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, May 9, 2014
Homily video prep May 11
-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 11:00am and 6:00pm
Forgive or forget it! Part IV
2 comments:
Anonymous
said...
"The cost of unforgiveness is to trap us and blind us to the truth of our lives."
Oh, so beautifully said. It is indeed a distraction from the Truth within, one must know one's self. How else can one find God within? I think it is possible that the pain of humiliation may sometimes be more intense than a perceived pain of forgiveness. Pride has just got to be one of the enemy's favorites, it so inhibits our growth in Christ, puts one's self before God, and closes us off from the Holy Spirit (that's scary, and one of my ongoing struggles).
I think reconciling with God first is the only way to heal and thus provides the ability to extend forgiveness in all its senses.
What God thinks is more important than what anyone else thinks.
We can only but cooperate with HIM. Forgiveness is something HE asks of us. Jesus wasn't kidding about pick up your cross and follow ME. Spiritual growth is a painful process – it is not of this world.
My story of forgiving and joy, well, I did have to reconcile with God first, amend my own life. Be a Christian, a Christ-bearer, live HIS Way of life. (or at least give it my best effort) My struggles and pain from my own sinfulness and humiliation of what people contrive, well, to pass any of that on (including unforgiveness) would be to participate in the sin. Being out casted, scandalized for some falsity, requires silence to live as God asks trusting my life to HIM, HIS plan, HIS purpose for me. Actually, I'm not sure what or when, but genuinely talking with God most of the day, so many things about one's own self become so much less important.
The joy within the peace, my favorite, is surely the Love one falls asleep in at the end of the day.
Does it make the struggles or humiliations stop, no way, but it does help me to remain steadfast in perseverance to live a life pleasing to God, offering all the pain, thus hoping to become more obedient and closer to HIM. I know I can't have all of HIM in this world, but I want all that HE'LL allow me.
You mention the "benefit of forgiveness" and it brought to mind an example from the past that comes back to me every now and then. Many years ago my brother was dating the woman who later came to be his wife - but at one point they broke up. They took some time apart and it was a painful time for both of them. They learned in their separateness that they were really meant to be together. When they reconciled, my brother gave to my sister-in-law a broken twig that he took steps to repair and explained to her that when a broken branch mends, it becomes even stronger than it had originally been. They have now been married over 45 years - they have endured many hardships - but they are as united as can be.
I think that speaks well of what happens in relationships that have endured difficulty and the people have made efforts to mend. The end result, in my experience, has been that those relationships become stronger yet. They've learned something from the hardship and in fact benefit from it. The resulting love is amazing - and her products are peace and joy. That is the Paschal Mystery.
While no one would ever seek disunity and separation, if truth is sought - if life in God is continually the aim even during that experience of division - then reconciliation will certainly take place and the resulting love is always stronger yet.
2 comments:
"The cost of unforgiveness is to trap us and blind us to the truth of our lives."
Oh, so beautifully said. It is indeed a distraction from the Truth within, one must know one's self. How else can one find God within? I think it is possible that the pain of humiliation may sometimes be more intense than a perceived pain of forgiveness. Pride has just got to be one of the enemy's favorites, it so inhibits our growth in Christ, puts one's self before God, and closes us off from the Holy Spirit (that's scary, and one of my ongoing struggles).
I think reconciling with God first is the only way to heal and thus provides the ability to extend forgiveness in all its senses.
What God thinks is more important than what anyone else thinks.
We can only but cooperate with HIM. Forgiveness is something HE asks of us. Jesus wasn't kidding about pick up your cross and follow ME. Spiritual growth is a painful process – it is not of this world.
My story of forgiving and joy, well, I did have to reconcile with God first, amend my own life. Be a Christian, a Christ-bearer, live HIS Way of life. (or at least give it my best effort) My struggles and pain from my own sinfulness and humiliation of what people contrive, well, to pass any of that on (including unforgiveness) would be to participate in the sin. Being out casted, scandalized for some falsity, requires silence to live as God asks trusting my life to HIM, HIS plan, HIS purpose for me. Actually, I'm not sure what or when, but genuinely talking with God most of the day, so many things about one's own self become so much less important.
The joy within the peace, my favorite, is surely the Love one falls asleep in at the end of the day.
Does it make the struggles or humiliations stop, no way, but it does help me to remain steadfast in perseverance to live a life pleasing to God, offering all the pain, thus hoping to become more obedient and closer to HIM. I know I can't have all of HIM in this world, but I want all that HE'LL allow me.
You mention the "benefit of forgiveness" and it brought to mind an example from the past that comes back to me every now and then. Many years ago my brother was dating the woman who later came to be his wife - but at one point they broke up. They took some time apart and it was a painful time for both of them. They learned in their separateness that they were really meant to be together. When they reconciled, my brother gave to my sister-in-law a broken twig that he took steps to repair and explained to her that when a broken branch mends, it becomes even stronger than it had originally been. They have now been married over 45 years - they have endured many hardships - but they are as united as can be.
I think that speaks well of what happens in relationships that have endured difficulty and the people have made efforts to mend. The end result, in my experience, has been that those relationships become stronger yet. They've learned something from the hardship and in fact benefit from it. The resulting love is amazing - and her products are peace and joy. That is the Paschal Mystery.
While no one would ever seek disunity and separation, if truth is sought - if life in God is continually the aim even during that experience of division - then reconciliation will certainly take place and the resulting love is always stronger yet.
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