Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. -Year C - Sunday, 20 July 2025 (EPISODE: 539)
Readings for Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time.- Year C
FIRST READING: Genesis 18:1-10a
Psalm 15:2-3a, 3b-4, 5. "The just will live in the presence of the Lord"
SECOND READING: Colossians 1:24-28
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (cf. Luke 8:15). Alleluia, alleluia! Happy are they who have kept the word with a generous heart. And yield a harvest through perseverance.
GOSPEL: Luke 10:38-42
Image Credit: Paul Evangelion (2025)
++++
Please listen to the audio-recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C - Sunday, 20 July 2025 - by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-ep-539/s-CYSRdLpSInr - (EPISODE: 539)
+++++
16C - Prologue:
Both the first reading and the gospel this weekend speak of the true meaning of hospitality and graciousness, and for a Christian these are always symbols of openness and a welcoming attitude, an open heart, an open ear, and an open mind to God and God's word, an openness to God's different ways.
In the first reading, Abraham and Sarah give hospitality to three mysterious visitors. This was what was expected of all people towards travellers in the culture of the time.
But there is something even more special here. Somehow, Abraham knows that these three visitors are not just any old travellers, but are actually angels representing the very presence of God. I love this scene from the Bible.
If anyone were to make a movie of this scene from the Bible, I reckon the three strangers would say very little, but would just nod and cooperate and graciously accept the hospitality of Abraham. It would be a delightful and very mysterious scene. I'd love to see that acted out in a movie.
Actually, there is a 1966 movie called "The Bible" which features a scene depicting this, and one reviewer of the movie describes this scene of the three angels visiting Abraham as one of the best scenes in the movie, and bemoans that more scenes like that are not featured. (https://youtu.be/ao5VegZ4JD8?t=7565) - It really is very special if you ever get to see that movie again, probably because it's such a key incident, so ordinary but so holy. The hospitality of Abraham, which is nothing less than was expected of all hosts of his time, nevertheless is a symbol and example of graciousness, openness and compassion that is expected of all who follow God, and all who are open to people in this way are one in heart with God himself.
[FHL] pwk
+++
16c homily
It's a beautiful passage about Mary and Martha and their hospitality, but it's also a very misunderstood passage. It can be quite confusing. It may be helpful to keep in mind that Jesus is very good friends with both Mary and Martha.
He's not rebuking Martha, but he is gently teaching her that although he deeply appreciates and values her hospitality and welcome, and the meal she's rushing to prepare, in the end these important actions are only a foretaste and a symbol of the true hospitality and welcome that comes from sitting at the feet of our Lord and listening attentively to him, learning from him, becoming a disciple of Christ, and being utterly open and responsive to God's word and God's teaching. This is true hospitality, and this is what Mary is doing, and it's not to be taken from her. Unlike other interpretations of this gospel, Jesus is not preferring action to contemplation.
He's not rejecting Martha's ways and accepting only Mary's ways. Jesus is not contrasting a strictly contemplative life with an active life. Both are necessary.
We venerate Martha as a saint as well as Mary. The one thing necessary is to listen to Jesus and to ponder his words deeply so that our actions reflect his teachings and values. Without his values and his spirit and his good news, our activity could be misguided or even harmful or misplaced.
We need, and our homes need, and our world needs, the saving message, values, and spirit of Jesus that directs our priorities. We need, first and foremost, to listen and be open to his message so that we can then put values into action with clarity. Both contemplation and action are needed in the life of all Christians.
Both need to be firmly based on an openness and responsiveness to Jesus' teachings and values so that we might take up his values and priorities and accordingly act on them. As we've already said, action without contemplation could be fruitless and quite misguided, a waste of effort, and contemplation without action could be just self-indulgence. Both are needed in their own order, with first priority given to sitting at Christ's feet and listening to him, being open to him, and learning from him.
+++++
References:
Homily Fr. Paul W. Kelly
Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C -(Sunday, 20 July 2025) (EPISODE: 539 )
3. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (or/ The Lord be with You)
+++++++++++++
May Our Lord's care, comfort you. Welcome, everyone. We gather to take time to reflect upon the meaning of God's word for our everyday lives, on this Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time.
Brothers and sisters, as we prepare ourselves to celebrate the Lord's supper, let us recall our sins and acknowledge them in silence.
Lord Jesus, you 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
3. Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection, you have set us free.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Psalm 15:2-3a, 3b-4, 5. "The just will live in the presence of the Lord"
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (cf. Luke 8:15). ). Alleluia, alleluia! Happy are they who have kept the word with a generous heart. And yield a harvest through perseverance
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
PREFACE: Ordinary 1
Eucharistic Prayer 2
(theme variation: theme 2 )
(post version: v2-long)
++++
{17. Thanks everyone, and have a grace-filled and compassion-filled week.}
2. Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.
++++++++
Archive of homilies and reflections: http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email: paulwkelly68@gmail.com
To listen to the weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks
You are welcome to subscribe to Fr Paul's homily mail-out by visting here:
Details relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection" - Led by Rev Paul Kelly
Prayers and chants — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)
Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA)
"The Psalms" ©1963, 2009, The Grail - Collins publishers.
Prayers of the Faithful - " Together we pray" by Robert Borg'. E.J. Dwyer, Publishers, (1993). (Sydney Australia).
Sung "Mass in Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" - By Jeffrey M. Ostrowski. The Gloria, Copyright © 2011 ccwatershed.org.
"Faith, Hope and Love" theme hymn - In memory of William John Kelly (1942-2017) - Inspired by 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.
"Quiet Time." Instrumental Reflection music. Written by Paul W Kelly. 1988, 2007. & This arrangement: Stefan Kelk, 2020.
"Today I Arise" - For Trisha J Kelly. Original words and music by Paul W. Kelly. Inspired by St Patrick's Prayer. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.
Sound Engineering and editing - P.W. Kelly.
Microphones: - Shure Motiv MV5 Digital Condenser. And (2024+) Rode Nt-1 + AI-1 Sound Mixer.
Editing equipment: -- MixPad Multitrack Studio Recording Software v10.49 (NCH Software).
NCH – WavePad Audio Editing Software. Masters Edition v 17.63 (NCH Software)
Sound Processing: iZotope RX 10 Audio Editor (Izotope Inc.)
Text transcription as per the recorded podcast version is transcribed by TurboScribe.ai
{excellent and accurate transcription from voice to text}
[Production - KER - 2025]
May God bless and keep you.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
No comments:
Post a Comment