+ Wednesday 22nd – Scripture, reflection, song tribute and a giggle
22 April 2020
So what’s a knitted blanket doing on the cover picture of today’s Parish Blog post? You mightn’t have seen yesterday’s story about a group of people from Our Lady of the Way parish with a strong spirit of mission about them! They’re part of ‘Wrap with Love’ and they knit gifts of woollen warmth for people across the world who due to various circumstances, are cold. Check out Tuesday’s post which also invited anyone else to join the group.
Tuesday’s first reading from Mass
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles(5:17-26)
The high priest intervened with all his supporters from the party of the Sadducees. Prompted by jealousy, they arrested the apostles and had them put in the common gaol.
But at night the angel of the Lord opened the prison gates and said as he led them out, ‘Go and stand in the Temple, and tell the people all about this new Life.’ They did as they were told; they went into the Temple at dawn and began to preach.
When the high priest arrived, he and his supporters convened the Sanhedrin – this was the full Senate of Israel – and sent to the gaol for them to be brought. But when the officials arrived at the prison they found they were not inside, so they went back and reported, ‘We found the gaol securely locked and the warders on duty at the gates, but when we unlocked the door we found no one inside.’ When the captain of the Temple and the chief priests heard this news they wondered what this could mean. Then a man arrived with fresh news. ‘At this very moment’ he said, ‘the men you imprisoned are in the Temple. They are standing there preaching to the people.’ The captain went with his men and fetched them. They were afraid to use force in case the people stoned them.
The word of the Lord
A song from a funeral at OLOW today
I’m going to share a few simple reflections prompted by that first reading in a brief homily – but first, in place of the responsorial psalm, let’s use this beautiful piece played and sung by a parishioner, Let me explain how this recording came about.
Today, Wednesday, we have a funeral in the church at Emu Plains. It’s a very small funeral due to social distancing regulations so a grieving wife/parishioner, Valerie Plummer, like many in the world at the moment, can only have ten people there, from what is a much bigger network of family and dear friends. As we mentioned at the live stream Easter Vigil Mass here at OLOW church, long term parishioner and St Vincent de Paul member Thomas Plummer, died just before the starting time of that Mass. And his grandson, Luke, was there as part of the small group serving the tasks for that live stream celebration. Luke had received the call 30 mins before we started.
So, now, due to the small numbers permitted for today’s funeral of Tom, Luke’s sister Julia (married with parishioner Mitchell Sutton) and who is a most talented part of OLOW music ministry, recorded her own playing and singing as a tribute to her grandfather for his funeral. Of her magnificently prepared and recorded pieces, I’ve chosen to use the following one here in the Parish Blog post today – because this song was also done by Scott and Erin at the Easter Vigil Mass. It has a real Easter theme of refreshment and life, but inspired by the Old (or First) Testament Book of the prophet Isaiah. You might like to let Julia play and pray this song with you for 2 or 3 minutes of reflection – as we also pray with Valerie and her family who celebrate Tom’s life today.
COME TO THE WATER – played and sung by Julia (explanation above)
Brief Homily
A reflection on the today’ first reading (printed above)
About the following prayer
Let’s just use one part of the Mass prayers here in the Parish Blog post today. Maybe it can be helpful sometimes to use less – just one piece – and take some extra moments to let it touch us in some unexpected way. The following, which is the PREFACE – is that prayer of praise that’s always prayed by the presider/priest at Mass just before the ‘Holy holy’ and ‘Eucharistic Prayer’. There are of course many different Prefaces across the year. This one expresses some of those real Easter themes. It’s quite formal – and a quick revision of a couple of words might help – ‘laud’ means to praise … ‘paschal’ comes from ‘Passover’ and for us refers to Easter. So, now, here’s a suggestion: Try reading it out aloud .. quite strongly … and quite slowly .. and let yourself feel the drama of praise going on. Maybe that’s a bit of the energy and conviction that enthused those early men and women followers of the risen Jesus to take big risks – risks to share the joy and give their lives to a remarkable cause!
Preface
(See the suggestion above regarding using this as part of your prayer today)
It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation,
at all times to acclaim you, O Lord,
but in this time above all
to laud 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.
Closing Prayer from today’s Mass
Let us pray.
Graciously be present to your people, we pray, O Lord,
and lead those you have imbued with heavenly mysteries
to pass from former ways to newness of life.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen
May almighty God bless us – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Just for fun
Okay I obviously need some funnies!
See you in the next post and ..
with friendship in God’s mission,
fr Paul
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Kay Walker
4 years ago
My condolences to the Plummer family. I had tears in my eyes when I heard Julia singing ‘Come to the Waters’. What a really special tribute to her grandfather, especially in these circumstances. Thanks so much for sharing this with us all, Paul, along with today’s first reading and homily reflection.
Patrick n Debra Gleeson
4 years ago
Hello Father Paul,
Debra & I really love what you’re doing with this blog…it’s just lovely every day we get something from you it’s really keeping us connected to the parish and to you and to our other brothers and sisters in the parish. We are celebrating our own version of mass every day… Thank you so much for all the effort you are making and would still like to come and see you for confession one day if it’s possible and we are still waiting for the banking details the money is smoking in our pocket ha ha hah…
Elena Labra
4 years ago
Many thanks to father Paul for the beautiful homilies and song of today’s Mass.
Cecilia Zammit
4 years ago
Thank you Paul for slowing us down to reflect on one reading and to focus on the beautiful Easter words of the preface.
Sending my prayers and love to Valerie, Luke and to Julia and all the family on the loss of Tom.
The hymn was a beautiful tribute-Tom would be very proud that you Julia used your
talents this way. It was a privilege to share in Tom’s funeral in this small way. Blessings to you all and please know Paul how much we appreciate the creative ways you lead us in prayer.
My condolences to the Plummer family. I had tears in my eyes when I heard Julia singing ‘Come to the Waters’. What a really special tribute to her grandfather, especially in these circumstances. Thanks so much for sharing this with us all, Paul, along with today’s first reading and homily reflection.
Hello Father Paul,
Debra & I really love what you’re doing with this blog…it’s just lovely every day we get something from you it’s really keeping us connected to the parish and to you and to our other brothers and sisters in the parish. We are celebrating our own version of mass every day… Thank you so much for all the effort you are making and would still like to come and see you for confession one day if it’s possible and we are still waiting for the banking details the money is smoking in our pocket ha ha hah…
Many thanks to father Paul for the beautiful homilies and song of today’s Mass.
Thank you Paul for slowing us down to reflect on one reading and to focus on the beautiful Easter words of the preface.
Sending my prayers and love to Valerie, Luke and to Julia and all the family on the loss of Tom.
The hymn was a beautiful tribute-Tom would be very proud that you Julia used your
talents this way. It was a privilege to share in Tom’s funeral in this small way. Blessings to you all and please know Paul how much we appreciate the creative ways you lead us in prayer.
What a beaut community contribution comment Cecilia – and sincere thanks for encouraging the platform