The Lord Jesus is inviting you to partake of His Word at the round table of many hands. Fr Kevin Walsh from Sydney Australia has set the table for the 1st Sunday of Advent Year C. No RSVP is required. Just come as you are with an open heart.

Christmas is nearly here! Well, as far as the shops go, Christmas has been here for at least a month or two!

Advent does not mean anything for most people. Here in Australia, the time of Advent is usually celebrated with Shopping Sprees, Office Parties, summer heat with flies and mosquitoes, relaxing around Bar-B-Q’s, sharing a Beer or Wine and even Maxi Coke! Not so much for this year! Covid is still causing us to restrict our movements, shopping sprees like Black Friday will be mainly online. As for summer, that seems to be ‘on hold’ here in Sydney…. Cool days, rain, and chilly winds. However, lots of our Houses are covered inside and out with all kinds of coloured lights in the form of Reindeers, Santa Sleighs, and maybe one or two Angels; occasionally there are a few Nativity scenes in our shopping centres.

Martin Place in Sydney

Maranartha! Come, Lord Jesus! Advent is a fantastic time, and prime time, to sharpen our awareness to the Christ who continually comes to us.

Advent is a time for us to STOP, LOOK AND LISTEN to God’s Kingdom present, but not yet fully realised. Advent is a time for us to check out our virtue of Hope especially in these testing times. It is a time for us to re-evaluate our relationship with God, and each other. It is a time to be strengthened by the Gospel, and to facilitate the Spirit’s activity within us. It is a time for us to discern with sharper spiritual vision, the signs, and the times in which we live, as an invitation to renewed personal and community mission. Come, Lord Jesus!

So that being the case, let’s dig into God’s Word for the First Sunday of Advent. The Prophet Jeremiah 33:14-16 speaks God’s Word to a people who needed uplifting. They needed that kind of Radar that our Armed Forces use these days at sea; over the horizon views, so that they can be just that little more prepared for what may be coming towards them. Jeremiah, empowered by God’s Word, invites his listeners to see outside themselves to a future time when God’s saving hand will be manifested in a particular way, which will be seen and praised by those who hunger and thirst for this Epiphany. The city will be called: the Lord our Integrity…Jeremiah 33:16. Are we talking about a City like Jerusalem or Bethlehem? Or could the city be within an itinerant group of people called the Anawim, “the Lord’s poor”?…….Food for thought!

The Responsorial Psalm 24:4-5. 8-9 is the “community response” to the First Reading; hence its Antiphon is like a Text message for our hearts. To you O Lord, I lift my soul! The verses of this wonderful Psalm flesh out why we can pray that Antiphon. At this stage you might like to scroll back to the Psalm. The first verse is full of imperatives! Verses two and three outline why the Psalmist/Us can ask the Lord God so directly in verse one. We need to prayerfully pray the Responsorial Psalms with the assistance of Music, or the community representative who is praying this Psalm on our behalf should take it slowly so that we can pray it, and not say it…..See the difference? Fortunately, while at home viewing this Blog on your Tablet, Smartphone, or PC, you can take your time in savouring God’s Word.

The Second Reading from St. Paul’s Letter to the Thessalonians 3:12-4:2 is such a warm, uplifting and encouraging Pastoral Letter to the Christian Church/Community in Thessalonica. The content, tone and wording of this Letter is evergreen, and should well be a guide for all Christian Leaders for all times. Modern day Pastoral Letters sometimes read like cold, calculating Government Gazettes; many of them are not pastoral but clinical and legalistic, more appropriate for BHP Executives. The spirituality of the Gospel is being affirmed and encouraged by the Apostle, within the fledgling Church. This is truly an Advent extract from this Pauline Letter. See how the Second Reading builds on the First Reading, and then the Psalm responds? The savouring of God’s Word this Sunday will enable us to truly enter into the spirit of Advent.

We MUST be available for it! Why not re visit these Readings during the week, and as you go through them, have in the back of your mind a good question like; “Lord, what are you saying to me through your Word, how can my life be changed in response to your Word.” As the so called ‘silly season’ (I absolutely hate that name) is thrust upon us everywhere we go, we must make a special effort to enjoy, and be nourished by the Advent season.

The Gospel, Luke 21:25-28. 34-36 today develops the ” Advent” theme even more; the first paragraph calls us to be sensitive and astute as to what goes on around us. If there is one situation that scares the life out of all us, is when the ‘ earth moves under our feet’, or when other potential cataclysmic events rock the world, we begin to realise once more, how fragile we are, and how vulnerable we are in the face of natural disasters, and Bombings in war torn places, or horrible surprise Terrorist attacks on innocent people, let alone  the world wide Covid Pandemic at present.

In fact, it seems that the world’s population is ‘on edge’ all the time these days! These events can bring out the best/the divine elements within human nature, and it can bring out the worst in us as well! The state of ‘readiness’ and sensitivity which is brought to the surface as a by-product of natural disasters and war, ought to be a sign in us for something greater. We need to be on a spiritual ‘standby’ mode within us all the time. This ‘readiness’ for Mission and encountering Christ is the key to what Advent is all about! Advent puts us into auto focus, as we realise the need to be more alert in responding to Christ within our sisters and brothers, in His Word and Sacrament. The ‘Grace’ of this preparedness gives us the inner courage to live and actualise this internal integrity within our society, which is something like the Prophet Jeremiah was speaking about in the last line of the first reading today………‘the city will be called, ‘ the Lord our integrity’.

The beautiful and realistic mural of The Communion of Saints at St.Patrick’s Cathedral Parramatta Sydney.

The second paragraph of the Gospel tells us very clearly as to what can anesthetise our response to our Christian calling. So, the first Sunday of the Liturgical Year in this season of Advent, has a particularly prominent place in our lives. If we jump to Christmas and dismiss Advent, it is a bit like skipping the Entre’ and Main course at Dinner and going straight to the Sweets!

Advent has more social opposition than Lent! December in the Southern Hemisphere is ‘party time’, ‘beach time,’ and holidays. The weather is warm to hot, and there is a feeling of lethargy in the air! This is not a good combination, especially for Australians who are so ‘laid back.’ Whereas for our Northern Hemisphere sisters and brothers, it is mostly cold, dark, wet, and gloomy, punctuated by dazzling coloured lights in the Cities, Towns and Villages. However, Covid has put a blanket over the lot of us. In the country areas, the gathering around gorgeous fireplaces, preparing to eat Baked Ham and Turkey, Plum Puddings with Brandy Custard, and shopping for presents are on our minds. But this year, like last year is different…. Lockdowns, Covid Passports, and the like. Christmas is right in your face from the moment you hop in your car to go somewhere. Advent is a subtle undercurrent which when visited, ingested, and savoured, can nudge us to see the world, and its people, as truly God’s people, with the latent Missionary adventure of bringing Heaven to Earth, as we pray in The Lord’s Prayer. Advent has the innate power to transform all of us into the living and walking city of ‘the Lord is our integrity ‘The season of Advent is a time and opportunity for inner renewal, the discarding of numbing ways which can inhibit our feeling for, and response to, the Christ who comes to us all the time in Word, Sacrament and His People.

May we all be blessed during this time of Advent, and as we engage in savouring God’s Word, may the Spirit of God find a responsive heart in all of us.

Come, Lord Jesus!

The Red and blue parrots are called Crimson Rosellas, and the red heads and green bodies are called King Parrots

 

The Lord Jesus is inviting you to partake of His Word at the round table of many hands. Fr Kevin Walsh from Sydney Australia has set the table for the last Sunday of the Liturgical Year B: The Solemnity of Christ the King. No RSVP is required, just come as you are with an open heart.

(LAST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME)

Pope Pius XI instituted this feast in 1925 in response to the rise of totalitarianism. It celebrates Christ’s reign over the human race and human hearts. The feast emphasises God’s ultimate forgiveness as well as Christ’s eschatological return and final sovereignty over all creation. This last theme is continued during Advent.

We come to the last Sunday of the Liturgical Year, and I guess that our celebration of Christ the King may cause us to think,” fair enough, but the year is not over yet!” End of year celebrations are all around us…. for some, School exams are over, for others University exams have been marked, and for others, Office Christmas parties, and the like, will happen soon. In many countries the Covid lockdown and restrictions are being eased, as more and more people are double vaccinated, and many are lining up for their booster shot! Yet, in the midst of all this, we hear the resounding words of Jesus, (John 18:36) “Mine is not a Kingdom of this world”. And most certainly it is a Kingdom contrary to what our concept of a realm or Monarchy can be about. The modern Kingdom is often experienced as a reign of terror; and hence its rulers build huge images of themselves as signs of their power. We saw something like this years ago in Iraq with Suddam Hussein, and Kaddafi in Libya. We see it today in places like North Korea, Burma and many African states.

Tyrannical Kings demand and command; they often rule through fear. However, we don’t need to travel overseas in order to see a Tyrant! They often live in our own houses………maybe in the house next door. Statistics from the Australian Government have shown us that particularly during this Covid time, many households have become places of War! Vicious attacks on wives and children from husbands who in some instances caused bodily harm to their family along with psychological manipulation of the family. One of the major causes in unliveable family situations is the lack of conversation, and too much blaming. Issues should be talked out, and sometimes a Professional person might need to be called in to adjudicate the ‘in house’ conversation, or maybe personal therapy is required. It’s not always the Husband who is the tyrant! It can be the mother or one of the children. There must be dialogue to unravel problems, and humility and contrition are the main ingredients for family PEACE and GROWTH. Here below are two pics of being gathered around the table. These images speak for themselves.

Christ our King invites! He rules through love. Throughout the photographic album of the Gospels, we see the Shepherd-King, bringing hope to those who lived in despair and alienation, enabling the pagans and Jews to see in him, the saving hand of God. Remember the Roman Centurion soldier standing at the foot of the Cross-, seeing the way Jesus died; he was able to say, “In truth this was a son of God.” (Matt 27:54)

Christ’s presence could change beyond recognition the lives of those around him. His attitude towards sinners was one of kindness and persuasion rather than condemnation and alienation. There can be great persons who make everybody feel small…. but the really great person makes everybody feel great.

In that sense, Jesus was and is indeed a King! We are called to see Christ in each other and be Christ to each other. What a fantastic Kingdom! Now, let’s revisit the Scripture Readings for this Sunday, and then the full picture will be painted for us.

The Prophet Daniel’s dream catches our attention…the elements in this vision have caught Artists, Movie Makers, and literal minded Preachers to colour up this Heavenly vision, so much so that it can distort the intention, and inherent meaning for the listeners. So, what are Dreams, what are they trying to tell us? We all have had dreams, and I bet from time to time you have said to other members of your family, ‘I had a strange dream last night….and then immediately you go on to tell them about it….’ Sometimes in the telling of the Dream to others, some clues come into focus. Other times, they can be so random that it can be an exceedingly complicated process. Well, in a nutshell, it seems that dreams are a way of processing the parables within our daily lives. For example, something might happen to you out of the ‘blue’ as we say, and we might even spontaneously tell those around us that you will probably dream about that experience or issue. At this stage it won’t be within my scope of expertise to talk with any authority on ‘Nightmares….’  So, Dreams are a way of processing the parables of our daily life! Following that through, the elements in dreams are often symbolic, but they bring to the unconsciousness within our ‘sleep time’ often very vivid pictures, so much so that in the morning, we often wonder if this or that did really happen?

So, in looking at Daniel’s dream, he starts off by saying…….’I gazed….’ let’s stay with that; gazing has Biblical connotations; simply put, it means: – Meditating….in this context having God’s Word and design as Food for Thought. Meditating is like savouring a Fry’s Turkish Delight 98% Fat Free!!!!!!Daniel’s own name adds to the import of this dream, because his name in Hebrew means …. God Judges! God adjudicates! So, it would seem that an approximate outcome of this dream, is saying something about God as Judge, as Supreme Initiator of a Kingdom on Earth as it is in Heaven! Meditating is like savouring honey from the comb! This wonderful experience is done slowly……so that it can be thoroughly tasted! God’s Word in Scripture is sometimes seen as food to be eaten as we see here with the Prophet Ezekiel. Let’s look at Ezekiel’s name: God strengthens. So this action of eating the scroll of God’s word is a vivid expression of the vitality from ingesting and digesting God’s Holy Word. Very Eucharistic in its overtones. Food for thought!

The next part of the process is: – Contemplating…….that happens within a creative silence which abounds within the experience, due to the Meditation…. So, it is gazing within the dream or vision. So, Daniel gazes into the Nada…the nothingness, the night, and look what he sees? In typical Apocalyptic Literary Style, we see as Daniel sees, an anointed one being led to the One of great Age……he who is the personification of wisdom, creative love, mercy, and justice, sees in the one being led to him, a reflection of God’s true self! Then as a consequence, all peoples will recognise in him, who is like unto God, all that God has ever said, done and will do. This dream is an excellent vision of hope! God’s Servant-hood Kingdom will one day reign supreme! Hence, it is an evergreen Prophecy.

The Second Reading from the Book of Revelation is connected to the first reading and Gospel of this Sunday, because it is a Solemnity. On the Ordinary Sundays of the Year, the First Reading and Gospel are bridged, but the Second Reading is a continuous reading of New Testament Letters week by week, and generally it has no intended relation to the First Reading or Gospel.

The Author of the Book of Revelation….one named John, whom we call John the Divine, saw in Jesus, the Christ, all and more than the Prophet Daniel was looking forwarded to; John sees,  the Wounded Healer, the Keystone, the Shepherd, the Light of the World, the Bread of Life, the Son of God, the Lord of Lords, the Prince of Peace, the Lamb of God, the Messiah, the Emmanuel, the pre-existent Word, in fleshed in Jesus, the Christ.

The Kingdom, not of Power and Glory, or Might and Strength as the world sees it, but of servant hood, with a foot washer King; dying was the Triumph of Jesus as the greatest sign of God’s love, re breathed into life as the Triumph of the Father…….. Resurrection…….’ Mine is not a Kingdom of this world,’ as we hear in today’s Gospel, the Kingdom of God lives, breathes and creates ‘truth,’ hand in hand with God’s loving kindness. It is a Kingdom that can be heard, with those who have the ears to hear…….. It is a Kingdom whose presence and future mission is experienced by the recipients’…it is heard through the ears, seen with the eyes, and lived within the heart and the mind, in and through unconditional love, and fortified through the two-way street of ‘prayer’ as in listening and speaking.

No fancy clothes for this King! No ornate Chair for this King. No honorific worldly titles for this King, no seeking the front seats to see this King….He will come in the back door! As St. Teresa Avila once said, and then put to Music by John Talbot: –

Christ has no body now but yours, no hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes through He looks compassion on this world, yours are the feet with which He walks to do good. Yours are the hands with which He blesses all the world.

YOURS ARE THE HANDS, YOURS ARE THE FEET, YOURS ARE THE EYES,

YOU ARE HIS BODY.

Christ has no Body now but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes through He looks, compassion on this world. Christ has no Body now on earth but yours.

We give thanks to God our Father, for his Son, the faithful witness to his truth. When we celebrate the memorial of his death and resurrection, we proclaim the kingship of him who was lifted up on the Cross.

email: kevin.w3@bigpond.com

Blog: https://realhomilies.wordpress.com/

 

32nd Sunday Year B, 2021. The Lord Jesus is inviting you to partake of His Word, at the round table of many hands. Fr Kevin Walsh from Sydney, Australia has set the table; all is ready. No RSVP is required, just come as you are, with an open heart.

email: kevin.w3@bigpond.com     Blog: https://realhomilies.wordpress.com/

If you travel into the city of Sydney these days by train, you can be pretty sure that someone either at Town Hall or Central Station will ask you for some spare change. There are similar scenes around Victoria and Kings Cross Stations in London, and in other big cities around the world. It is ever so difficult to know who is needy, or who is greedy or who has adopted this ‘begging style’ as a way of life, and they are financially well healed! I guess that when one is reasonably sure of the circumstances, the real test of a gift is not what it amounts to, but what its loss means to the giver!

We must give what will cost us something. This is just not giving what we can live without, but what we can’t live without, or don’t want to live without. This kind of giving hurts. But this is love in action. When the gift is as desperately needed by the giver as by the receiver – that is true giving. Then our gift becomes a sacrifice. And what a challenge, eh? Very difficult indeed. Food for thought!

In the Liturgy of the Word this weekend, the Old Testament passage from the 1^st Book of Kings 17:10-16,

situates a story which was real; in the middle of a famine, a poor widow shares the last of her food with the Prophet Elijah, and far from losing, by so doing, she is enriched. This theme links up with the Gospel story of ‘The Widow’s mighty mite!’

Mark 12:38-44. In the eyes of others, the offering of the widow was the least, but in the eyes of Christ it was the greatest.

Now let’s start digging deep into God’s Word, and once again, we must go back to the First Reading and prayerfully and reflectively ponder the Reading. That might sound a bit strange, but when we are not rushed for time, this way of Reading can do wonders to our spirit, and then the invitations within God’s Word become clearer; while we are more ‘readied’ to respond.

One of the most exciting surprises in deep sea diving into God’s Word is that we do this as a group and nothing can just be taken for granted, and then we move on. No way! If we are tempted to do that, we can miss some fantastic insights into God’s evergreen Word. So, let’s start with the Prophet’s name…we have all heard his name mentioned hundreds of times before…but do we know what the name means???? Elijah’s name in Hebrew is this….eliyyah or eliyyaku, notice that the name starts with the letters el; this is a time when you cannot let that pass by without being very curious. So, what does that first part of the name mean???   The short answer is that el can be either a prefix or a suffix, meaning God. Now, what about the second part of his name together with the prefix? It means ‘my god is YHWH’  

Now our ancestors in faith would never write nor say the name God as such, because the name contains the person! Out of fear, meaning awe, their respect and reverence for God would automatically cause them to ‘stand back, with face covered’. There is no name for God; that is why we leave out the vowels when we write Y_HW_H (I have omitted the a and the e). The common place name referring to God would be Adonai…. which means Lord! However, other names referring to God, for example, el shaddai, which means, God of the Mountains, or God most High, or Almighty God, comes with another window of knowing, because the name has much to do with the experience of being on a high mountain; looking at the view etc…what does it do to us? It catches our breath and causes us to GAZE……. into the moment. So that holistic experience is contained in the name…Almighty God………el-shaddai. So, names in Hebrew, especially referring to God, contain a human experience which is part of the description of that aspect of God. There is no name that can express the fullness of God in God’s completeness.

Let’s look at the next part of the Prophet’s name……iyyah or yyahu; this is a very tricky name because the only English translation that makes any sense is….my God is YHWH as I have mentioned already. So therefore, we can safely say that the way Elijah, and his community put together the Book of these experiences, and the way it is written, having been sensitive to the stirrings of the Spirit at the time, means that Elijah was deeply committed to the Lord God. Moreover, he is deeply aware of the marriage contract initiated by the Lord God, which his life depends, on the ‘life’ which springs forth from the hearth or inner fireplace of God’s all-powerful Word within him, and within his community.

Now let’s move into the details of the story, not for historical purposes, but for deep spiritual outcomes which pose an enormous challenge to Israel – to us!

Firstly, the text says that ‘Elijah went off to Sidon’…Question: What for? Was it a holiday, or a shopping spree? Absolutely no, he was urged by the Spirit to go to this place, and be the ‘living message’ as his name implied, and proclaim a renewal or a better word is metanoia, meaning an absolute turning upside down in lifestyle, among the people. The spirit filled aim was to bring about a return of the people of Sidon to the Lord God, and be strengthened from the ‘life’ of this ‘God’ who initiated the marriage Covenant with His people; from which comes the life of living water in them.

Back to the Old Testament text, when Elijah reached the city gate, he asked a woman to get him something to drink and eat. From our 21st Century perspective, this request seems a bit rude and pompous! But no, it has a very different meaning at the time this text was written. The people of the Ancient Near East were extremely hospitable people, as they are to this day. It would have been a very normal occurrence in those days…even that is a lesson for all time; it is from within normal events and interactions that God speaks to us. So, with that in mind what does he ask for? You see we must always be curious for the hidden meanings…. Elijah asks for water…… (A rich Biblical symbol for LIFE! Also, he asks for some bread! (Another rich Biblical symbol…. the Manna in the desert…. The Prophet Ezekiel ate a scroll of God’s Word as a symbolic action of the digesting of God’s Word which was seen as food – bread!) as a public symbolic action.

It seems that the Widow, poor as she was, in fact was rich in spirit! She quotes God’s Word back to Elijah, not as a smart remark, but as a response to God speaking through his spokesperson – Elijah. The ‘spirit filled widow’ gives not what was left over, but what she had….an admirable response…. let’s hang onto this when we prayerfully read the Gospel for this Sunday….it is a major link or bridge between the two readings.

Finally, the widow returns, and the text says ‘the woman went and did as Elijah told her, and they ate the food, she, himself, and her son’ indicating that God’s bounty always surprises and provides for our needs, over and above what we want. (The miracle of the loaves and fishes is another fine example in the New Testament of God’s bounty, especially with its Eucharistic overtones.)

Now, at this stage a cup of Coffee might go down well……. Let’s move into the Gospel; a very challenging message for us these days.

Here we have an extraordinary contrast in spirituality; we have the Scribes presented to us as the ones who know all about God’s Law, and then we have a poor Widow living God’s Law; just like the poor lady in the first reading. But Jesus makes a very important point that our ways of being a ‘show off” are not God’s ways. The kind of exhibition that Jesus eludes too by some of the Scribes, also smacks of arrogant behavior. Well, we can safely say that the faces have changed, but the message remains the same! This kind of outward ‘showing off’ has nothing to do with God, but plenty to do with very needy and power consuming people. This kind of attitude can be like a cancer within the Christian Community; it has the latent energy to eat away at happiness and joy, in favor of being standoffish, legalistic, and unapproachable. This lived attitude as well as being desperate in calling people to order, and addressing leaders with a plethora of honorific titles, puts invisible chains on people’s legs. Conversation and delegation go right out the window! Everything must get a tick of approval from on high, or a red card is given, which is the entry ticket into the sin bin! This kind of atmosphere can be halted when the relevance of the Church, and the way it conducts itself, is called into question by ‘the poor’ of the Lord God. People like the poor lady in the first reading, and the giving to others as was the widow’s mighty mite in the Gospel, speak volumes about true and sincere adhering to and living in obedience to God’s law. (Obedience being the listening to God’s creative Word with body, mind, and soul)

Sadly, I believe that when the finances run short in the Church, there will be a concerted effort to return to the true Christian image of God’s foot washers! All the glamour as presented in and through a real lack of a sense of occasion for the Church of the “now” will only perpetuate a ghetto mentality of superior and domineering people who lack love, truth, humility, forgiveness, and joy. Food for thought!!!

However, it is not all doom and gloom, the ongoing story of a ‘giving attitude’ without counting the cost is repeated daily in our communities, and so often ever so quietly. The spate of natural disasters over the last couple of years brings people to their knees in seeing what is valuable and important in life.

The Covid Pandemic throughout the world has turned our lives upside down! The many positive outcomes from our lockdowns have re tuned us to the important issues in life. Time and time again, there are unsung heroes going on quietly and lovingly. Only two weeks ago when those dreadful Mega storms rage through Europe leaving behind a trail of misery, heartbreak, and homelessness. We saw on the Television news the inspiring acts of giving and loving to others.

These days it seems that one of the costliest items we possess is ‘time’. Yet, repeatedly, we see many people who do not count the cost, offer their unbounded generosity of “time” to others. In our Celebration of the Eucharist this weekend, now that we can have more people present, our God offers us His Word and Sacrament, freely. The cost of this was pure sacrifice….” This is my body which will be given up for you…This cup is the new covenant in my blood which will be poured out for you.”  Luke 22:19-20.

We give thanks to God for the tremendous generosity and sacrifice, which people freely give to one another, which is the ‘life-blood’ of our missionary Parish communities. May this good work of love, continue to mold and fashion us, into the image of Christ.

OUR FAMILY PRAYER TIME………

Leader:  Bountiful God, you take care of the lowly ones and those in need. We are confident that when we speak our prayers you answer them with abundance.

That the Church beware of pretentiousness and eyes closed to the lowly. We pray to the Lord: Lord, graciously hear us.

That the leaders of the world beware of using their power for anything but the good of all. We pray to the Lord: Lord, graciously hear us.

That widows, orphans, and strangers be supported, protected, and received with generosity. We pray to the Lord: Lord, graciously hear us.

That we contribute generously from both our surplus and our poverty. We pray to the Lord: Lord, graciously hear us.

That the outcomes from the Glasgow Climate Summit will be taken seriously for the future of our planet. May those Countries who emit massive amounts of Co2 who failed to turn up at the Summit, be keenly aware of their obligation to act on these outcomes. We pray to the Lord: Lord, graciously hear us.

Let’s think back over the past week, and what we have seen on the T. V News, Breaking News on our Mobile Phones, iPad & tablets…. who are some of the people in our Global village or need our prayers? You might like to share some of these…………., We pray to the Lord: Lord, graciously hear us.

Leader: O God, you hear the cries of the poor and reach out to those in need: hear these our prayers and help us always to rely on you for what we need. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

BREAKING OPEN GOD’S WORD AT THE ROUND TABLE OF MANY HANDS.

Do you know people among your friends who might like to be fed from God’s Word while at home?

Why not pass on our blog address? Here it is: https://realhomilies.wordpress.com/

 

31st Sunday year B, 2021. The Lord Jesus is inviting you to partake of His Word at the round table of many hands. Fr Kevin Walsh from Sydney Australia has set the table for us. No RSVP is required, just turn up, with an open heart, just as you are.

 kevin.w3@bigpond.com  https://realhomilies.wordpress.com/

All of us have a tremendous capacity to love! It is and can be the most explosive force within our universe! Its power can build enduring vectors of relationships, which can radiate extraordinary light and warmth, which nurture the building blocks of solid and all-embracing community-life in Christ! Remember the great American actor Christopher Reeve who was famous, as you know for his portrayal of Superman in the movies.

However, because of a fall from a horse, he ended up in a wheelchair, paralysed from the neck down. He said he got 100,000 letters of sympathy and support from people. This led him to ask: ‘Why does it take a tragedy before we show our appreciation for one another?’ Well, that is the big question!! It is unfortunately true!

Over the last forty seven years, I have presided at hundreds of Funerals. Sometimes it takes the death of a loved one to bring about Family Reconciliations. Over the years I have heard many Eulogies, and I have often asked myself the question: “I wonder if the deceased person has heard even half of what was said about them in their lifetime?” I don’t really have an answer to that question of mine, but I would not be too surprised if it is true to some extent.

In the ‘high tech’ times in which we live, we are surrounded by wonderful systems of communication; yet are we able to have more time for each other, love for each other, and accept each other’s differences? Again, when there is a tragedy anywhere in the world, within second’s outpourings of grief and extraordinary stories appear on Face book! However, the social media can also be the vehicle for evil and extortion, using the iPhone or Tablet as a coward’s pulpit!

So often when we go to the shops or professional services, we are forced to take a number, and join the never-ending queue, or hear the words on the ‘phone,’ Your call is important to us, you have progressed in the queue’ please hold on! Unfortunately, we are experiencing more than usual calls. Approximate waiting time is 45 minutes! For what? Then in frustration, you might hang up! In your mind you are saying to yourself, “all I want to do is speak to someone…not a robot”

The twofold commandment to love God, and our neighbours, which we hear from the lips of Jesus in this weekend’s Gospel, echo the very same words found in the Old Testament Book of Deuteronomy 6:4., and in Leviticus 19:18.  Yet, this twofold commandment was almost smothered within the 613 commandments of the Jewish ‘law’!! At this point we need to go back to the Old Testament reading and reflect upon it very deeply.

Notice that in the pronouncement of the commandment there is Invitatory to LISTEN! Then built on this listening is a sense of urgency to implement it. The icon or image where the implications of the great commandment reside, is in the heart! It seems that we could safely say that the overall icon or image displayed throughout the Scriptures is the heart! Then the total confirmation of this image is the Cross, with its base deeply embedded within the heart. Let us explore this for a few moments so that its impact can permeate our whole being.

In all civilizations of the world, the heart has a dominant place. Being the central organ in the body, the heart is the centre of ‘Life’; its function enables the entire body to ‘Live’. The heart has been and still is the main symbol for ‘Love.’ That in itself is very telling…. without love, nothing works! Nothing is sustained, nothing develops. A heartless person is devoid of human feelings, is hardened to the plight of the ‘suffering’ in this world, and has lost the sense of compassion. Unfortunately, in our world the heartless acts perpetrated by some people get the headlines, inherit the ‘breaking news’ slots in the media, and tend to dominate Thriller Novels and late-night Movies. So, does that mean that hard heartedness is on the front line of human advancement? I believe that the short answer is no! The countless millions of heartfelt people far outweigh its opposite. People with big hearts, do not go looking for publicity, people who are awash with love do not make the headlines on digital media or Television News time. Occasionally, a short segment of true love is shown on Current Affairs Program’s as a kind of a Postscript or appendix, just to give a little reminder that the world’s people are not all bad…………..

I think that we need to dwell on the imperative given in the Old Testament Reading of today, when it says: ‘LISTEN ISRAEL’ it is more than saying, ‘Pay attention!’ It means, Children of El… Meaning children of God listen with body, mind, and spirit….’holistic listening’……which is really Biblical Obedience! This is a far more positive and embracing concept of Obedience, then leaving it just with the following of Rules (well trained Dogs can do that) …or quoting Rules. So, in terms of loving, how does Biblical obedience come into the full picture of loving? According to the Scriptures: Listening to the truth in humility, is the precursor for us to genuinely love as God loves. Humility here is more like ‘poverty of spirit’ which is that constant hunger and thirst for hearing God’s Word and digesting it. It can be a very arrogant statement to say we speak the truth in love! Unless it is grounded in humility; maybe for us who are on the way, it might better be said, ‘Listening to the Truth in Humility’.

Finally, in an attempt to answer the big question: ‘Why does it take a tragedy to happen before we show our appreciation for one another?’  We so often leave it too late to love, and then we are full of regrets. We wait until it is too late to tell or show others that we love them. We often leave it too late to mend a quarrel, too late to enjoy health or the gift of our children or our parents. It seems that if we are going to be on time, we need to be listening to God while our hearts are being touched, and that we in turn respond in the ‘now’ not maybe; and then the words of Jesus to the scribe in today’s Gospel are then spoken to us: ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God’.

 

Your are invited to partake at the round Table of God’s Word! You are cordially invited by the Lord Jesus, to share in the breaking of the Bread of The Word, with like minded companions. The table of many hands has been set by Fr Kevin Walsh, Sydney Australia for the 29th Sunday year B 2021. kevin.w3@bigpond.com https://realhomilies.wordpress.com/

Today’s Gospel is a real cracker! It puts the so-called climb for glamour, ambition, and cold-hearted authority right in a box where it should belong, and with a lid on top of it never to be lifted……but oh no, once again we can say…’ the faces have changed, but the message remains the same.” Repeatedly, the lid gets lifted off that box, and its contents get an airing.

It has always been part of human nature and still is today, when we try and wangle opportunities in our favour, in terms of climbing the professional ladder, getting more kudos, because we have taken a substantial risk or given so much time or capital to given causes. Jesus presents us with a real blockbuster response when it comes to following him! Let’s have a look at it, through the eyes of the First Reading from the Old Testament, and the Gospel.

Readings: Isaiah 53:10-11. Gospel Mark 10:35-45

In the Old Testament Reading, we see that the Community of Isaiah, in digesting the Word of God and then proclaiming it, has a very curious blueprint for success. Suffering!!! This is completely contrary to the way ingrained human nature thinks, with its genetic formula of success in getting to the top; success is often wielding cold authority; success is in being served! As we look at the Old Testament Reading from another angle, it would seem that “the suffering” ascribed to is seen as failure in the eyes of the world. The question can then be put: – ‘What can we learn from the experience of suffering?’ It would seem from the Biblical point of view, and that is what matters here, is that we truly have the opportunity to listen! To listen to ourselves, and the ability to really listen to others, and the capability of being able to listen to God.

If we strive to live for the opposite to this formula from God’s Word; we are truly then formed in the ways of the world and can become part of the dog-eat-dog approach to everything. We have all seen this, maybe even experienced it from both sides, and the atmosphere which these kinds of ambitions create, is that of arrogance, selfishness, control, and personal narcissism; ‘the world revolves around me syndrome.’ All that glitters isn’t gold! In the evening time of my years, as I look back and see the ‘now’ I would say that people like this are more like water striders on top of a pond…. flitting over the water to stand momentarily on a Lilly leaf, but never really exploring the extraordinary and magnificent world beneath their feet.

On the other hand, Jesus makes it quite clear that true greatness is found within servant hood. Christ entered Servanthood has its roots deeply imbedded in Biblical listening, and true poverty of Spirit. Let’s just pause for a moment on the meaning of ‘poverty of spirit’. This vital Biblical concept forms the backbone for the Anawim…that is the ‘poor of the Lord God’…. the faithful who hungered and longed for the promises of the Lord God to be fulfilled. The ‘faithful’ who hung onto and lived the tenants of the Marriage covenant, initiated by the Lord God with Abraham and Moses, and reinforced by the Old Testament Prophets with their vision, hope and direction. The Virgin Mary typifies the Anawim of the Lord God….’Let what you have said be done unto me…’  Mary is the absolute example of the true ‘faith-response.’ She epitomised ‘Servanthood’…. not being over concerned with herself, but deeply committed to her ageing cousin, Elizabeth.’ For true Servanthood expresses itself in total ‘ otherness’ without the loss of self, while pondering these mysteries within the heart.

True Servanthood does not look for suffering; suffering is found within Servanthood. This element is always a refining component, it is the true catalyst for Biblical love which makes new, enables the best in others and brings about the will of God, and welcomes unconditionally all people into God’s family. The growth in, and living of Biblical Servanthood, rests on a certainty which is foreign to worldly standards. Having an inner silver thread of God’s unfailing love within us, Servanthood does not outwardly guarantee greatness as the world sees it. That being the case, and in the 21st Century, we live with more uncertainty than ever before in world history. We live in times where many people in the world who has access to the Internet can not only view our suburb, but our house and garden on Google from any place in the world. Every financial transaction that is made through Credit or Debit Card can be tracked. Every ‘phone call, email or text message can be viewed many months after they have been sent. Some Nations in our Global Village have the capacity to destroy every living thing on our planet! From within us, comes a latent desire for certainty, and this lives deep inside the human Psychic. Often within a social climate like this, subterranean actions come to the surface taking the faces of ultra conservative movements because conditions are ripe; ways of doing things become scrupulously exact, so that we can totally have within our power, the certainty of things that pertain to God, especially manifested in Law. Unfortunately, a bi- product of this ‘sticking to the letter of the law’ is the dissolving of the ‘spirit’ and a cold elementalism, which smacks of arrogance, in the face of our ‘thinking’ sisters and brothers in society. Unfortunately, but not unexpected, this is sometimes practiced and lived within the Church to some extent, when shepherd leadership gives way to the wearing of longer phylacteries and being greeted obsequiously in the market squares with titles of honour, and perfunctory laws which cross every T, and dot every I, from living Rituals to Pastoral Letters which read like raw Government Gazettes.

As the People of God, we are called to be free, to be faithful in Jesus, as Servants of the Word. Laws and Regulations which try to monitor every movement of the follower of ‘The Way’ can be nothing short of modern-day Pharisees at their computers, and some of these core practices Jesus condemned vehemently. The external expression of this spiritual cancer is so often manifested in the plethora of Hierarchical titles, clothing to match, and self-centeredness, which scorns the ‘Poor of the Lord God’ as being ignorant, and unworthy Prophets of the Word.

Having been ordained as a minister of Word and Sacrament for 47 years, and being formed in Post Vatican II visions and goals, and as we are celebrating 60 years since the opening of the council, I have seen a kind of pulling back from the Council’s overall vision, lest it gets out of control. I use the word control here in a specific way, namely the Spirit’s Vision getting to far ahead for the people steering the Carriage. Coupled with greater underlying uncertainty in our world, the culture is just right for retroactive slowing down in embracing the daring vision of the Gospel and gives the green light for scrupulously exact liturgical practice and laws which can stifle the Spirit’s movements and crush the inspiring thrills for daring Christians. Running hand in hand with this is sadness, lack of joy and a misguided creeping towards superstition, in order to harness lost mystical experience and wonder. One of the great sayings of St. Teresa, which raised a few eyebrows at the time of her Beatification, was…” Lord, save me from silly devotions and sour faced saints…”  It says it all doesn’t it? Gloominess and cold Rubrics often go hand in hand; warmth and a real sense of community in worship, is often a sign that it is real, living and Liturgy!

It’s not all doom and gloom! Throughout world history and today, God’s Holy Spirit can always outwit our handmade speed humps, which we built so as we can enforce our angle on truth and authenticity. Pockets of daring Christians pop up all over the world responding to the Spirit’s invitations to renew the face of the earth. Often this happens within areas of great suffering where joy abounds. Many Founders of Religious Orders had to deal with all kinds of persecution from those whom they would have thought would listen, and foster God’s new deed being done. One of the many profound themes which run through some of the Letters of St. Paul is: – Joy in the midst of Suffering. See, we are back to the theme in the First Reading and Gospel of today; the Cross is always in the forefront of change and growth within God’s people.

The Gospel today underlines the two-sided coin of Our Lord’s call to us in mission……Servanthood/The Cross! I think that this Missionary activity is summed up ever so beautifully in the Blessing from Iona Abbey at the conclusion to this Blog….let’s renew our commitment to be Servants of one another, living the Cross and Passion of Jesus, the greatest sign of God’s love.

Blessing is taken from the Iona Abbey Sacramentary, Scotland.

The Cross!

WE SHALL TAKE IT.

The bread……………

WE SHALL BREAK IT.

The pain

WE SHALL BEAR IT.

The joy………………

WE SHALL SHARE IT.

The Gospel……………

WE SHALL LIVE IT.

The love…………

WE SHALL GIVE IT.

The light……………

WE SHALL CHERISH IT.

The darkness…………….

WE SHALL PERISH IT. Amen.

 

Breaking open God’s Word for the 28th Sunday Year B, 2021, hosted by the Lord Jesus at the table of many hands. Fr Kevin Walsh, Sydney Australia. kevin.w3@bigpond.com https://realhomilies.wordpress.com/

Today’s Gospel gives us Jesus’ teaching on the dangers of attachment to riches, and he speaks about the rewards awaiting those who put him and his message before their earthly ambitions, of building up their wealth on earth.

The first obvious thing in today’s gospel, Mark 10:17-30 is that the young man seemed to be a particularly good person. He was most respectful to Jesus, and he was honest in his search for eternal life. He had kept all the commandments since his youth, and Jesus looked on him with love. To all appearances, he was an ideal person. Yet, without condemning him, Jesus just had to show him something about himself of which he may have been very unaware. He was too dependent upon his wealth, and therefore without knowing it, he was not absolutely free! Jesus invited him to freedom, but the cost was too much for him. So, what did the young man lack in his life seeing that he had seemingly led a fairly good life? The answer is in the first reading today. So, let’s have a look at it. Wisdom 7:7-11

The author of this Old Testament Reading speaks about an interior value that supersedes a fat wallet, and millions of $$$$’s in the Bank Account. Notice that it is a feminine characteristic of God…. WISDOM. Well, what does Biblical Wisdom mean? Firstly, it is a Spirit filled Gift which we need to ask for…. Wisdom is somewhat like a nice Red Wine….it matures with age. However, it needs good intentions from the one who wishes to acquire it. As Biblical Wisdom matures, it enables us to discern what is of lasting value, what is of temporary value and what is rubbish! In fact, according to the Scriptures, God-given-Wisdom is the most valuable spiritual possession one can have in this life. If it becomes part of our bone marrow, Wisdom will guide us, challenge us, and strengthen us. In order to engage the Gift of Wisdom, a simple rule of thumb can help us…. SEE, JUDGE AND ACT! This motto was the core of a Youth Movement which I belonged too as a teenager, and I have never forgotten it.

The response to the Psalm 89:12-17 Fill us with your love, O Lord and we shall sing for joy. The Prayer sentiments in this Psalm are a great community response to the first Reading…. if we took on board the prayer in this psalm…. our only response would be: – Fill us with your love, O Lord and we shall sing for joy.

Now, let’s hang on to the SEE, JUDGE AND ACT trio; you might find it handy as well. Let’s apply it to the young man in the Gospel story today. Let’s ask the obvious question: Why did he go away from Jesus sad? Most probably because he lacked Wisdom to discern the all-embracing gift that Jesus was offering him. He couldn’t see it! So, Wisdom might have a great deal of meaning when it comes to seeing someone, who is the saving hand of God at work in Jesus. It could well be said to be the 1^st cousin of faith! Food for Thought! So, let’s get a balance on Our Lord’s view on wealth.

There is nothing wrong with wealth, or with being wealthy. Some of the world’s greatest people, who have given much of themselves to others, have been very wealthy people. So, it’s all about our attitude and inner secret attachment or detachment that matters, which gives us the freedom to embrace the Gospel fully, or due to enslavement to riches, we can walk away sad!

Well what kind of poverty is Jesus speaking about, when he says that we should have a sense of detachment from things in order to be absolutely free? The answer is ‘poverty of spirit’ which is a spiritual gift. It is that genuine thirst for God and a hunger to seek God, and in living that spirit, our attitude towards material things and people take on a new meaning.

Poverty of spirit enables us to be open minded to what God asks of us. It flavours our life so much that we are deeply appreciative of our inner gifts and can tune into the richness within other people without being jealous or envious of them.

Poverty of spirit is an inner truth which sets us free, to use the gifts that our world provides, with a sense of appreciation and moving on, and not wanting to cling on to what we have got as a source of true identity and self-esteem. After all, when it is all said and done, a burial shroud has no pockets! Something to think about! When I was clothed in the Passionist Habit in 1968, there were no pockets in it, because it was a black burial shroud!

However, very inconvenient when you felt a sneeze coming on, and one could not get to the pockets in our shorts under the habit to get a handkerchief, or hanky as we used to call them; often it was a nuclear explosion!

We give thanks to God who alone is good, for his Son, Jesus Christ. By handing over his body and blood for us, Jesus gives us everything; and turning on us his look of love, he says: ‘Do this in memory of me.’

Prayed by Brother Charles De Foucauld

 

Easter Sunday 2019. A realhomilie from Fr Kevin Walsh, Sydney Australia. kevin.w3@bigpond.com The Resurrection, the triumph of the Father.

Easter Sunday is with us again! Is it with a sigh of relief that we have a ‘break’ at this time of the year? Is it just another Sunday? Is it just another time of the year for the commercial world to make more money using a solemn Christian Feast to make more Dollars?

Resurrection implies new life! This is the gift we receive every morning when we wake up! Today is a totally different day from yesterday. Part of something being a gift is that someone gives, someone else receives, and there is no price tag attached. If there is a snag, it is that God gives me nothing for myself! If God gives me the gift of life today, it is because I can be a life-giving person to someone else. The Easter Liturgy celebrates the Father re breathing ‘life’ into His Son, and that ‘new life’ is to be shared among all people, and by all people.

Easter is about hope; it is unthinkable that a Christian should even entertain the ideas of hopelessness, even when we live in a world, which thrives, and makes money on bad news! Jesus triumphed over darkness, sin and death, and in the words of St. Paul, ‘having given us Christ Jesus, will the Father not surely give us everything else?’ There is a tremendous need for people of hope in today’s world, and in today’s Church, because the doomsday prophets have never had it so good! One notable Shepherd in the Church said that we Christians are under siege! What rubbish! The whole Christian way of life has been under siege since the crucifixion of Jesus! However, Easter Sunday is the answer to those who claim that we are under siege! Jesus said, @ I am sending you out as lambs among wolves…’ So what new! Sensationalism of the moment, and it can be seen as a tactic to win favour and solace from others. St. Peter wrote these words to the early Christian community: ‘Always have an explanation to give to those who ask you the reason for the hope that you have.’ Peter had experienced, witnessed, and lived through many a failure, so his point about hope is deeply relevant. I am sure that he is not alone in this regard… surely, we can identify with him!

Easter time is a reminder of our Baptismal responsibilities. We have a very real sign of that within our Parish community with the welcoming and admission of our Elect, into full communion with the Church. We are therefore reminded strongly, that we must be a community of hospitality, a community of mission, a community of Thanksgiving. Underpinning all that, we are as St Paul’s says, ‘planted on love and built on love, so that together with all the Saints we will have the strength to grasp the breadth and the length, the height and the depth; until knowing the love of Christ, which is beyond all knowledge, we are filled with the utter fullness of God.’ Ephesians 3:18.

Easter time in not a ‘one off time’ to celebrate Christ Our Light! Easter time offers an enormous challenge to everyone. Do we personally believe in the community, which we call the Church, to that point of wanting to really know, and care about each other? Or are we sometimes tempted to see the Sacramental life of the Church as some kind of Spiritual Service Station, where we fill up every now and then, like we do our cars at the Petrol Station? The Sacramental Community nourishes us, and we are called to nourish it by our active participation in every way possible.

We pray that through this Easter Season, we will be stronger in our hope, lively in our love for one another, and sensitive to see, with the eyes of faith, the saving hand of God in our lives and within our community.

 

 

Good Friday, 2019, a realhomilie from Fr Kevin Walsh Sydney Australia. ‘It is accomplished!’ kevin.w3@bigpond.com

After Jesus had taken the vinegar, he said: ‘It is accomplished!’

With these words, Jesus gave up his spirit.’

These Words are taken from the Passion of Our Lord according to St. John. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

I wonder what kind of a Messiah the people in Our Lord’s time were really looking for? Was it a Messiah who would gather an army around him, and drive out the foreign occupation of the Romans? Could it have been a Messiah, who would restore the ancient tribes of Israel into one community again? Would it be a Messiah who would spread Israel’s Spirituality by force throughout the known world? The simple answer to all of this is: – NO! None of these……

From the poverty of the stable in Bethlehem, to the cruelty of Crucifixion, Jesus, the Human face of the Father, was the Messiah who ruled in loving service; not from the stance of power and glory! Jesus the radical Son of His Father, Jesus the new ‘trend setter’ of loving outreach to the ‘poor’ and to those who lived on the fringes of society. Jesus the daring Son of the Father, who was not afraid to break traditional Religious rules, if they got in the way of loving unconditionally! Jesus was not tied up and paralysed by Religious Customs which saw God’s Governance in black and white terms, and unforgiving practices, which created an image of a cruel God, a power filled God, or an untouchable God. Jesus challenged all those images!

Jesus, through his birth in the stable, and then taking on the status of a Refugee, entered into the mess of this world! A Mess whose answers could not fit into neat tidy boxes of Religion’s way of seeing the world, through pompous and arrogant lenses. Jesus, saw the world and its people through the Eyes and Heart of His Father. This way of seeing the world and its people, was new, it was real, it was true, and it was forgiving and loving!

Jesus the Messiah, could truly say the opening words of our Homily today…….’It is accomplished’….

Can we say with all our heart, ‘It is it accomplished’? If we say YES!!! That means that we are taking the responsibility given to us at our Baptism, to be Christ in our World. The YES that we say, is not like a yes that we would say for a Bucket full of KFC! It is a serious yes! It is a solemn yes! It is a challenging yes! It’s an exciting yes!

It is a thrilling yes, because we are not called to take up the Cross daily just by ourselves! We are called to take up OUR Cross daily……that means a community project, not just for now, but for always. Christians are not lone rangers…….we are a Community, we are a group, WE ARE the living Body of Christ. With this ‘community strength’, we must act ‘as one body’ in responding to our sisters and brothers in our midst. As a community we must act as one body in our loving outreach to those who are in personal, family and International difficulty.

As a community we are to serve each other like Jesus ministered to His apostles, by washing their feet, prior to celebrating the Passover meal; the meal of Christ’s body. We, as a community in Christ, are called to be Foot washers of the Lord! We are not called to be self-centred, or grasping for only that which satisfies us. We are not called to be a community of Christ who has no backbone…..which is courage! We are not called to be a Community who has no wishbone….which is hope, and above all we are not called to be a community of sad sacks who have no funny bone. We are called to live life to the fullest in every way, and to be strong, to be hopeful and to have a sense of humour, and be funny.

Good Friday, places the suffering Servant into our minds, hearts and hands…..Our yes, has the most serious consequences for a life which is open to all that God asks of us. We fail, if we put conditions on our YES to Christ, we pass with flying colours when our Yes to Christ has no conditions. Following the faith response of Mary the Mother of Jesus, Mary the Mother of the Church, our YES, like hers, is open to the endless designs of God for us.

I would like to conclude with a verse from a Song, composed by John Michael Talbot, using the words of the great St Therese….

Christ has no body now but yours, no hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes through He looks compassion on this world, yours are the feet with which He walks to do good. Yours are the hands with which He blesses all the world.

 

In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

 

 

Holy Thursday realhomilie from Fr Kevin Walsh, Sydney Australia. We are the Lord’s Footwashers. kevin.w3@bigpond.com

Jesus said, ‘If I, then, the Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you should wash each other’s feet’.

Hospitality towards each other, is one of the most beautiful and respectful gifts that we can offer to one another. One does not have to go to some fancy, expensive Restaurant to expect genuine hospitality! There is no price tag on proper hospitality. There is an ordinary Fish and Chip Shop not far from where we live. However, it is not ordinary, it is extraordinary! Apart from the scrumptious Fish that they cook and sell, which melts in one’s mouth, and the delicious Chips made from real potatoes, and not some kind of fake potato; the respectful smiles, the welcome that customers are given, tells us that the food is prepared with an essential ingredient, which you can’t buy in Woolworths….it is called LOVE.

The Celebration of Holy Thursday is part of a triptych; Thursday, Friday and Sunday….. That is a threefold picture of Hospitality, Deep Love and New Life.
In the Gospel reading today, we see Jesus doing an action of well-known hospitality! Washing the feet of his guests, his friends, his companions. This customary action is never just attending to cleaning feet, so that there is no dirt on the Carpet! Now, this action has more to it than meets the eye. Let’s go deep sea diving into this hospitality ritual, which Jesus, by his words and actions, has made this washing of feet……Sacramental!

The washing of Feet cannot be seen as not connected to the Eucharist. It is connected to the real understanding of trust, humility, tenderness, respect and new life. The ritual action of the washing of the feet, is a unique connection between the one washing and the one being washed. Our feet are literally the gateway to our whole body. The way that the washing is done, is done with deep consciousness, respectful attitude and spiritual intimacy. Jesus calls us to follow his example in the fullest sense of the action, and wash each other’s feet.

When we literally get down on our knees before someone that is a gesture of real trust! Remember, when Moses was confronted with the Angel of the Lord in the Burning Bush, Chapter 3 of the Book of Exodus? Moses was asked to take off his sandals, which was an act of trust! The angel of the Lord said that he was on Holy Ground! What made that ground Holy? The answer would seem to be that the conversation taking place on the ground……the earth from which we were made, is a ground breaking experience of communion with the Lord God…….hence, the ground and place is Holy because of it.

The action of Jesus, was a ground breaking conversation of trust, love and service. In short, we are called to be Foot washers of the Lord! We are not called to overpower others by having Christ’s living Body subordinate to us! We are called to be genuine, real, Christ like Servants. In the new order of things, initiated by Jesus, we are cautioned not be part of a dog eat dog society, and we are not called to be ladder climbers……particularly in the Church. We are not called to be superior beings in charge of lesser beings. In the eyes of God, we are all on the ground floor……there are no top dogs, or top shelf treatment!

Holy Thursday’s message is a clarion call to all of us, to not only imitate what Jesus did in the washing of the Disciples feet, but to see Christ in those who feet we wash! This is a radical invitation because its ramifications are to turn us, and the people of the world upside down……to see other people, not as objects, but as respectful jewels within the Crown of Christ. The deep message of the washing of the feet, demands that there are no ifs and buts when it comes to acceptance of others; they must be approved of just as they are, not what we would want them to be.

The Celebration of the Lord’s Supper reaches its climax within the overwhelming dispositions that we bring to it. If we have not been washing each other’s feet in our daily life…, we have missed the boat in experiencing the full import of the Lord’s Supper, and the ongoing Mission entrusted to us.

The Celebration of the ‘real presence’ of Jesus is three fold. We hear God’s Word full of invitations, every time that we listen, it always invites our response, which has the power to change us. We do not come to the Celebration of the Eucharist like we would go to a Service Station to fill our Cars up with Petrol, to keep us on the road! We arrive at the Celebration of the Eucharist as living members of Christ’s Body, to be nourished by His Word, from the Eucharist and from the faith community. We are then sent out to proclaim what we live through our attitudes, actions and hospitality for all…..If we leave our Hospitality for a select group of people, we have then missed the mark, and are not truly convinced that what we are Christ’s living body, and it can be world changing if we do! If it can be world changing! It must change us first!

May our Holy Thursday Liturgy re-ignite us in understanding of the full implications of who washes the feet and whose feet are to be washed? Our celebration this evening, is the entrée for the Celebration tomorrow of the greatest sign of God’s love for us, in the Passion and Death of Jesus.

I would like to conclude by sharing a very wise and true saying from the great St. John Chrysostom, ‘If you cannot find Christ in the beggar at the church door, you will not find him in the chalice.’

Poor old Fr Kev with his constant companion: Shauna

 

Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday & Easter Sunday Year C, 2019. A realhomilie from Fr Kevin Walsh, Sydney Australia. ‘COME, AND JOIN ME’, SAYS THE LORD! kevin.w3@bigpond.com

One week from today is Easter Sunday! We will celebrate the triumph of Jesus over the final enemy … death! It is only correct and just that if we wish to join in the victory, then we should enter into the struggle, which precedes it. During Lent, we have been given the opportunity to reflect upon the quality of our lives in the face of the Lenten Invitation: Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel. To help us in our Lenten response. The Readings for the five Sundays of Lent have given us a great deal of Food for Thought, and ample opportunity to reawaken our inner spirit to follow Christ wholeheartedly. As we said at the beginning of Lent, this is our Spiritual Training time. Any athlete who is serious about staying in ‘good nick’ knows that if the training fades away, we don’t fade away…we just get bigger in body weight and sluggish in most of our ways. The same can apply to our Spiritual life.

Lent is the perfect opportunity to put our Spiritual Fitness First! The rest of the year is not ‘holiday time’ it is all about keeping in practice the lessons and guidelines that we have embraced during Lent. This will help us in a big way to keep us on track till next Lent.

Today, as we receive our Blessed Palm, and give thanks and praise to God, we are given the chance to enter into the spirit of Holy Week. We can take this opportunity to walk with Jesus through this week in all its moods and complexities, and to finally rejoice in the Father’s glory when ‘life’ was re breathed into Jesus His Son: that new life which is offered to everyone which is celebrated on Easter Sunday is refreshed in us.

When we speak about Jesus in the Mass, for example, we use the past tense. “Dying you destroyed our death, rising you restored our life” … “By your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free”. In other words, Jesus has already completed his part of the formula for salvation; now the rest is up to us. Of course, we are not alone in this venture; the Holy Spirit is alive within God’s household, to stir is, guide us and remind us of all that Jesus has said and done. This week is a sacred time; it is up to us whether we wish to enter deeply into the spirit of it or not.

The secular world is well and truly geared up for huge Easter egg sales, Hot Cross Buns, and massive attendances at the Royal Easter Show in Sydney; let alone getaway holidays, BBQ’s at home, and just taking it easy. The beginning and the end of these secular activities is often the $$$$ and relatively short intervals of happiness. … But for us, the end of this week is New Life! A renewed zest in living the Good News, and being part of THE ultimate joy, that God’s plan will always win out, even as it’s opposite forces try to stamp on it. The Faces have changed, but the methods of God, remain the same.

Christ yesterday and today, the beginning and the end, Alpha and Omega; all time belongs to him, and all the ages; to him be glory and power, through every age for ever. Amen 

By his holy and glorious wounds, May Christ Our Lord, guard us and keep us. Amen

May the light of Christ, rising in glory, dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds!

 

When we enter into the Church’s Liturgy at the Easter Triduum … Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil/Sunday, this newness of life and attentiveness to God’s Mission for us must be nourished and sustained. If we take ‘time out’ as family and individuals to make this journey, the results will be far more lasting for us than from a Chocolate Easter Bunny or a dozen Hot Cross Buns! Lent/ Holy Week is the most important time of the year. It’s all about the fortifying of our inner selves; it is about letting God’s Word shape and reshape our Spirituality so that we can deal with the real issues of day to day life as a Christian. If we let Holy Week pass by as just time off from work, holidays, fishing, camping or just laying around at home….we can’t expect our spiritual selves to deal with anything much. In short, as people, we can become just living objects who just exist, and are generally a pain in the neck to most other people, lacking life and drive….vegetables with legs!

There is a time and place for celebration, but it becomes all the more worthwhile when it has been earned through solid attentiveness to Jesus, who invites us to be truly servants of each other; to be responsive to His constant invitation to be with Him in prayer; to walk the Way of the Cross; and to allow the Cross to speak to our hearts. By entering into this mystery, we can rejoice in our God who loves us into life, and gives us the responsibility through our Baptism, to share it with others.

Now is the time to plan our week! Now is decision time! There will be many inviting alternatives, which could take up our time and promise us rewards. However, this is the week of all weeks in which we as a community, can be renewed through prayerfully and seriously walking the road to Calvary together … and then into the light of Resurrection.

Our reward? A greater alertness to the suffering Christ in His people today, and the strength and quality to be ‘Easter People’ in a world where His Word is still to be proclaimed and heard.

May this week be a source of blessing for all of us.

 

PRAYER REFLECTION: What Faith does?

Some people think that if you have enough faith life will be plain sailing. But this is not so.

The fact that we can swim doesn’t prevent us from being knocked about by the waves.

In the same way faith doesn’t shield us

from the hard knocks of life or death.

What, then does faith do?

It gives us bearings, and thus enables us

to live in a fragile world

without getting lost or giving in to despair.

Just as swimmers trust that if they don’t panic,

and if they do a few simple things,

then the power of the sea will uphold them.

So believers entrust their lives

to a greater power than us all.

This power is the creative dynamic of God,

who rebreathed new life into his Son at the moment of His Resurrection! We are called to re breathe new life into our sisters and brothers, our Society, our country, our world!