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, May 2, 2013
May 5 Homily Prep
-Last Sunday's homily is available by email
-This Sunday's Scriptures can be found at USCCB.org
-I will be celebrating mass this weekend at 11:00 Mass Sunday
"God's in the House"
6 comments:
JoyFuralle
said...
Loved this, just love it! I'm too young an age to have been impressed or influenced by "Elvis is in the house". But I love the statement for our use. And I chuckle with Warren Buffett's self-importance. BUT what struck me is that these two regard their importance, yet I don't realize well enough my own importance in Christ, Christ in me? What has MY attention? Seems I keep going over the same ground and I'm caught up in the same things as Jesus' temptations: the world, the flesh and the devil. And the world STILL has my attention more than anything. That lack of focus and certainty, of being grounded in Christ, ...through Him, with Him, in Him... causes my heart to be troubled...I believe the criticism and anger of the world...and then I realize again who Christ is & Christ in me. I see societal ills and godlessness and can feel so insignificant to do anything,...then I realize again who Christ is & Christ in me. I hear & read news, take in all kinds of media, get caught up with it, bothered by it, then I realize anew who Christ is & Christ in me. I look at the Gospel & your words and see I'm being taught/influenced by the world "out there" instead of from within, a far cry from St. Paul's "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me." But I do believe that God is in the house...I see His Work and Prayer in me...and in others. Don't know if all Catholics suffer from this slow study of "I realize...and then I forget"...a spiritual amenesia....maybe just part of the road of growth. Onward, forward . . .
What especially struck me was your comment on prayer (the lifting of one's mind and heart to God). But it was that what you said after . . . the going down deep in the heart and soul . . . this is prayer too, as you said (very deep, loving prayer). . . that is transforming.
Having God so deep within (sometimes we have to go deep) to truly be transformed. This is an insight that just recently was given to me by God. Always trying to keep my head and heart high enough to reach the heavens is where I thought He always was. It was not until He sent me the one who is my dearest companion, my dearest friend, my deepest relationship, did He show to me He dwells very, very deep also!
"God is in the house" is a great line for this homily! And as to the question of what aspects of my life/our lives might be transformed, I am considering your three aspects of prayer, self-concept, and vocation.
In terms of prayer - I think this is why song has so much value to me. Because in singing I so easily sense a connection with our God. It serves as BOTH a way to raise my mind and heart and a way to go deep within my heart.
And regarding self-concept - I am reminded of our Church's good and strong pro-life stand. God dwells in each and every one of us, so this belief should say something about the way I treat my life, my health, my mental/emotional/spiritual well-being. And it should also effect how I treat others and the causes I take up to help those in need.
And finally. how does the belief of God dwelling in me cause me to reconsider my vocation? I do believe that just as Jesus was sent by the Father, we too - who live through, with, and in Jesus - are sent by the Father. What we do with each and every day of our lives matters - it's all part of the mission to bring God into the world.
Thanks for the opportunity for reflection i preparation for Sunday, Matador. You always provoke us to think - and then do - and then love better.
Love the visual preps, Father. I was thinking what was said at the end of an Elvis concert....Elvis has left the building....well God NEVER leaves the bldg...does He?.How great is that. The homily will be spectacular...thankyou.
So many things I want to say. Not sure where to begin. I will leave it for now with "If God is in the house", we will never have to clean for company, we will always be ready to welcome the unexpected, and we will not let detours get in our way.
On a deeper prayer level, vocation, I truly believe that with God dwelling in us our prayer might just be I am thankful for today. God knows what is in our hearts and the Holy Spirit will fill us with guidance.
6 comments:
Loved this, just love it! I'm too young an age to have been impressed or influenced by "Elvis is in the house". But I love the statement for our use. And I chuckle with Warren Buffett's self-importance. BUT what struck me is that these two regard their importance, yet I don't realize well enough my own importance in Christ, Christ in me? What has MY attention? Seems I keep going over the same ground and I'm caught up in the same things as Jesus' temptations: the world, the flesh and the devil. And the world STILL has my attention more than anything. That lack of focus and certainty, of being grounded in Christ, ...through Him, with Him, in Him... causes my heart to be troubled...I believe the criticism and anger of the world...and then I realize again who Christ is & Christ in me. I see societal ills and godlessness and can feel so insignificant to do anything,...then I realize again who Christ is & Christ in me. I hear & read news, take in all kinds of media, get caught up with it, bothered by it, then I realize anew who Christ is & Christ in me. I look at the Gospel & your words and see I'm being taught/influenced by the world "out there" instead of from within, a far cry from St. Paul's "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me." But I do believe that God is in the house...I see His Work and Prayer in me...and in others. Don't know if all Catholics suffer from this slow study of "I realize...and then I forget"...a spiritual amenesia....maybe just part of the road of growth. Onward, forward . . .
Wonderful insight Father.
What especially struck me was your comment on prayer (the lifting of one's mind and heart to God). But it was that what you said after . . . the going down deep in the heart and soul . . . this is prayer too, as you said (very deep, loving prayer). . . that is transforming.
Having God so deep within (sometimes we have to go deep) to truly be transformed.
This is an insight that just recently was given to me by God. Always trying to keep my head and heart high enough to reach the heavens is where I thought He always was. It was not until He sent me the one who is my dearest companion, my dearest friend, my deepest relationship, did He show to me He dwells very, very deep also!
This is a very exciting homily from you, Father. my heart is filled with Joy.
Peace be with you -
"God is in the house" is a great line for this homily! And as to the question of what aspects of my life/our lives might be transformed, I am considering your three aspects of prayer, self-concept, and vocation.
In terms of prayer - I think this is why song has so much value to me. Because in singing I so easily sense a connection with our God. It serves as BOTH a way to raise my mind and heart and a way to go deep within my heart.
And regarding self-concept - I am reminded of our Church's good and strong pro-life stand. God dwells in each and every one of us, so this belief should say something about the way I treat my life, my health, my mental/emotional/spiritual well-being. And it should also effect how I treat others and the causes I take up to help those in need.
And finally. how does the belief of God dwelling in me cause me to reconsider my vocation? I do believe that just as Jesus was sent by the Father, we too - who live through, with, and in Jesus - are sent by the Father. What we do with each and every day of our lives matters - it's all part of the mission to bring God into the world.
Thanks for the opportunity for reflection i preparation for Sunday, Matador. You always provoke us to think - and then do - and then love better.
Love the visual preps, Father.
I was thinking what was said at the end of an Elvis concert....Elvis has left the building....well God NEVER leaves the bldg...does He?.How great is that. The homily will be spectacular...thankyou.
So many things I want to say. Not sure where to begin. I will leave it for now with "If God is in the house", we will never have to clean for company, we will always be ready to welcome the unexpected, and we will not let detours get in our way.
On a deeper prayer level, vocation, I truly believe that with God dwelling in us our prayer might just be I am thankful for today. God knows what is in our hearts and the Holy Spirit will fill us with guidance.
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