Second Sunday of Easter. (Divine Mercy Sunday) -Year C - Sunday, 27 April 2025 (EPISODE: 527)

Second Sunday of Easter. (Divine Mercy Sunday) -Year C -  Sunday, 27 April 2025 (EPISODE: 527)

Readings for Second Sunday of Easter. (Divine Mercy Sunday)- Year C
FIRST READING: Acts 5:12-16
Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24. "Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting."
SECOND READING: Revelations 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (John 20:29). Alleluia, alleluia! You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me; happy those who have not seen me, but still believe.
GOSPEL: John 20:19-31

Image Credit: Paul Evangelion
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Please listen to the audio-recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for Second Sunday of Easter. (Divine Mercy Sunday) Year C - Sunday, 27 April 2025 - by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-ep-527/s-Vrf8I57KQC3 
(EPISODE: 527)
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Last Monday, Easter Monday, the 21st of April 2025, we received news that our Pope, Pope Francis, had passed away. Our prayers are with him and we commend his soul to God's heavenly care, with gratitude for his ministry and his love and his message of Christ's gospel of mercy and inclusion. 

Let's keep the repose of the soul of Pope Francis in our prayers and pray for the Church as it enters this time of discernment, as the Cardinals, inspired by the Holy Spirit, meet to elect a new Pope.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.

May he rest in peace. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

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God's mercy is better and more profound than any human mercy or compassion could even imagine. We cannot downplay how different is Jesus' reunion with his disciples after he rose from the dead from how the expectations of the world might be. After all, Jesus had been betrayed and abandoned by most of his followers and almost all of his disciples.

Only a handful of loyal women stayed with him and the disciple called the one Jesus loved. His chosen disciples mostly scattered in fear. The one Jesus chose to be the rock on whom he would build his church denied him not once but three times.

Now Christ has risen and he returns to meet them. If it was only a human way of thinking, one would naturally expect, if this was a earthly drama only, that there'd be revenge and retribution or at least an extended session of guilt trips and finger pointing. But no, not at all.

And that's the miracle and the message of Christ. No recriminations, no punishments. There's not a hint of judgment in our Lord's return.

He does not even punish Thomas for his doubt. And the doubting apostles demand that he would not believe until he had actually seen proof of the risen Lord. Christ meets Thomas right where he's at and shows Thomas what he needed to be assured of.

He shows him his hands and his side. That is true mercy. That is compassion.

It's also service and love, which Christ showed his whole life ministry. These are God's ways, which are so very different from many of the ways of the world. In the Eastern narratives, the risen Jesus is encountered by different disciples in different situations and in different ways.

Mary Magdalene recognises the risen Jesus only when he calls her by name, Mary. Then she realises and sees who he is. The two disciples travelling along the road towards Emmaus did not realise who this stranger was, who was walking along with them, until they saw him break the bread and then their eyes were opened.

They then realised that their hearts had already been burning with fervour as they walked along the road, but they had not recognised the signs of Christ's presence. But the disciples would get better and better at recognising Christ in the Eucharist and in the word of God and in the and in the burning energy of God's good news. And then again today, some people do not recognise Jesus until they touch the wounds of the suffering one.

May we continue to recognise Christ's presence whenever we touch the woundedness of those around us and offer support and strength. It could be argued that in fact it's not Jesus whom Thomas is doubting, but rather Thomas is expressing doubt in the word of his fellow disciples. So this passage can also be saying, please trust in the proclamation of the disciples that has been handed down throughout the centuries, your fellow believers.

This is the constant message of the church throughout its 2,000 years, that Jesus has truly risen, he is risen indeed. That is foundational. Even if we didn't see it ourselves 2,000 years ago, or touch the very wounds of the risen Christ, we trust and believe in the firm and consistent testimony of the apostles who did see him, who did touch his hand and his side, and took bread from his hands and ate with him, who watched the Lord eat bread and fish himself, not as a spirit, but as true flesh and blood, as a human.

And we believe in the words of the apostles which are written in the scriptures, so that we now share in their message and belief, and also share fully in the life of the risen Lord that Jesus offers to everyone. We need the community. It is not an added extra.

There's no such thing as a solo Christian. Even when we work at times individually. 

If possible, it's always great to be together as one community, not merely walking to the beat of our own individual drum, nor making up our own faith and practices as we go, and according to our convenience. Those people who cannot gather at the church because of ill health, or frailty, or inability to get to the church despite their best desires, these people are still with us in spirit.

We pray for them, we keep them in our prayers, we think of them, and are very much united to them wherever they are, and we have communion ministers as best we can to go out and visit them. We're still connected. There's still that importance of community, even when people aren't able, due to their circumstances, to come to church.

But they're very much welcome and they desire to be there. Thomas in the Gospel inspires us. He doubted, but he didn't give up.

He didn't leave. He was still with the disciples the next week. He struggled, but the others did not reject him.

Jesus strengthened him in his struggle and doubts. Thomas is a gift to us in another way. He shows us the apostles were not gullible or foolish.

What they experienced in the risen Jesus was the experience of sensible people, just like you and me, thinking people who don't easily swallow everything they're told, but nevertheless they did truly experience Jesus risen, body and soul, and this is what they've steadfastly passed on to all future generations. This is the testimony of sensible, deep-thinking people who know what they mean and mean what they say, and were willing to live that truth from then on, and even die for that truth. That's how powerful it is.

Today we know that our Lord is certainly worth trusting, and all his promises are true, and we can thank Thomas for Jesus confirming that for all future generations, including us here and now. Blessed are they who have not seen and yet believe.

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References:

Homily  Fr Paul W. Kelly

Image Credit: Paul Evangelion 2025

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Remember your servant, Pope Francis, whom you have called from this world to yourself. Grant that he who was united with your son in a death like his, may now also be one with him in his resurrection. 

God bless.

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Second Sunday of Easter. (Divine Mercy Sunday)  Year C  -(Sunday, 27 April 2025)  (EPISODE: 527 )
2. 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 Counsel and Fortitude abide in you.}} welcome everyone, we gather -  Listen to God's Word and contemplate the sacraments. On this Second Sunday of Easter. (Divine Mercy Sunday)

Our Gods love and mercy knows no bounds, and so let us recall our sins so as to worthily celebrate this Holy Sacrifice.
You raise the dead to life in the Spirit. Lord, have mercy You bring pardon and peace to the sinner. Christ, have mercy You bring light to those in darkness. 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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Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24. "Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting."

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (John 20:29). ). Alleluia, alleluia! You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me; happy those who have not seen me, but still believe.
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PREFACE: Easter 1
Eucharistic Prayer 1
(theme variation: theme 2 )

(post version: v2-long)

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{5. I am very grateful for you joining in, at this special time of prayer and reflection.}

2. Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.

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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 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:

https://surfersparadiseparish.us7.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=85b9ddd594b242276d423bfe9&id=002282d9e0  

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.

"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.

"Quiet Time."  Instrumental Reflection music. Written by Paul W Kelly. 1988, 2007. & This arrangement: Stefan Kelk, 2020.


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 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.
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ANZAC DAY - FRIDAY OF THE EASTER OCTAVE 2025

 ANZAC DAY -  FRIDAY OF THE EASTER OCTAVE  2025

Readings for -
FRIDAY within the Octave of Easter  (With Anzac Day Intention)

Mass of the day, Gloria

Preface of Easter I

Dismissal with Alleluia

Readings:

Acts 4:1-12: There is no other name by which we can be saved.

Ps 117:1-2, 4, 22-27: R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the corner stone.

Alleluia, alleluia!
This is the day the Lord has made;  let us rejoice and be glad.  Alleluia! (Ps 117:24)

Jn 21:1-14: Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and the same with the fish.

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed stock vector ID 1055357618. Silhouette of soldier paying respect at the grave, vector. By Seita.
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Please listen to the audio-recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for  ANZAC DAY -  FRIDAY OF THE EASTER OCTAVE  2025  -  - by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-anzac-day 
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Homily - 
Today, and every year at this time, we willingly and gratefully pause to remember and pray with heartfelt emotion and give thanks for those countless men and women who served in time of war and who sacrificed everything for the sake of their families, their friends, their colleagues, their mates, their country, and for the freedom, the love and friendship and peace that lay behind their service and sacrifice.

Many died for the sake of others. We remember them all today. Many more also had lifelong physical and emotional injuries that affected them permanently.

We give thanks for them and remember them with grateful hearts today too. We can't imagine what they have been through. The scripture says, no greater love has a person than to lay down their life for their friends.

This also applies not only to those who lost their lives, but also those who risked their lives, and those who paid an unimaginable price by injury and its lasting effects, physically and emotionally. They put others first, and countless people throughout the world were saved from unimaginable horrors by their service and sacrifice. Over many decades now, there's been a conscious collecting of many of the stories of those who lived through these times, to preserve their voices and their message for future generations.

How important that is. Each person brings their own unique insight to the broader story. Anzac Day is a really, really precious and important opportunity to highlight the diversity of experience and wisdom from these people.

Such as, just one example amongst countless worthy examples, Barry Heard. He was conscripted at the age of 20. In 1967, Barry was deployed to South Vietnam as a radio operator.

Barry returned after his Vietnam service a changed person, and he suffered emotionally for years. This culminated 30 years later with full-blown post-traumatic stress. His journey of recovery was long and painful, but as his health improved, with a lot of support from so many people, he wrote a book about post-traumatic stress and the experience of his and his fellow servicemen, called Well Done, Those Men, and he's written several books since.

Barry was appointed Australian Ambassador for Libraries Victoria. He's been involved with fundraising for Hope Foundation, Fred Hollows Foundation, Oak Tree, Books for Bhutan, and two orphanages in Vietnam. He's just one of so many individual human stories from countless numbers of men and women who endured so very much, and so many who continue to endure so very much.

The Lord of the Resurrection, who died and rose again to save us all, is our beacon of hope in these times of remembrance and loss. By one name only, as the raised from the dead, we are saved. By his name only, by Jesus Christ, is our hope that the sacrifices, the tragedies, and the losses of this life can be seen beyond this world into the eternal life Jesus has won for us and for all who trust in his loving, merciful, sacrificing death and resurrection.

He is the beacon of hope, the light of the world, who shines out through historical darkness of war, suffering and death, which can never be adequately described, the horror of it. He leads us from that to the promise of God's faithful love and the resurrection at the end of all things. This hope keeps us going.

We also pray that the hard lessons learned from previous conflicts and the ultimate cost of life that occurred in repelling aggressors, and the hard-worn victory over that aggression, will never be forgotten. We're united all around the world with people praying and working for peace, and praying and working for an end to violence, so that history does not keep repeating itself. And we pray for our leaders that they will be inspired to have restraint and a deep awareness of the good of all humanity and the huge, unpayable cost of war.

And we also pray for those who are presently serving and all who could be called to step forward in times of emergency. Our prayer today and for the future is that peace which only Christ can give the world, a peace and love that quenches the all-too-real hatred and misunderstanding of the world. We long for this.

Those who served, prayed and struggled for it. We continue this prayer this year and every year, the special day of all days. May peace be in the hearts and minds of people everywhere throughout the world, now and in the future.

May the peace of God's kingdom one day soon put an end to all war and violence and hatred. In remembering and acknowledging the human cost of war and the price, beyond telling, of those who served, we not only remember them, but we commit ourselves to a world where the values they fought for are cherished, protected and remembered. We pray that God's reign of peace, justice, dignity and love will come in all of its fullness and come soon.

And that the values of those who struggled and suffered for us will always be, and everywhere respected, preserved and built up, ever stronger.

We will remember them,

lest we forget.

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References:

Homily - Fr Paul W. Kelly

https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/resources/barry-heard-australian-army-post-traumatic-stress-disorder

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed stock vector ID 1055357618. Silhouette of soldier paying respect at the grave, vector. By Seita.
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Prologue: 

At dawn on this day in 1915 during World War I, soldiers from the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps landed at Gallipoli. This National Day of Remembrance honours the courage and the self-sacrifice of those who served in that campaign and that war and indeed all wars and conflicts and peacekeeping operations. We particularly recognise the sacrifice of the fallen.

We commend them to God's eternal care and we also pray fervently for that peace and justice which they sought to defend and preserve and that this will dwell richly in our land and in our world and that God's peace and reverence will make a home in the hearts of every person in this world.

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Entrance Antiphon:  The Lord led his people in hope while the sea engulfed their foes. Alleluia.
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In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Hello everyone. As we gather together Friday within the octave of Easter, so as well as celebrating this wonderful feast of the Lord's resurrection and the hope of all those who have died, we also particularly keep in our prayers all those who fought and suffered and died and particularly the bravery and inspiration of the Anzacs -  and that wonderful spirit of self-sacrifice and love.

"There is no greater love, says the Lord, than to lay down one's life for a friend." 

And So brothers and sisters to prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries let us first 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. 

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Gloria -
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OPENING PRAYER (PRELUDE)
Caught up in the Paschal mystery, which we see reflected in the giving of one's life for one's friends and one's nation during time of war and emergency, let us pray.
Almighty ever-living God who gave us the Paschal mystery in the covenant you established for reconciling the human race, so dispose our minds we pray that what we celebrate by professing the faith we may express in deeds. Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.
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Psalm: 

R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love has no end. Let the sons of Israel say his love has no end. Let those who fear the Lord say his love has no end.

The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is the work of the Lord, a marvel in our eyes. This day was made by the Lord, we rejoice and are glad.

O Lord grant us salvation, O Lord grant success. Blessed in the name of the Lord is he who comes. We bless you Lord from the house of the Lord. The Lord God is our light.

The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
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Alleluia:   This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad.
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Gospel:

The Lord be with you.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John.

Jesus showed himself again to the disciples. It was by the sea of Tiberias and it happened like this. Simon Peter, Thomas called the twin, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee and two more of his disciples were together.

Simon Peter said, I'm going fishing. They replied, we'll come with you. They went out and got into the boat but caught nothing that night.

It was light by now and there stood Jesus on the shore, though the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. Jesus called out, Have you caught anything friends? And when they answered, no, he said, throw the net out to starboard and you'll find something. So they dropped the net and there were so many fish that they could not haul it in.

The disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, it is the Lord. At these words, it is the Lord, Simon Peter who had practically nothing on, wrapped a cloak around him and jumped into the water. The other disciples came on in the boat, towing the net and the fish.

They were only about a hundred yards from land. As soon as they came ashore, they saw that there was some bread there and a charcoal fire with fish cooking on it. Jesus said, bring some of the fish you have just caught.

Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore, full of big fish, 153 of them. And in spite of there being so many, the net was not broken. Jesus said to them, come and have breakfast.

None of the disciples was bold enough to ask, who are you? They knew quite well it was the Lord. Jesus then stepped forward, took the bread and gave it to them. And the same with the fish.

This was the third time that Jesus showed himself to the disciples after rising from the dead.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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PRELUDE TO PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS:

Today we keep in our prayers the sacrifices of the Anzacs and all who followed them.

We mourn for them and remember them in Easter hope.

Perfect within us, O Lord, we pray the solemn exchange brought about by these Paschal offerings, that we may be drawn from earthly desires to a longing for the things of heaven, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Lord be with you.

Lift up your hearts.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, at all times to acclaim you, O Lord, but on this day, above all, to lord you yet more gloriously when Christ our Passover has been sacrificed. For he is the true Lamb who has taken away the sins of the world. By dying he has destroyed our death, and by rising restored our life.

Therefore, overcome with Paschal joy, every land, every people exults in your praise, and even the heavenly powers with the angelic hosts sing together the unending hymn of your glory, as they acclaim, holy, holy, holy Lord, God of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of your glory, Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest.

Remember, Lord, your Church, spread throughout the world, and bring her to the fullness of charity. Together with Mark our Bishop and all the clergy.

Remember your servant, Pope Francis, whom you have called from this world to yourself.

Grant that he who was united with your Son in a death like his, may now also be one with him in his resurrection.

Remember also our brothers and sisters who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection, INCLUDING all who suffered, SACRIFICED  and died IN TIME OF WAR , and all who have died in your mercy. Welcome them into the light of your face.
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Let us pray.
Keep safe, O Lord, we pray, those whom you have saved by your kindness, that, redeemed by the passion of your Son, they may rejoice in his resurrection. Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Thank you, everyone, as we celebrate the resurrection of the Lord and his promise of faithfulness to us in this life and into eternal life.
And we give great thanks and our prayers lift up to Heaven for all who suffered, died, or were changed by the experience of war, -   fighting to save others.

We do pray for peace in the world and in the hearts and minds of people everywhere, and that we'll never forget the sacrifices made by those who fought for what was important in our society and in our world.


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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 the weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here:  https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks


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.

"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.


Ode of Remebrance,  Last Post, Reveille. 


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 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.
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