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Get into the ring! How this works...

This is easy! Each week on Thursday I post my homily idea...my main focus for preaching this coming Sunday. What I am hoping for is a reaction from people in the pews. Does my "focus" connect with your daily life, faith, and experience? Or not? Either affirm the direction I am going in (by giving me an example from your life) or challenge me, ask for clarification! Questions are the best! Reaction rather than reflection is what I'm looking for here. Don't be afraid, get in the ring. Ole!



Friday, April 22, 2011

Easter Sunday -April 24

-Homily for Palm Sunday is in the library
-Easter readings are at USCCB.org->
-I am preaching at the 11am Mass in church.

What time is it?

Time Keepers

Every major sporting event has a time keeper. What inning, quarter, period is it? How much time is on the clock? The question of time is pertinent this Easter!

Our celebration of the resurrection of Jesus can be understood and experienced in one of two ways....as hard time or God's time. Too many of us have heard the Good News of Easter Joy "he is risen" and we have believed that resurrected life is simply something for Jesus, somthing that happens only in heaven, something out there, something future, - promised land at last.  In the meantime, however, we have to do the "hard time" of life without heaven, imprisoned, locked up, without eternity, without light, joy, peace, and love.  That would not be faith in the Risen Lord at all. That's hard time even for religious people who claim to believe and live free.
 
The other choice, the recommended choice today, the choice that we can make as people of Faith is to know and believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ and to live it by faith now and unto eternity.  Jesus has not simply risen unto heaven but by his death and resurrection "heaven has been born in our hearts."  By faith and baptism we can step into God's time, God's eternity, God's mercy and peace, God's love and life - here, now!

What time are you keeping?

6 comments:

Tom said...

beautiful analogy and most fitting for today's world. sometimes we just try to "keep it close" and wait for the end of the game to achieve the victory. many times in sports and in life it is too late at the end of the game and we could have been helping our team for the entire game. the game of life involves souls and the spiritual health of many and not ours alone. we must be participants and not spectators watching others and waiting to jump in until the end.how must we could be contributing of we were involved in every aspect of life in the body of Christ and not just selectively choosing where we want to contribute. we don't really know how much time is left on the game clock so we need to play every minute as if it were the last.

Anonymous said...

If when we hear the word of "Alleluia" and the bells ringing in this most blessed Easter Day and our hearts experience the oneness with Jesus then... we perfectly understood the Resurreccion, for sure we have identified with Christ. Let us enjoy the goodness that He possess and share with the whole community.
Blessed Easter to you all.
(I only wish that at the time of the Resurreccion DVD's were around to capture THAT MOMENT.)
Gitana

Faith said...

I am appreciating the words of the Matador along with the psalm (with a little added emphasis) “THIS is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad.” It is reminding me of a Christian preacher who I once heard ask the question, “Do people look at you and your actions and realize that Jesus rose from the dead?” In other words – the choices I make, the attitude about me, the way I look at people and treat them – do all of these aspects of my living reveal the love of God within me and for others? Do they reflect the Body of Christ living among us? Rather than appreciating the Resurrection as a historical event, the Matador’s words remind me to live it and celebrate it as an ongoing event – in which I am personally called to participate!

Anonymous said...

I’m not really keeping time anymore… I think time is just one small aspect of God’s providence of which I only sometimes am blessed to see, and mostly do not understand - just to remain mindful of His providence is hard for me in this world but… it is exactly that, that is my hope, my peace and my love.

Have a most beautiful Easter season ♥

JoyFuralle said...

Preach it Priest, your words are on the mark!
Can you imagine if Christ would penetrate each person through His Word in you??? Well, I'm not only imagining it, I'm praying it!!!

This is a day like no other when our Church is over-filled with the People of God, all Glory to God, that His Spirit is URGING them to be there, even when they don't know why! Maybe instead of saying, "He is risen" we should be asking, "Are you risen?"

Unknown said...

Happy Easter Father! God bless you and all you do for us! We truly appreciate all you and the priests at SATG do and all the sacrifices you make to serve us. Sending prayers your way every day.