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!
Thursday, September 8, 2011
September 11th Homily Preparation
-Last Sunday's Sept 4th homily is on Video below
-Sunday's Scriptures are at usccb.org>
-I am preaching at the Sunday 11am and 12:30pm Masses
There is a lot to think about this week. You summarized it well. While the gospel spells out for us that we need to forgive if we are to expect forgiveness, I like the first reading from Sirach as well.
Loaded question, what do you think??? I think I’ve been taught or picked up some bad theology. I think many people have. For so long in Catholic Churches I’ve heard, “we must forgive, but you don’t have to forget.” YET, Christ doesn’t stick me with that line EVER. When I come before Him in Eucharist or Reconciliation He doesn’t accuse or stick my face in past muck.
Okay, let’s go with your example of the person who lies to me. I think a more detailed explanation would be helpful. We’re so quick to take the easy/low road, Father, I’m sure you know. I have heard people say, “How do I know I have forgiven the person?” Standard response is, if you pray for them, you have forgiven them. Hmm, uh-uh, not so sure. I can reel off those Hail Mary’s and then tell others (or be vague) about someone’s lack of goodness toward me. We WANT to think we have forgiven the person and we’re quite proud to say we pray for them. Baloney. We lie to ourselves and believe the lie.
Okay, so I forgive the person. As you say, likely “intellectually”. I don’t consider them a liar, but I do recall (is that what you mean by judged & held?) that in the past they have lied to me and the next time they come to me I have that in mind. Is that part of the problem? Our memory of being “wronged” already puts a different slant in our hearts & minds of how we will respond? We’re not enough like the Lord who is “kind & merciful, slow to anger, RICH in compassion.” We keep things at a merely human level and don’t trust and love fully? Is that what you mean?
You said “True forgiveness is the rehabilitation of the sinner into brother or sister. Removal of the categorization, the mark, the judgment, that they no longer have this mark, no longer considered that “type” of person, so that I can rehabilitate them in my mind & heart & thereby I liberate MY heart from that broken prison which is isolating ME from God.” But I can’t do that on my own, can I? No! Is there anything else that will help me forgive? Does it sometimes just take time for the Lord to reveal what gunk has to be cleaned up within ourselves for us to love more fully?
The Psalmist marvels that “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he put our transgressions from us.” I know that to be Truth, I know it in my life, I have yet to hear it from a priest that this is possible for us in Christ.
BOTTOM LINE: If the Faithful don’t realize that this is what the Lord offers us, we CAN’T KNOW that this is what WE OFFER as the People of God so that we can see as you say, “afresh & anew in & of God’s mercy of me.”
Wow that was unusual. I just wrote an really long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn't show up. Grrrr... well I'm not writing all that over again. Anyway, just wanted to say fantastic blog!
With havin so much written content do you ever run into any issues of plagorism or copyright infringement? My site has a lot of exclusive content I've either written myself or outsourced but it appears a lot of it is popping it up all over the web without my agreement. Do you know any methods to help stop content from being stolen? I'd truly appreciate it.
12 comments:
without forgiveness, Love is incomplete
I like the new technology!
There is a lot to think about this week. You summarized it well. While the gospel spells out for us that we need to forgive if we are to expect forgiveness, I like the first reading from Sirach as well.
The readings are very fitting for 9/11.
I like the library backdrop!
Loaded question, what do you think??? I think I’ve been taught or picked up some bad theology. I think many people have. For so long in Catholic Churches I’ve heard, “we must forgive, but you don’t have to forget.” YET, Christ doesn’t stick me with that line EVER. When I come before Him in Eucharist or Reconciliation He doesn’t accuse or stick my face in past muck.
Okay, let’s go with your example of the person who lies to me. I think a more detailed explanation would be helpful. We’re so quick to take the easy/low road, Father, I’m sure you know. I have heard people say, “How do I know I have forgiven the person?” Standard response is, if you pray for them, you have forgiven them. Hmm, uh-uh, not so sure. I can reel off those Hail Mary’s and then tell others (or be vague) about someone’s lack of goodness toward me. We WANT to think we have forgiven the person and we’re quite proud to say we pray for them. Baloney. We lie to ourselves and believe the lie.
Okay, so I forgive the person. As you say, likely “intellectually”. I don’t consider them a liar, but I do recall (is that what you mean by judged & held?) that in the past they have lied to me and the next time they come to me I have that in mind. Is that part of the problem? Our memory of being “wronged” already puts a different slant in our hearts & minds of how we will respond? We’re not enough like the Lord who is “kind & merciful, slow to anger, RICH in compassion.” We keep things at a merely human level and don’t trust and love fully? Is that what you mean?
You said “True forgiveness is the rehabilitation of the sinner into brother or sister. Removal of the categorization, the mark, the judgment, that they no longer have this mark, no longer considered that “type” of person, so that I can rehabilitate them in my mind & heart & thereby I liberate MY heart from that broken prison which is isolating ME from God.” But I can’t do that on my own, can I? No! Is there anything else that will help me forgive? Does it sometimes just take time for the Lord to reveal what gunk has to be cleaned up within ourselves for us to love more fully?
The Psalmist marvels that “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he put our transgressions from us.” I know that to be Truth, I know it in my life, I have yet to hear it from a priest that this is possible for us in Christ.
BOTTOM LINE: If the Faithful don’t realize that this is what the Lord offers us, we CAN’T KNOW that this is what WE OFFER as the People of God so that we can see as you say, “afresh & anew in & of God’s mercy of me.”
Baam!!! Catechism, 2842-45! The work of God in us, incredible!
Very well put! Something that can be very difficult but so necessary! Love the new technology!
"Unforgiveness is a prison" I like that. lr
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Wow that was unusual. I just wrote an really long comment but after I clicked
submit my comment didn't show up. Grrrr... well I'm not writing all that over again.
Anyway, just wanted to say fantastic blog!
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With havin so much written content do you ever run into any
issues of plagorism or copyright infringement? My site has
a lot of exclusive content I've either written myself or outsourced but it appears a lot of it is popping it up all over the web without my agreement. Do you know any methods to help stop content from being stolen? I'd truly appreciate it.
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Inspiring story there. What occurred after?
Thanks!
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