So Far Transition Has Been Smooth

[philothea]

This is probably dumb, but... I would like some suggestion(s) on what good preparation would be.

Prayers.

[Theologian in Training]

[quote name='philothea' date='Dec 3 2005, 03:16 PM']This is probably dumb, but... I would like some suggestion(s) on what good preparation would be. 

Prayers.
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No, it is not dumb, and something I find myself struggling to present, in as subtle a manner as I possibly can. For, you see, my pastor does not hear confessions, because he is convinced that no one comes and so it is not worth waiting for one or two, if they come.

So, since evaluations have not come up yet (it is horrible to base this on evaluations, but a reality nonetheless) I am trying to figure out how to mention it, and have, as of yet, a way in which I have found that I can do so.

thanks for the speedy reply

God Bless

[philothea]

[quote name='Theologian in Training' date='Dec 3 2005, 01:49 PM']No, it is not dumb, and something I find myself struggling to present, in as subtle a manner as I possibly can. For, you see, my pastor does not hear confessions, because he is convinced that no one comes and so it is not worth waiting for one or two, if they come.

So, since evaluations have not come up yet (it is horrible to base this on evaluations, but a reality nonetheless) I am trying to figure out how to mention it, and have, as of yet, a way in which I have found that I can do so.
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Not even special confession times pre-Christmas?

My parish only has confession just before Christmas, and just before Easter... which is of course when I am usually out of town. Very upsetting.

"Or you can just call the rectory"... like [i]that[/i] isn't awkward....

Maybe vague mentions of repentance, examining one's concience, and changing bad habits... or something along those lines?

[Theologian in Training]

[quote name='philothea' date='Dec 3 2005, 04:27 PM']  Not even special confession times pre-Christmas? 

My parish only has confession just before Christmas, and just before Easter... which is of course when I am usually out of town.  Very upsetting.  

"Or you can just call the rectory"... like [i]that[/i] isn't awkward.... 

Maybe vague mentions of repentance, examining one's concience, and changing bad habits... or something along those lines?
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I have wanted to speak about sin and repentance for the longest time, but it is difficult, very difficult.

It was actually funny because I just had a conversation with a woman from the parish and the first words out of her mouth were, "are you preaching?" I told her I was preaching tomorrow at the 9:00 and 11:00 and she told me she is going to call her family to let them know.

Yet, something she said which really struck me is that she said they read the Gospel before leaving to go to Church and argue about what the Gospel means, convinced that none of them "get it." "Then," she said, "I get up and they say I get it." Truth be told, I don't get it, the Holy Spirit is very generous with me. In fact, I can really see how some people are tempted to declare preaching as the 8th sacrament.

Let me ask you this, if I were to include some ideas about how to prepare, would that be a homily I could preach, or does it seem to be missing something else? I almost feel as though it is reduntant and a bit cliche, exactly what I am trying to avoid.

Oh, BTW, I get to preach Midnight Mass. It is one of my favorite readings, I am so eager to preach that.

God Bless

[philothea]

[quote name='Theologian in Training' date='Dec 3 2005, 02:57 PM']Let me ask you this, if I were to include some ideas about how to prepare, would that be a homily I could preach, or does it seem to be missing something else? I almost feel as though it is reduntant and a bit cliche, exactly what I am trying to avoid.
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I think it'd be a fabulous homily with some suggestions added, but that may be because every Advent I can't figure out what I should do!

If I have this problem, I bet other people do too.

[Theologian in Training]

[quote name='philothea' date='Dec 3 2005, 05:22 PM']I think it'd be a fabulous homily with some suggestions added, but that may be because every Advent I can't figure out what I should do! 

If I have this problem, I bet other people do too.
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What do you mean? This may actually help me and give me the missing like I have been looking for.

What is it you cannot figure out you need to do?

BTW, since I last posted, I have three different homilies, and the link is still missing. However, I think I may be getting closer to it, and may wind up condesing three homilies into one, with the same overarching "theme"

Gotta go prepare.....for Mass

God Bless

[philothea]

[quote name='Theologian in Training' date='Dec 3 2005, 03:59 PM']What do you mean? This may actually help me and give me the missing like I have been looking for.

What is it you cannot figure out you need to do?
[/quote]
Well...

I like Christmas, and I want to prepare... but Advent seems so vague. I don't know what kind of special, daily (or even occasional, or weekly) thing I could do that would help be ready for Christmas... and/or for a second coming.

I know people do traditional family stuff, with trees and wreaths and whatever, but that never seemed to do anything besides decorate the house (bah) and mark time.



[quote name='Theologian in Training' date='Dec 3 2005, 03:59 PM']BTW, since I last posted, I have three different homilies, and the link is still missing. However, I think I may be getting closer to it, and may wind up condesing three homilies into one, with the same overarching "theme"

Gotta go prepare.....for Mass
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I'm hoping I don't get snowed in this weekend....

[Theologian in Training]

Don't take this the wrong way, but ever since you said what you did, and the suggestions you made, I have had an incredibly difficult time putting something together. I am starting to just get frustrated and annoyed and don't know what to do...

[philothea]

[quote name='Theologian in Training' date='Dec 3 2005, 10:16 PM']Don't take this the wrong way, but ever since you said what you did, and the suggestions you made, I have had an incredibly difficult time putting something together. I am starting to just get frustrated and annoyed and don't know what to do...
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Ack! Well, ignore me then!!

I am sure you will come up with something wonderful; you always do.

[Theologian in Training]

I abandoned it all, and am taking a great risk. However, I cannot deny what the Gospel says anymore. Pray for me, because I know this is going to bother some people.

God Bless

St. John was essentially no one, equated with nothing more than a mere “voice crying out in the desert.”

And, although he achieved great fame as a preacher and prophet, his simple response to it all was to point immediately to who was to come, and even did so in such a way as to be sure that Christ was the one who was exalted: “One mightier than I,” he says “is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals.”

An action that even a Jewish slave was forbidden to do because it was considered to be too humiliating.

A simple man with a simple message: “Prepare the way of the Lord.”

The entirety of his life consisted of this, and nothing more.

His whole life was lived and reflected this one vocation.

This is why he lived simply, dressed simply, and was such a powerful preacher.

He brought something that the people never knew before Him, forgiveness of their sins. In fact, we are told that the whole Judean countryside and all those in Jerusalem were drawn to him and baptized by him as they acknowledged their sins.

This was the man whom Jesus chose, and even allowed Himself to be baptized by.

And yet, this raises a very important question: if it was this important for Christ to have someone herald His coming, how much more should we prepare ourselves today?

For, when He was child, we knelt before Him as the first shepherds knelt before Him in the dark cave, yet, we will again kneel before Him as King of Kings and Lords of Lords.

Will we be ready for that?

Will we be found without spot or blemish before Him?

For, this is the way St. John has shown for us to be ready and prepared; this is what he was a herald of.

Repentance and the forgiveness of sins.

A message that was repeated by Jesus, St. Peter, and countless others, always with the knowledge that it pointed to a kingdom to come, and the Second Coming of Christ.

To be ready then, to be prepared for this Advent, we need only to follow the model St. John has shown us: acknowledge our sins, repent of having done them, and seek forgiveness.

So that when He returns we may not only be found without spot or blemish, but at peace.

[philothea]

It's beautiful.

I suspect you may make some people wince.

Prayers always, of course!

[Theologian in Training]

[quote name='philothea' date='Dec 4 2005, 01:34 AM']It's beautiful.

I suspect you may make some people wince.

Prayers always, of course!
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Thanks

I just got off the phone with another fellow deacon from the seminary, and he said that even though I get annoyed and frustrated, it is probably God's doing, because it is one of the few times I actually spend so much time with Scripture and really meditate on what it is saying, trying to pull out every single detail. I do actually see, apart from the frustration, writing a homily as a great source of prayer.

God Bless

[Theologian in Training]

Well, Ok. I looked at it this morning and realized how little of this homily made sense. So, I fixed the grammar and some other little things. This is what I preached today. At the 11:00 I ended it with "be at peace" as indicated. It obviously is not grammatically correct, but people seemed to like it.

God Bless

Although, St. John was probably one of the greatest apostles, he is equated as nothing more than a mere “voice crying out in the desert.”

And, although he achieved great fame as a preacher and prophet, his simple response to it all was to point immediately to who was to come, and even did so in such a way as to be sure that Christ was the one who was exalted: “One mightier than I,” he says “is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals.”

An action that even a Jewish slave was forbidden to do because it was considered to be too humiliating.

A simple man with a simple message: “Prepare the way of the Lord.”

The entirety of his life consisted of this, and nothing more.

His whole life was lived and reflected this one vocation.

This is why he lived simply, dressed simply, and was such a powerful preacher.

Above all, he brought something that the people never knew before Him, forgiveness of their sins. In fact, we are told that the whole Judean countryside and all those in Jerusalem were drawn to him and baptized by him as they acknowledged their sins.

This was the man whom Jesus chose, and even allowed Himself to be baptized by.

And yet, it raises a question for us: if it was this important for Christ to have someone herald His coming, how much more should we prepare ourselves today?

For, when He was child, we knelt before Him as the first shepherds knelt before Him in the dark cave, yet, we will again kneel before Him as King of Kings and Lords of Lords.

Will we be ready for that?

Will we be found without spot or blemish before Him?

For, this is the way St. John has shown for us to be ready and prepared; this is what he was a herald of:

Repentance and the forgiveness of sins.

The reason every Advent we begin with a Penance Service.

A message that was repeated by Jesus, St. Peter, and countless others, always with the knowledge that it pointed to a kingdom to come, and the Second Coming of Christ.

To be ready then, to be prepared for not just this Advent, but always, we need only follow the model St. John has shown us: acknowledge our sins, repent of having done them, and seek forgiveness.

So that when Christ returns we may not only be found without spot or blemish, but (be) at peace.

Edited December 4, 2005 by Theologian in Training

[Theologian in Training]

Well, here it is. It is a bit rushed (have the 5:00 PM Mass) and I am entirely sure it is that good. Regardless, here it is.

God Bless

Today is the “half-way mark” between Advent and Christmas. What the Church has traditionally called Gaudete, or Rejoice Sunday.

And though our hearts are still filled with longing for Christ’s return, it is now a longing to kneel before Him, as a little child, with the shepherds and His Mother, in silence.

What could more joyous than that? When our God became a little child, to redeem us, to save us, and bring us to Himself so that we could be reconciled to Him, to His Father, and Heaven could be opened for us once again.

The psalm we just heard, Mary’s greatest song of praise, is given to us as an example of such rejoicing. She was just told She would conceive and bear a Son, only to then be greeted by Elizabeth as the Mother of Her Lord. And, humbly, she sings one of the most beautiful hymns we have, what is known as the Magnificat. When Mary “proclaims the greatness of the Lord,” and: “Rejoices in God, Her Savior.”

She could have just as easily boasted and rejoiced in Herself. Yet, she didn’t, and Her boast was of God and this is why She sang, this is why She was filled with so much joy, because She was to give birth to the Savior of the world.

A joy, I would imagine, unsurpassed beyond anything in this world, and yet a joy that only She could experience in its fullness.

A joy that all of us should desire to experience, a joy that we should all long for, because our focus is now no longer on Christ’s Second Coming, but on His first.

[Lil Red]

thank you - that is why i love praying the Magnificat!