So Far Transition Has Been Smooth

[Theologian in Training]

[quote name='littleflower+JMJ' date='Jul 30 2005, 03:44 PM']YAY FOR TNT!! :heart:
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Forgot about that abbreviation TnT

God Bless

[Theologian in Training]

I got a lot of positive feedback on this one. Seems they like short and sweet and to the point

Thank you all again

God Bless

[philothea]

I don't think I've ever heard someone complain that the homily was too short.

I really appreciate that you post your homilies here. I didn't get a chance to comment, but it was very nice. Sometimes the one I hear on Sunday is... not inspiring. Or even relevant.

[Theologian in Training]

[quote name='philothea' date='Jul 31 2005, 07:50 PM']

I don't think I've ever heard someone complain that the homily was too short. 

I really appreciate that you post your homilies here.  I didn't get a chance to comment, but it was very nice.  Sometimes the one I hear on Sunday is... not inspiring.  Or even relevant.
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Thank you. I was actually just thinking about that the other day (the fact that I post my homilies). In fact, I was going to stop doing it, but did not want to disappoint you or ofpheritup, so I still posted.

This is good though, because it offers me the opportunity to ask. Do you still want me to post my homilies or do you want to let this thread slide. It's up to you, because I don't mind it at all.

Thanks again

God Bless

[philothea]

[quote name='Theologian in Training' date='Jul 31 2005, 07:30 PM']Thank you. I was actually just thinking about that the other day (the fact that I post my homilies). In fact, I was going to stop doing it, but did not want to disappoint you or ofpheritup, so I still posted.

This is good though, because it offers me the opportunity to ask. Do you still want me to post my homilies or do you want to let this thread slide. It's up to you, because I don't mind it at all.
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Oh yeah, please keep posting. As long as it continues to be no bother!

[Theologian in Training]

The pressure...I don't know if it was the result of shorter homilies or what, but people are giving me a lot of great feedback on my homilies. In fact, a woman and her daughter today told me they are spreading the word about how great my homilies are.

I don't like that...I mean I work at the homilies but I fear two things, 1) the next week won't be as good as the other 2) that I will get too proud thinking the homily is strictly my own, despite the fact that I agonize over these homilies, and, in the end, realize how undeserving I am of them, and how they are definitely not my own words speaking so eloquently as they do.

Keep me in prayer when you have some time for this week's homily, and that I never forget who the true homilist is. I am merely the voice through which He speaks, the empty vessel that does not deserve such a beautiful gift.

God Bless

[jezic]

Good luck

I wouldn't worry about them being long. Sometimes you just need to have the length.

Besides God always has his reason, even if people decide to hate your homilies. He is still at work.

[Theologian in Training]

Please pray as I undertake the writing of this week's sermon. At least I have a general idea as to what I want to write. I am still trying to figure out how best to connect it now.

Thanks

God Bless

[philothea]

Praying!

[Theologian in Training]

Ok, I am seriously convinced that these people are not listening to my homilies, or just like the fact that they tend to be very short. This one has to be my worst to date, and yet, some people came up to me to tell me that is exactly what they needed to hear and really enjoyed it.

This was also an 11th hour homily, because the brain was just not working.....anyway, here it is

BTW, the poem was featured on phatmass, but it is my poem, so I did not infringe on anyone's copyrights

God Bless

"Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water."
He said, "Come."

How does a man walk out onto a raging ocean? Where does he find strength to do the impossible? How can he have such great trust?

With faith, but not just any faith, rather, to quote a famous Christian group, “faith like a child.”

When the disciples asked Jesus who the greatest in the kingdom of heaven was, He immediately called over a little child and instructed us that in order to attain the kingdom of heaven we have to become as little children.

It is quite an interesting demand Jesus places upon us, because it almost seems strange. We spend such a large part of our lives trying to grow up and yet Jesus is telling us that in order to approach Him, we need to become the children we were. Knowing, as a child, that when we fell our mother or father would be there to pick us up, dust us off, and tend to our wounds. When we were hungry or thirsty, that they too would be ready to provide us with food or drink. And, even when we were lonely or tired knowing we could find comfort in the embrace of one of our parents.

In fact, many people are convinced that some of the saints were a little strange, or did things that just made absolutely no sense. Yet, that is exactly how a child would act: innocent and naïve, as one who put their parent’s love in front of anything or anyone else.

The same way, it seems, Peter responded to Jesus’ seemingly impossible invitation to walk on water with Him. For, without thinking, he stepped out of the boat, and with waves crashing before him, walked towards Jesus, confident and unafraid, until he looked away.

Once he looked away, he realized what was happening, he was indeed walking on water, defying any rational explanation, and his fear got the best of him. He could no longer trust like a little child, because he looked away from the source of his trust. His confidence was shaken, because he put confidence in himself.

How often I, and perhaps some of you do the same. Look away from the source of our trust, letting go of the hand that guides us, caught up on those things that are unimportant and no longer looking into the eyes of Jesus but to ourselves, crying out, with Peter, “Lord save me.” Because for a moment we looked away and forgot what we are actually capable of with the great gift of faith.

Indeed, it is in light of this, that I would like to end with a poem called “faith” written by a contemporary poet

I will walk on water
Once
When my faith is strong
Taking strides,
Balanced on mirrored footsteps,
Watching the sun dance
In tiny ripples

I will try to find my way
To the other side.

Only, just when I come close
I will remember, like St. Peter,
That I am only a man.

[philothea]

[quote name='Theologian in Training' date='Aug 6 2005, 05:07 PM']Ok, I am seriously convinced that these people are not listening to my homilies, or just like the fact that they tend to be very short. This one has to be my worst to date, and yet, some people came up to me to tell me that is exactly what they needed to hear and really enjoyed it.
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Ha! They're telling you the truth. It's a known fact that anyone who writes anything is the worst judge of its quality. Bummer, huh?

So that was [i]your[/i] poem! I liked it a lot.... I don't think Azriel ever got around to posting the authors' names.

The homily was nice too, but I was a bit depressed by the contrast. I didn't actually have parents that looked after me. But that's my problem. I'm glad it was well recieved, and thanks again for sharing!

[daugher-of-Mary]

This is very belated, but all three of your homilies were beautiful and I thank God for speaking to us through you! Please continue to post them. Prayers.

[Theologian in Training]

Thank you to both of you. I am still trying to figure out how I am able to pull it off, even in the 11th hour. Thus is the generosity of the Holy Spirit.

Philothea, I am sorry about the contrast, and that thought did occur to me, and I had intended to talk about how we grow from children with their parents to new children, as a adults, with our parents in Heaven. I just did not have time to mold it in there.

Thanks again

God Bless

[Theologian in Training]

I knew the day would come, I was just hoping it would not be so soon. I not only have to preach on Sunday....a homily that is still in the works and just not coming....but now I also have to preach tomorrow at the daily Mass.

I simply ask for prayers. I know that when I do this, there is someone here, maybe not even philothea or ofpheritup, but someone's prayers are strong, because I feel them and know that they are interceding to the Holy Spirit on my behalf.

God Bless

[Theologian in Training]

If you were interested, this was this morning's homily.

When Jesus chose to reveal Himself, He chose to do so as a little child: born into the world with nothing, to be wrapped in swaddling clothes, and to reside in a cave, with only His mother and Joseph.

God became a child for our sake, which, in the bible, meant the lowliest of persons, the least important in the world.

And, what He became He tells us we also must be. The lowliest of persons, the least important in this world.

A request that is hard, to be sure, but one that teaches us a great virtue, and one that is not too popular today: the virtue of humility.

A virtue that asks us to give up everything, including our very selves, for something even greater, someone even greater.

This virtue alone is why saints are saints and why Mary is the greatest of those saints.

For, the sin of our first parents was the sin of pride, Eve believed that she could be God, and found that she could not, Mary knew that She could never be God, and bowed before Him, and even though Mary is, by definition, the Mother of God, she is still humble enough to know that She can never be as God, because she is human. Even the moment her cousin Elizabeth greeted her, she replied by praising God: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”

We too are called to imitate that same humility, to be children in the eyes of God, and insignificant in the eyes of the world, always praising Him and proclaiming His greatness.

For, at heart we seek that childlike innocence of life and to be transformed by the love of Christ. Yet we do so only by laying down everything we are, and everything we have, and everything we can be, placing it at the foot of the cross, and then giving it all away.

St. Jerome had a vision of Jesus and Jesus asked him why he didn’t give Him everything. Jerome was confused, he said: “I have devoted my life to your service. I have given you all my works, all my love, all my praise, everything.” “No,” Jesus said: “You haven’t given me your sins.”

Take it all away, Lord Jesus, I give it all to you, do with it what you will, and teach me how to be a child once again.