THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD - YEAR A
1st / 2nd FEBRUARY 2020
“THE WORLD HAS CHANGED AND SO MUST THE CHURCH” - Pope Francis
IN HIS ANNUAL Christmas greeting to the cardinals, bishops and priests who work in the Holy
See, Pope Francis warned the clerics against "rigidity" in thought and action, and pointed out that
tradition "is not static but dynamic".
Conceding that Christianity, no longer holds the commanding
presence and influence in society that it once did, Francis called on those in positions of authority
in the Church to embrace change. He cited the late Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, who in his final
interview before dying in 2012 lamented that the Church found itself "200 years behind, because
of its fear of change.
Today we are no longer the only ones that produce culture, no longer the
first nor the most listened to,” Francis told the prelates.
“
The faith in Europe and in much of the West is no longer an obvious presumption taken for
granted but often denied, derided, marginalised and ridiculed: The answer, he said, was for the
Church to embrace the pastoral reforms and outlook that he has advocated during his pontificate.
”Here we have to beware of the temptation of assuming a rigid outlook," Francis said, "rigidity
that is born from fear of change and ends up placing obstacles in the ground of the common
good, turning it into a minefield of misunderstanding and hatred: He suggested that people who
like rigid positions often use that to mask their own problems. And these days, the temptation to
rigidity has become so apparent," he claimed, arguing that in interpreting and following the
Gospel, the true tradition of the Church is characterised by a continuous, discerned path of
change.
The speech raised the question first of all of how reform takes place in a 2,000-year-old institution
where cosmetic changes are never going to work. The Pope reminded the Church that being
sensitive to the past does not mean being a slave to it. Catholic tradition is not a museum piece,
rather, it is always evolving. "Appealing to memory is not the same as being anchored in
self-preservation, but instead to evoke the life and vitality of an ongoing process. Memory is not
static, but dynamic," the Pope said. ‘By its very nature, it implies movement. Nor is tradition
static; it too is dynamic, as that great composer Gustav Mahler used to say: tradition is the
guarantee of the future not a container of ashes.’
Pope Francis quoted from St John Henry Newman who was canonised in October. Francis cited
Newman's observation that "to live is to change, and to be perfect is to have changed often",
saying it was a reminder that development and growth are a normal part of human life, even as
believers we know that God remains the unchanging centre of all things. “People who have not
yet received the Gospel message do not live only in non-Western continents; they live
particularly in vast urban concentrations that call for specific pastoral outreach.”
Taken from The Tablet (4th January 2020 edition).
Born to Eternal Life and received into God’s tender care is
Armando Covino, whose Funeral Mass will be held in
Sacred Heart Church, Wednesday 5th February at 10.30am.
Please keep these families in your prayers.
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In other news:"
Former Southport Lions Club President Bill Goodrem (AM)
has been honoured for service to the community of Southport
by being appointed a Member in the General Division of
the Order of Australia. Bill and his wife Joan attend
St Vincent’s 10am where Bill continues to serve as an
Extra Ordinary Minister of Communion.
++++ PARISH AND CANDIDATE FAITH JOURNEY:
Our JOURNEY continues this weekend for all Parishioners
and all Candidates/Catechumens who are journeying towards Baptism and Reception into the Catholic
Church at Easter.
We will commence this Saturday 8th Feb, at 10.30am to 1.30pm with our next Episode of
DVDs on Catholicism.
Because there are a number of Candidates who have asked to be Baptised/Received into the Catholic
Church during the Christmas period, we will also be offering the same Episodes on
Wednesday nights from
6pm to 9pm to enable additional options for both Parishioners and Candidates.
God wants us to fall in LOVE WITH HIM and it is through coming to know him in the Scriptures, the Mass – sharing in
community, praying to him – in community and in personal meditation, building relationship/deepening our relationship and
coming to love and serve others because of our deep LOVE FOR HIM.
YOU are invited to COME & SEE what parishioners are so fired up/talking about – fired up about this wonderful series and
what they are experiencing!
Week 7 - Saturday 1st 10.30am to 1.30pm and Wed 5th February 6pm to 9pm: MARY, The MOTHER of GOD
Week 8 - Sat 8th 10.30am to 1.30pm and Wed 12th February 6pm to 9pm: THE MYSTERY OF THE LITURGY & THE EUCHARIST
Week 9 - Saturday 15th 10.30am to 1.30pm and Wed 19th February 6pm to 9pm: THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS
Week 10 - Wed 26th 6pm to 9pm and Saturday 29th February 10.30am to 1.30pm: PRAYER & THE LIFE OF THE SPIRIT
Week 11 - Wed 4th 6pm to 9pm and Saturday 7th March 10.30am to 1.30pm: THE LAST THINGS
Once we have gone beyond these dates, we will advertise the instruction/videos that will take us to Easter.
Blessings and have a great weekend!
Homily The Presentation of the Lord - Sunday, February 2, 2020
Malachi 3:1-4;
Psalm 23:7-10. "Who is this King of glory? It is the Lord!"
Hebrews 2:14-18;
Gospel Acclamation: Luke 2:32 Alleluia, alleluia! This is the light of revelation to the nations, and the glory of your people, Israel. Alleluia!
Luke 2:22-40
Shutterstock Licensed Image: ID: 1232605426. Casorate Primo, Italy. 2017/12/8. A stained glass window depicting Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord Jesus and the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the church of San Vittore Martire. By Adam Jan Figel ++++
Prologue: This weekend, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord occurs on a Sunday, and as a Feast day of the Lord it overrides the usual Sunday calendar of readings. This feast originated in Jerusalem before the fifth century and was adopted in Rome during the seventh century. Celebrated forty days after Christmas, commemorating the ritual as prescribed by the Law of Moses, which the Holy Family fulfilled at this time when they presented the child Jesus, at the temple. At this time, Lukes Gospel recounts the encounter of Jesus with Simeon and Anna in the temple. This Feast day is also a traditional time in the Christian calendar for the blessing of candles for prayer use, - the blessing of which is found in the introductory rites and the candles are carried in the entrance procession. This is because of the reference by Simeon in his prayerful song.... that Christ is "the light to enlighten all nations". +++ All of Israel longed and Hoped for the Christ…. Mary and Joseph.. and Elizabeth and Zechariah… and so many more.. had longed and waited for the fulfilment of God's promises…
Waiting, Hoping, and longing for the coming of the Lord, and the establishment of God's Kingdom, in and through the Christ.
And we too, long and hope for all that God has promised us would one day be completed…..
Today's Feast reminds us that Our Hopes and deepest longings WILL be FULFILLED, - - BY our faithful God. We will be satisfied, for all our longing that match with the values and longings of the Kingdom of God.
Also in the Scriptures, this weekend is: "Freedom from Fear" and "forgiveness of sin." We can trust that God is an unconditionally loving parent… who sent us his only beloved Son, Jesus Christ to save us and show us his mercy. Christ, who is one of us, and who atones for our sins on our behalf.. and who is compassionate and trustworthy… and empathises with our struggles and temptations, … Jesus shows us the fullness of what God is like – So its inconsistent with this vision to see our God as a scary, capricious, temperamental, inconsistent or an unpleasant Being with whom we do not know where we stand or where we doubt that we have any chance to be saved….This is not God as revealed by Christ.
We "fear God" only in the original sense of that word... of being in "Awe" of God's astounding greatness and goodness. And although we would never dare to act in such a way that we presume on God's forebearance, taking it for granted or using it as an excuse in advance of doing the wrong things… We are, nevertheless, right to trust and hope in humble, penitential, confidence.
Anna was said to be always in the temple, praying, hoping and watching… And Simeon is an upright, and godly man who longs for God's Kingdom. They are wonderful expressions of the hope-filled, faithful, prayerful and loyal disciples of God which we all strive to be…….. Simeon and Anna, were representative of the type of people who can be described as the "Quiet in the Land." (as in Psalm 35: 20), - people who live peaceful, amiable and religious lives. These peaceful, gentle and hopeful people held no desires for a violent and terrible overthrowing of the nation's enemies,.. Nor did they long for a Warrior-like Messiah (a dreadful warrior King) arriving to bring down the enemy and subdue them with the force of armies with swords and banners; Rather, they believed in a life of constant prayer and quiet watchfulness until God should come and bring in his Kingdom of peace, justice, mercy and abundance.
All their lives they waited quietly, patiently and peacefully upon God. Simeon and Anna were like that; in prayer, in worship, in humble and faithful expectation, they were waiting for the day when God would arrive and comfort his people. One also gets the strong impression that they weren't just like wallflowers in the temple or in daily life. They were surely putting their faith and prayer into action... engaging with people who visited on pilgrimage... helping people out and listening to their troubles and praying with them and strengthening them. Being so long in the temple Anna must have seen countless joys, sorrows, tragedies and victories of ordinary people's lives and shared with them in their laughter and in their tears.
God had promised Simeon, through the Holy Spirit, that his life would not end before he had seen God's own Anointed King in the flesh. Finally, in his advanced old age, Simeon recognised that the baby Jesus, being presented in the Temple, by his loving mother Mary, and his faithful step-father Joseph, that this child was indeed 'coming home' in a sense that he was arriving in his Heavenly Father's House by arriving at the temple. Simeon recognised that his was the long-hoped-for Messiah and King... And Simeon was overjoyed! Now he was ready to depart in peace and his words have become another of the great and precious songs of praise taken up by generations of believers in the Church…. "At last all powerful master, you give leave to your servant to go in peace, according to your promise.... for my eyes have seen the salvation of the Lord…."(%%) (Wonderful, beautiful… ) (%%)
We also see in the gospel…. Anna the widow. She has surely known sorrow, tragedy and hardship in her long and humble life. And yet she has never lost hope or joy. Anna… did not let difficulties, sorrows, pain or advancing age make her hard, bitter, resentful, or rebellious against God. But rather, Anna remained kind, positive, gentle,, sympathetic, hope-filled, prayerful… faith-filled - and very, very close to God…(%%) .
Anna.. spent her days in the temple…. Sees God as not distant and detached; but rather as intimately connected with her own life and all of our lives, with God having his hand on the helm. She was delighted and happy to be a servant in God's house. (%%)
She never ceased to worship. She spent her life in God's house with God's people. God gave us his church to be our mother in the faith. We rob ourselves of a priceless treasure when we neglect to be one with his worshipping people regularly. (%%)
She never ceased to pray. Public worship is great; but private worship is also great. As someone once said, "They pray best together who first pray alone." (but two aspects are in fact inseparable .. private and public worship are essential. complimentary aspects of the same thing). The years had left Anna wise and with unshakable hope because day by day she kept her contact with him who is the source of strength and in whose strength our weakness is made perfect." %%
+++ References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly
(%%) - quoted from and adapted from Barclay, W. (1975). The Gospel of Luke. 2nd ed. Edinburgh: St. Andrew Press.
Shutterstock Licensed Image: ID: 1232605426. Casorate Primo, Italy. 2017/12/8. A stained glass window depicting Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord Jesus and the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the church of San Vittore Martire. By Adam Jan Figel
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 Kelly. Arranged, with additional lyrics and sung by Stefan Kelk. 2019.
"Today I Arise" - For Patricia Kelly. By Paul W. Kelly.. Inspired by St Patrick's Prayer. Arranged, with additional lyrics and sung by Stefan Kelk. 2019.
[ Production - KER 2020 ]
May God bless and keep you.
++++
The Presentation of the Lord
(Sunday, February 2, 2020)
(EPISODE: 204)
The Lord be with you.
+++++++++++++
{{May Our Lord's gift of hope encourage you.}}
My friends in Christ, to worthily celebrate the sacred mysteries, let us first acknowledge our sins.?
Lord Jesus, you have revealed yourself as the way to the Father: Lord, have mercy//You have poured out on your people the Spirit of truth: Christ, have mercy//You are the Good Shepherd, leading us to eternal life: Lord, have mercy.//
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.
+++++++++++++++++++++
Memorial Acclamation
3. Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Mystery of the Presentation of the Lord
Eucharistic Prayer II Communion side. pwk: LH
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{Thanks everyone, and have a grace-filled and compassion-filled week.}
AUSTRALIA DAY NATIONAL DAY (26TH JANUARY) (EPISODE:203) THE LITURGY OF THE WORD First Reading: Isaiah 32:15-18 Psalm: Ps 84:9-14. R. "The Lord speaks of peace to his people." Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 Gospel Acclamation: Matthew 5:9 Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12
Lord open the hearts of people everywhere that God's graciousness, generosity and compassion will "rain down everywhere," with their charity, generosity, compassion and plenty of acts of practical care and support; including much-needed financial assistance...
Lord, grant harmony and goodwill and peace and a sense of shared fraternity with all people in our nation, especially the indigenous people of our land who are a wonderful gift and treasure to us all. And for peace and harmony amongst people across the family of nations.
…. The heat, the terrible bushfires and drought is a massive worry to so many people and communities… and leads to incredible hardship…. We continue to pray for desperately needed rain to all the areas in need…. We are so deeply in drought.
But we give thanks
Today, we give thanks to God for the many gifts we have been given, and we are reminded that we live in a commonwealth… and that this commonwealth is for the common good…. the gifts we have are gifts to share for the benefit of each other….. The gifts other individuals and communities and nations have can be shared with us so that together we all have the gifts needed. The gifts that we have, we can share with others who have not, so that we all end up having the fullness of the gifts we need.
We pray that people everywhere will deepen their sense of belonging to a commonwealth for common good…. that there will be peace, respect, harmony and care for others in our society…. that we might always spare a thought for the person less fortunate, whether they be next door or in the next country……
And today, (as every day) we pray that our nation and its people develop deep within ourselves yearning for the values of Jesus' Beatitudes….. // Humility,// Gentleness, // A Passion and a practical commitment to working for Justice, //to be Peacemakers,// people who are merciful and able to reflect God's forbearance to others by giving them new starts, .....and a people who are single-minded in serving God's vision for the world….. respecting the dignity of all people... caring for our resources... treating others as we would have them treat us... having an open heart to people everywhere who are doing it tougher than ourselves, including in this nation and also our brother and sister nations throughout the world.
It is good for us to stop and give thanks for God's many gifts to us in this blessed Southern land of the Holy Spirit…..
+++++
Fr Paul W. Kelly
Image: Shutterstock licensed image: stock photo ID: 141480565. Wild Koalas along Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australi. By Robert Cicchetti
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, - Christian worship and reflection" - Led by Rev Paul Kelly
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 Kelly. Arranged, with additional lyrics and sung by Stefan Kelk. 2019.
"Today I Arise" - For Patricia Kelly. By Paul W. Kelly.. Inspired by St Patrick's Prayer. Arranged, with additional lyrics and sung by Stefan Kelk. 2019.
[ Production - KER 2020]
May God bless and keep you.
AUSTRALIA DAY NATIONAL DAY (26TH JANUARY) (EPISODE: 203 )
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. +++++++++++++ Coming together as brothers and sisters in Christ, let us pause and reflect upon our sins, in order to celebrate the Holy Eucharist. Brothers and sisters, the Lord is full of love and mercy. And so, as we prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries, let us acknowledge our sins.
Lord Jesus, you came to gather the nations into the peace of God's kingdom: Lord, have mercy//
You come in word and in sacrament to strengthen us and make us holy: Christ, have mercy//
You will come again in glory with salvation for your people: Lord, have mercy.
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen. May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen. +++++++++++++++++++++
Prayers Of The Faithful
READER
* For our nation on this Australia Day. that we renew our determination to work together for justice, reconciliation and the common good. (PAUSE) Lord hear us:
* For our indigenous brothers and sisters, the first peoples of Australia: that we have the grace to listen to their stories, understand their mourning and walk gently with them on this ancient land. (PAUSE) Lord hear us:
* For country communities suffering from the oppressive heat, and the severe shortage of water. That every effort is made to provide them with the practical assistance and resources they need to manage. (PAUSE) Lord hear us:
* For children and teachers returning to school this week. that they begin the year with energy and enthusiasm for the adventure of learning. (PAUSE) Lord hear us:
+++++++ Memorial Acclamation When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Sundays Ordinary V
Eucharistic Prayer II
Communion side. pwk: LH ++++ Go forth, the Mass is ended.
Homily Third Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, January 26, 2020 Readings: Is 8:23 - 9:3;
Psalm:26:1, 4, 13-14 "The Lord is my light and my salvation"
1 Cor 1:10-13, 17;
Gospel Acclamation: Matthew 4:23 "Alleluia, alleluia! Jesus preached the good news of the Kingdom. And healed all who were sick."
Mt 4:12-23
Shutterstock Licensed: stock photo ID: 1453090532. fisherman net with sunset in the sea. By Aran Charanyananda. ++++ Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, January 26, 2020, by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-ep-202-third-sunday-of-ordinary-time-year-a/s-O9hq9(EPISODE: 202) +++++ If we thought that the infant church was more filled with the Spirit.,… more united…… more idyllic than ours today….. The second reading quickly brings us back to reality…
The Corinthian community back in new testament times had just as many misunderstandings, conflicts, personality clashes and power plays and ego clashes as one can see in modern society. The Corinthian community was, art the time of Paul's letter to them, quite divided…. It was bickering and fragmenting…. Ambition, pride, political wrangling, and misunderstanding was damaging the community… and the second reading tells us that people were taking sides along the lines of various personalities in the community. Instead of the message of Jesus' Gospel… but Saint Paul implored the community members to remember their unity in Jesus…I n order that we put our service in the hands of Jesus' good news, St Paul reminds us that fostering a sense of unity – that is, seeing ourselves as all on about one and the same mission, one single project with different aspects, - this mindset is absolutely essential.
The calling of the disciples is both a wonderful example to us of the response of a disciple as well as having a deeper metaphorical meaning…. Jesus called his disciples and they dropped everything and followed him immediately, leaving everything behind. They did this literally and also figuratively… They left their previous life behind and its attachments and also they – in a sense – forgot themselves and their own plans and ambitions and followed a new path of being on about Christ's vision.
Saint Paul in the second reading continues this theme of self-forgetting and Christ-focusing! If there is to be any ambition at all (as St Paul puts it elsewhere in his writings)….it must only be the ambition to support each other and all others - In Christ - with all our hearts... If there is to be any competition in the Christian community… it is only to be trying to excel in truly showing each-other, mutually, the kindness and compassion of Christ and by striving with all our effort at working together with our vision looking outward and forward, towards the goal Our Lord himself has set…..... St Paul, when he says this, knew that this was not always easy... In fact, it requires sacrifice, humility and real dedication... (division can occur for different reasons.. people may genuinely disagree on how to achieve a goal or a value… but as St Paul says in another letter, the answer to such dilemmas goes down to the fundamental debt we have to one another….….(this time to the Roman community of believers)…
The only thing we owe each-other is this….- the debt of mutual love …… And everything we do, everything we say, must be for the furtherance of Christ's gospel and at the service of the establishment of God's Kingdom and never merely our own needs and ambitions. We are all "for Christ" and not for anything else or anyone else.
Jesus is the light... In baptism, we are called to carry this 'light of Christ to others.....
Jesus shone his own divine light to others by forgiving, healing, welcoming, sharing, inviting and giving.....we think about the many ways we are invited to bring Christ's light to others... And especially in all we do and say ….to make the light of Christ shine brighter in us, through us, and be seen at work in the community....... On this Australia Day long weekend, we give thanks for all the wonderful gifts we have received in this country... The gifts we have, are given to share...... Striving to be united in one purpose and heart. +++++ References: Fr Paul W. Kelly
Barclay, W. (1975). The Gospel of Matthew. Part I. 2nd ed. Edinburgh: St. Andrew Press.
Image: Shutterstock Licensed: stock photo ID: 1453090532. fisherman net with sunset in the sea. By Aran Charanyananda. +++ 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
Production - Kelly Enterprises Resources. May God bless and keep you.
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A (Sunday, January 26, 2020) (EPISODE: 202 )
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. +++++++++++++ {{May Our Lord's courage, uphold you.}}
Coming together as Gods family, let us call to mind our sins.? Lord Jesus, you were lifted up to draw all people to yourself: Lord, have mercy//You shouldered the cross, to bear our suffering and sinfulness: Christ, have mercy// You open for your people the way from death into life: Lord, have mercy// May Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen. +++++++++++++++++++++
Memorial Acclamation
2. When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Sundays Ordinary II
Eucharistic Prayer II
Communion side. pwk: LH ++++ {I pray this week brings you an ever-deeper experience of his compassion and love. }
Homily - conversion of saint paul (weekday feast ) 25th January 2020
Please note that this is a weekday feast and not the Sunday's Readings and texts:
Readings: Acts 22:3-16 or 9:1-22;
Ps 116:1-2."Go out to all the world, and tell the Good News."
Gospel Acclamation: cf John 15:16 Alleluia, alleluia! I have chosen you from the world, says the Lord, to go and bear fruit that will last. Alleluia! Mk 16:15-18
Image: Shutterstock Licensed stock photo ID: 753853219. LONDON, GREAT BRITAIN - SEPTEMBER 17, 2017: The mosaic of Conversion of St. Paul in Westminster cathedral and Blessed Sacrament Chapel designed by Boris Anrep (middle 20. cent.). Photo by Renata Sedmakova ++++ Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the - conversion of saint paul by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/non-sunday-feast-faith-hope-and-love-ep-201-the-feast-of-the-conversion-of-saint-paul/s-S2bMR(EPISODE: 201) +++++
{Please note that this is a weekday feast and not the Sunday's Readings and texts}:
Prologue - A special celebration this weekend. Not a Sunday in the church calendar year, but a weekday feast day…. The Conversion of Saint Paul - the apostle to the gentiles…. Saint Paul is my namesake feast day, and I truly treasure sharing the name Paul, with this astounding figure in the very early years of the growth of Our Lord's church. God's grace is at its most dramatic and astounding when a person stubbornly committed to persecuting the Way of Christ ends up having a complete conversion and becoming the greatest defender and preacher of Christ's message. A truly inspiring example of God's power/…. "there is no depth that God's grace can not descend to, to find the lost,.. there is no limit to the heights Our Lord can lift up even the worst sinner….. ". This is faith hope and love. +++ I have always loved stories of conversion and of a major change of heart and mind. Because, it is at the centre of the experience of humanity in relation to our loving, patient and long-suffering God. Today's feast of Saint Paul's conversion is an example of this in excellent form! What an amazing turnaround. God can even transform and make use of his most strident opponents and change them into his greatest champions. God's grace, love and mercy, in equal measure, re-order our misguided zeal and refine our human qualities to direct them to their proper purpose in building up his Kingdom of justice, mercy and grace. This is certainly a moment and a quality that is well worth noting and commemorating. One thing is clear; Paul, or as he was originally named, Saul, meant well. He was ZEALOUS AND uncompromising in his desire to serve God by keeping the letter of the law and harshly dealing with anyone whom he believed was watering down his God's message. The irony was that Paul by persecuting the followers of Jesus was well-meaningless but utterly wrongly serving his God. Unknown to Paul at that time, Jesus is God's Son and the Messiah - the chosen one of God. All who follow him are being faithful to God's plan. Saul was ignorant of this and saw this motley band of disciples of Jesus as a threat - when in fact they were the hope of the Kingdom dawning. So, he sets off on the road to Damascus intent on destroying these followers of Jesus, only to have a profound experience along the way that completely changes him. He meets the risen Christ. (It is fascinating that Paul, one of Christ's most vocal preachers and disciples, never met the earthly Jesus when he walked along the paths of the Holy Lands in his earthly ministry. Paul first encountered Jesus in his risen form, when he heard Jesus voice on the road to Damascus. It was then that he heard this voice from God saying "Saul, why are you persecuting me?" Saul asks - who are you and how am I persecuting you? And the answer hits him like a rock…. I am Jesus, and you are persecuting me by mistreating my followers. The sudden shock that this zealous and law-abiding Jewish Pharisee, an expert in the law, was - by focusing only on the letter of the law, was actually thwarting the point of God's law and opposing God's plans, not only changed Paul to be a loyal Christian but changed his attitude to the right application of God's law. The Law of God is an expression of a God who loves his people and whose love and grace and Holy Spirit is at the heart of any attempts to express or codify GOD'S ways. The reading today feature Paul's testimony to his own conversion. Once he realised his error, Paul was able to put his determination, his previously misdirected passion and his loyalty at the service of Christ's gospel by tirelessly preaching of Christ and him crucified and Risen….and of the Holy Spirit who empowers all good efforts. Paul even was able to set aside his idea that one had to be Jewish and fulfil Jewish rituals to be a member of God's family and set about preaching to Gentiles and new lands and defending the right of those who were not Jewish to convert to Christ without first converting to Judaism. Saint Paul is considered to be, by some historians, the second most important figure in the formation of the fledgeling Church after Our Lord. (*). He was a major part of the push to proclaim the message of Jesus to the ends of the earth and to people of all nations and cultures. On this feast day, let us recall the times when we "figuratively) fell off our high horses, and experienced a conversion of heart and mind… when we saw our actions and focus in a new way that radically changed our priorities ever after this. Me personally, I relate strongly to my namesake. He studied law and started off being a bit too focused on the letter of the law rather than the intention and spirit behind the law. A change of focus changes everything and helps us to encounter the loving, gentle, compassionate, merciful and parent-like God that is behind every law, every divine teaching and every action that motivates it and directs it. Thanks be to God for his grace that gave us such a wonderful preacher, and apostle, and one who had such a bad start and a perfect conclusion - Thanks be to God who turns our hearts and minds to his values, to his heart and good purposes. ++++ References: Fr Paul W. Kelly Image: Shutterstock Licensed stock photo ID: 753853219. LONDON, GREAT BRITAIN - SEPTEMBER 17, 2017: The mosaic of Conversion of St. Paul in Westminster cathedral and Blessed Sacrament Chapel designed by Boris Anrep (middle 20. cent.). Photo by Renata Sedmakova
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 Kelly. Arranged, with additional lyrics and sung by Stefan Kelk. 2019.
"Today I Arise" - For Patricia Kelly. By Paul W. Kelly.. Inspired by St Patrick's Prayer. Arranged, with additional lyrics and sung by Stefan Kelk. 2019.
[ Production - KER 2020 ]
May God bless and keep you. (conversion of saint paul) (EPISODE: 201)
+++++++++++++ My brothers and sisters, trusting in Gods mercy and love let us call to mind our sins. 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 3. Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Preface of Apostles I
Eucharistic Prayer II
Communion side. pwk: RH ++++ {Thanks everyone, and have a wonderful feast day, inspired and transformed by the Gospel of Our Lord, as preached by the apostle to the Gentiles...Saint Paul. .}
Unprecedented: Sheep are seen as Rural Fire Service crews engage in property protection during wildfires along the Old Hume Highway near the town of Tahmoor, Australia, outside Sydney, Dec. 19, 2019. Wildfires have been burning since August and have destroyed an area comparable to the combined region of the Netherlands and Belgium. (CNS photo/Dean Lewins, AAP via Reuters) See AUSTRALIA-FIRES Jan. 3, 2020.
THE Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has launched a national Church response to deal with the unprecedented scale of the bushfire crisis.
“The efforts of firefighters have been heroic. The resilience of the communities affected has been extraordinary,” ACBC president Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Brisbane said.
“This has been Australia at its best … but we need more than words. Expressions of solidarity are important, but they are not enough.”
The bishops have announced a five-pronged response to include:
A national network connecting people affected by the bushfires with people who can help with tasks such as preparing meals, clearing properties, rebuilding communities, as well as pastoral and counselling support.
Collaboration with key national agencies like Catholic Health Australia, Catholic Social Services Australia, the National Catholic Education Commission and the St Vincent de Paul Society to ensure as effective a response as possible from the wider Catholic community.
Co-operating with Catholic Religious Australia and religious institutes and their ministries.
Parishes across the country taking up a special collection at Masses on the Australia Day weekend, with all funds to be donated to Vinnies’ bushfire appeal.
The distribution of special prayers and other resources for use in parishes, families and other Catholic communities.
As well as donations at Masses on Australia Day weekend, people are encouraged to support the immediate response and the ongoing work of Vinnies by donating online.
“Our experts on the ground – from agencies like Vinnies, CatholicCare and Centacare, in parishes and other Catholic communities, including Catholic hospitals and aged-care providers – know this will be a long-term process to help people and whole towns rebuild,” Archbishop Coleridge said.
“With broad and deep roots across the nation, the Church stands ready to walk alongside people throughout their journey of recovery.
“Facing this exceptional crisis, we renew our call for insistent prayer for those stricken by drought and fire, for those who have lost their lives in the fires and their families, for rain to quench the parched land and extinguish the fires, and for urgent action to care for our common home in order to prevent such calamities in the future.
“A genuinely Catholic response to a crisis of this magnitude must draw strength from prayer which inspires concrete and compassionate action.”
Donations to the Vinnies Bushfire Appeal in partnership with Channel Nine have passed the $1 million mark.
Jack de Groot, CEO of St Vincent de Paul Society NSW, praised the generosity of those who have donated to the appeal, but noted that more support is needed as summer begins.
“The response to the Vinnies Bushfire Appeal is welcome news among all the terrible destruction caused by the fires, including the tragic loss of life. It’s shown us yet again that Australians step up for one another in times of great need, and we are so grateful to our donors and Channel Nine,” Mr de Groot said.
“With summer starting this weekend, the challenges we’ve already seen are likely to continue and possibly worsen. Despite the heroic efforts of firefighters, there will be many more people in need of our support in the weeks and months ahead. For this reason we will be keeping the Vinnies Bushfire Appeal going for the foreseeable future.”
Vinnies is working collaboratively with government agencies to help displaced families and individuals with their immediate needs, including food and clothing.
One of the many people assisted over the past month was Alysoun Learmonth, whose Yarrowitch home went up in flames on 7 November. The change in conditions came so suddenly that Ms Learmonth only had time to gather a few essentials and her beloved staffy bull terrier, Kirra, before heading west to safety in Walcha.
“The support from Vinnies has been fantastic. They’ve provided bags and bags of donations; clothes, vouchers for food, they’ll put little extras in the boot of my car,” Ms Learmonth said.
“The love and support from the community has been incredible.”
As well as immediate assistance, donations to the Vinnies Bushfire Appeal will be allocated to community recovery projects in the months ahead, helping the worst-struck communities get back on their feet.
“We will be on hand during the long recovery phase as people rebuild their lives, often from scratch,” Mr de Groot said.
Mr de Groot said a major strength of Vinnies is that its volunteers live and work in local communities, and know their neighbours’ needs first-hand.
“We are so grateful for the amazing support so far and ask that those in more fortunate circumstances spare a thought and a few dollars for our fellow Australians doing it tough. Every dollar donated to the Vinnies Bushfire Appeal goes directly to helping those people affected.”
