God cares very much for each and every one of us and wants us to return that with perfect gifts that he gave us.. priceless gifts such as care, gentleness, reverence, respect - In how we treat people around us.

A few years back I visited the U.K. and I was really taken by how good their advertisements were, in between the shows. Some of them were like little movies and were sometimes better than the actual program. I saw the most heart-warming advertisement from U.K. just recently... it was an old Christmas ad called the "Long Wait." It showed a young child waiting impatiently in the days and days prior to Christmas. The child is so focused on waiting for the day everything else seems to drag. It appears he cannot wait to get his presents... But finally the big day arrives and he leaps out of bed... and runs past this pile of presents that have been left for him. // Did he not see the presents??//.. Wasn't this what he was waiting all this time for??//... but, NO !!... He goes to a cupboard and brings out an inexpertly wrapped present... One he has prepared and wrapped himself ... /  And proudly walks to his parents' room and holds the present out to them, beaming. ...He could wait for Christmas, so he could give them a present from him//.... That's all that mattered to him. That is why he was so excited and impatient.... He couldn't WAIT to give to the ones he loved!!  And it didn't matter what was in that present.. Whether it was handmade, or whatever.... It was given with love.... // - Such a beautiful little film... which also captures the Spirit of God's gift of the Christ, that first Christmas. God couldn't WAIT for the time to be just right to give us everything, simply because he loves us.

{Have a look at the advertisement... By the way, I am not being sponsored for it, and the store is not - as far as I know - in Australia, - It is just an inspiring film, on point: - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIl69I5_Wjo  "The Long Wait," (2011). John Lewis advertisement}.

God doesn't just love us "just a little bit" - God loves us utterly and completely, and the message of Christmas (and in fact, the whole message of Jesus' life and ministry), is that God gives up everything to put this love into action.

God is absolute love – completely and deliberately choosing to be interested, involved, close to and actively "joining-in" with our lives. God categorically rejects the option of being aloof or distant. Our Lord constantly gets right "in-there" - into the messiness of life and never leaves us to muddle on alone. And that is wonderful beyond imagination.

Christmas shows us the way God thinks and acts…. Jesus was born to SHOW us that God's ways are all about approach-ability, nearness, care, compassion, humility and involvement.

"A little child,

A shining star.

A stable rude,

The door ajar.

Yet in that place,

So crude, folorn,

The Hope of all

The world was born."(3)

We remember today, the birthday of a person whose whole life, (from birth, ministry, death to resurrection), speaks of complete self-giving and love.

Jesus shows us the way to act and respond purposefully with kindness and generosity to life, come what may. (Jesus, even in the face of the absolute worst things that an ungrateful world threw back at him, steadfastly refused to stop giving freely of his compassion, his mercy, his generosity, and healing). In short. He loved unreservedly... He IS love, and invites us to join him in living his love and giving this to others...

On every day, when we follow Jesus and live our Christian life to the full, (living life intentionally; choosing gentleness, generosity, mercy, graciousness, compassion – even when this is not what the world around us is serving up to us – // Respond to the world, not by how we are treated, but rather, choosing daily to act with love and justice, irrespective of the response or the prompting. On any day we live this way... we are 'joining-in' with God made-one-of-us).

God's miraculous decision to join-in with us, and be with us, means that, "as a result, there is nothing too complex, too messy, or too vulnerable about our own lives into which God cannot or will not enter."

 SO today, like this poet,

We "insist on the infant hope, 'gooing' and kicking his legs in the air.

I won't give in to the dark, the (extremes) of weather, the fog. (And then I see) the neighbours' Nativity Scene. Their four-year-old has arranged his whole legion of dinosaurs so they, too, worship the child, joining the cow and sheep..." (4)

Amidst all this joy and hope, worry and messiness is indeed news of extraordinary joy. Joy to be shared by all people - of every time and place!

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References:

Fr Paul W. Kelly

(1) "In the Bleak Mid-Winter." Christina Georgina Rossetti. This spiritual Christmas poem is very well-known, particularly the last verse, and a favourite to many.

(2) "On This Christmas Morn." Deborah Ann Belka.

(3) "Bethlehem Of Judea." Author Unknown.

(4) "Your Luck Is About To Change." SUSAN ELIZABETH HOWE.

 FR RICHARD LEONARD, SJ. QUOTED IN "THE TABLET" PAGE 7, 15TH DECEMBER, 2018. TAKEN FROM REFLECTIONS IN "What Are We Waiting For? Finding Meaning in Advent & Christmas" Richard Leonard, SJ. Paulist Press New York / Mahwah, NJ. Copyright © 2014 by Richard Leonard, SJ. He also quotes Rev. John Bell of the Iona Community in one of his beautiful poems:

Video: 2011: 'The Long Wait.' For John Lewis Department Stores, United Kingdom. This was the year that John Lewis confirmed its place in the advertising hall of fame. The twist in this film, showing a young boy's impatience for the big day really caught the public's imagination. Agency: Adam+Eve. Director: Dougal Wilson. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIl69I5_Wjo

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Archive of homilies and reflections: http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au

To contact Fr. Paul: paulwkelly68@gmail.com

To listen to my weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here.

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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.

Psalm verses are taken from "The Psalms: the Grail Translation. Inclusive Language Version." ©1963, 1995, 2004 The Grail (England), published by HarperCollins. London.

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. 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. Updated Lyrics, Arrangement and Vocals by Stefan Kelk. 2019.

For more details please visithttp://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au/

Contact us at paulwkelly68@gmail.com

Production by KER.

May God bless and keep you.

The Feast of the Nativity of the Lord. Year A

(24-25^th December) (EPISODE: 195)

The Lord be with you.

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On this Feast day of The Birth of Our Lord, Heaven has been joined to earth. God has become flesh and dwelt among us. A blessed, happy and peaceful Christmas to everyone.

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.

May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.

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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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Nativity I

Eucharistic Prayer II

Communion side. PWK: LH

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I pray that you have a truly blessed and joyous Christmas and that Our Lord's love and peace will completely fill your hearts and minds, and safe travelling to and from your destinations…

God bless.

Go forth, the Mass is ended.