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excellent sermon by (of all things) an SSPX affiliated Redemptorist on ‘no salvation outside the Church’ and the need to pray for the conversion of friends and family, but also on the need to pray for their souls even if they do appear to have died outside of visible communion of the Church, as we don’t know if God acted in their souls prior to death. He used the example of Ven Herman Cohen and his mother.
He also talked about the need to Trust in God, and to persevere in virtue even if we think we are not making progress, he used the example of St Alphonsus (of course), and St Clement Mary Hofbuaer
The bishop gave the sermon at my niece’s Catholic high school graduation. One of his points was that they should continue to practice what they had learned in the last 4 years–to be inclusive, to respect diversity and to accept other people as they are and try to understand them. These can all be good things, in the right context.
Unexpectedly went to the vigil mass at favorite priest’s parish. I heeded the impulse to go despite being dressed for errands, not mass. He reminded us that our neighbor is the one in need and that love is a choice, to do good for another, whether it’s someone we’re on bad terms with, or a stranger. This both reinforced that I had made the right decisions when choosing to spend time with family members before their deaths and shed light on more recent situations, in which acquaintances helped me upon learning there was a need, in some cases, offering without being asked, another time, not even bothering to offer, simply taking care of the problem. Most recently a complete stranger offered to help in an unexpected way.
The relationship between love and the commandments (John). Commandments as life skills for disciples intended for our own good, not as hurdles to be negotiated along the obstacle course of life. The importance of treating others with kindness and compassion (1 Peter) even if they may not return the gesture, as it is better to suffer for doing what is right than for what is wrong. Internalizing the God’s commands (having my commands within you) as opposed to seeing them as impositions from without. How these internalized commands and life skills enable us to channel the Gift of the Spirit that we have been given, and exercise them to the greatest potential.
But still I was disappointed; it was not my best work, and I’m going through quite a fallow time right now. [It happens.]
I commented on the controversial Benedict Option swirling the inter-webs. . .
Now, we might be tempted to rest on our redeemed laurels and just wait out the end of the world. We might be tempted to sit pretty atop our pillar of righteousness and watch the world burn. We could say to the world, “We got ours. If you want yours. . .come to us.” This attitude is a recipe for whipping up a big bowl of arrogant pride.
https://hancaquam.blogspot.com/2017/05/the-dominican-option.html
Fr. Philip Neri, OP
Not in the homily, but Fr. used EP IV at the vigil. He only does that once every year or so. Very nice for a change to emphasize that we are addressing God the Father.
frjim4321: I like your themes– Fr C had a similar one for vigil Mass. He also focused on the letter of Peter: ”For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that be the will of God, than for doing evil.”
We can be quite hurt when we go out of our way to do something good for someone else, only to have them criticize or use it against us.
The cynical view: “No good deed goes unpunished”
Some psalms lament how people doing sinful things seem to fare so well compared to ourselves—yet we might also be a tad envious and, if given the same opportunity, we would commit those very sins.
Fr mentioned a book by a clergyman who was robbed and beaten on his way to the church.
In his diary that night he wrote: 1) I am thankful this was the first time I was ever assaulted 2) I am thankful that only my goods and horse were stolen, and not my life 3) I am thankful that I was not the robber.
The next line of Peter’s letter: “For Christ also suffered for sins once, the just for the sake of the unjust, that he might lead you to God”. When the two thieves were crucified beside Jesus, the one recognized that while they themselves were guilty of the crimes, “this man has done no evil”
Fr. Jim, don’t feel bad. Sometimes “I did my best” is followed by the feeling “But that wasn’t very good today.” In a lot of ways, preaching is like singing — you have to open your mouth and accept that what comes out is not always the best sound. You have to trust, and hope for the best.
But there is a flip side. Sometimes what people hear is a lot better than what came out of your mouth. Sometimes God gives us a gift to express ourselves, but in his mercy he often gives people a gift to hear beauty and truth that is better than what we produced.
The important thing is to offer Him what we have — even if it’s a sore throat, boring ideas, or just two fish and some barley loaves. It is God Who multiplies our efforts. Any effect we have always comes from Him anyway, so just do your best and let Him handle the rest.
Father centered his homily on the first and second readings. In a nutshell, he exhorted us to follow the Commandments, seriously examine our lives, and pray to the Holy Spirit to remove from us all those thoughts and behaviors that are contrary to being a disciple of Christ.
Peace and God bless
Father talked about the importance of prayer, that it doesn’t matter exactly what words we use or what form, as the Holy Spirit knows what is in our minds and intercedes for us. God is our perfect Father that created a perfect universe, which we have broken through our sins. In spite of this we can still pray to Him through Jesus who died for our sins.
TLM here.
Fr. preached on the Epistle: “Be ye doers of the word”. We must sacrifice so that we can perform the
corporal works of mercy. We are not allowed to neglect them, even if they are framed in SJW-speak too often nowadays. A bit about Luther and “faith alone” and why that was incorrect.
Always look forward to his direct and pithy homilies.
I was “in back” with my 2 year-old for most of the mass, but luckily our sermons are piped in to the hallways. All I could catch of Fr. J’s sermon was that “a snake knows that if it’s able to get its head into a small area or opening that it can pass its entire body through”. So it is with temptation.
The priest said
“why do people desperately believe what the media tells them, and then doubt the Word of God? When they ought to seriously doubt the media, and ardently believe the Word of God”
Also, this parish just moved the Tabernacle from floating near the very edge of the altar, to center, directly behind the altar. :)
Just had to share this because I went to this particular parish last Sunday in the Arlington Diocese..not my own.., and it historically has stood out from the others, as not being particularly “rigid”.
But there is progress!!
Reminds me of the CS Lewis quote about being progressive…something like “when you realize you have taken a wrong turning, and you are going in the wrong direction, the person who turns back soonest, to get on the correct path IS the most progressive man. “