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FINALLY I heard in a sermon that “love” in 1 Corinthians 13:13 is not lovey dovey love but charity. And that charity (caritas) is love of God specifically. So when we donate to charities, it is from love of God over all other considerations. Prayer, fasting and almsgiving by themselves serve no purpose. We observe these practices during the Lenten season to grow in love of God.
Alas, no homily. A letter was read about the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal.
Father discussed the mystery of God conquering the world by using the weak and those who seemingly have little or nothing to offer, as Jesus did when He selected four simple fishermen to become His disciples. Jesus then gave us the papacy when He singled out Simon Peter and chose him to be the leader. But before he could begin on this path, Peter had to be humbled and admit his unworthiness. Once he asked Jesus to leave his presence because of his unworthiness, only then would Jesus begin to mold Peter into the man God called him to be.
Focused on Isaiah/Paul/Peter’s excuse-making and Christ’s admonition to the Church: “Put out into the deep.” No. Excuses.
http://hancaquam.blogspot.com/2013/02/go-out-into-deep.html
Fr. Philip Neri, OP
How “time” is orientated around Jesus Christ. The Lord is Alpha and Omega, was there at the beginning and will be there at the end.
Unlike the pagans of old (and of new) time is not endless; without a beginning and an end. And even the most secular of our society has to admit that it is the year 2013…i.e. 2,013 years since the the birth of our Lord and King…Yes even they orientate their lives around the Son of Man!
We had a recorded homily from our Bishop on the topic of the Bishop’s Lenten Appeal, which they insist upon calling the “BLA.” I kept thinking that he keeps talking, but I just keep hearing BLA, BLA, BLA. Can’t we call it the “Lenten Appeal” or “the Appeal” rather than BLA? I would if I can expect a recorded homily from Archbishop Fulton Sheen next weekend?
The immoral zeitgeist may be characterized as “do what thou wilt”, a maxim of some Satanists. In contrast, the Catholic faith may be characterized with the words of Mary at the wedding feast of Cana: “Do whatever he commands you.”
When we follow “do what thou wilt”, we spend the night like Peter, following our own wills in the dark, and coming up empty. When we “do whatever he commands you” or “set out into the deep”, we will be fulfilled extravagantly – 150 gallons of wine, two boat loads of fish filled almost to sinking.
We must prepare ourselves for spiritual battle with the “do what thou wilt” spirit of the age by enlisting the communion of saints and the angels, and making use of the sacraments and sacramentals of Holy Mother Church. If we do this and “do whatever he commands you” and “set out into the deep”, we will be truly fulfilled instead of wandering aimlessly in the dark and coming up empty.
Our pastor actually mentioned ” sin ” in the homily today( even though as he said, it is not a popular or comfortable subject for many parishoners. I was so amazed ( pleasantly so ). I do not remember hearing another sermon where sin was mentioned ( for 13 years at my parish ). I pray that this is a sign of some positive change headed our way . As Padre Pio said ” Pray, hope and don’t worry .” pax et bonum
Yet… “do what thou wilt” was written by St. Augustine (“love and …”) and quoted by the Frenchman Rabelais and the German Michael Ende in his Neverending Story. Having read the latter in childhood where he develops it to a thoroughly Christian outcome, I feel unable to totally repulse that. Even though some English wannabee occultist plagiarized the sentence.
Do what thou wilt… what thou, being a creature of God, really wilt and not only wishest. “Thou must to find thy true will, and nothing is more difficult” — viz. under the influence of sin and if we do not have the Lord’s commandments to stick to and the Church to pronounce (and explain) them to us — as Graógraman tells Bastian in the Desert of Colors.
To topic: Our pastor focused on the Lecture. St. Paul characterizes himself a monstrosity. He is quite a self-confident man on other topics, but seems to have a weak point where the legitimacy of his apostolate is concerned. He then went on to describe how the other Christians in the Early Church must probably have attacked St. Paul, and added that he does not like St. Paul either, as he is an always-in-the-right nuisance and he does not prefer people either who can tell precisely when God called them in a flash. However, what he likes and doesn’t is of no importance, as it is God who calls. God has a wide heart, he even calls the persecutor to the apostolate, and this is also the reason why he (the pastor) stands at the ambo now. God calls some gradually, other perhaps also in a flash. Etc.
Some Christian fundamentalists want a very little-visited, highly moral and probably unalive Church where only who deserve it may receive the Communion. If they had had it their way, he would for long have been thrown out.
I’m not quite sure how far to agree. The invectice described in the last paragraph is quite right in itself, even in that some such people to all probability exist; only, can’t they be misunderstood as, or were they purposely, directed against such orthodox Christians who have legitimate concerns; as directed against the present can. 915, 916 etc.?
But it was an exceptionally and unexpectedly vigorous sermon, that for sure.
We were hit with a snow storm. The stairs to the church weren’t shoveled out. Everyone was standing on the street looking up at the stairs, wondering what to do. Finally, we entered a path that the snow blower had made. We got 30 inches of snow! We followed the path to a side door. I noticed that the priests cars in the drive way were still submerged.
Anyway, the homily was about our three priests who live in the rectory. Father said that it was a good thing that they’re Catholic because after three days of togetherness, they’re ready to kill each other. He said he was glad he chose to be a diocesan priest, and not live in community like a friar or a monk.
The priest said one thing which resonated-Do not pass up Lent! He was encouraging everyone to take advantage of a time of grace.
Lenten discipline isn’t sufficient in itself. The purpose of Lent is to grow in love of God (and neighbor).
Extreme Unction ISN’T some “annointing of the sick”, but rather the LAST RITES — but he introduced this in the context of praying for our seminarians, so that one day we may have a priest at our side for the LAST RITES.
“I know a lot of people who talk about renovating their homes.
How about for Lent you work on renovating your heart.”
Father connected all three readings today by pointing out that Isiah, Paul and Simon all felt unworthy to do what God asked of them. In all three cases, their faith and God’s grace pulled them through. He also referred to Bl. Mother Theresa saying that not all of us are called to do great things, so we should do small things with great love.
Re: Thoscole: In our diocese, it’s called “Returning God’s Gifts” which I always find slightly corny, but it’s better than BLA, at least.
We had a homily on radical conversion of heart. Isaiah, Peter and Paul were all unworthy and were all called by God to mission. They had a radical conversion of heart. Too often these days Catholics come to Mass and go through the motions calculating how much they can get away with and still get to heaven. We are all called to a radical conversion which means giving up our dedication to sin and putting away those things that prevent us from turning to God.
Right after the Homily our pastor blessed a couple who celebrated their 68 wedding anniversary. He read a beautiful blessing which proclaimed how man and women were made in God’s image and made for each other. It compared the conventional union of man and woman, sanctioned by God, analogously to Christ’s union with the Church.
From a spiritual directee of St. Padre Pio: “The way to sainthood is…charity, charity, charity.”
Fell asleep for part (Not the sermon, I’m behind ón exam corrections) but clear distinct part that lents acoming,
so
Ash wednesday is a fastday by the church’s rules, fasting NOT an optional extra, NOT only for those who can manage to get to mass/get ashed, etc etc
Friday abstinence ditto
3. Confession available daily, 7/7 , at specified time(s)
If you like to hear Archbishop Nienstedt sing, I guess it was an OK sermon. Annual Catholic Appeal. I might just give my money to the Franciscan Brothers of Peace. They do good work.
As usual, Father gave a most inspiring homily this morning, but his two points about sin really stood out…
1. Legality does NOT dispense sinfulness.
2. Regardless of our nation’s legal system, there is NO sinfulness that happens with impunity (we will be punished as a nation, as a society, as a people if we continue to sin without repentance, regardless if we make that sinful act OK by law).
He concluded that we all need to consciously acknowledge our sinfulness & weakness, repent and accept God’s call to do His will, just like Isaiah, Paul and Peter did.
Actually went to Mass twice. Cannot recall what the deacon had to say this morning; he was reading something. He did not mention Lent I am pretty sure.
But then went to a Byzantine Divine Liturgy (only my second time) and Father explained about Lent and the Great Fast and the need and purpose of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. There was a special rite of forgiveness and the small communtiy feeling was wonderful. Father is actually going to conduct an adult education class himself! He comes from out of town but not too far away; this is like a little mission of his home parish. I liked it. I liked having a teaching and no silly songs.
Well, the short homily had a very good message – that all three readings were about unworthiness, and how when God calls you, no matter how unworthy you are, God will make you worthy for His purposes. A great message, actually.
However, the rest of the sermon, we were forced to watch a DVD, projected on an overhead screen above the altar! It was our Archbishop Vlazny promoting his “Sharing our Faith, Shaping our Future” Campaign, and it featured interviews with Catholic students, a retired priest and members of the deaf community. Then, we were all handed out envelopes with pens in them that we were to fill in with our names and a pledge. It went on for quite awhile.
Then, we concluded with the Creed, Prayer Intentions, and then Holy Communion.
I was jolted from my inner preparation for receiving the Eucharist by all of this.
I didn’t pledge any money. Not only was I offended by this interruption, I would also like to look into it more, as I know in our liberal Archdiocese of Portland, I want to check first to make sure it doesn’t go to fund things the church teaches are immoral and perhaps even grave sins.
As a relatively new Catholic, please tell me I’m not crazy for being offended by this approach to asking for money, even if it turns out to be an entirely worthy cause?
The Lord called simple men to spread his Gospel. The strength of the Gospel is in the message, not the messenger. As such, we need to work toward holy lives so that we can be examples of Christianity.
We were treated to a video from the bishop on the annual appeal, so the sermon was short.
“Prepare for Lent”
Today in the Byzantine Catholic Church is known as Forgiveness Sunday. Fr. spoke about what it means to really forgive one another and why we must do this, lest we bring condemnation on ourself everytime we pray the Our Father. This was all in preparation for the wonderful Forgiveness ceremony that starts Great Lent for us. God Forgives. Let us forgive one another.
God’s mercy is endless but time to avail ourselves of it is not.
We got to hear the Bishop’s lenten appeal, which was good, as usual. “If you are a catholic, you are pro-life, you do works of charity, go to confession and Mass.” I missed some parts, due to quite a lot of rowdy children, so I think I should read the Bishop’s sermon online later.