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, September 6, 2013
Homily prep September 8
-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 4pm and 11am.
As you were speaking what came to my mind was that when one gives oneself away totally to another; constantly giving, constantly sharing everything within themselves, the power of God is so great, so strong it almost "feels" like we are possessed, because it is so overpowering we can no longer "function" as ourselves, but we are really possessed by God in a good way . . . by love.
I think this stewardship spirituality is especially helpful in our Christian living at this time because of the abundance of “stuff” in our lives, particularly in this country. But as you say, Matador, this challenge you give us in our thinking and our approach to our “stuff” needs to go beyond our material goods so that we consider all the aspects of our lives. The timing of this is interesting because I just saw the movie Blue Jasmine. I would recommend not seeing it – it is depressing all the way through. However, the main character takes exactly this “non-Christian” approach to life that you describe and is caught up in her view of things and people as being good only for her own disposable use. It “hurt” just to watch it. But your words and that story do force me to think - and check myself. Do I stretch myself to “give myself away” as a way of living? Am I willing to be “gift” even when it’s inconvenient or “the other” strikes me as undesirable? And am I willing to love without possession – to not only share those people and things that are a part of my life, but even to aid in the growth and foster holiness in others by doing so? Those are all good checkpoints which your reflection encouraged me to consider!
2 comments:
As you were speaking what came to my mind was that when one gives oneself away totally to another; constantly giving, constantly sharing everything within themselves, the power of God is so great, so strong it almost "feels" like we are possessed, because it is so overpowering we can no longer "function" as ourselves, but we are really possessed by God in a good way . . . by love.
I think this stewardship spirituality is especially helpful in our Christian living at this time because of the abundance of “stuff” in our lives, particularly in this country. But as you say, Matador, this challenge you give us in our thinking and our approach to our “stuff” needs to go beyond our material goods so that we consider all the aspects of our lives. The timing of this is interesting because I just saw the movie Blue Jasmine. I would recommend not seeing it – it is depressing all the way through. However, the main character takes exactly this “non-Christian” approach to life that you describe and is caught up in her view of things and people as being good only for her own disposable use. It “hurt” just to watch it. But your words and that story do force me to think - and check myself. Do I stretch myself to “give myself away” as a way of living? Am I willing to be “gift” even when it’s inconvenient or “the other” strikes me as undesirable? And am I willing to love without possession – to not only share those people and things that are a part of my life, but even to aid in the growth and foster holiness in others by doing so? Those are all good checkpoints which your reflection encouraged me to consider!
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