tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9265932256739801502024-03-17T14:05:07.710-04:00Father Jim Ferry's BlogFather Jim Ferryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06488780235058622844noreply@blogger.comBlogger835125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926593225673980150.post-29794040955450427692024-03-17T13:52:00.002-04:002024-03-17T14:04:36.977-04:00Unless a Grain of Wheat.... (John 12:24) (2024-03-17 - 5th Sunday Lent)<p><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua, serif; font-size: 18px;">__ </span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-853643120/m-0317-l7-11m?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing">Click Here for Audio of Homily </a></b></span><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua, serif; font-size: 18px;">___ </span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 18px;">__ </span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoY9jmPRU7Q">Click Here for Video of Mass </a></b></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 18px;">__ </span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 18px;">●● </span> <span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Homily, 5</span><sup style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> Sunday
Lent (year B) </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">●● </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">2024 March 17</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> ●● Jeremiah 31:31-34 ● ● Psalm 51 ● ●Hebrews
5:7-9 ● ● + John 12:20-33 ● ●</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Bibliography</span></u><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%;">Thomas Merton, <i><u>No Man Is An Island</u></i>, “The Word of the Cross”, pp. 77-78.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%;">The
Necessity of Confession and Its Seal, <i><u>Homiletic
and Pastoral Review</u></i>, November 30, 2018, John M. McDermott, S.J. (<span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://www.hprweb.com/2018/11/the-necessity-of-confession-and-its-seal/">https://www.hprweb.com/2018/11/the-necessity-of-confession-and-its-seal/</a></span>)</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/how-irish-changed-penance">https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/how-irish-changed-penance</a></span></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">__01__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">] A few
years ago, as my car was on its quote unquote “last legs”, I remained determined
to keep fixing it, repairing it, rather than trading it in or buying a
different car.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> I
was spending money year after year for the health and wellness of my vehicle.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Should
I move on …?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> My
mechanic seemed to indicate this one day when I showed for another repair that
I wanted to make but also did not to spend too much on. He stood over the car
as though he was the priest at a burial at the cemetery and made the sign of
the cross over the car.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> While
he was not doing a religious ritual, he was reflecting something about what
sign of the the cross, the carrying of the cross, the stations of the cross
mean, whether in Lent, on Good Friday or beyond.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">__02__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">] What does
the cross or the sign of the cross mean to you and me?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Jesuit
Father John McDermott wrote that the CROSS and the way of the cross is call for
you and me to be converted, to be raised up.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> In
other words, the In reflecting on the sign of the cross, embodies more than
just closure or the END… but even the sign of the cross at the end of Mass is
not about finishing up what we have prayed here…but starting over with a new
beginning.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> In
other words, while Jesus death on the cross calls us to dying and rising to new
life. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> This
does not simply mean a “trade in” of old ways for new ways to God as the dealer
who does all the work for us. There is work for you and me in taking up the
cross each day. In other words, the Cross is not just about Jesus evening up
the good vs. evil competition because Jesus accepts a penalty on himself “takes
one for the team” so you / I don’t have
to get punished <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">__04__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] Father
John McDermott was questioning a viewpoint that you or I might have that “The
cross is cannot be explained simply as God’s way to show His love to basically
good people. The Cross would be a most repulsive way of expressing love”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> The
Cross is “repulsive” – even offensive – because it involves the willful
surrender of Jesus – as the innocent victim -- to those who are not innocent,
in fact to those who do not even know entirely what their actions mean: Jesus
from Calvary: “Forgive them, Father, they know not what they do.” (Bibl Referenc___)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> In
taking up his cross, Jesus is showing his concern and compassion. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> I.e.,
that Jesus Christ as the “true lover must first sacrifice himself for his
beloved.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Or,
as John the Evanglist writes in the Gospel today:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> “</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">Unless the
grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a single grain,
but if it dies, it bears much fruit.</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">”
(</span><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">John 12:24</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> We
can bear fruit and flourish by our sacrifices in love of God and neighbor.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">__05__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] In this
season of mid-March, we recall the lives and feast days of 2 saints whom the
Church remembers for their self-sacrifice.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> On
March 19, the final evening of our St. Joseph Novena which is really our parish’s
Lenten retreat – which you can also watch on our Parish YouTube channel – we
recall St. Joseph as patron saint of the church.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> From
Joseph, Nazareth and beyond, we learn the virtue of self sacrifice, and truly
resting in God’s presence.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> From
St. Joseph, we learn the virtue of self-sacrifice and resting in the presence
of God. Joseph, through his dreams and actions, exemplifies both surrender and
productivity under divine influence. Similarly, our understanding of
productivity and rest is reshaped by the Christian concept of Sunday as the
first day of the week—a day of rest followed by work, mirroring Joseph's
pattern of listening and resting.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Joseph
gives us a model of self sacrifice:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> “</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">Unless the
grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a single grain,
but if it dies, it bears much fruit.</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">”
(</span><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">John 12:24</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Joseph
is also a model of true productivity and possibility in light of God’s
influence. For my part, I also enjoy
being productive and proving myself accordingly, and perhaps realizing I have
earned – merited – a rest at the end of my labors.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> [</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">__06__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] In
fulfillment of the Jewish covenant, there is a new twist on it means to work
and rest. In the original covenant, the Sabbath is the 7<sup>th</sup> day,
after the 6 days of work and creation. That’s logical and may reflect our own
view of “Sabbath” = “weekend”. But the Sabbath day Sunday is not the end of our
week, but the beginning. This is the “end” or purpose of the Sabbath and the
sacraments: to begin again.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> But
the Christian fulfillment – and Resurrection – makes the Sabbath not the last
day of the week, but the first.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> I.e.,
we rest first, then we work. Joseph did the same in his 4 dreams and resting
and listening<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">__07__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] This 5<sup>th</sup>
Sunday of Lent also coincides with St. Patrick’s Day on March 17. Notably, the
famous NYC Manhattan St. Patrick’s Parade is moved to Saturday when the 17<sup>th</sup>
is Sunday. The Sabbath takes priority, comes first.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">__08__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] It’s an important part of Irish Christianity and
Catholicism that teaches us something
about examining our lives and beginning again, in gong to confession for our
sins.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> The
Irish Catholic tradition is important here in Church history.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">This is the meaning was given to an ancient
practice in the Church, through the monks, brothers and priests of Ireland
starting around the year 600.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">As the Catechism of the Catholic Church summarizes
it: “During the seventh century Irish missionaries, inspired by the Eastern
monastic tradition, took to continental Europe the ‘private’ practice of
penance, which does not require public and prolonged completion of penitential
works before reconciliation with the Church. From that time on, the sacrament
has been performed in secret between penitent and priest</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">gradually
the practice came to include confessing faults to a highly trusted brother
monk, who became known as the <i>anamchara</i>
(<i>animae carus</i>), or “soul friend.” (“soul”
is not “sole” or “solo” but S-O-U-L, God’s spirit in us). The abbot or
fraternal <i>anamchara</i> would pray with
the penitent and prescribe actions to help him overcome his failing. Certain
monks renowned for their spiritual advice became popular confessors.
Eventually, people outside the monasteries began coming to those monks to
confess their sins.</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">(</span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;"><a href="https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/how-irish-changed-penance">https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/how-irish-changed-penance</a></span></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">__10__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] There is
no greater “soul friend” than JC Himself whose words and life live on in the
Catholic priesthood and sacrament of penance and reconciliation. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> As
the Church, we have the responsibility not only to DENOUNCE and REJECT
sinfulness, but also to RENOUNCE and REFORM ourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> The
priest is in the confessional as a soul friend to you. You might resist this
idea based on the priest himself being a sinner and a human being.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Yes,
guilty as charged!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">But the priest is not there to represent himself
but rather Jesus Christ and the Church.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> You
have a right to hear from JC and the Church. You are a daughter or son of the
Church.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> I’d
like to make an analogy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> You,
as a child, of your parents have a right to their love and wisdom. You may not
have had perfect parents. You may have had very imperfect – broken – parents.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> But,
when we turn to them, we have a right to expect something that will heal us,
change us, convert us, because of their love for the family.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> In
fact, the “end” or purpose of their lives was to help you begin. The “end” or
purpose of all of our lives – towards young people – is to help them begin and
begin again.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Even
the “corrections” we make toward them is to help them as a renewal rather than a rejection.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> If we
turn to our parents in a crisis, we expect our sins or difficulty to stay “in
house”, not to go out on social media or even to other family members.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> There
is a parallel of this family confidentiality to the confidential seal of
confession.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> It
is the calling and endeavor of the priest to allow you to confess your sins and
also to keep it all “in house.” This is the absolutely confidential seal of
confession.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">To
put it bluntly, </span><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">what
happens in the confessional stays in the confessional</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> But </span><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">what
happens on Calvary, on the Cross, does not stay on Calvary</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> In his more public Passion, Death and
Resurrection, Jesus’ mercy goes out to the whole world, to you and me as
individuals, to Our Lady of Lourdes parish family (</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">which we give thanks for this weekend,</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">),
so that all of us might put on the new man, the woman in Christ to be re-made
in holiness and wholeness. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Jesus’
mercy blooms and flourishes. He is the grain of wheat that falls to the ground
and dies.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Because
he dies, he bears much fruit. This fruit, this growth is your life, the
forgiveness of your sins, a new beginning. You and I can begin again.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> [</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">__end__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">] </span></p>Father Jim Ferryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06488780235058622844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926593225673980150.post-15469653120650322172024-03-10T08:42:00.009-04:002024-03-10T08:46:23.462-04:00Nicodemus. Jury Duty. (2024-03-10, Lent 4th Sunday)<p><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua, serif; font-size: 18px;">__ </span><span style="background-color: #fcff01; color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-853643120/m-0309-l5-10m?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing">Click Here for Audio of Homily </a></b></span><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua, serif; font-size: 18px;">___ </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua, serif; font-size: 18px;">__ </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9f9Ut0HqqA"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;">Click Here for Video of Mass</b></span></a><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua, serif; font-size: 18px;"> __ </span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Homily, 4<sup>th</sup> Sunday
Lent (</span><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">year B</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">) </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">●● </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">2024 March 10
●● II Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-23 ● ● Psalm 137 ● ● Ephesians 2:4-10 ●
● + John 3:14-21</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> ● ●</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__00__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">] <b><u><i>PRELUDE</i></u></b> During this time leading up to St. Patrick's Day,
it's notable that certain masses, like the 11:30 am one tomorrow, are canceled
due to the St. Patrick's parade in West Orange. The Irish are renowned for
their festivities, including parades, but their historical significance extends
far beyond mere celebration.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Amid the collapse
of the Roman Empire, a period marked by widespread chaos, destruction, and the
suppression of knowledge, the Irish and Irish Catholic monasteries played a
pivotal role in safeguarding Western civilization. As Rome faced invasion and
cultural upheaval, Irish monks and priests embarked on a mission to preserve
the wisdom of antiquity. They diligently transcribed and safeguarded texts,
including the works of Plato and Aristotle, Augustine and others, within the
confines of Irish monasteries. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">This monumental
effort to rescue and uphold knowledge earned them the moniker, "saviors of
civilization." Their dedication to preserving the written word during a time
of exile parallels the theme of exile in today's reading, where the return of
people of Israel from Babylon (1<sup>st</sup> reading from 2<sup>nd</sup>
Chronicles, ch. 36) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to their homeland
symbolizes the restoration of worship and freedom. The connection underscores
the enduring importance of safeguarding ideas, faith, and cultural heritage,
especially in times of displacement and uncertainty.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><b style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 18px;"><u><i>MAIN HOMILY</i></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__01__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] Do you watch TV? What TV shows do you watch? What
channel or channels or websites do you listen to for reports on nat’l, int’l or
local news?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>These
were some of the Q’s presented to every possible candidate for jury duty
recently in an Essex County courtroom for jury duty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Q’s were asked to find out about our
experience, possible biases we might bring based on experiences.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">There were 200+ candidates from whom would be
chosen the 12 jurors.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So,
it took about 2 days to select the jury. I started out as one of the 200+. I
ended up as one of the 12 jurors.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__02__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is a
jury? <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A jury consists of ordinary
citizens, independent of the court, by whom the guilt or innocence is decided.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>That’s
what it is. But, why does a jury exist? And, why – more fundamentally – are
there laws and legal statutes for us to follow?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>On
the 1 hand, we might say, we have these rules and police officers and judges
and courtrooms in order to maintain a peaceful society: “Law and Order”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hey,
isn’t that a TV show? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
think you can watch that one and still be on a jury.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__03__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] What were we supposed to do as the jury? The
judge gave a detailed explanation about listening, observing carefully, not
pre-judging or pre-determining how we might “vote” for “guilty”or “not guilty”.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This detailed explanation took over 30
minutes. I questioned why it was so long. Your Honor, we got this. We watch TV!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__04__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, the
point of having laws and judges and police officers is not simply to maintain
an orderly society. Yes, this is our hope as the outcome or effect.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But
there is a more basic reason to have laws. The goal is to reach the truth and the
whole truth. That may or may not be on TV.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And,
as I read in a statement about the meaning of Christian baptism by Pope
Benedict XVI, “the goal of baptism is not the community but the truth.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Benedict
XVI, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dogma and Preaching</i>, “6.
Preaching God Today” p. 88</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">)</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Benedict
XVI continues: “the world does not have many rulers. [But we create new gods
for ourselves] even when we do not call them gods: we worship money, sex,
power, politics or history, expecting [one of them] will develop into God. But there
is only one God.” (</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Benedict
XVI, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dogma and Preaching</i>, “6.
Preaching God Today” p. 89</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">)</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>That’s
the truth and it is meant to help us in our relationships.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__05__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">] For
example, in marriage and family and friendship, our 1<sup>st</sup> priority is
fidelity, truth, integrity.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>At
times, relationships “suffer” because one person is being told a truth he or
she does not want to hear.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
goal is the salvation of souls, truthfulness.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">[</span><b style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__06__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">] [</span><b style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">EXAMPLE
A</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">] One of the difficult things about being truthful
is that it usually also involves some renunciation or self-denial.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In
other words, if you speak the truth to me, it is not your victory, but God’s
victory.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
German scholar, Hans Urs Von Balthasar in writing about both discipleship and
the priesthood, observed that the origin of the Church is not in Peter as the
first Pope, but in Mary as the Mother God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Peter
and the other disciples – and Nicodemus in the Gospel today -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>were on a journey toward renunciation and
respect for God, but often fell short.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Mary,
on the other hand, gives a perfect YES – “fiat” – from the beginning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Hans Urs Von Balthasar, On Priestly
Spirituality, pp. 26-27)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__07__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] [</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">EXAMPLE B</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] Jesus was instructing Nicodemus, the Pharisee,
that the law alone would not save him. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Something more was required.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Let’s
take an example of our efforts to follow the Commandments.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Let’s
take honesty – or dishonesty – as an example. I recall being told many years
ago about a way that I could cheat on my taxes. I did not cheat on my taxes,
but I was told insistently by someone that there is now way I would ever get
caught.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Now,
in this particular instance, I was able to resist the temptation, because I was
convinced that one lie would lead to another lie, etc, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
point of the Commandments is not just to have “Law and Order” but to have and
live truthfulness.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__08__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the
Gospel this Sunday, Jesus encounter Nicodemus, a Pharisee and legal scholar.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">In the Gospel,
Jesus talks with with Nicodemus, a Pharisee and legal expert. The Pharisees
aimed for spiritual perfection via strict adherence to the commdments and laws.
Jesus respects Nicodemus's sincerity, but calls him to something more. As Holy
Week nears, we recall Jesus's clash with the religious elite, including the
Pharisees, who later accuse him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
not clear how Nicodemus “voted” in this jury, but at this time, Nicodemus is
only researching Jesus, not renouncing everything to follow him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__09__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">] In my
case of jury duty service, I was selected and put on a jury. We heard testimony
for about 4 hours, or ½ day.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Then,
the trial was interrupted and we – the jury – were sent to our private – sealed
off – jury room to wait.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When
we returned, the judge said, “the case has been resolved” In other words, a
settlement was reached by the opposing lawyers. The judged thanked us for our
service and reminded us that the jury system works very well and does so
because of citizen jurors.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
judge admitted the system is not perfect, because the system is made of
imperfect human beings.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Then,
the judge rapidly turned and preached a short sermon to us, saying “because
there was only one perfect person ever on this earth, right, Father ?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
said YES. I am also asked –as you are – to live this YES.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Nicodemus
is being asked for a profession of faith, a faith not only in the power of
laws, but in the power of love in Jesus Christ through whom we can live lives
of integrity and harmony and thus to believe in the possibility [pursuit ?] of
the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So
help me God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>God,
come to our assistance in pursuit of this goal. <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;">__end__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;">] </span></p>Father Jim Ferryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06488780235058622844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926593225673980150.post-46921749021534807002024-03-03T13:41:00.007-05:002024-03-03T14:01:40.904-05:00Temple Cleansing / Inherent Value (2023-03, Lent, 3rd Sunday)<p><span><span><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua, serif; font-size: 18px;">__ </span><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-853643120/m-0303-l11-9m?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;">Click Here for Audio of Homily </b></span></a><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua, serif; font-size: 18px;">___ </span></span></span></p><p><span><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua, serif; font-size: 18px;">__ </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQybU7tyT6I"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;">Click Here for Video of Mass</b></span></a><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua, serif; font-size: 18px;"> __ </span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Homily, 3</span><sup style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">rd</sup><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> Sunday
Lent (year B) </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">●● </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">2024 March 3</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">●● Exodus 20:1-17 ● ● Psalm ___● ● 1 Corinthians ___● ●</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">+ John 2:13-25 ● ●</span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__00__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] How much is your home or apartment worth? What is its
value? You do not have tell me out loud.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">How do we measure the value or worth of our homes
or apartments? Is it merely in MONEY – or there is there a deeper, inherent
value ? Jesus, in his teachings, urges us to see beyond the material value of
structures like the Temple, emphasizing the importance of meaning and inherent
worth.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This “inherent value” also extends
to the person as we profess the dignity of the person in all our ethical
choices about human life, the unborn child, the lives in danger in wartime, the
lives of civilians….<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Because our lives have value, Jesus
also believes we can change and be changed for the better.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Jesus's actions in the Temple further emphasize the
importance of spiritual devotion over material concerns. He cleanses the
Temple, rejecting the commercialization of sacred space and reminding us that
the </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">NAME</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">, </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">IMAGE</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> and </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">LIKENESS</span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>we are concerned about this the </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">NAME</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">, </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">IMAGE</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> and </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">LIKENESS</span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of God in each one us. This is the true
purpose of worship, to turn us toward the </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">NAME</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">, </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">IMAGE</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> and </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">LIKENESS</span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of God. In our modern context, we must also
guard against allowing financial interests to overshadow spiritual integrity
within our places of worship.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__01__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d like
to share an experience of this, relating to my childhood experience of moving
into a new house, I recall the significance of three factors: place, price, and
property. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Place held importance as we desired
proximity to family, reflecting a deeper connection beyond mere convenience. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Price was crucial, requiring financial sacrifices
and negotiations, demonstrating the practical aspects of homeownership. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Additionally, the property itself held meaning,
symbolizing commitment and devotion, as evidenced by my grandmother's
insistence on preserving our family home. She said, famously, “never sell this
house.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__02__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] Or if we connect this to the statement in the
Gospel: “zeal for your house will consume me.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">This was a
statement about Jesus's zeal, passion, devotion to the house.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">A house in a
particular place, a house for which he will pay the price with his life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">And, this house –
this Temple – will be a permanent property to last forever through the Church.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__05__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the
Gospel today, Jesus demonstrates repeatedly his concern for the house of God,
which he is not going to flip or resell. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Do you recall the
famous episode and words spoken by the 12 year old year old Jesus when he goes
missing on the family caravan journey to Jerusalem? Ultimately, the 12 year old
Jesus is found in the temple and he displays wisdom and learning to the elder
Scribes and Scholars. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">When his parents
asked him why he apparently ran away from them Jesus said, I didn't run away at
all. But I have returned to be in my house<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>and says:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Why were you
looking? What's the Why were you looking for me all over the place? Did you not
know I would be in my father's house.” (Luke ____ )<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__06__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] Are we not on the alert when “business” and
marketing excessively interrupt on our lives?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>For
example, are you and I are not sensitive sales calls or sales pitches? We don't
want our own houses turned into a marketplace. In other words, we use caller ID
these days to filter out unnecessary sales calls to get our house in our lives
free of this distraction. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">And are we not
vigilant in our regard to keep our houses from not becoming an AMZN
Marketplace? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__07__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus's
attitude is similar in response to what He's inviting us to do in our spiritual
lives in our Lenten journey, to follow the commandments. And I'd like to return
to the search for and care of the house as an example. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">PLACE<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">PRICE<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">PROPERTY<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">First, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>place</u></b>, it can take time, months,
perhaps years to find the right location for a house and will we not sacrifice
other things to get the house or the home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As an adult, I notice now that my parents after we moved into that
house, we didn't have a new car until 6 years after we moved into the house. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">So, in a material
sense zeal for our house. The house was the priority.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">What about on a
spiritual – sacramental journey level?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">What things do you
and I need to put aside to keep the Sabbath holy, to come to church on Sunday,
to make Sunday a day for family and real friendship and intimacy with God?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__08__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I applaud
you for your efforts for your witness your testimony, it matters for yourself,
for your neighbors, for your children to be in God's house. It also shows that
regardless of whether we live alone or with others, we have a connection to
each other through God's house, through our service to each other by the
commandments. Yes, we have many distractions in life. But when it comes to our
house, where we live, do we not lay down our lives and lay down the law in
terms of what we will accept in terms of noise or busyness or distraction. We
want peace in our lives in our houses. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__09__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus is
also inviting us to clean up the house of our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">How does this
“clean up” take shape for you and for me?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I myself will avoid or postpone clean up
if it means permanent lasting change. I myself enjoy cleaning up the kitchen,
doing the dishes, washing the counters because I have the satisfaction of
seeing the change on the surface.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">But, real
repentance is a different type of clean up and it does not happen all at once.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The clean up Jesus
is asking for is connected to REPENTANCE, FORGIVNEESS, MERCY…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">We learn lessons
of this first at home.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Here
is an example of “clean up” from that first house.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__10__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About 2 years after moving into that house, I
stood impatiently at the back door waiting for someone to answer it. I was
about 8 years old. So impatient was I that I banged on the glass with my hand
that had a winter glove on it. Fortunately! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I also broke the
glass banging on the door. My parents were none too pleased. I had done
something more than just materially wrong…. But also spiritually wrong by
doubting so profoundly that I was actually abandoned at the back door.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">But, I also took
it as a lesson to be more patient. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I am still
learning this lesson.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">And, I also
realize that we learn four first lessons of repentance and confession at home.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">While my parents
were displeased, I also recognized that I was loved. In grown up “terminology”,
I had inherent value.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don't learn forgiveness first by going to a
priest or speaking to God in a private room. But we learn it at home where the
you is the mother and father function, or your mother and father functions
almost like the priests, learning, teaching you about forgiveness, teaching you
about unconditional love. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">And that
forgiveness doesn't mean that we're approving of bad actions, but that we're
trying to grow. This forgiveness – at home - prepares you and me to go out
beyond our houses, into the neighborhood, into the school into the street with
the courage both to admit our faults when necessary, and the courage to forgive
others. We learn this at home. What in our own houses.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__11__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These acts of contrition and forgiveness in
the home also prepare you and me to go to speak to God in confession, throughout
our lives. The advantage of the confessional is that it gives us a place to be
totally honest in a safe and secure place and to start or re-start the process
of conversion and recognize our inherent value to God and to each other.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">In this regard,
your church and the your home both have inherent value and complement each
other. They are extensions of each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our house is is a house of prayer and is meant to last forever.</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__end__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] <o:p></o:p></span></p>Father Jim Ferryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06488780235058622844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926593225673980150.post-72389102509313620122024-02-25T13:06:00.007-05:002024-02-25T13:43:53.696-05:00Mortified. Fortified. Transfiguration (Lent, 2nd Sunday, 2024-02-25)<p><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua, serif; font-size: 18.6667px;">__ </span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-853643120/m-0225-l9-8m?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing">Click Here for Audio of Homily</a></b></span><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua, serif; font-size: 18.6667px;"> ___ </span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 18.6667px;">__ </span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"><a href="https://youtu.be/f7_IyyjECgo">Click Here for Video of Mass</a></b></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 18.6667px;"> __</span></p><p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Homily, 2</span><sup style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">nd</sup><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> Sunday Lent (year B) </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">●● </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">2024
February 25</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> ●● Genesis 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18 ● ● Psalm
116 ● ● Romans 8:31b-34 ● ● Mark 9:2-10 ●
●</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__01__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many years
ago, I found myself in a rush, in a hurry, driving to meet a friend at the
train station, a friend travelling from New York City.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Trying to make up for lost time, I made the mistake
of driving 40 miles an hour in a 25 mile per hour zone. I was pulled over by a police
officer and immediately given a speeding ticket. It was the first ticket I'd
ever received. Not the last. I was upset. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">My friend was
amused and tried to lighten the mood at my perception of “disaster”. I was neither
laughing nor smiling. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Soon after, our
journey continued with 2 more friends on our way to New England and Maine. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">During the 6-hour
drive, the 4 of us talked about many things. We probably spent about 30 seconds
of a 6-hour drive on my speeding ticket experience. We were in a different car
on a different in a different direction. On a longer journey, there was a new
destination, a new big picture and vision to consider.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Was I open to this
new vision?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Not initially I
wasn’t !<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__02__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I lost an
opportunity, at the time, to rise above a minor setback.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The was neither my last speeding ticket or
the last time I got distressed over something truly minor.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Reflecting on
these 40 days of Lent and my experience, I realize my understanding of
“mortification” was incomplete.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">In the dictionary,
looking up the word “mortification,” we read 2 definitions:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">1<sup>st</sup></span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">. Mortification is “embarrassment or shame”. That
where I was at, what I was feeling.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">2<sup>nd</sup></span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">. Mortification<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>is also the “subduing of one’s own desires” That what I was <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>not</u></b> doing!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__03__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] I wasn't genuinely remorseful for speeding; I was
simply regretful for getting caught and facing the consequences. Moreover,
instead of subduing my desire for pity, I craved validation from others, which
remained elusive. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The opportunity in
any one of many everyday difficulties or faults or failures is to see
“mortification” as an opportunity for a new vision, a new big picture.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__04__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Gospel is about the the Transfiguration, an event where Jesus revealed his
divine glory to Peter, James, and John, the unveiling in High-Definition HD of
Jesus' eternal splendor.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">This profound
revelation was intended to make them FORTIFIED (strong) for the impending trial
of his arrest and passion …. So they would be FORTIFIED – strengthened – rather
than only MORTIFIED (weakened)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">After this Transfiguration
is is meant to be “cause” of faith,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>did
the Transfiguration have this “effect”?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Not right away!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">How did the disciples
behave when Jesus was arrested?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
faltered. Judas betrayed, Peter denied 3x, and 9 others ran in the the opposite
direction.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Yet, later,
combined with the appearance of Jesus, risen from the dead, they are able to
talk with him again and be restored after they take it all in.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__05__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do big picture
images and selfies of glory save us from distress and doubt? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If a
diploma and “graduation day” is, for example, a symbol of glory and achievement
and learning, does the photos of that day alone make us humble enough to
continue learning…and searching when we are a bit lost?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Each of us is
called to trust in the grace of the Holy Spirit in different ways. I am called
to this, as a priest, but not because I have photos of me, my classmates and
the archbishop on Ordination Day.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Some of us
certainly have photos of our weddings and family events. But, these images and
memories alone do not FORTIFY us or explain the vows of marriage.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I suggest that
even if the disciples had taken out their phones with fancy cameras and video
recorded the Transfiguration, and taken selfies, they would have still run away
at Jesus’ arrest!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Faith is not
derived simply from visual representations, but from hearing and trusting in
God's word, and hearing and trusting in God's word spoken to us through others.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">What is key word
in the Gospel today? “LISTEN.” God doesn't say, Look at Jesus. God says listen
to Jesus, LISTEN to Him.</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The season of Lent
serves as a reminder that about LISTENING nad LOVE. Prayer and fasting can help
us to LISTEN and LOVE. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">In this regard, mortification
is not means of punishment but of motivation. </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><s><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></s></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__06__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Often,
the greatest charity we can perform is not based on what others can see or
perceive or measure. Sometimes others do not see, cannot see and perhaps are
not meant to see our self-denial. This is charity. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I read this an
article by Dominican Father (Father Martin Harrison, O.P.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: 150%;">Source: <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://onepeterfive.com/mortification-is-the-path-to-salvation/#:~:text=To%20give%20up%20our%20comforts,to%20God%20as%20a%20mortification">https://onepeterfive.com/mortification-is-the-path-to-salvation/#:~:text=To%20give%20up%20our%20comforts,to%20God%20as%20a%20mortification</a></span></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-spacerun: yes; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Alms-giving does not necessarily mean giving
money away. The best alms is to give happiness to others – any kind of action
done for the love of God and our neighbor, any small service especially if it
means self-denial, is acceptable to God as a mortification … We … find doing
good to others to be too much trouble and to cause too much inconvenience to
ourselves. We could make a point of doing at least one kind act a day to help
another, as a mortification.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">If doing good is
rebuffed or rejected, that doesn't make the good into the bad but only the good
invisible. Doing good this way is a simple penance we can make as a way of
reparation for sins, and a way of respect for the poor and the vulnerable. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Mary, Our Lady of
Lourdes, lived a penitential life. Yet she did not sin. She didn't do penances
for her sins, but gives us a model to follow, to ponder the good news, and
receive our Lord in our bodies by pondering his word and presence as well. And
recognizing that Jesus gave up his life so that we might live not just in this
life, but in the next. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">We have these 40
days of Lent to make penances even small ones to remind us of Jesus's love and
ultimate sacrifice. He is the big picture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__END__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">]</span></p>Father Jim Ferryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06488780235058622844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926593225673980150.post-20800826214483047552024-02-18T11:37:00.008-05:002024-02-18T11:51:50.519-05:00Fasting and Lent (2024-02-18, Lent, 1st Sunday)<p><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua, serif; font-size: 18px;">___ </span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-853643120/m-0218-l9-8m?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing">Click Here for Audio of Homily</a></b></span><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua, serif; font-size: 18px;"> ___ </span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 18px;">____ </span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2X_uICQAHaU">Click Here for Video of Mass</a></b></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 18px;"> ____ </span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Homily, 1</span><sup style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">st</sup><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> Sunday Lent
(year B) </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">●● 2024 February 18 </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">●● Genesis 9:8-15 ● ● Psalm 25
● ● 1 Peter 3:18-22 ● ●</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Mark 1:12-15 ● ● </span><b style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><u> Title</u></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">: Fasting and Lent</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__01__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Recently,
someone I met, around the time of Ash Wednesday, told me she heard about the
Catholic tradition of not eating meat on Fridays, on abstaining from meat on
Fridays. Say what?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
explained that the reason we follow this practice is because of Jesus – who
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified died and was buried – all on Good
Friday. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
shared that this abstinence is not because the eating of the meat is bad but it
does have a connection to our Lord and Savior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Since Jesus sacrificed his flesh for us on Good Friday, we refrain from
eating flesh meat in his honor on Fridays.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__02__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] The Christian lifestyle is intended to be one you
and I live not to serve ourselves (“all we can eat”) but rather serve God and
others. Jesus summarized this in the Greatest Commandment:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with
all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important
command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew
22:37-39)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">From these two
commandments we are called measure our love for others based on our love and
care of self. There is no explicit commandment given to love ourselves,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">But Jesus does say
in Luke chapter 12: “Jesus tells us not to worry about food or clothing. He
reminds them that life is more than just these things, and God takes care of
the birds and flowers, so He'll surely take care of us. We are called to focus
on seeking God's ways.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Along this line, what
does not come naturally is going out of ourselves to love others. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Humility also may not come naturally….<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">C.S. Lewis
famously said: “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of
yourself less.””<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__03__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In the Gospel this Sunday, Jesus goes out into
the desert to fast and to pray.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And,
we read that he is tempted by the devil, by Satan.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Pope
Gregory the First (Gregory the Great) gave a 3-level or 3-step breakdown of
what it means to be “tempted” or “in temptation”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>These
3 steps apply to Jesus and apply to us, except for the Lord, he only goes to
step 1. We sometimes find ourselves all the way to step 2 and 3.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But,
we know that Jesus himself did not succumb to temptation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Perhaps,
there is someone you know and trust who also seems able to resist temptation.
That person would also be at “step 1”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__04__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s take
the example of the temptation to be dishonest … <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">1<sup>st</sup>
Level – Step</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">:
“suggestion”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A suggestion is made to me
– or even a random thought comes to me – that I might save time or money by
hiding something or by, for example, plagiarizing, by lying….<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But,
it’s just a suggestion, I have not done anything yet.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">2<sup>nd</sup> Level – Step</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">: “delight”. While knowing that the suggestion is
wrong, I take pleasure in some convenience or comfort that the suggestion will
bring to me. I delight in the suggestion.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">3<sup>rd</sup> Level-Step</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">: “consent” I do the action and consent after
having heard the suggestion and delighted in it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>What
does it mean for Jesus to be tempted? It means, only<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that he heard the suggestion. He did not sin
by delighting in it or consenting to it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__05__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus's
strength was that he was born without original sin, and they did he did not
delight in this suggestion. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Do we delight in
the suggestions of sin? Sometimes there are times when we do not delight in the
suggestions of sin. We are strong in our faith and trust in God. And we can
avoid delighting or taking pleasure in sin or trespassing. But we're broken and
fragile. And sometimes we do delight in and we can consent to sin. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">For this reason,
Jesus Christ came among us, not just for 40 days in the desert, not just for 40
years, but for all time, to give us a model to follow to recall that even when
we're suffering, as we read in Romans 8:28 </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">à</span></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> all
things work together for good even when we're suffering, all things work
together for good for those who love God. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__06__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In these
solemn 40 days of Lent, we the Church are uniting ourselves to the mystery of
Jesus’ fasting <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in the desert.</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>__<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Paraphrased: “</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Our separation from God and the start of doing wrong
began with eating in the Book of Genesis. God said not to eat from one tree,
the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2:17), but Adam and Eve did it
anyway. This eating connects to the big questions of life and death, and
whether someone is saved or condemned. Food keeps us alive in this world, which
doesn't last forever and where things die. But God didn't make death (Wis.
1:13). Adam and Eve chose to rely on food alone instead of God (Dt. 8:3; Mt.
4:4; Lk. 4:4).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(</span> <span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: 150%;">https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year-and-calendar/lent/catholic-reflection-on-lenten-fasting#:~:text=Fasting%20is%20here%20connected%20with,no%20death.%22%20(Wis.)
</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">__<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A few times, I have gone on spiritual
retreats that have involved a fast from “communication” or a fast from talking.
In the beginning of such fasts, I often crave conversation. But after a few
days, I get used to it and enjoy the silence.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In this regard, the choice to be
silent – on the retreat – or to go without some form of food – is not be
because talking is evil (talking is good) or because eating is evil (food is
good), but just to make a practice of putting ourselves more explicitly in
God’s presence each day.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In a fast, we are not denying
ourselves in order to make our lives more chaotic or disorganized, but rather
to know better what is truly important so that we can grow in humility and love
of God and neighbor.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We also – at times – may need to fast
from saying something too quickly so that we can pray about what it is God
wants us to say, what is meant to be spoken, so that we can also live by every
word that comes forth from the mouth of God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">__end__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Father Jim Ferryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06488780235058622844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926593225673980150.post-28811324951621298422024-02-14T17:31:00.009-05:002024-02-14T21:56:45.229-05:00Fasting/Prayer/Charity as a Team Effort (2024-02-14, Ash Wednesday)<p><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua, serif; font-size: 18px;">___ </span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-853643120/m-awp-12l-8m?si=a7ce8c9126f5469baf621089b3105f5c&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing">Click Here for Audio of Homily</a></b></span><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua, serif; font-size: 18px;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-853643120/m-awp-12l-8m?si=a7ce8c9126f5469baf621089b3105f5c&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing"> </a>___ </span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 18px;">____ </span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjssE01KJd8"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;">Click Here for Video of Mass</b></a></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 18px;"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span>____ </span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Homily, Ash Wednesday </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">●● </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">2024 February 14</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">●● Joel 2:12-18 ● Psalm 51 ● ●2 Corinthians
5:20-6:2 ●●</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 ● ●</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> [</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__01__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] When I was
18 years old and a freshman in college, I found myself signed up for and
playing with my college’s rugby club which was an unfamiliar experience on many
levels of passing, kicking, running and “commandments or rules” to be followed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> I also had an experience regarding –
not a commandment – but a calling and invitation that would be beneficial to me
and to others, if I were to follow it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> One day, at the end of the fall /
autumn season, at the last practice as the afternoon light was fading, our coach
one final challenge for us which had nothing to do with passing or scoring, but
was related to physical effort. At least, for me, it would be physically taxing
…or so I thought.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> He wanted each of us, as members of
the team to donate blood … not right there on the field in the fading light,
but at the hospital. More on that later….<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__02__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] I bring this up because his particular
invitation to give blood – while not officially religious – reminds me now of
our traditions during Lent of how we are called to enter – FREELY – in complete
FREEDOM – into praying, almsgiving, and into fasting.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> If
you read the blue sheet in the bulletin about the official Catholic traditions,
you might experience this as a series of rules to follow. I would like you to read
and pray over this as an opportunity to grow in freedom – just as your spouse
or your family or friend wants you to love freely, God is also giving you – us
– this season so that we can love Him freely and love each other freely. </span><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Yes, at times, a truly committed relationship does
involve doing certain things …. Or abstaining from or avoiding certain things
out of love.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__03__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Yes,
at times, a truly committed relationship does involve doing certain things ….
Or abstaining from or avoiding certain things out of love.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> When
I was in the seminary, we were required to do many things and even the
“requirement” of attending Daily Mass every day at 7:15 am did at times come
across to me as a “rule” than an invitation.
Thus, it was notable to me – that a man who worked in the building as
our electrician/plumber and repair person would interrupt his morning routine
to kneel outside the chapel during the Eucharistic consecration while we were
in the chapel. His witness taught me something about taking the rules for
granted and about freely choosing to come before God whether on Ash Wednesday,
Lent or any other day.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__04__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] Lent also
reminds us that you and I do not go it alone in life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> While
we might live alone, eat alone on a regular basis, we do not fast and sacrifice
alone during Lent or as Christians.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Rather,
we fast and make sacrifices as a community, as Church, as the Body of Christ
…and in my 18-year-old young adult example, we were being asked to “sacrifice”as
a team of individuals.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__05__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] In our
Catholic tradition these days, we are not actually fasting every day for 40
days, but on this particular day – Ash Wednesday and on Good Friday – trying to
make it through the day on the equivalent of 1 meal. And, on the Fridays of Lent, we abstain from
eating meat. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The Friday's abstinence
from meat extends for the entire year. That is, we are meant to do something
every Friday, 52 weeks a year, sacrificial it could be giving up meat or it
could be something else. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> I
know “1 meal” sounds lonely, but I think one meal can also can be the one practice
which brings us together, which united us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> In
Essex County alone, there are an estimated 100,000 people living with “food
insecurity” and this means = “Food insecurity refers to lack of access, at
times, to enough food and lack of availability of nutrition.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> While
the measure of your fasting does not put a lid or put an end to food insecurity
<b><u>statistically, socially</u></b>…it
unites you <b><u>spiritually</u></b> to
those who are hungry. Our world,
locally and globally need your prayer and fasting.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Fasting
on Ash W and on Good F and on other days brings us together.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Just
a disclaimer – I urge you to be sensible and logical in your fasting and sacrifice.
For some of us, the best fast we can make is to follow the doctor’s orders
about what to eat and when to eat.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> This
also brings us together at one spiritual table.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__06__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] Lent is
also about how we can love each other and bear each other’s burdens.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> And,
in this case, I was being invited to participate with other team members in
donating blood.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> So,
I just had to pretend this did not scare me. I remember thinking that I really
did not have to donate blood. It would not even be venial sin of omission to
skip this opportunity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__07__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] And, given that I was then pretty unsure if it
would be painful or weird …I had lots of reasons not to do this. But, the story of the coach was impressive
to me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__08__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] As a child, he had been the victim of a serious
house fire which he had, of course, survived but looking at him closely at that
moment, I could see the scars that and that he must have suffered greatly.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__09__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] His life
had been saved due to medical intervention and also by the several blood
transfusions which he had received. He
never forgot the blood transfusions. This was where our team came in. He wanted us to give back what he had
received.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">He also mentioned something about how this would be
good publicity for our team, for our college and that we might even appear to
be others at school to be “more physically handsome and better looking than we
really were”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__09__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] And, while
publicity and popularity are good things, sometimes, they darken the aspects of
our freedom and free will.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> And,
the Gospel tells us this today. In the
Gospel of Ash Wednesday we read this:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">When you give alms [charity], do not blow a
trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do … to win the praise of others.</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">” (</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Matthew 6:__</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> All
that was necessary for me to “donate blood” was to show up and stick my arm
out. I just had to be present. The professionals in medicine did the rest.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> I am
not saying I got over my fear entirely of the needle of giving blood. But, it
showed me that what I needed to do was to be present, offer something of myself
and let it happen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> This
is also what we are called to do each day. We cannot control the outcome of
every situation We are called to pray, fast, to give charitably and to let God
do his work through us and in us and through us to others. Just show up ! Your
presence and your prayer matter.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Don’t get too
caught up in the results or as the Gospel reads: “</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">do not your
left hand know what your right is doing.</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">” (</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Matthew 6:__</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I pray that our
fasting and sacrifice may draw us closer to the Lord and to each other, that
these 40 days and beyond and to remind us of the blood drawn by the Cross and
to save you and me for eternity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Fasting
and sacrifice are meant to bring us together as the “team” of the Church, as
St. Paul wrote: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">For just as each of
us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same
function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs
to all the others</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">.” (</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Romans 12:4-5</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">) [</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">__end__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">] </span>Father Jim Ferryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06488780235058622844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926593225673980150.post-20994899617144651332024-02-11T11:15:00.003-05:002024-02-13T18:47:17.017-05:00#WhatHappensinVegas / #OurLadyofLourdes (2024-02-11, Sunday-06)<p><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua, serif;">___ </span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-853643120/m-0210-l5-11m?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing">Click Here for Audio of Homily</a></b></span><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua, serif;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-853643120/m-0210-l5-11m?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing"> </a>___ </span></p><p><span><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua, serif;">____ </span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w24tiPhZ8ms">Click Here for Video of Mass</a></b></span><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua, serif;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w24tiPhZ8ms"> </a>____ </span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">Homily, 6</span><sup style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"> Sunday (year B)</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">●●</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">2024 February 11</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">●● Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46 ● ● Psalm 32:1-2,
5, 11 ● ● 1 Corinthians 10:31 – 11:1 ● ●</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">Mark 1:40-45</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">● ●</span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Title</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>#WhatHappensInVegas #OurLadyofLourdes #February11<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__01__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">] </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">There is a grotto, a shrine – for prayer - to
Our Lady of Lourdes, on our property.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If
you've never been there, it's located to your left outside the door. It is in
the center of the parish, the geographic center of our parish. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">There is
another more famous grotto </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 18px;">Our Lady of Lourdes </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">at “Notre Dame” University in
Indiana. It is in the
center of the campus and gives the university it’s identity and name.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Our Lady
is in the center. I have some friends (a father and a son) who graduated from Notre
Dame. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are also Notre Dame sports / football
fans.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">They constantly quote a former Notre Dame coach
(Lou Holtz) who told his players before a big game: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">God doesn’t care who wins [this football
game] tomorrow, but his mother does!</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">”
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__02__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">] </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Do you mind if I change the channel, with
the remote control , to football to the Super Bowl championship this weekend?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">And, specifically to the messaging and preaching of
the commercials?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Are
you one of the people “tuned in” not just for the game but also for the
commercials? I am one of those people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
think the commercials reveal something of our own desires …and one in
particular in 2024 due to the location of the stadium and game.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This
year, for the first time ever, the game is being played out west in Nevada in
the place known as “sin city”: Las Vegas.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This
“sin city” nickname / designation, I believe, might be agreeable to some of us
and to the Pharisees who believe sin and sinfulness are limited to certain
places and times and people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Was
this not their attitude toward leprosy? Keep those people away from us. We are
better than they are. But Jesus’ message is that the leper might be “simple”,
but he does not really lack “status” in God’s eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
man with leprosy shows great humility, kneeling down before Jesus and
recognizing his divinity more than the more </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">“officially
registered” </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Pharisees do.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__03__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is also
a humility shown in the mosaic above our altar, in the kneeling, praying (St.)
Bernadette of Lourdes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This
Sunday is February 11 and really our “Super Sunday” and the anniversary of the
first appearance in 1858 of the Blessed Mother to Bernadette.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bernadette had her own very fragile
condition, not being well physically and her family was very poor financially. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It
is ironic that Lourdes has become a place of healing and miracles and that
Bernadette was such a great intercessor before God for the healing of others,
BECAUSE Bernadette herself was perpetually sick and died at age 35.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Not
everyone is called to healing but all of us are called to holiness.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__04__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Also, you and I – as sinners – do not lack
status in God’s eyes. Jesus does not desire the sinner to die but to turn to
him and live.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This
is what confession and the seal of confidentiality in the confessional are
about, the opportunity to be totally honest and healed … all without having to
state your name. God knows who you are. The priest does not need to know.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Do
you have – do I have – an incorrect attitude toward the places of sinfulness,
the times of sinfulness and the people who are sinning …and the probability of
sin?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__05__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I suggest this attitude is ∑ summarized in the
famous tourism advertisement and popular #hashtag for the city itself, starts
with “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>What</u></b> ”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“’What Happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">In 2003, this
phrase was made famous in by the Las Vegas Tourism Authority to promote travel
to Las Vegas based on the city’s image of “adult freedom”. But is the choice to
sin really MATURE .. and is it LIBERATING?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Even if we never
go to Vegas or to NOLA for Mardi Gras, don’t we sometimes regard sin as = “what
happened at the party stays at the party” / “what happened at the office stays
at the office ” / “what happened in the past stays in the past…”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__06__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The #
message of “What Happens in Vegas” is a desperate and depraved statement and
Jesus does not want to leave us desperate and depraved and broken.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">We have a
different belief and creed that the sins of the past can be healed and we can
grow and change.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__07__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">] Years ago,
I attended a lecture at the Archdiocese of Newark on the subject of virtue and
also of purity given the many temptations out there …</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
speaker reminded us of many pitfalls to sin online and electronically. He was
not, however, talking mainly about the dangers of having an Amazon Prime
account. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Rather,
he was speaking of the dangers of pornography and indecent images which are
presented to you and me as harmless and entertaining.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>However,
are they not contrary to the virtue of respect, self-respect and human dignity?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
images represent the degradation of the actors and performers both women and
men, some of whom might be “paid and willing victims”, but all are still victims!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Given
that such images were and are so prevalent, he paraphrased the one-time VISA credit
card commercial – “pornography – it’s everywhere you want to be”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And,
for you and me -– in various forms – these images and ideas and words and words
can be a substance to be consumed that can seem to be irresistible.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">And some
people suffer from addiction or forms of dependency related to pornography.
This can be healed through the church through confession and through
counseling. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>They
seem to be irresistible and the this an illusion – to be everywhere you want to
be – and to make you into anyone you want to be.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
evil spirit – Satan – can contort or distort the desire for love and beauty
into a distorted image of ourselves, of our relationships, even of our own
bodies. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>After
all, Satan – the devil – does not really care about your body. He just wants
your soul.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>God
cares about you – both soul and body – and wants you to know you are loved as
you are, as who you are. Love and real affection are not about what you get but
rather what you give.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Be
careful. The spirit and distortions of the Evil One are everywhere you want to
be.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__08__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">What happens in Vegas does not stay in
Vegas. It will affect your or my </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">à</span></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"> family,
marriage, work, ministry, sleep, attention span.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">And, by the way, the legalized marketing of
online sports betting and gambling is a great temptation to young people and
recovering gamblers. So what happens in the Vegas casino does even stay in the
building. It’s on your phone, in your house.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">There is a danger that we will die in our
sins but it does not have down this way.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">“What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas”
suggests that we – as sinners – surrender to death by our sins in particular
places and that sin is both a destiny and destination. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">The Good News has a different direction </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">à</span></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"> Jesus does not desire the sinner to die but
to turn back to him and live.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">We go to confession – to receive penance and
absolution – because the confessional and cross is where the sin goes to die
with Christ. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Recall the seal and confidentiality of
confession: </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">what
happens in the confessional stays in the confessional</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">what
happens on Calvary, on the Cross, does not stay on Calvary</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">pause</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">] </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Prior to this Gospel episode, in Mark Chapter 1,
Jesus’ popularity and identity remained obscure.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Jesus
was staying and speaking in Galilee which was sparsely populated at the time.
The Lord did not have a “media presence”.</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In his more public Passion, Death and
Resurrection, Jesus’ mercy goes out to the whole world, to you and me as
individuals, to Our Lady of Lourdes parish family (</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">which we give thanks for this weekend,</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">),
so that all of us might put on the new man, the woman in Christ to be re-made
in holiness and wholeness. Stay tuned!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Our Lady of Lourdes Pray for us!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Notre
Dame de Lourdes, priez pour nous</i>! </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">__end__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">] </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>Father Jim Ferryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06488780235058622844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926593225673980150.post-20264458181589478542024-02-04T01:30:00.020-05:002024-02-04T14:18:24.376-05:00Annual Appeal - Benefits to Ministries, Benefits to our Parish (2024-02-03)<p>___ <span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-853643120/m-0204-l9-11m?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing">Click Here for Audio of Homily </a></b></span>___ </p><p>____ <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouuSHQtZMBE"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;">Click Here for Video of Mass</b></span> </a>____ </p><p>Explanation of Benefits of Annual Appeal<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua, serif; font-size: xx-small;">__ </span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohrryJ5Dtg4">Click for Father Jim Ferry Video of this Presentation</a></b></span><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua, serif; font-size: xx-small;">___</span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 7pt;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 15pt; line-height: 150%;">SLIDE 1 = s 1 </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] I am Father Jim Ferry, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes of West Orange
here to speak to you about the annual appeal with the Archdiocese of Newark,
how the annual appeal benefits various ministries and how the annual appeal has
also benefited Our Lady of Lourdes over the years. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The annual appeal is an effort that we participate
in together with the Archdiocese of Newark. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__</span></b><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 26pt; line-height: 150%;">s 2</span></b><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 15pt; line-height: 150%;">
</span></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">] </span><b><u><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">A QUESTION</span></u></b><b><u><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">As a personal example, there was a question that
came to me years ago, a question came from my childhood friend. My friend
called me up asking about “financial help”. But he was not asked me to borrow
money. Rather, he was asking how he could help financially to someone in need
to a family in need in our parish. And, could I identify somebody in need?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I was uncomfortable with this question
uncomfortable around my friend for a little while because I couldn't I didn't
have somebody immediately in mind. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 26pt; line-height: 150%;">s 3</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 15pt; line-height: 150%;">
</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">MY ANSWER</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But after a few more phone
calls, I was able to identify somebody I came up with an answer. I was in
contact with a family who was doing some home repairs due to an ailing or sick
family member. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were in need.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">When I went to the
family to tell them about this, they were in disbelief – incredulous – asking Why
would anyone help us? Indeed, why would anybody help us? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__</span></b><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 26pt; line-height: 150%;">s 4</span></b><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 15pt; line-height: 150%;">
</span></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">] </span><b><u><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">GOD’S GOOD NEWS</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"> Why does
God's mercy and love work in the world? St. Paul, and the New Testament explains
this, that this works because Jesus has given up Himself for us, body and blood
in the Eucharist.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And
he reminds us that the church is also the body of Christ through which we to
care about care for each other with compassion and with consideration. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">St. Paul writes, </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">now a body is not a single part of many, there
are many parts but one body, God has so constructed the body that all the
members may be concerned from one another. If one member suffers, all the
members suffer with it. One member is honored all the members share its joy</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 150%;">. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 26pt; line-height: 150%;">s 5</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 15pt; line-height: 150%;">
</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">YOUR WITNESS</span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And you
share your joy and your resources your money in many ways your charitable
support is at work at Our Lady of Lourdes through our Giving Tree Project at Advent
/ Christmas, the wrapped Christmas gifts to needy children and families,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>food drives, in soup kitchen, the Souper Bowl
soup can drive all of this is cause and effect generosity, the effect of your
generosity goes to good causes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__</span></b><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 26pt; line-height: 150%;">s 6</span></b><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 15pt; line-height: 150%;">
</span></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">] </span><b><u><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Annual Appeal 2024</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The annual appeal also connects us to good causes,
which we would otherwise not have access to.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Proclaiming the Gospel</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">. Example: Offering of Masses and Liturgy to
children and family with special learning and sensory needs.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Passing on the Faith</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">. Examples: Catechetical Education; Campus Ministry
at Colleges with Newman Centers such as Montclair State University,
Rutgers-Newark, NJIT, and 9 universities in total.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Caring for the Poor and
Vulnerable</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">. Examples:
Catholic Charities; Hospital Chaplaincy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Forming Future Priests /
Supporting Retired Clergy</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">.
Example:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seminary education at
Immaculate Conception Seminary at Seton Hall University.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">When you
give, you may SPECIFY / RESTRICT your gift to the particular area(s), if you
prefer!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">_</span></b><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 26pt; line-height: 150%;">s 7</span></b><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 15pt; line-height: 150%;">
</span></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">_</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">] <b><u>Goal/Incentive
/ Gratitude</u></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The annual appeal 2024 goal is $28,210. There’s an
incentive for us to reach the goal fully by June 30 in that we can save $12,000
in assessment expenses to the Archdiocese. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I thank you for
those of you who have faithfully supported the appeal in prior years. If you
have not supported the appeal in a couple of years or if you have not supported
the appeal at all, I asked you to join as a returning donor or as a new donor
and consider a gift to the annual appeal 2024 in accord with your means in
accord with what you can do</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I have made my
gift and I asked you to please join me in supporting the appeal. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The appeal is
important to me because I recognize there are ministries we cannot do as a
parish individually, but we can do more joining with other parishes. Also the
appeal supported me directly by paying for my academic seminary education that
I received on my way to being assigned here in ministry to Our Lady of Lady of
Lourdes</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">[</span><b style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">_</span></b><b style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 26pt; line-height: 150%;">s 8</span></b><b style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 15pt; line-height: 150%;">
</span></b><b style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">_</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">] BENEFITS The
appeal has benefited Lourdes parish in following ways since 2014. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">1. “Repair Grants”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>– $ 80,000<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">2. “Debt Forgiveness” - $66,000 – “unpaid insurance
premiums, for example”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">3. Reduction in Assessment:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>$24,000<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>$ 170,000 = “repair”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>+
“forgiveness” + “reduction”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">Catholic
Charities</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> also is a
beneficiary of the appeal of Catholic Charities is the organization that
oversees the school which school which is renting out our school building Mount
Carmel guild Academy. The rent paid by the school is 50% of our parish income
50% of our revenue for the year or $500,000. So the health and well being of
Catholic Charities is good for Our Lady of Lourdes. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">_</span></b><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 26pt; line-height: 150%;">s 9</span></b><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 15pt; line-height: 150%;">
</span></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">_</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">] If you're giving to the Appeal, please choose Our
Lady of Lourdes West Orange as your parish on the paper form or when you're
giving online.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Your check would
be payable to “Annual Appeal 2024”. Forms and envelopes are available from your
pew and we can mail these to you as well. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Q’s ? – please
call / email me – email Father Jim ferry at Lourdes West orange DOT org or
973-325-0110 and to <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">To give online, go
RCAN dot org forward slash hearing. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">_</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 26pt; line-height: 150%;">s 10</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 15pt; line-height: 150%;">
</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">_</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] Thank you for your personal and prayerful
consideration of the appeal. The appeal is an important fundraiser for us. And
I pray that God will bless you in this new year and bless you for your
generosity in the name of the Father and Son and the Holy Spirit. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>START
THE VIDEO<o:p></o:p></span></p>Father Jim Ferryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06488780235058622844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926593225673980150.post-61193273590710983972024-01-28T14:13:00.007-05:002024-02-03T20:15:55.141-05:00Urgent (2024-01-28, 4th Sunday)<p>___ <span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-853643120/m-0128-l9-9m?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing">Click Here for Audio of Homily</a></b></span> ___ </p><p>____<span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAv2bZ5b3BM"> Click Here for Video of Mass </a></b></span>____ </p><p> <span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Homily, 4</span><sup style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> Sunday
(year B)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">●● <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2024 January 28 </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">●● Deuteronomy 18:15-20 _ ●
Psalm 95</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">● ● 1 Corinthians 7:32-35 ●</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Mark 1:21-28 ● ● </span><b><u><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Title</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">:
“URGENT”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">__01__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">The very first word of the gospel today is 'then' = “T-H-E-N”.
This word is written frequently by Mark to indicate that something is about to
happen and something is “immediate” or “urgent”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mark's gospel has a theme of urgent action.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">And I'd like to reflect on the fact that we all
need healing urgently, we need healing as soon as possible from God. On an
everyday basis, you and I need healing of our memories, healing of our
motivations. And we go to confession to heal us of our sins, so that we can
start over again with some urgency in our lives. It's a choice between the good
spirit and the evil spirit every day. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">PAUSE</span></u></b><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">. I'd like to
touch on an example I read about about how a group of young players with some
urgency overcame the evil of discouragement in their lives, </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">a discouragement they were perhaps not fully aware
of.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">__02__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] Around the year 2000, a man named John Bacon
became the coach of his former high school ice hockey team.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As a H.S. player on the team, he never
scored a goal on the ice, and as a coach in the beginning he was facing a great
challenge due to a year-long losing streak. The players had not won a game in
nearly 12 months.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And, they were just getting used to
LOSING all the time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But, within 3 years, this same team was
1 of the top H.S. teams in the U.S.A. They went as we say, from worst to first
from the bottom to the top. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">How did he do it, with such urgency</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">? </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Noticeably, the coach didn't go out and get new
players but simply raised the bar and expected more from his players and came
to a new appreciation of what it meant to teach and lead.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">In a talk about the topic, the coach proclaimed the
following about the view that is often given, the opinion often states of
younger people, age 14 to 29-30.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The coach said, “everyone is complaining about
young people these days, everyone from age 14 to 29-30. So if you're a kid in
high school or college, they're kind of talking about you. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have been accused by others of not having
a good work ethic, of wanting a participation trophy for just showing up.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(John U. Bacon, “Let Them Lead”)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">This coach had a different experience- when he
raised the bar or standard, his losing team became a winning team, from “worst
to first”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The coach says that some educators, teachers and
coaches and clergy (including me) resent the idea that they have to “entertain”
students or young people or players. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">The coach was speaking to me, in a way, saying – You
– PADRE – are an entertainer. You are not going to be on The Tonight Show or
the Late Show. But I'm supposed to be some kind of an entertainer,</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">In other words, all of us in leading and teaching
others are in fact in the “entertainment” business to an extent in other words,
to demonstrate lessons by real life experience and not just by information. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">__03__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">in the Gospel today. Jesus is leading by example
to his listeners, and we even read that they are <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>astonished</u></b>, they are <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>surprised</u></b>
by his authority. And Jesus does this not to entertain them or us, but to
attract all of us as His disciples. Jesus is doing this not just not just to
entertain us, but to show and witness what it means to conquer and to compete
against the evil spirit in our lives, especially if we feel we are on a losing
streak or defeated too easily.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: red; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">START HERE AGAIN</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">__04__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One the
ways in which I am drawn down or discouraged is when I simply expect things to
be EASY …and when they are not easy I am tempted to give up.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">When I was in the seminary studying to become a priest,
I noticed this attitude in my classmates and in me, that we were complaining
about how much work we had to do, how many papers we had to write and how long
it was taking academically to get through the seminary, we thought it should
have been much faster, the E-Z Pass lane!. This was the catchphrase / complaint
we were heard to say: “all I want to be is a simple parish priest.”</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">And, this attitude exists <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- in other walks of life - among other
students and young people who might say, all I want to be </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">is a simple teacher</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> --- </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">lawyer
– carpenter – technician - nurse – doctor – business person </span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">all I want to be as a simple </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">father</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">, a simple </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">mother</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">. The list goes on.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, at the
time, the rector and Dean of the seminary a priest, Monsignor Robert Coleman
had a good comeback to this. He said: “All you want to be as a simple parish
priest.” Well, I'm not going to deliver that to you because being a parish
priest is not so simple. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">And being a parent is not simple. Being a teacher
is not so simple. And his own day, Jesus demonstrated that our choices between
good and evil between the good spirit and the evil spirit are clear, but
sometimes not so simple. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">For example, is it easy to stand up to our peers or
a family member who is doing wrong or leading us in the wrong direction? It is
often “simpler” and more popular to follow the crowd and yield to “peer
pressure”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doesn’t the path of least
resistance seem simple? That does not make it right. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">NEW SECTION<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">One the ways in
which I am drawn down or discouraged is when I simply expect things to be SIMPLE
or EASY. And, when they are not easy I give up.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">St. Paul himself wrote that what we are fighting
against what we're fighting against in our lives. We're not simply fighting enemies
and adversaries we can see, but really, all of us are encountering evil spirits
when we cannot see, and it's often not so simple and we may give up too easily.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">NEW SECTION<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Consider how some
us – myself included – were inclined “give up” during the trouble of the COVID
pandemic and the COVID shutdowns, it was not so easy to see the good and the
evil at that time, there was the spread of an unfamiliar virus, the COVID-19
that affected thousands of people and necessitated heroic actions by many
nurses, doctors, medical professionals, 1<sup>st</sup> responders, and
essential workers of all kinds. For their heroism we can be grateful. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">But
how did you respond or I respond to this challenge? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Did we respond by expecting more from ourselves? Or
did we respond by expecting less or even nothing? How did you and I respond in
a good way or an evil way? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">For example, during this virus during this pandemic
shutdown, did you find reasons to reconnect with others? Some of us used the
virus as a reason to disconnect from people to excuse ourselves from
obligations or visits with loved ones. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
is a surrender to the evil spirit to a vice to laziness, sloth<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">What about religious practice? Did the virus make you
(me) more aware of our need for God and His mercy thankful for his mercy? Or
did it make us more proud with the attitude? Hey, God, we got this, we
flattened the curve, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>we survived. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">What about our view of other people in our world?
Did the virus and the pandemic make us more aware of the many working class men
and women by whom food is delivered? Mail is delivered roadwork is done repairs
are performed? Or did the experience of being at home make us more close and
upon ourselves, and more likely to just take what we want?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus
conquers evil and consoles us not by giving us what we want all the time, or
simply driving us to a destination dropping off in his vehicle.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">Rather, he is giving us his body and blood. He is
giving us the keys to the car you might say and he's doing that with some urgency
to help us to move forward, so that we can drive or walk or run or make our way
toward God’s call under our own power, but also with his help. This applies to
all of us at every age, whether we are younger or older, urgently</span><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 17.3333px; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">[</span><b style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__END__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">]</span></p>Father Jim Ferryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06488780235058622844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926593225673980150.post-91052376325056471382024-01-21T14:51:00.003-05:002024-01-21T14:54:50.134-05:00Jonah. "Love your enemies" (2024-01-21, Sunday, 3rd)<p>___ <span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-853643120/m-0121-l9-8m?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing">Click Here for Audio of Homily</a></b></span> ___ </p><p>____ <span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQWxFmjWwgY">Click Here for Video of Mass</a></b></span> ____ </p><p><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 18px;">● ●</span> <span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Homily, 3</span><sup style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">rd</sup><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> Sunday
(year B) </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">●● </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">2024 January 21</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">●● Jonah 3:1-5, 10 ___ ● ● Psalm 25 ● ● ● ● 1
Corinthians 7:29-31 ● ●</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Mark
1:14-20</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">● ●</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">__01__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">] </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">In our 1<sup>st</sup> reading, we read
about Jonah the prophet. Jonah is a popular boy's name these days:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">J-O-N-A-H. Jonah is famous in the Bible. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"> And
Jonah is sent to as a messenger in a way that we are sent as messengers of
God's mercy. The disciples are sent as messengers in the Gospel. Jonah had to decide: would he deliver the
message of mercy or not? Is Jonah going to deliver the message for or against
the people of Nineveh, the people whom he regards as an enemy? Jonah has every
reason not to like Nineveh.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Nineveh is
a neighboring city and nation, and it's an empire and borders Israel and they
are enemies. Nineveh will ultimately conquer Israel and carry Jonah's people
into exile. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">God knows
this. But there are other instances in the Bible where God gives 1 more chance,
1 more merciful chance to somebody before judgement. This is such an example of
that, that God gives 1 more chance to Nineveh and Jonah’s message of repentance
is their chance, if only Jonah will only carry out the mission.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">God
believed in the people of Nineveh Jonah does not believe in the people of
Nineveh. God represents mercy Jonah represents vengeance. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">__02__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] <b><i>And,
the history of Jonah is familiar to many of us:<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Jonah is
sent to this neighboring city of Nineveh and nearby city but also a political
enemy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Jonah
refuses to believe that the people of Nineveh deserve salvation. So, though Jonah
had a “boarding pass and bus ticket” to Nineveh, Jonah does not get on the bus and
go overland to Nineveh. Rather, Jonah goes down to the port, down to the dock,
hops on a boat out to sea to get away from Nineveh as far as possible. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Out at sea
there's a “winter storm warning”. There is “weather”. The sailors on board this boat recognize
that Jonah is the problem. The reason for the storm the reason for their curse,
they throw Jonah overboard, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Jonah is then
swallowed by the whale. He spent 3 days and nights in the belly of the whale,
very much a prefiguring of what happens to Jesus. Jonah is resuscitated from
the whale and he ends up on land again thanks to God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Jonah is
given a 2<sup>nd</sup> chance to go to Nineveh. And you and I are given 2<sup>nd</sup>
chances as well. Throughout the book, we see that Jonah is rescheduled, he's
delayed, he’s fearful. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">The irony
of the book of Jonah is that Jonah is not very compliant with God. He's maybe
39% or 40% compliant with what God wants him to do. But everybody whom Jonah
meets is obedient to God 100% including the sailors on board the ship when they
throw Jonah overboard they turn back to God themselves. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">In short, Jonah
does not love his enemies. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">__03__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] How are you and I to regard our “enemies”?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">How are
you and I to regard those we regard as enemies or adversaries. The word “enemy”
is such a strong word! We do not like to use that word with somebody in our own
family or close “circle”. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">But
sometimes there are adversarial relationships we have with others, difficult
relationships we have to work through. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">How are we
to how are we to regard such difficulties or difficult people ? It certainly
seems logical or safe to go for “an eye for an eye” or a “tooth for a tooth”.
Jesus says NO to this. Do not seek an an eye a tooth for a tooth. Rather, love
your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">__04__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">What is love? What is your idea or reaction
when it comes to the “LOVE” or “LOVING”? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"> Love,
for example, is about <b><u>gift giving</u></b>.
Love is about <b><u>kind words</u></b>.
Love is about a <b><u>good feeling</u></b>
inside that somebody nobody else can see. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">All of these things culminate on February
14, Valentines. Day. It’s Ash Wednesday. Save the Date !<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">__05__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">And
the words we hear – along with receiving ASHES – are the words from the GOSPEL
today, from our Lord: <b><u>repent and
believe in the gospel</u></b>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Jesus
invites us to love in a calling that is beyond superficial feelings or
emotions. Jesus invites us to certain actions to carry out this love. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Yes, such
love involves:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">__05.01__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] </span><b><u><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">1<sup>st</sup>.
Gift Giving</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">. And
while love this might not be a gift, wrapped chocolate or other gift you're
having difficulty with, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">The gift might simply be that we do good to
someone who has done bad to us. We do something good for someone who has done
something bad. It's that simple. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"> I
have done things bad or selfish, and others have done good to me in return, and
I am grateful. This helps me on the way to salvation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">__05.02__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] </span><b><u><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">2<sup>nd</sup>.
Kind Words</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">. Do such
“kind words” mean you or I will a Hallmark
greeting card or a Christmas card to everybody who's done us wrong? That would
be a thought, but it’s not where I am going ! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">I am
simply saying that if someone has said something bad of you, or failed to say
something good, can you say something good in response of the other person?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">This is
this is how what St. Paul says, If you were to be insulted, do not return insult
for insult but return a blessing instead. (cf., Romans 12:14-17, also 1 Peter
3:9)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">__05.03__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] </span><b><u><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">3<sup>rd</sup>.
Good Invisible Feelings</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">. How
do we something for our hearts “inside” when we are troubled. Pray. Silence.
Listen to God. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">And while
we might be endangered by certain people who we regard as enemies are difficult
in our lives, who have harmed us it might not be safe for us to be around
everybody who has hurt us. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Perhaps, all
we can do is to pray, to pray for someone who has caused us difficulty to pray
that God will do good to the other person. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">That God
will give the other person what he or she needs. In this regard, we can become
our brothers and sisters keepers. We can do more than Cain was able to do in
the book of Genesis. Cain’s objection: Am I my brother's keeper? Why are you
asking me about Abel? Well, we are our brothers and sisters keepers. In some
way, we are called to help others on the way to salvation. (Genesis 4:1-9)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">__06__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">The message to Jonah the prophet ultimately
that God takes care of our enemies. It's not our job to carry out vengeance or
revenge. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Love of
enemies doesn't simply mean we are not doing anything, love of enemies. It's
not about inactivity. It is not about reactivity, is it about it is about
simply about activity. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Do good. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Return a
blessing <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Pray for
those who persecute you. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">At this
time of year we also extend our prayers to those in the pro-life movement and those
who were part of the March for Life in Washington DC this past Friday, to pray
for for those who may be enemies on two sides of an important issue, to pray
for unborn children to pray for those who are not properly cared for.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">To pray
and remember that there is mercy in the sacrament of penance and reconciliation
– for every woman or man who has been involved in an abortion. God desires
every sinner to live and know His mercy. There are confidential resources
available through the Archdiocese. For those who might want to speak
confidentially to someone outside Lourdes parish, you can call or email: <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="mailto:Cheryl.Riley@rcan.org">Cheryl.Riley@rcan.org</a></span> Phone 973.497.4350.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">I am also
available. The Rachel’s Vineyard retreat program has helped many men and women. </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">We pray also that there will be proper health insurance both for mothers
children. We pray for the dying, for the sick so that we can protect life at
all stages from conception to natural death and to remember that we need not be
enemies but through the gospel. We can grow in friendship and care for each
other. </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> [</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">__END__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">] </span></p>Father Jim Ferryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06488780235058622844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926593225673980150.post-27651382254794663152024-01-07T10:06:00.003-05:002024-01-21T14:47:39.481-05:00Epiphany. (2024-01-07)<p><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua, serif; font-size: 18px;">___ </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-853643120/m-0106-l5-8m?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing" style="background-color: #fcff01;">Click Here for Audio of Homily</a> </b></span><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua, serif; font-size: 18px;">___ </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua, serif; font-size: 18px;">____ </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBbMKpfjhTg"><span style="background-color: #fcff01; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Click Here for Video of Mass</b></span></a><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua, serif; font-size: 18px;"> ____ </span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Homily, Epiphany Sunday </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">●● </span><b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">2024 January 7
●● Isaiah 60___ ● ● Psalm 72 ● ●
Matthew 2:1-12</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> ● ●</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">__01__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] This
Sunday is called “Epiphany” which is a Greek word meaning “manifestation”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> This
feast commemorates the sign and star which was seen for Jesus Christ not just
in Bethlehem – but by the whole world – or to use a Biblical term, by the “Gentiles”.
The word “Gentile” comes from a Hebrew word meaning “nation”. So, Jesus is
being revealed and shown to the whole world first by the STAR which appears in
the sky and then by the visit of the the
3 Kings – who come from other nations – all the way to the little town of
Bethlehem.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> These
3 Kings – or the Magi –recognize Jesus as being a divine person. We read that
the Magi – who were VIP’s in their own right – did him homage and prostrated
themselves before him. This means that
they placed themselves face down on the floor, in respect.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> In
a similar way, we read Moses lay prostrate on the ground for 40 days and 40
nights while waiting for the 10 commandments on Mount Sinai.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> The
3 Kings are professing the same faith in God as Moses did<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Epiphany is 1 of
the 3 principal and oldest festival days of the Church: the other 2 being
Easter and Christmas.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Traditionally, Epiphany was always on January 6 –
12 days after Christmas. Now, Epiphany is on the 2<sup>nd</sup> Sunday after
Christmas.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">__02__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] The Gospel of the Epiphany tells us of the choice
between 2 STARS – there is the STAR in the sky leading the 3 Kings to
Bethlehem. This is a divine sign from God<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Then,
there is another STAR to choose from. Or, at least one who thinks of himself as
a STAR and the center of the governmental/political “solar system”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> This
STAR is King Herod.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Which
STAR will you choose – the STAR leading to Jesus as our King or the STAR
signifying earthly power in King Herod?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> The
Magi have chosen Jesus as their STAR, their Savior.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> One
of the things we talk about – either casually or seriously – is the STAR we
were born under – we might speak of personality types – related for example to
astrological signs such as Gemini, and Capricorn, and that there are 12 signs
in the so-called “astrological” calendar.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> You
might also recognize that the 3 Kings – the Magi themselves – were students of
both astrology and astronomy. In our own time in history, we recognize a clear
difference between ASTROLOGY and being
born under a supposed sign and the ASTRONOMY which is a serious science with
telescopes and physics and mathematics.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> There
is a clear difference today. But, in the Bible and for many centuries, some
people put their faith in astrological signs – or predictions based on
movements of the planets.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> I
just take this opportunity to caution you that we – in our life’s journey –
cannot put our faith in any form of fortune telling, palm reading, card
reading, psychics, mediums or astrology. Each one is a form of idolatry and a rejection
of God’s mercy Providence.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Idolatry, in both
the Jewish faith and our Christian faith is the worship of someone or something
other than God as though it were God. The 1<sup>st</sup> of the 10 Commandments
prohibits idolatry: “You shall have no other gods before me.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Yes,
we live in difficult times, but all the more reason but our faith in Almighty
God and not in the “stars”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Remember
the Divine Mercy prayer: “Jesus, I trust in you.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">__03.01__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] Now, you might reject what I am saying or even
say … I do not take that seriously and no one I know really takes it seriously.
That’s a good thing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> But,
at the very least, to trust in mediums or psychics or astrology simply creates
a LOVE TRIANGLE – connecting you, the
STARS, and God …when there is really a straight line between you and God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> God
created the stars. He is greater than the stars.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">__03.02__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] There is also a temptation to create a triangle
when there should be a straight line between 2 people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> I
have been guilty of this. For example, if I have a difficulty in a human
relationship – or trouble – I may be afraid or fearful to talking it out with
the person directly. Do you every have trouble talking things out – or speaking
the truth – in your love to your spouse, to your child, to your parents, or
intimate friends?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> When
it is hard to do the straight line – to speak the truth – I am tempted to make
a triangle. I do this by asking the opinions or seeking counsel in many “stars
and planets”. I am referring to my
circle of friends and acquaintances as the “stars and planets”. I may look
around for someone to agree with me. I may also idolize the opinion of certain
people. I may look to another to tell me everything will be OK, to tell me that
I am really doing “good”, when in fact I could be doing a lot better.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Of
course, it is good when people agree with you or me – when we feel “liked”,
when we feel “popular”. These are, in fact, good things, but they are not <b><u>GOD </u></b>. (<i>I
support, nevertheless, that we need good friends and confidantes, but even these
relationships are meant to reflect – not reject – God’s will in our lives.</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> I
am guilty of putting my faith in being liked or being popular, and thus
avoiding what is challenging and real in a relationship.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">__04__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] The Magi or 3 Kings give us an example of
following Jesus as the true star and also doing so at the risk of their own
lives. They are not just “greeting” Jesus but also saying “good-bye” to their
old lives and faith in the stars.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> They
would have known – or learned that Herod was dangerous and unstable. The
safe route for them would have been to create a TRIANGLE – connecting the Magi
to Herod to Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Herod was the STAR
– or perhaps we might better describe him
as a FALLING STAR or BLACK HOLE who was dragging other people down with
him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Which
star do you wish to follow – HEROD or JESUS?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Epiphany reminds me to
choose Jesus as my star each day, to be guided by him. Some days, I am better
at choosing him than other days. Do you have better days than others? I look forward to sharing and praying on the
journey to our Savior with you. [</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">__END__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">]</span>Father Jim Ferryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06488780235058622844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926593225673980150.post-25626945345507198902024-01-01T09:07:00.005-05:002024-01-01T12:13:46.595-05:00Pondering. Mother of God. New Year's Day (2024-01-01)<p><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua, serif;">___ </span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-853643120/m-0101-l9-5m?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing">Click Here for Audio of Homily</a></b></span><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua, serif;"> ___ </span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">____ </span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhawK9sniEA">Click Here for Video of Mass </a></b></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">____ </span></p><p><u><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt;">2024
January 1, Solemnity of Mary</span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">_01_</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">] "We
learn from the Gospel of Luke that the Mary, our Blessed Mother, carefully
considered and reflected upon the messages she received, keeping them close to
her heart.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This act of </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;">pondering</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">
involves deep reflection and contemplation, encompassing both joyful and
troubling aspects. Mary, faced with uncertainties about Jesus' future,
exemplifies the need to pause amidst the busyness that accompanies the arrival
of a child.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">_02_</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
is much to do <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- in action and work and
effort - when a child is arriving and certainly after the child is born. You know
this from personal experience, or from observation, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Mary and Joseph had much to do lots of
dreams, journeys to take. But they also had to stop and rest. They were called
to ponder. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">And if you've seen to witness the birth of a
child is and to exam an example of stopping and resting and letting that child
come into your life or doing what's necessary to allow the child to come into your
life. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">_03_</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
I was 12 years old,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a young person, I
found out that my mother was expecting a child. So I remember this very well,
that that one more was going to be that I had two brothers, but there was going
to be one more coming into our family. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">I had no idea what efforts and actions were
involved. I was more an observer than participant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it was good for me – it is good for young
people – to observe what parents must do …. Both in demans that are difficult
and moments that are joyful. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Also, it helped me to understand what
interruptions or changes – and pondering – needed to take place. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">This was particularly pronounced – this
interruption – during a family vacation. And, at this point, the new child – my
sister – had not yet been born.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">About 3 months before she was born, we took a
family trip to Washington, DC, sightseeing. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Both my father and mother were there. And, my
mother was up for walking around, riding the metro, going to museums, the whole
bit.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">And, in addition to this, we had plans to
visit the FBI building, the i.e., the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal
Bureau of Investigation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">My parents had a friend who worked in NY / NJ
for the FBI and he made special arrangements for us to go to the FBI museum.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">It was to be a tour on the day that that the
museum was normally closed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">So, we were “hooked up”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">We were all looking forward to this.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">On the day before the FBI visit, my mother
stepped off a curb in downtown Washington and sprained her ankle.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">It was not a serious injury but this concern
led to us going to the ER Emergency Room. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">(</span><i style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">It was
also the only time during that trip that we took a taxi. Everything else was
walking or the Metro. This was important!</i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Everything was fine. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My mother was really fine. The baby was really
fine. No problem. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">We went back to our hotel room and the next
day is the FBI museum visit. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It did not
occur to me that my mother might not come with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seemed that there were only 2
options:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>either, my mother comes with us
to the FBI museum or we do not go at all.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">There was a third option.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">That is, 4 boys – my father, my brothers and
me – go to the museum and leave my mother behind. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Not knowing anything about the lives of
adults and parents, I thought this was a bad option.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Would not my mother be sad and lonely having
to stay behind?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">But, she was so happy waving good-bye to us
as we left the Holiday Inn.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">She loved us. But she really wanted that time
to ponder. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Also, this was a pronounced example – during
a family vacation – that someone new was coming into our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">My mother was not going to be alone. She was
going to be with her child. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Mary keeps all these things pondering them in
our heart. She reminds us to ponder these things. New Year's Eve and New Year’s
Day is not just a time to party …but also to ponder. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Maybe we stay up a little bit later pondering
or maybe we go to bed early pondering, but it's a time for us to ponder the
year that has gone by the ponder the things that have been difficult, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">the events or people from whom we have
received joy or sorrow.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">the sinfulness and faults of our lives we are
called to correct.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">The people we are called to forgive, the
faults of others we are called to forgive….<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">The sacrifices we are called to make for the
coming year.. And to make a New Year's resolution to ponder these things in our
hearts.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">_04_</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Father Jim Ferryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06488780235058622844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926593225673980150.post-87969125667478216232023-12-31T14:10:00.002-05:002023-12-31T14:14:57.963-05:00Presence. Holy Family Sunday (2023-12-31)<p><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua, serif; font-size: 18px;">___ </span><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-853643120/m-1231-l11-6m?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing"><span style="background-color: #fcff01; color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Click Here for Audio of Homily</b></span></a><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua, serif; font-size: 18px;"> ___ </span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 18px;">____ </span><span style="background-color: #fcff01;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=in9hhgcQPNQ">Click Here for Video of Mass</a></b></span></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 18px;"> ____ </span></p><p><span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua, serif;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Homily, Holy Family Sunday </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">●● </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">2023 December 31 </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">●● Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14 ● ● Psalm 128 ● ● Col
3:12-21 ● ● Luke 2:22-40</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__01__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this
gospel of Holy Family Sunday, we read about Simeon and Anna, members of the
temple who are elderly. They have been present in the Temple for many years. Simeon’s
age is unlisted number. Anna’s age is given as 84 years old</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Why are they in the Temple? They are the Temple
because they believe that the Savior is coming to the temple. They've been waiting
for the Savior to come to the temple. And now he's finally here. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">And Simeon says, These are famous words:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Now, Master, you may let your servant go<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in peace, according to your word, for my eyes
have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a
light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Luke ch.
2)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Simeon says he can die in peace as a result of
seeing the Savior. When we are waiting for somebody, then we can be at peace. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">This is an example of me not quite at peace because
I was waiting for somebody. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__02__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Several months ago, on a Sunday afternoon,
there was a Mass in the university chapel and gathering afterwards at
Immaculate Conception Seminary at Seton Hall University. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>While
I was there, I met many other priests from the Archdiocese of Newark and some
from outside the Archdiocese of Newark who had traveled there.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>One
of the travelers from out of town was my friend – Father Anthony – who is a
priest in Wilmington, Delaware. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We
were at the seminary together back in the early 2000’s.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He
has visited NJ several times. Sometimes, when he does, he stays the Lourdes
parish rectory here in West Orange overnight.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
did not know he would be at Seton Hall that day, so I did not invite or expect
him at Lorudes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Nevertheless,
I said, “hey, Anthony, what are your plans for the evening? Are you driving
back to Delaware or staying in New Jersey? Do you need a place to stay?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He
said that he might.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Do
you want to stay at the Lourdes rectory?<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
actually asked him if he still had a key to the place which he showed me –
along with his driver’s license so that I knew it was really him. I did not say
that. He had a key for the building. He also had his own car and keys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told him to let me know what his plans
were.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Then,
we parted ways and he went to talk to some people and I went in a different
direction.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
never heard from him again at the Seton Hall event. I drove back from South
Orange to here and went to the front of the rectory. I had left him a voice
mail, but did not get a reply.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>While
I was sitting at my desk in the front of the rectory, I heard a sound by the
back door and kitchen, but thought nothing of it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There
are always sounds !<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I continued at my
computer. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Later at around 11
pm, I went out the parking lot and saw a car parked there which I did not
recognize.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the parking lot should
have been empty of cars. I was annoyed and thought about having it ticketed or
towed. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Of course, you
have figured this out faster than I did !!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I noticed the car
had Pennsylvania license plates which remind me that this car belonged – all
along – to Anthony. Then, I finally looked up and saw the light was on a guest
room. He had been there all along.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I saw a light on
and a guestroom and then I thought now I can go in peace. Now I can sleep in
peace knowing that he's there. I wondered what had happened. He actually told
me later they got lost in Maplewood on his way, South Orange as they say as we
say in texting “IDK”. I don't know. But I was glad he was here. His experience
reminded me that someone can be present in our lives without us being aware of
their presence.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__03__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is
similar to the unseen presence and sometimes the presence of somebody can be
threatening to us or make us uncomfortable. This is the this is what happens to
King Herod Herod the king of Israel who hears about the birth of the Savior,
the Savior King and Harriet is threatened by the birth of the Savior and he
cannot find him. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Herod wants Jesus ticketed and towed and more taken
out of his life. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">By whom do you feel threatened or uncomfortable?
Many of us may feel it as times. If somebody says something that makes you feel
uncomfortable or uneasy. You may feel like a deer in headlights, you may not
know what to say or what to do. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">You may think that you will I didn't have any
comeback at that moment. Therefore I can't say anything. Sometimes that's true.
Sometimes a moment passes and we can't say anything. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">But we can also pray about Well, Lord, what do you
what are you calling me to say? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Or, what in this moment that makes me feel so
uncomfortable? Is there something I can say or do? And and also ask, Lord, are
you not in my house? In my life? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Isn't the Holy Spirit always in our house? So,
Samuel, Anna and Simeon, are recognizing the presence of Jesus the presence of
the Savior in their lives<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Jesus presence has been recognized before. Mary
recognizes the presence of Jesus from the moment of his conception. From the
moment he's conceived, reminding us of the sanctity of life, that the sanctity
of life, the sanctity of a person's life begins not at birth, not on their, the
day of their birth, but really at the moment of their conception. We're called
to protect the sanctity of life. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
presence of somebody whom we cannot see, is undeniable in this regard. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Life has sparked each time we welcome God into our
lives each time we turn to God for mercy for forgiveness, or we try to extend
forgiveness to others. This is a way for us to welcome God into our God's
presence into our lives each day to remember that he is in your house. He is in
our house.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__04__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] <o:p></o:p></span></p>Father Jim Ferryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06488780235058622844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926593225673980150.post-27080402621613468822023-12-25T13:01:00.005-05:002023-12-26T12:37:29.484-05:00This One is ... (Christmas 2023)<p>___ <span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-853643120/m-1225el5-9m?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing">Click Here for Audio of Homily</a></b></span> ___ </p><p>____ <span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmoBwgdfkAk">Click Here for Video of Mass</a></b></span> ____ </p><p> <span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Homily, Christmas, Mass at
Night ● </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">2023 December 25 ● ● Isaiah
9:1-6 ● ● Psalm 96 ● ● Titus 2:11-14 ● ● Luke 2:1-14 ● ●</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__01__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">] Once upon
a time, I heard there was there was a young child who was learning about the Christmas
Nativity scene and the significant figures.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>She
was eager to share what she had learned, her knowledge, with a grown-up
relative whom she pulled into the room up to the statues, pointing out:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">This 1 is the sheep.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">This 1 is the shepherd<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">This 1 is the angel.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">This 1 is Joseph<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">This 1 is Mary.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And,
then, between Joseph and Mary, she points to the crib, asks: do you know this 1
? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The grown-up says,
“you tell me”. And she says:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This 1 is </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">breakable</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">à</span></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> fragile.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__02__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">] When Jesus
our Lord comes to us born in the flesh, He comes with strength and wisdom and
miraculous powers. Yet Jesus remains fragile as a divine person with a human
nature, human form and human fragility.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">We read in Philippians,
ch. 2 that …. “Though Jesus that he was in the form of God did not deem
equality with God, something to be grasped that it was. So it was to us that He
humbled Himself obediently accepting even death, death on a cross.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The Gospel of
Christmas is about introducing us to the one of whom the angels sing:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Glory to God in the highest. But it's also
been introducing us to the humility of God present in a human person who is
fragile, breakable”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">What is calling to
situations of fragility or breakability? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I suggest there
are two responses, in gospel terms: “service”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>and “forgivenesss/repentance” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__02.01_</span></b><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: red; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">service</span></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">_</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">]</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Every year you so
many of you respond generously to our <br />
“Giving Tree” Project, starting in November and leading up to Christmas. You bring
gifts for both grownups and children for whom life and security are fragile. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I myself must
realize that I have lived a relatively comfortable life and have never doubted
that there'd be enough food and gifts in our home, not just on Christmas, but every
day. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">And while my
siblings and I joke around humorously that my parents kept the heat too low in
the winter time and that we were cold, this is truly an exaggeration. It is a
way to laugh at my parents careful in their spending. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">We did not live
fragile lives as children and my parents insulated us not just with heat, but
with love keeping us from breaking down. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">As a priest, I
have been inspired by your solidarity with the poor, to assist in The Giving
Tree to give back. And now that we are really here at Christmas, we can ask
ourselves: who else is fragile in my life or your life? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">For whom can I
make room at the inn? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Is there somebody
in my class on my school bus in my family, for whom I am called to make room at
the inn? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">One response to
fragility is service. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__02.02_</span></b><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: red; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">forgiveness</span></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">_</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">]</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Another response
to fragility is forgiveness and repentance. Jesus comes among us as the
incarnate Lord through whom “service” is rendered: washing the feet of his
disciples, replenishing the wine at Cana, and feeding the hungry crowd. But he
also comes with a greater gift, which is the forgiveness of our sins. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">He forgives us not
because we are strong, but because we are weak and fragile. Here's one example
in my life that I remember. When I was first ordained a priest, I was serving
here at O.L. Lourdes with our pastor Monsignor Joe Petrillo, from whom I learned
much about our ministry. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">We had a good
working collaborative relationship, but I must admit we did not see eye-2-eye
and agree on absolutely everything all the time. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">In one instance, I
felt compelled to tell him what was wrong and kind of to tell him off. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I realized that I
had overstepped my bounds. I really didn't want to apologize, because after
all, I was right. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">But eventually, I
realized that our relationship as brother priests and co workers in the
vineyard was more important than and being proven correct. The relationship was
fragile. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__03__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] Many of us have relationships that are fragile.
Or some of our closest loving relationships are fragile. They're breakable and
they need nourishment. They need insulation and climate control. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Going to
confession as a Catholic going to confess is the way we speak about what is
fragile in my life or in your life, but also a way to be strengthened and love
of God and love of neighbor. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Forgiveness is
something to pursue because we are fragile, and also by cleansing and purifying
our hearts, we have the strength, both to ___ forgive those who trespass
against us, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">And ____ encourage
others to follow the gospel and to do the right thing. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__04__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] Knowing that I am fragile breakable, I may
sometimes withdraw from encouraging other people to do the right thing because
I know I don't do the right thing! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Why should I
encourage other people but being forgiven when having a pure heart we can speak
about doing the right in a charitable loving way. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Yes, we are
fragile, we are fragile temples of the Holy Spirit. But still we're temples of
the Holy Spirit. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__05__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">] Joseph and
Mary, as the foster father and mother of the Son of God give us an example of
how to receive Jesus the Word of God into our fragile lives. As Father Ronald
Knox wrote, they care for Jesus not simply to make Him their own child, but to
prepare to give this child away to the whole world.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">We receive
Communion, the incarnation of God in the flesh and the body of Christ, not only
for our own nourishment, but also to give Christ away by our own actions of
service, and our spreading of God's message of forgiveness. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__06__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Several
months ago, my father and mother bumped into an old friend who also told them
that he had some connections at a local hospital with doctors. And he felt very
strongly that my mother and father should call him if they had any health
issues or needed a referral to find the right doctor. This was a nice offer.
Life and Health are fragile. So my parents were pleased to make this
connection. I was pleased they made the connection. My father expressing his
faith in both his personal access and medicine, “Well, I guess this means I'm
going to live forever.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Well,
unfortunately, in the physical realm, all of us have limited time spans and
lifespans. But by accepting Jesus as your Savior and my Savior and following up
in service and forgiveness, and by repentance, we can be aware of a life beyond
this world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">So even though our
we have a life that is fragile and breakable, we can keep eternal salvation and
security in mind. We can live forever.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Father Jim Ferryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06488780235058622844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926593225673980150.post-51089509415747221292023-12-24T13:48:00.002-05:002023-12-24T13:51:03.411-05:00911 / 411 Annunciation / Advent (2023-12-24, Advent Sunday)<p>___ <span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-853643120/m-1224-l9-7m?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing">Click Here for Audio of Homily</a> </b></span>___ </p><p>____ <span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owjBIi29gVo">Click Here for Video of Mass </a></b></span>____ </p><p><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">Homily, 4<sup>th</sup> Sunday Advent ● 2024
December 24 ●● 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16 ● ● Psalm 89 ● ● Romans 16:25-27 ● ● Luke 1:26-38</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><b><u>Title</u></b>: 911 / 411 Annunciation / Advent (2023-12-24, Advent Sunday)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">__01__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">This is the 4<sup>th</sup> Sunday of Advent,
although by your vision and seeing we are on the verge of Christmas Day …. thanks
to our art and Environment Team have set up our altar so beautifully with our
trees and lights. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__02__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] This
Sunday morning, by reading the Annunciation gospel, we are pumping the brakes
on the Gran Prix race to Christmas day. Everything is more “annunciated” and
accelerated this year because Christmas falls on Monday, tomorrow, December 25.
I'd like to touch on the “Annunciation of Jesus’s birth” in reference to a type
of announcement. The word annunciation means announcement. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__03__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] Recently,
one of our buildings our school building received an upgrade to its fire alarm
system, new wiring, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, communication.
Fortunately, praise God, we have not needed to use this for an actual fire for
an actual 911. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">We have only used
it for fire drills or false alarms. But this new system has a device that
perhaps was could be defined in biblical or doctrinal terms. It's called the
“annunciator” panel or screen on the fire alarm. And the annunciator panel is
shows with sound and words where the fire alarm was pulled, or where the fire
is, or where the smoke condition is. We never had this information before with date,
time and location. And it will keep our West Orange firefighters safe as well.
So it's all good news.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__03__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] Why do
we use a fire alarm? This fire alarm system? Why is there this screen / panel?
Why is there the Annunciation? Is it only for 911? Now, of course we all know
that we dial 911 on the phone for emergencies. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">But there is also another service – less used these
days --- where you can call not just for emergencies but simply to look up a
phone number or address. This is 411 information. I admit that if you are younger than 39, you
might not recall 411 as a service. Fewer of us press 411, because we have
websites and Google searches and everything.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> I’m
making this contrast – to ask myself as well – do I, do you, do we only turn to
God in 911 emergencies?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> I
can easily turn to God at such urgent moments. And I want that problem solved
right away.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">It's good to pray
to God in times of crisis, and emergency. But it's also important to pray for
God just for 411 Just for more information. And sometimes I have trouble doing
this. Maybe I feel moved to make a decision or I have to do something right
away. And I don't like waiting, waiting, waiting around for information to make
my next move. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Mary, our Blessed
Mother in this gospel is praying not just at a time of 911. She's going to be
the mother of God. This is urgent. But she also has some 411 type questions
like How can this be I have no relations with a man? How am I going conceive
and bear a child? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">And she's waits
for that information? She waits for that answer. So Mary gives us an example of
pumping the brakes, not accelerating too fast of silence and retreat on this Advent
Sunday. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__03__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">]<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">John Henry Newman
wrote this about the identity of Mary as connected to Jesus: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Had the blessed Mary been more fully disclosed
to us in the heavenly beauty and sweetness of the spirit within her, true, she
would have been honoured, her gifts would have been clearly seen; but, at the
same time, the Giver would have been somewhat less contemplated, because no
design or work of His would have been disclosed in her history. She would have
seemingly been introduced for her sake, not for His sake. When a Saint is seen
working towards an end appointed by God, we see him to be a mere instrument, a
servant though a favoured one; and though we admire him, yet, after all, we
glorify God in him.</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">” (</span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 150%;"><a href="https://www.newmanreader.org/works/parochial/volume2/sermon12.html">https://www.newmanreader.org/works/parochial/volume2/sermon12.html</a></span></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">And that's true
for every saint. It's also true for you and me, that we are strengthened by God
not for our own sake, but also to point others towards God towards Jesus in our
lives, to be His servants.</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">That's why we are introduced to her. That's why we are
connected to her. And it's true for all of us that we are called to recognize
that we are here pursuing holiness, sanctity, forgiveness, not just for our own
sake, but also to glorify God. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">We are also called
to live the out the words that Mary gives us in the Gospel today, are
challenging words, which are similar to words we pray ourselves. Those words
are, let it be done to me according to your word. Now, maybe you've never made
that particular prayer. Maybe you've never said, Lord, let it be done to me
according to your word. But have we not said similar words in the Lord’s Prayer.
We will pray them in a few minutes: Thy kingdom come, thy will be done. This is
similar to “let it be done to me according to your word.” It's similar to the prayer Jesus makes in the
Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus says, Not my will be done, but your will be
done, but Thy will be done.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">What's my
preference? I want my will to be done often on a 911 or emergency basis. But what I'm called to do and what we're often
called to do is to pray for God's will to be done or at least for me to
understand what God's will is and for me to desire what it is. It involves not
just praying on an urgent basis for 911, but also praying for information to
pray that God will make his will known to us, on both in the information and
consolation we need, on a 411 basis, so that we can let his will be done to us
according to his Word, even if the information is only that we know that He calls
us to follow him not because we are his servants, but because we are truly – in
Christ – God’s friends.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">__end__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">] </span>Father Jim Ferryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06488780235058622844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926593225673980150.post-36216652223926680402023-12-17T01:30:00.019-05:002023-12-24T13:52:25.458-05:00Pray. Give Thanks (2023-12-17, Advent 3rd Sunday)<p>___ <span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-853643120/m-1216-l5-9m?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing">Click Here for Audio of Homily</a></b></span> ___ </p><p>____ <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8bdNRJt79c"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;">Click Here for Video of Mass</b></span> </a>____ </p><p> <span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Homily, 3</span><sup style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">rd</sup><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> Sunday
Advent</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">● </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">2023 December 17 ● ● Isaiah 61:1-2A, 10-11 ● ●
Psalm ___ ● ● 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">● ●
John 1:6-8, 19-28</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Title</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">: Pray. Give
Thanks.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__00__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] </span><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">Every year the biblical-readings structure of
Advent at Mass starts – on the 1<sup>st</sup> Sunday – with the 2<sup>nd</sup> Coming
of Jesus. On the 2<sup>nd</sup> Sunday,
John the Baptist appears on the scene. And on the 3<sup>rd</sup> Sunday – today
- John the Baptist leaves the scene to make way for Jesus. And this Sunday is also
has special candle this with brightness and is known as Gaudete Sunday or Rejoice
Sunday.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> [</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__01__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] In the
initial years of my service as a parish priest here at Our Lady of Lourdes, I
had the privilege of working alongside Monsignor Joe Petrillo, our beloved
pastor. During this time, I observed his genuine desire to express gratitude to
our parishioners, dedicated staff, and volunteers. Monsignor Petrillo
exemplified the words of St. Paul to the Thessalonians in our 2<sup>nd</sup> reading,
urging them to "give thanks in all circumstances," serving as an role
model in my early priesthood.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">In this season, we
remember Monsignor Petrillo for his <b><u>commitment</u></b>
to our Christmas liturgy and worship, and recall the <b><u>coincidence</u></b> of his passing on December 20, right before the
4<sup>th</sup> Sunday of Advent in 2013—we commemorate his 10<sup>th</sup>
anniversary with prayers for his eternal rest.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[__02__] Monsignor Petrillo also also provided a
noteworthy example of prayer, silence, and meditation. He made a weekly
practice of praying before the 5:30 pm Mass, kneeling before the Blessed
Sacrament in the first pew on the right side of the altar. In both good times
and bad, he dedicated his prayers to you and all of us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Paul
wrote of this importance in his Thessalonians letter [2<sup>nd</sup> reading]as
well: “pray without ceasing”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[__03__] This Sunday, as we gather for the 3rd
Sunday of Advent, themed around joy—Gaudete Sunday—I invite you to reflect on
the profound joy Jesus calls us to embrace even in times of adversity. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> This
also is an invitation to “give thanks in all circumstances“ and to “pray
without ceasing”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">To attain true joy, beyond fleeting entertainment
or pleasure, we are called to confront and understand the troubles that may
weigh on us. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">In the face of grief, the Gospel's Good News
doesn't erase our sorrow but guides us to comprehend it and connect with
others. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">I heard one
preacher say: if you don't know the bad news, the good news is no news. So
we're called to know about our sinfulness, our suffering.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Just before his
ultimate triumph through suffering, Jesus prayed, "not my will but thy
will be done."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt;">Several months ago, I thoroughly
misplaced my laptop, my 2016 Windows 7 laptop, which was kind of outdated, but
I loved it. I couldn't remember where it was. It was only a laptop I use for
personal use. I had a real computer at my desk.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">But I was
still anxious, upset knowing that this device was not obsolete, not to me. And
I looked for it, for days, because it was so useful to me as a device. Then I
finally gave up. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">I prayed for
strength to let it go. Because it was only a thing. I once heard someone
praised for “not being into things and attached to things.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">I thought, wow,
that is an admirable quality. That is not me, because I am into things. I like
things. But so I can get attached to a thing, but I needed to grieve this loss
and move on which I did with some intention. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">But shortly
after making this prayer, I remembered where it was, I remembered where it was
it was in another building. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">Of course,
it's not always that easy. And this was just a material object. But the
experience of real grief is not just about the momentous loss of a person, the
death of a loved one, of a mother, a father, a spouse, a sibling, a child, but
also about the loss of other things. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">We can and do
grieve the loss of health, the loss of physical strength, the loss of status,
the loss of a job, the loss of a home, the loss of someone's affection, even
the loss of things. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">All of the these
losses can disrupt our joyfulness, all of these experiences and more can leave
us anxious, fearful. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">What's the
solution? The solution is pray that you may grieve, pray that I will be able to
grieve the loss of these things. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">This will
help you remember where you are, to remember where I am. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">I'm hardly
100% good at this. I sometimes go in the opposite direction. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">My experience
of loss or trouble turns into comparison, what other people have or don't have,
it turns into competition. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">What are the
losses I have to conquer? This would be a natural outgrowth of my fear, because
I'm so afraid of losing what I have, or losing more. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">However,
grief, the experience of grief is not meant to be a competition or a
comparison. But it's meant to be the connective tissue, and the corrective
medicine that urges us to greater compassion with God and neighbor, not to be
too attached to things too, but to pray, “not my will, but Thy will be done.”</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow; text-indent: 0.5in;">I read this
in an article that the truth of the cross affirms that perfect casts out or drives
out fear, from 1<sup>st</sup> John. </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; text-indent: 0.5in;">(</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; text-indent: 0.5in;">Source:
https://www.hprweb.com/2014/06/giving-our-grief-over-to-the-man-acquainted-with-grief/</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; text-indent: 0.5in;">)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Despite living in fear of potential losses,
believing in the truth of the cross helps us overcome such anxieties and
uncertainties.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Deacon
James Keating writes: “With the coming of Christ into the depths of all things
human, we now know that even our grief can be given over to the good God
because “we do not have a priest who is unable to sympathize with our
weaknesses” (Hebrews 4:15) All losses can become places of life, places of
intimacy with Christ.” (</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Source: <a href="https://www.hprweb.com/2014/06/giving-our-grief-over-to-the-man-acquainted-with-grief/">https://www.hprweb.com/2014/06/giving-our-grief-over-to-the-man-acquainted-with-grief/</a></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">There is a priest
who is who is able to sympathize with your weaknesses. That is priest is not
me. I try to sympathize your weaknesses, but the writer is talking about Jesus as
the priest who was able to sympathize with our weaknesses.</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> One
thing that Monsignor Petrillo was particularly adept at, in his own experience
of trouble – was in rejoicing at what had gone wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> As
you may recall, Monsignor Petrillo was not a fan of technology and for the
first few years that I knew him, he rarely used his mobile cell phone. He
certainly was not in the habit of using it in the car and hardly knew what
“Bluetooth wireless audio” was. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Too
bad for Monsignor!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> But,
he did carry a cell phone, quite intentionally because Monsignor also worked
for the Archbishop of Newark, in helping make assignments of priests to
parishes. He had to maintain contact with the AB. One morning, he was driving
to Newark, to the Cathedral and Chancery and he got a phone call, from the AB
which he took. And, not only was the AB
in on this call but so were the East Orange Police. Monsignor was pulled over
on Park Avenue for using his phone without a headset and driving with the phone
in his hand. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> When
the police officer approached the car he was asked in words only Monsignor
Petrillo could utter, “Officer, would it be helpful to know that I was speaking
with the Archbishop of Newark?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> The
police officer said that this would not at all be helpful and gave him a
summons for talking while driving. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Monsignor
Petrillo could laugh at his error and crime.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> T</span><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">hat story has been retold many times I asked you
to please retell the story. And don't drive while talking on your phone. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">John Henry
Newman observed that what Christ asks of us is not sinlessness but diligence,
writing that if you had lived 10 times longer, you would be asked to do 10 times
more. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">[</span><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: white;">To the end of the longest life you are still a
beginner. What Christ asks of you is not sinlessness, but diligence. Had you
lived ten times your present age, ten times more service would be required of
you. Every day you live longer, more will be required.</span></b><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">]</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">(</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">
Book 5, </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Sermon 4. Shrinking from Christ's Coming, n.3,</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 150%;">https://www.newmanreader.org/works/parochial/volume5/sermon4.html</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">)<span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">The longer we
live, the more we observe that we need the Lord's help. The longer we live, we
live the words: “Lord, I am not worthy to receive you.” But we also become
aware of our need for God and His love to pray without ceasing ___ rejoice at all
times, ____ And in all circumstances, to give thanks</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> [__END__]</span>Father Jim Ferryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06488780235058622844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926593225673980150.post-85616283814523122422023-12-10T15:17:00.001-05:002023-12-10T15:17:07.785-05:00Prepare the Way (2023-12-10. Advent)<p> ___ <span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-853643120/m-1210-l11-7m?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing">Click Here for Audio of Homily</a></b></span> ___ </p><p>____ <span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Wx693Ih-jo">Click Here for Video of Mass</a></b></span> ____ </p><p><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Homily,
2<sup>nd</sup> Sunday Advent ● 2023 December 10 ● ● Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11 ●
Psalm 85 ● </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">2 Peter 3:8-14</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">● + Mark 1:1-8
●</span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__01__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">] In
Biblical and Gospel history, we refer to John the Baptist as the precursor of
Jesus Christ.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
word PRE + CURSOR is not referring to that blinking vertical line on your
computer where you start typing, but PRE + CURSOR means the one who runs ahead,
the forerunner.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In
this case, JTB does not run ahead and arrive early.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Rather,
JTB – as precursor – prepares the way. He paves the road for Jesus to arrive
and walk on.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__02__</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">] </span><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">Have you
noticed there's a lot of paving and road construction these days on the parkway
on the turnpike and elsewhere? </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">The paving and fixing of roads is urgent right now given
that the construction crews have to finish paving before the weather gets even
colder.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">I recall
learning this when we were doing our parking lot and that<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the asphalt has to be poured before it gets
too cold. You can't pour asphalt in the winter. And we'd like to have smooth
roads before the snow comes.</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So,
the urgency of physically paving on the turnpike and the spiritual paving by
JTB lines up in parallel fashion …both have to finish before Christmas.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__03__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] This reminded me of a brief summer job I had many
years ago in which I was working on paving of roads for a few weeks. One of
these projects was near here on Park Street in Montclair.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In
the projects, we were paving with new asphalt – the black stuff – but we were
also trying to reuse the existing road surface by heating it up, raking it over
and steamrolling it, to transform it into a new road.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Our
work was the precursor to a new road. But there was another precursor before we
even got there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were not repaving
just to make it look nice, but were repaving due to digging and underground
work by the water company or PSE&G.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Now
that their digging and work was completed, we could do the next stage: pave the
road.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We
were the final precursor to the new road<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__04__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] John the Baptist is the final precursor to Jesus
as our new road, also expressed as Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and the Life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>John
the Baptist is the voice crying out in the desert<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>JTB
is not last in a line of prophets who had also prepared a road for the Messiah.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>One
prophet with a very long journey was Moses – the prophet of the Exodus, the
“Prince of Egypt”. But, Moses was not called to become powerful in Egypt but to
stand up to the powerful authorities in Egypt.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Through
Moses’ mission and preaching, the Jewish people were freed from slavery in
Egypt.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__05__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moses was
the guide to the NAVIGATION that led them geographically. Moses did not limit
the people by telling them where to go, but was freeing them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Moses was also the
prophet to receive the 10 Commandments on Mount Sinai, the discipline and rules
which were not meant to punish the people but also to liberate by giving them
LEGISLATION and laws to live by.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Moses’ mission is
both NAVIGATION and LEGISLATION.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__06__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] John the Baptist follows in a similar way with a
message to repent and to remind that there is still – from God – a plan for
both NAVIGATION and LEGISLATION of the people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__07__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] As for me, I am not always open to or attracted
to God’s NAVIGATION or LEGISLATION – I myself need conversion to Christ so that
I can do what is right, say what is right.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">This Advent
season is a time for penance and penitence. It's not a long time of penance,
like the 40 days of Lent that begin on Ash Wednesday. This is only a 21 day
adventure. It's the shortest possible Advent. This is not to rush you to
Christmas. I'm not trying to rush you like everybody else. But it's a short
Advent because Christmas falls on a Monday this year. So it's only only 21
days. But it is a time for us to examine our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__08__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] Moses himself, along with many of the prophets,
were flawed and fragile figures with their own issues of disobedience and
distress before God. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>For
example, Moses was so adamant about getting water from the rock in one instance
that he double-clicks the rock (struck the rock 2x) when God told him to “single
click”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>*strike 1x”. For this, Moses was
told he would never see the Promised Land. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Leaders
are held to a high standard!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So,
Moses himself never crosses through the Jordan River to the Promised Land.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In a
sense, JTB picks up where Moses left off, baptizing the people in the Jordan
River. John is also baptized by Jesus – and baptizes Jesus – in the Jordan.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__09__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>JTB was
reminding people then – and reminding us now – about the uncomfortable process
of digging beneath the surface, of repentance <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">I don't like
this. I don't like to see my fears exposed my laziness exposed, even to me. I'd
rather not know how lazy I am. Or, my selfishness exposed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My lack of punctuality exposed I could go on
but we don’t have that much time ! But but through making myself aware of my
sins, they can be transformed. And preparing the way of the Lord is a matter of
transformation. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">Going to
confession is part of this. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">We have confession
here every Saturday. Just a reminder that confession for Catholics is required at
least once a year. I myself try to go at least once a month, I try to be
available to hear confessions for people, not just Saturday afternoon, but
whenever is convenient for you. You can call me up, and you really should be
able to call up any Catholic Church and ask for a priest to hear your confession
at a time convenient for you, at a mutually convenient time. Preparing the way
of the Lord is not just a superficial exercise.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">And paving
the road is not just a superficial exercise. It involves digging beneath the
surface first. But also in our case, we don't have to be scared of digging
beneath the surface because the Holy Spirit dwells in us. Jesus is there and he
comes to renew us and to keep what is good within us. It is urgent that we
prepare the road before it gets too cold</span><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /></span><p></p>Father Jim Ferryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06488780235058622844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926593225673980150.post-20860179376020386102023-12-08T10:34:00.003-05:002023-12-08T10:43:24.920-05:00Immaculate Conception. (2023-12-08)<p><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua, serif; font-size: 18px;">___ </span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-853643120/m-1208-l-0830-5m?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing">Click Here for Audio of Homily</a></b></span><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua, serif; font-size: 18px;"> ___ </span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 18px;">____<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyxOcb7FoIM"> </a></span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyxOcb7FoIM">Click Here for Video of Mass </a></b></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 18px;">____ </span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Immaculate Conception</span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__00__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">] In our first reading from Genesis, we read
that Adam and Eve hide themselves because they are afraid. They also hide
themselves because they have now recalled who is really in charge, in the
Garden of Eden.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Recently,
I was with religious education class downstairs on our lower level of this
building in Connor Hall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A child
recognized me as the priest from “church” – I told the child that yes, she can
see me in church, but actually I am “not” the man upstairs. God is in charge.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Adam
and Eve forgot this part.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__01__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">] From
time to time, my brother and I travel with my parents to medical appointments
or other appointments in NYC and recently there was such an appointment at a
place very familiar to all of us – because at one time, my brother, father and
I all worked in this particular neighborhood near Grand Central Station, 42<sup>nd</sup>
Street.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There
were many conversations about what type of journey what type of commute to
make. Should we take the bus, the train, the ferry from Weehawken ?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I felt
strongly we should go by train and arrive in Penn Station at 34<sup>th</sup>
Street. But we needed to get to 42<sup>nd</sup> Street. My father wanted to go
by bus so we could arrive at Port Authority on 42<sup>nd</sup> Street. It
dawned on me that at this errand to NYC was not just about a journey but also
an acknowledgement of who was in charge.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>By
the way, guess what? We took the bus!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__02__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
doctrine and teaching of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, the Mother of God
is not only about the means of our salvation – but also about who is in charge.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Why
is doctrine necessary in our faith?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
reason for it is not to make Mary into a goddess or to elevate here higher than
Jesus who is above all and King and Ruler.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
reason is to teach us about both our journey and destination in human salvation
and human terms.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__03__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, it is
possible that God could have deleted or done away with original sin and shown
his mercy through angels or some other means.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But,
God chose to reveal himself through the Incarnation of the 2<sup>nd</sup>
person of the Trinity. Jesus of Nazareth is a divine person with a human
nature.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In
order for Jesus to be born FULLY DIVINE with a human nature, he cannot be born
in sinful flesh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(By the way, Mary was
not only the person immaculately conceived by God – for Jesus was also
immaculately conceived…and prior to fall, Adam and Eve were conceived without
original sin).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Jesus
takes his flesh, his DNA, from that of his mother, in order to be FULLY HUMAN.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__04__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">] <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does this
mean that Jesus and Mary and Joseph always agreed on absolutely everything?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There
was a little dispute between them at the Cana wedding about what to do about
the wine shortage.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Yes,
temporarily, there may have been disagreements. There was conflict and
contradiction in Mary’s heart in that she had to endure seeing her Son to put
to death. In some sense, Jesus’ words of “not my will but thine be done” would
apply to Mary as well.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Mary
knew sorrow for Jesus’ suffering. And, to answer the question in the the
popular song, Mary did know that her baby boy was Lord of all creation, that
Jesus was in charge.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In
this regard, Mary and Jesus did agree on his ultimate destination in his
Passion, Death and Resurrection.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__05__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can your destination or destiny or situation
or struggle go beyond what your origin or experiences are?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Yes,
we believe this is possible not just by commuting to work or working from home
in the American pursuit of happiness.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But,
rather by our belief that our being and existence is not just a material
identity and person for this earth. As persons, we desire and crave material
comforts.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Certainly,
I want and crave certain material comforts, not least of all the ideal
temperature inside and outside at all times. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The doctrine of
the I.C. is not given just to make me feel good inside, but points out that we
were not made only for this world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">And we are given
the Sacraments – Baptism, C, C,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Penance, Anointing, Matrimony, Holy Orders – not just for celebrations
here and to mark time but to get to heaven. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">One of my mentors
in the seminary pointed that he would tell seminarians studying for the
priesthood that their priesthood is given to them not for them to have a
calling here on earth…but for them to get to heaven. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__06__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">] Mary cooperates with God by becoming the first
disciple of Jesus, the first parishioner of the Church, and the first volunteer
organizer and first petitioner with prayers now and at the hour of our death. </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">__end__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">]</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Father Jim Ferryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06488780235058622844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926593225673980150.post-43871447890034652052023-12-03T14:55:00.007-05:002023-12-03T14:59:07.379-05:00Advent. Vigilance (2023-12-03)<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 17.3333px;">___ </span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-853643120/m-1203-l11-9m?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing">Click Here for Audio of Homily</a></b></span><span style="font-size: 17.3333px;"> ___ </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 17.3333px;">____ </span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"><a href="https://youtu.be/1CDyUug4esg">Click Here for Video of Mass</a></b></span><span style="font-size: 17.3333px;"><a href="https://youtu.be/1CDyUug4esg"> </a>____ </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 17.3333px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;">Homily file for December
3, 2023 ● 1</span><sup><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 8pt;">st</span></sup><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;"> Sunday Advent ● Isaiah
63:16b-17, 64:2-7 ● Psalm ● 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 ● Mark 13:33-37 ● </span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span> <span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">_01__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">] </span><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Advent
is a season of vigilance. This vigilance and watching are themes of the Gospel
today</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">.
</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">Several years ago, I had an unexpected accident on a street that
was very familiar to me, where I took safety for granted. Not so safe that day!
It was a sunny weekday, around 2 pm. Stepping off the curb into the roadway, I
was knocked to the ground by a bicycle messenger whom I had NOT seen coming -- due
to a moving van obstructing my view. The sudden encounter left me trembling and
in shock. The bicycle messenger was an
obstacle to me, but I was also an obstacle to him!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">Fortunately, neither of us
sustained any injuries, and we parted ways without involving authorities or
even really talking to each other.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">How could I have avoided
this trouble? This led me to consider "Advent," not in the sense of
waiting on the sidewalk spiritually for Jesus to come along….but to remember
that He is already present. And, also to remember what happened after I got
knocked down and how important it is to recognize you and I are not alone in
this world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">_02__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">] And, given His Presence, will I be an
obstacle to JC? Will I prepare his way? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">Jesus makes himself present
in three distinct ways: the 1<sup>st</sup>
Coming in history, the 2<sup>nd</sup> Coming in majesty to judge the
living and dead, and the 3rd Coming in mystery. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">It is this 3<sup>rd</sup>
way, the mystery, that I suggest we focus on.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">Our faith in the Gospel, as
Pope Benedict XVI (B16) wrote is not simply about an experience that is going
to be simply informative. Yes, being informed is good.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">But, B16 emphasizes that
our faith is in God’s word because his word is not just informative “data” but
a “performative” action. And, we are called to allow God to act in our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">_03__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">] [<b><u>Getting Out of the Way</u></b>]</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">How do I get in the way, I
get in the Lord's Way? How am I an obstacle?</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">I am an obstacle to the
Lord’s way, when I am so personally offended when things go the wrong way in my
life, and I make things more of a problem than they really are. </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">I am an obstacle when I am
too discouraged by lack of results. As the saying goes, I often want to build
the city of Rome in 1 day. I am impatient. And while my impatience sometimes
makes me work harder, it sometimes has the opposite effect of making me
indifferent, lazy and arrogant. </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">_04__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">] [<b><u>The Fourth Coming: You !</u></b> ]</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> But, it has also
been my experience, that when something is troubling me, that being in church
or in a chapel where Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament will calm my fears
and often give me some insight not only for what I can do.</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> The trouble with me
is that sometimes I don’t come to Him in person in a timely fashion. Sometimes,
I stay way. Do you ever stay away?</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">But, when I come to God really in humility, I can be helped in a
new way with new words. </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> So, there are 3 comings of Jesus- but
there is a 4<sup>th</sup> coming – your appearance, my appearance, our
cooperation with God’s grace and performance in our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">_05__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">] Jesus invites us to come
to him, understanding our struggles through his own life experiences. The
church serves as a place where we can engage in a personal conversation with
Jesus, our confidante and trusted friend. This interaction is not confined to
the church building; it is a practice we are called to incorporate into our
daily lives wherever we are.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span> </span>On
the day of my little accident, which left me physically unscathed, I was trembling
and shaking, I one thing I realized, as I brushed myself off and got up from
the ground, and I was on my way to see my co workers, I thought to myself, What
am I going to say, now, I'm feeling kind of embarrassed about what happened. I
wasn't used to disclosing my personal emotions so much to my co workers, this
was work. After all, we work together, we weren't necessarily close friends. And
I almost wasn't going to say anything about the incident. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span> </span>So I went to see my
boss, who was a very good boss, and my co workers who were good co workers, we
had our little meeting at the end of the meeting, I shared with them what
happened. And I was almost surprised at their sympathy for me, we immediately
started talking about the street and how dangerous it was. So I experienced
support at that moment, when something is troubling us, we do need people who
are going to be supportive, it might not be somebody who's going to just wag
somebody, they could have wag their finger at me and said, hey, you need to
look up, we have to get off the curb. That wasn't the conversation, the
conversation was looking at how dangerous life can be, how difficult things can
be. And we need friends who will sympathize with us in that way. Maybe not,
were necessarily going to solve our problems for us. But just listen, to
sympathize. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span> </span>So for example, if you're married, you may need somebody who's
married to understand how challenging marriage can be. If you're a mother or a
father, to understand someone else to understand how challenging being a mother
or father can be a priest, I need somebody who can understand the challenges of
being a priest, not somebody who's going to look over my shoulder and say, you
got to do better here. But somebody who can understand and we all need those
who will sympathize with us. Fortunately, there was somebody on the other end
of the line for me that day, when I needed somebody to talk to, you may leave
here today from church alone, you may not have somebody on the other end of the
line immediately to talk to this is but you aren't we aren't coming here
together to pray for each other. People are praying for you whom you don't even
know. And also to remember that our conversation and relationship with God is
built up by our coming to church so that we can talk to Jesus about what is
troubling us. And we can recognize that he is also talking to us. At times it
is difficult to bring certain things up. For example, you might have a fear I
might have a fear about going to confession to confess our sins. That can
sometimes be intimidating. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span> </span>But I assure you, the priest is not there to shake
you up or to shake you down. But to help you to know God's mercy in your life.
You might have a fear about talking to someone in your life, something
difficult in your life that you might fear bringing up. That's something to
bring to prayer first to say, Lord help me to communicate this. Give me the
words to say because sometimes the thing that we fear saying is exactly what we
are supposed to say or talk about it truthfully, charitably, lovingly to
others. Advent reminds us that we are called to watch out for Jesus, that He is
already here and that we can watch for him each day.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>Father Jim Ferryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06488780235058622844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926593225673980150.post-75017257243185301072023-11-26T11:14:00.002-05:002023-11-26T11:16:41.909-05:00Horizontal.Vertical. Christ the King (2023-11-26)<p>___ <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-853643120/m-1125-l5-7m?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;">Click Here for Audio of Homily </b></span></a>___ </p><p>____ <span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AL3qMSFQsWw">Click Here for Video of Mass</a> </b></span>____ </p><div><br /></div><p> <span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Nov.</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 14pt;">26, 2023</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 14pt;">(Christ
the King) Gospel: </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Matthew 25:31-46</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><u>Title</u></b>: Horizontal/Vertical. Jesus Christ the King.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">__01__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">] </span><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Once upon a time, I was looking out horizontally
at the parking lot. I was not thinking about the asphalt paving of the parking
lot. I'm not going back to that </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">project!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">I was looking
out horizontally at the parking lot a few years ago and I received a phone call
so unexpected that I remember what I was looking at, the direction I was facing,
that it was about 5 pm in the afternoon, mid August. I was being told in the
phone call of the tragic passing the death of my father's cousin, Richie. Over the
prior months and years, Richie had been caring for his ailing wife, and he had
been under immense stress and anxiety.</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">It was evident to his immediate family that
Richie was very anxious and they were really trying to help him. Amid this
great crisis, Richie had taken his own life, committed suicide.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> Due to the circumstances, there also
had to be a police investigation. While I remembered where I was when I got the
call, others in our family recalled exactly where they were – several heard
simultaneously from the television, at 4pm on NBC when Richie’s name suddenly
appeared on NewsChannel4. It was all
very public. </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">__02__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">] </span><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">Richie and I did not see each other very often.
But we had met at family events over the years when he would come from NY to NJ
or I would go to New York for significant family moments. I remember well, his
outgoing and friendly style, </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">how he could read the crowd, or read a
situation, given that he was in the restaurant and hospitality business, his
forte.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> At the time that I finished my
seminary studies and was ordained a priest, he and his wife and other family
members came to a Mass and celebration in church with many other family and
friends whom I had not seen in a long time.
He sensed that I might not remember everyone instantly in this crowded
room and that we had not been together for several years and took the time to
re- identify himself clearly, “I’m Richie, the nice one”. His introduction was humorous and practical-
helps me to remember him and exactly what part of the room he was in when he
said this.</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"> [</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">*** PAUSE ***</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">]<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"> The month of November – of All Souls –
and this Gospel reminds us to pray for our own future salvation and to pray for
those who have died.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">I remember a
relative coming up to me and asking me - point blank - is Richie in heaven? For
the person who was no longer with us, we have to remember </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">it </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">is
never too late to petition God --- through our praying, fasting, and
sacrificing - for the eternal rest and salvation of someone who has died. For
the person is no longer on a clock or calendar or even in a “place”, but rather
in eternity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">And in the case
of suicide, we read in the Catholic Catechism,</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Catechism of CC:<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">2282 …Grave psychological
disturbances, anguish, or grave fear of hardship, suffering, or torture can
diminish the responsibility of the one committing suicide.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">2283 We should not despair
of the eternal salvation of persons who have taken their own lives. By ways
known to him alone, God can provide the opportunity for salutary repentance.
The Church prays for persons who have taken their own lives.</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">]</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">__03__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">] God knows what is in our hearts better than
we do.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"> And, the Fatima prayer of the Rosary
is an excellent petitions for ourselves and for others:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">“O
my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls
to heaven, especially those most in need of thy mercy. ”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">We
read and hear of people dying suddenly all the time. Remember also this prayer from the Divine
Mercy chaplet:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">“For
the sake of his sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">This Sunday’s Gospel of Matthew 25 reminds us
of our own need for repentance.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">When I first received the phone call about
Richie, I remember looking out horizontally at the parking lot. I could have / should
have been looking up vertically, toward God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">I am tempted
all the time to look around horizontally to look around horizontally at other
people, to compare myself to everyone around me to compare myself to others.
And to see that in my phone to see that in my thoughts and in my words and what
I have done and what I have failed to do. I for example, waste time worrying
about what other people think of me or I wait A time on the computer or on my phone,
I'm tempted to satisfy only my physical desires to do what's popular. I justify
this because I see, hey, that's what everybody else is doing. </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">In this regard, I “take after not” Jesus but
the Pharisee who compares himself to the tax collector. The Pharisee
thinks/says, “</span><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">Hey, I look pretty good
compared to everyone else.</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"> I also
look horizontally at others when I am called to look vertically toward God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">The Gospel reminds of the need for both a
horizontal and vertical view. This Gospel
is about the works of mercy which we might be tempted to ignore – because there
are oh so many people – horizontally in ouir view on earth - who are physically hungry,
thirsty, naked, imprisoned. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">The Gospel invites not simply to look
horizontally at who is around us but also vertically at who is above me and God
who is calling all of us to a higher road.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">We are called
to pray, for example, for the intercession of our Blessed Mother for Our Lady
of Lourdes, for those those who are sick,</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"> The Gospel also reminds that God we
need God’s help because of what we do and what we fail to do.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"> For this we also the sacrament of
confession, penance, reconciliation so that we might meet God with a clean
heart. As Catholics, we are obligated to go to Confession at least once a year,
but I recommend going - and go myself –
at least once a month, so that I am also aware of what I “do and fail to do.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"> Jesus reminds us, his followers, to be
prepared for his eventual return, for Judgment
Day and for his call which may arrive at a moment we do not expect. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">I myself can spend a lot of time worrying
about the praise of others – HORIZONTALLY ---
rather than the praise of God – VERTICALLY. </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 14pt;">We come to church for
a true horizontal view our neighbors and relationships and also vertical view
of Jesus himself who may arrive with a call or message we did not expect. He
wishes us to be ready whether we are at the beginning, the middle or the end of
our lives. </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 14pt;">[end] </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p>Father Jim Ferryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06488780235058622844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926593225673980150.post-6494012251941693942023-11-23T12:32:00.008-05:002023-11-23T12:52:13.745-05:00We Shall Not Pass This Way Again (Thanksgiving, 2023)<p>___ <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-853643120/m-1123-l8-9m?si=a9f3a7dac96a438dbd2897fbf430376a&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;">Click Here for Audio of Homily</b></span></a> ___ </p><p>____ <span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"><a href="https://youtu.be/DPkXraaMFkw">Click Here for Video of Mass</a></b></span> ____ </p><p> <b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Thanksgiving Day 2023</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">This
homily mentions Damian of Molokai. There is an excellent 1999 Hollywood of his
life – it’s available free on YouTube – <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AweoZYsiCu4&t=6s">Click here</a>.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> [</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">__01__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">] </span><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Today we read a section of Luke's Gospel, known as the travel
narrative, the narrative of Jesus's journeys, where Jesus not only talks
through his wisdom, but also walks his journey toward his passion, death and
resurrection in Jerusalem.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Christ's
actions are the true Incarnation of the famous phrase by a Pennsylvania Quaker
who emphasized the urgency of doing good: "I expect to pass through this
world but once; any good thing therefore that I can do... let me not defer or
neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Jesus,
traversing the terrain between Galilee and Samaria, is in unfriendly territory,
as the Gospel notes that "the Jewish people and the Samaritan people shared
nothing in common." (John 4:9)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Samaria,
the northern territory of Israel, was the place of the initial “hostile
takeover” by foreign occupation that broke up kingdom of Israel. It is in this place
that Jesus encounters 10 lepers, with 1 displaying gratitude and prayerfulness
for his healing—an embodiment of a true "good Samaritan" outsider illustrating
devotion, prayer, and humility.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">The
Samaritan was not trying to control the “travel narrative” but rather just
wants to travel “inside” with Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">__02__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">I, OTOH, am one who likes to control the
travel narrative and control the outcome or what comes next.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Recently,
during a family medical visit to NYC, we embarked on a journey to find parking
in a garage frequently full. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I expect
this to be problematic and am nervous on these trips.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">That day,
we were fortunate. The garage was full, but we presented a HDCP parking
sticker, the attendant guided us to available spaces. We expressed gratitude
with a tip, not only as thanks for his assistance but also with the
anticipation of returning. In a city of 9 million, I hold out some hope he might
remember us. This reflects my occasional approach—to go down paths again for
future benefits. Yet, doing good is really about the present moment!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">The food you
have presented for the poor is not simply about the future, it is about the
present moment.</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">__03__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">The mission of mercy that Jesus embodies
emphasizes his presence in the here and now, a concept echoed by the Good
Samaritan parable. While the wounded man is left at an inn, the Good Samaritan
promises to return.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">__04__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Jesus's healing of the Samaritan
underscores his sacrifice for all, portraying him as an outsider in his own
right. He sets an example for us to follow, acknowledging the shared experience
of being outsiders. “It takes one to know one.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">__05__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">A Catholic missionary exemplifying the
Gospel commandment to give his whole life – was in the 1800s, Father Damian of
Molokai, canonized in 2009. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Coming
from Belgium, he traveled to Hawaii, confronting the isolation and suffering
caused by leprosy. Amidst a dire situation, he tended to the afflicted,
demonstrating compassion and care in the face of a devastating disease and
epidemic. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">__06__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Molokai, where Father Damian served, was
not a destination for health and wellness; it was a place where people were
exiled to die, a practice rooted in European rather than Hawaiian culture. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">Quote: “[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">One native Hawaiian man] heard
that the government was rounding up lepers and sending them to Molokai.
"How cruel," he complained to his neighbors, "to separate mother
or father or children from home when they need the family most. If the white
man wishes to treat his sick differently than Hawaiians do, why doesn't he go
away and leave us alone? He forced his cruel illness on us and now he is
forcing his brutal cures."</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">” (</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/saints/damien-of-molokai-539</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">We also need family and friends in times of
crisis. And, you and I can learn – some of you know well – it is difficult but
also a blessing – care for someone who sick or dying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a precious moment that we shall never
have back – again.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">__07__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">Damian believed in the
dignity and worth of every person with leprosy. And he was well aware that the
lepers on Molokia lived in a cycle of disease </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">à</span></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">
despair </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">à</span></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> drunkenness that led
to amny illicit / licentious behaviors.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">__08__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Damian taught them about dignity and virtue, to
plant and harvest crops, to raise animals, to play musical instruments, to
sing. One witness reported that he saw two keyboard playing church organists –
victims of leprosy -- <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>sitting side by
side in front of a church organ. One had suffered the loss of her RH, the
other, LH but together they had 2 good hands to play ! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">There was no self pity in Molokai.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">One American writer observed life on Molokai before
and after Damian. Before, he saw miserable shacks and huts. Years later, with
Damian’s personal carpentry skills and training of the people, he found two
villages of white painted houses with flower gardens and cultivated fields.
Molokai boasted a decent hospital, a graveyard, and 2 orphanages of children.
But what really delighted the visitor was the sight of men and women rather
than sitting around – were out horseback riding, enjoying life.</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">__09__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Damian
taught inhabitants essential skills, turning the once dismal landscape into
vibrant villages. His dedication to celebrating life, even in the face of
death, is reflected in the construction of a proper graveyard. Eventually
succumbing to leprosy at 49, Damian left an enduring legacy, symbolized by his
statue in the U.S. Capitol.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Even Father
Damian, however, left projects unfinished. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-highlight: yellow;">And I am
grateful for the collaboration that consistently and the collective effort of
you, Our Lady of Lourdes parishioners who helped me to minister to many people
here at Our Lady of Lourdes to our young people, to older people, to poor
people. It's important that we work together.</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">We are all
called to collaboration, collective responsibility to work in faith, hope, and
charity. It underscores the importance of leaving a positive impact for those
who follow and expressing gratitude for the gifts bestowed by God. None of is
able to <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“to do it all”, but we can all love
our neighbors, forgive from the heart, and recognize the temporary nature, the transience
of our earthly journey.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Our
home is in heaven. We shall not pass this way again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">__end__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Father Jim Ferryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06488780235058622844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926593225673980150.post-58285069865448193532023-11-19T11:14:00.010-05:002023-11-23T12:31:54.434-05:00Priceless (2023-11-19, Sunday - 33rd)<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 17.3333px;">___ </span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-853643120/m-1119-l9-8m?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing">Click Here for Audio of Homily</a></b></span><span style="font-size: 17.3333px;"> ___ </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 17.3333px;">____ </span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"><a href="https://youtu.be/ANAbAlqRsuA">Click Here for Video of Mass</a></b></span><span style="font-size: 17.3333px;"> ____ </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;">Homily file for November
19, 2023 / </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;">33<sup>rd</sup> Sunday </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;"> ● Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31● Psalm 128
● 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6 ● Matthew
25:14-30 ● </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;">Title:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;">Priceless</span></p><p> <span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">_01__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">] In late December, years ago, my brother and
his wife arrived at our house to stay for Christmas. They had come from
California and arrived several days before 12/25. I remember – in those final
“shopping days”, before Christmas, they went to the Macy’s / Old Navy at the
mall, , every day – the December 21<sup>st</sup>, 22<sup>nd</sup>, 23<sup>rd</sup>
…. They arrived before the doors opened. My sister-in-law said, “Your dad
really likes to go shopping!” They were punctual partly because my father drove
them there and really wanted a good parking space, and while all those trips
signified something “material” and “monetary”, it also signified my father’s
wish to spend time with my brother and sister-in-law … while getting a good
parking space and doing some shopping.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> The memory of their trips to the mall has
lasted much longer than the material things they bought.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> Jesus regards our attitudes about money as symbolic
of our character. “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also”
(Mt 6:21, Lk 12:33).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">Where is your treasure? What is my treasure?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">_02__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">] <b><u>PARABLE</u></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> In the parable we
read that there is a distribution of TREASURE and of TALENTS – a different
amount to each of 3 different servants.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> And, the word
“talent” is not referring to skill or competency but rather to the actual
weight of a precious metal such as silver.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> And, each servant receives
a different measurement of silver or money. And, that is similar to the regular everyday
economy and world. Some people have more money, advantages, income, wealth.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> But, is the parable
strictly about money? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> I am suggesting the
parable is also about MERCY – some people have been forgiven more – have
received mercy for truly serious sins and they are more indebted to God, feel
more indebted to God than those with less serious sins.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> Do you remember an
episode where Jesus goes to the home of Simon the Pharisee and meets a woman
who is known to have a very sinful and broken past? This woman – a relative
stranger in Simon’s house -- lavishes
oil and washes Jesus’ feet. Meanwhile, Simon the Pharisee is not showing Jesus
much attention.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> Their attitudes
reflect an unequal distribution of God’s mercy. He who has been forgiven much
loves much…but the one who has been forgiven….loves little.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> Simon the Pharisee
is also unaware of his need for God’s forgiveness.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> The parable of the
talents is reminding us that God has invested in all of us with his mercy, with
the precious Body and Blood of his Son on the Cross.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> This is his mercy.
We are called to share it with others.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">_03__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">] What is your attitude
toward material things and money? How important are they to you?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> A TV commercial in
the 1990’s – which was not religious – touched on this question of attitude. Do
you recall the credit card commercial for MasterCard in which theme word is
“PRICELESS”, and uses examples to depict what we would want to have for an
important event.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> Let's say the
“important event” is family reunion / Thanksgiving. And the TV commercial would
recite a list of things that you would want to have:: new clothes $100, plane ticket to fly to New
York $200, food for Thanksgiving
$400, a camera to take the family photo:
$200. But, what is it worth to have a
photo with 4 generations of adults and children … well, there is number. The
photo is “priceless”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">_04__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">] The mercy of God is also
“priceless” – and essential to our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">2 of our traditionally
Catholic works of mercy relevant for November – the month of All Souls is “bury
the dead” and to “pray for the living and the dead.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">It is a work of mercy to “bury
the dead” and pray for the dead which does not simply mean having an expensive
funeral, but simply to pray, , to attend the funeral or send a Mass Card not
only for the person whom you really liked and the family and friends you long
to hang it with. What about going to the funeral or praying for the soul of
someone by whom you were hurt or trespassed against?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">This is a work of mercy to
pray for the dead, for the deceased, for their eternal rest.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">In this month of November as
we anticipate Thanksgiving and remember our families – living and deceased - we
can make wise investment choices in our own character and salvation and in
praying for others as a work of mercy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">Why come to church?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">Investing in this silence and
silent prayer for mercy will help you to know what is truly in your conscience
and how to communicate out loud, to communicate with those with whom you are
struggling to love or care for or to forgive.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">Your prayer will not change
the other person but will change your heart.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">Investing in forgiveness and
humility will help you to be courageous and compassionate toward others. You double your money by praying not only for
yourself but for another person. You
will also be working toward the salvation of your soul and soul of others. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">Yes, material things are
expensive. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">However, your eternal
salvation and your soul is of greater value. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">We are called to repent of our
sins, in Confession, to invest in God’s
mercy because our soul endures beyond death. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">The Gospel parable is not
about the reward of money but of eternal life through the priceless of
experience of God’s mercy. It is our calling, a responsibility as the Master
said: </span><b><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">Well done, my good and
faithful servant. Since you were
faithful in small matters, I will give
you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;">. (Matt 25)</span></p>Father Jim Ferryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06488780235058622844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926593225673980150.post-81021367521788524302023-11-12T01:30:00.005-05:002023-11-12T01:30:00.129-05:00Tense. Waiting (2023-11-12, 32nd Sunday)<p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 17.3333px;">___ </span><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-853643120/m-1111-l5-7m?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;">Click Here for Audio of Homily</b></span></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 17.3333px;"> ___ </span></p><p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 17.3333px;">____ </span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqiDPuO59bs">Click Here for Video of Mass</a></b></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 17.3333px;"> ____ </span></p><p></p><p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 17.3333px;">●</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 17.3333px;"> </span> <span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;">Homily file for November
12, 2023 </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 17.3333px;">●</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 17.3333px;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;">32<sup>nd</sup> Sunday </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;"> ● Wisdom 6:12-16 ● Psalm 63 ● 1 Thessalonians
4:13-18 ● ● Matthew 25:1-13 ● </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;">Title:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;">Tense (NW)__ original</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">_01__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">] Years ago, I felt some tension in my mind and
in my heart – one Saturday – when I was concerned about the start time of a wedding
scheduled here at Lourdes.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">I had come over here to church
on that Saturday to get ready for Saturday 5:30 pm Mass AFTER such a wedding. I
was surprised that when I arrived the wedding had not even started yet. When I
asked the visiting priest about this<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">He asked me –” are you tense
about time ?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">I don't recall much more about
the day, except that of course, the bride and groom and family finally arrived,
there was a wedding and 530 Mass still
happened. As we text, so to say: NBD. No
Big Deal.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">And I forgot about the whole
thing. That is until about 3 years later. I saw this visiting priest again.
This time, not at a wedding. And he reminded me of the whole episode … although
I had totally forgotten about his question.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">I was “tense” again when he
reminded me, “are you tense about the
time?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">_02__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">] And, the parable is told not to turn our
attention to “weddings” but rather to “living and dying”.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Do we want Jesus the groom to
come into our lives? His arrival signifies both death and life after death.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Of course, if you were me on
that Saturday afternoon in the sacristy, you would be anxious for groom and the
bride to arrive. I was anxious for them to arrive, because I was thinking in
very material physical terms.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">And, if I had more oil in my
lamp, more strength in prayer, I would have been less tense, more patient.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">But the parable – in the end –
is not just about a car arriving with the groom, but rather about the CROSS and
way of the Cross with Jesus and you and me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Do I want such a groom, such a
guest to arrive in my life?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Pope Benedict XVI (B16)
observed that sometimes we have an idealistic conception of death in that we
see death as simply a release from physical problems: disease, disability, pain.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">But death is not simply a
rescue from pain. Death is a renovation, or to use a construction metaphor, is
the extreme makeover <i>par excellence</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Pope Benedict XVI (B16) reminds us that the LOVE is the core concept
of our lives. And, to love God and love
your neighbor is the greatest commandment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">For example, sometimes, it may
be both spiritually and physically painful to admit I am wrong. Or, to seek
forgiveness. But this is the Christian “dying to oneself”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">[</span><b style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">_03__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">] In a practical sense, “love” is not simply
associated with the declaration and vow of love at a wedding.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;"> Rather, love is
also associated with dying and death and sacrifice.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;"> This weekend is
also Veterans Day when we remember – as we do on Memorial Day – those who gave
their lives in military service.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;"> I read this quote
from a U.S. Marine in his book about the battlefield (<i>Elliot Ackerman, “Places and Names …”</i>) Recently, I heard this military
veteran make this statement – bravery and courage – while they are virtuous –
are not sufficient as EMOTIONS, FEELINGS for the soldier. What soldiers needs
is to bonded by LOVE. They may not feel brave going into battle, but they can (we
can) feel and be motivated by love in a difficult situation. Even to love unto
death.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;"> And, that Jesus –
as our bridegroom giving himself on the Cross – loves us unto death.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">_04__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">] The
priest who asked me that question, years ago and upset me at the time and did
not make me less tense – but rather more tense -- with his question about my
attitude. 2x. It happened twice!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">He asked me –” are you tense
and upset about time ?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">I was also being asked – in a
sense – am I motivated by love?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Given that he had way more
experience than me at the time, he had been a priest for about 25 years. At
that point, I had been a priest for about 25 minutes….maybe 25 days.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">He gave me something to pray about.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">What am I doing when I'm
waiting? What am I doing when I'm waiting for the bus? What am I doing when I'm
waiting in traffic? What am I doing when I'm waiting for something to start?
What am I doing when I'm waiting for a sign from God? Then I'm going in the
right direction. Because we are all in some sense waiting in the interim. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">It's good to pray the prayer
of the Divine Mercy, <b>Jesus, I trust in
you to pray</b> that we trust in Jesus when we're waiting, this will help us to
this will help us to replace the oil in our lamps and to give us the fuel the
energy to practice our Christian disciplines of prayer, sacrificing, charitable
giving to pray. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Jesus, I trust in you. </span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12.5pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">When we are waiting. we are
called to pray.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Going to someone else's
wedding reminds us that we are waiting for the bride and groom to say “I Do”
and to stay together until death until do they part. That's inspiring to all of us. </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12.5pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">The wedding signifies our
lives.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">We are also at mass coming to
receive the body of Christ who is also united to us as our spouse, Jesus is
your spouse, my spouse, and he desires that we would love him until the end. </span><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 107%;">You and I also need God’s grace and help as oil to wait for Jesus until
he appears at your door or at my door. [</span><b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 107%;">END</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 107%;">]</span></p>Father Jim Ferryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06488780235058622844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926593225673980150.post-41283888694686489832023-11-05T11:04:00.011-05:002023-11-11T22:02:04.712-05:00Founder's Day 109th Anniv. Mass (2023-11-05) Sunday 9:30 am<p><span style="font-size: 17.3333px;">___ </span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-853643120/m-1105-l9-8m?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing" style="background-color: #fcff01;">Click Here for Audio of Homily</a> </b></span><span style="font-size: 17.3333px;">__ </span></p><p><span style="font-size: 17.3333px;">____ </span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GopXWWh4zHs"><span style="font-family: arial;">Click Here for Video of Mass</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></a></b></span><span style="font-size: 17.3333px;">____ </span></p><p><span style="font-size: 17.3333px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;">Homily file for November
5, 2023 </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;">31<sup>st</sup> Sunday </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt;">● </span><span style="font-size: 17.3333px;">Malachi 1:14b-2:2b, 8-10 </span><span style="font-size: 17.3333px;">●</span><span style="font-size: 17.3333px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 17.3333px;">Psalm 131:1, 2, 3 </span><span style="font-size: 17.3333px;">● </span><span style="font-size: 17.3333px;">1 Thesssalonians 2:7b-9, 13 </span><span style="font-size: 17.3333px;">● </span><span style="font-size: 17.3333px;">Matthew 23:1-12</span><span style="font-size: 17.3333px;">● </span></p><p><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;">Title:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;">Founder’s Day Mass</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">_01__</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">] In
the Gospel this Sunday, Jesus reflects on whether we should place our trust in
the Pharisees and scribes, and whether they are truly believable and worthy of
being followed. Jesus's message is clear: we should heed their words but not
necessarily emulate their actions because, in essence, they lack credibility.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> As we commonly
state: “Do as they say, not as they do.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> I bring this up
also to consider that real faith and real confidence is not simply based on
what something is, but also on who someone is.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> Ultimately, our
relationships are built on trust in people, not in things.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">This particular Sunday holds
special significance as it marks the anniversary of our parish, Our Lady of
Lourdes. Each year, we celebrate this milestone, our 109</span><sup style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; text-indent: 0.5in;">th</sup><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> anniversary
since its foundation on November 9, 1914.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">A few years ago, during our
Centennial, 100th-anniversary celebration a few years ago, some parishioners
fondly recalled the very first pastor, Monsignor Nicholas Marnell. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">He devoted 28 years of service
to Our Lady of Lourdes, from 1914 to 1942. The esteem with which they spoke of
him left a lasting impression. This strong testimony, combined with the
accounts of other parishioners, reinforced my belief in his exemplary
leadership.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> At one point one
person was elaborating, what a great pastor, what a great pastor… for a split
second, I was wondering why is she talking about me?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> Never mind!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt;">My present-day
confidence and belief in Monsignor Marnell and our original parishioners is not
only based on the testimony of witnesses who remember them as they were but
also based on my observation of who you are as parishioners of today. 2023. And
the welcome and hospitality you show – you are our parish staff, volunteers,
everyone in church and your visits and prayer for others beyond this church
building.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt;">We gather here to
pray and to ask God to watch over us and our families. In this month of
November, we pray especially for our loved ones who have died and to recall
that while our bodies and physical strength will decline and pass away, you and
I have an immortal soul which is individual and will be judged by God and last
forever.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> For this reason, we
have confession so as to purify our souls to meet God face to face.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> In parallel, every
building, every cathedral is not physically eternal, but has the eternal
presence of God. The Church is present yesterday, today, forever. I understand
there will be Mass in Heaven. The parking is great.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> Love lasts forever.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> So, how do we build
and protect our church and parish? We do
so by acts of love, charity. I read this an ancient homily, a reflection on
Psalm 127: “Unless the Lord build the house, in vain do the builders labor.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> Jesus is reminding
his listeners in the Gospel not to be dismayed by human leadership – and its
brokenness in the Pharisees of their day – or in the brokenness of any human
leader, because the Lord is building the house.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt;">You and I are
called to build and to give to Our Lady of Lourdes. I am grateful for your
financial support and for the volunteer time and prayers you offer for our
parish.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"> </span></i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> I read this by
Saint Hilary of Poitiers (France) (</span><u><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Source</span></u><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">: Liturgy of the Hours,
vol. 4, “Common of Pastors”, p. 1756, (Nos. 7-10: PL9, 696-697)</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> “This temple is
built by God. If it were constructed by human effort, it would not last …
through the efforts of the individual faithful [</span><b><i><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">parishioners – you !</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">], this house will grow into
many houses - [</span><b><i><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">into the prayer at your dinner table, your living room, your room</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">] – and thus will arise the blessed and spacious city of God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> God cared for
Abraham in his wanderings, he rescued Isaac when he was about to be sacrificed,
supported Moses against Pharaoh.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> [Told Joseph and
Mary, the Holy Family about Jesus’ coming through angels]”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> (</span><u><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Source</span></u><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">: Liturgy of the Hours,
vol. 4, “Common of Pastors”, p. 1756, (Nos. 7-10: PL9, 696-697)</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">Right now, there is much
trouble in the world, trouble which is based partly on politics and borders,
but not entirely.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> Trouble also
appears – with a capital T – when there is hatred, a refusal to understand, a
rejection of personal dignity. A lack or
deprivation of love.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> I have also been
trouble – been in need of mercy and absolution – when I have been lacking in
love, or in a vision that will see not only the body (material) but also the
sense to perceive the soul (spiritual) in a person or situation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> For this, we need
God, we need the Church. We need you to come to church. For unless the Lord
build the house, in vain do the builders labor. And, at Mass and prayer, the
Lord is not just building up walls and roof as house but is building up you as
a house and as temple of the Holy Spirit..<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">We can build up God’s house
and accept his spirit when we follow Christ – by whom we can follow both his
word and example.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">Do as he says.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">Do as he does.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">We pray for many more years for
Lourdes parish to come. Ad Multos Annos, Our Lady of Lourdes. Pray for us. </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;">[</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">_</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; line-height: 107%;">end</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> __</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;">] </span></p>Father Jim Ferryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06488780235058622844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926593225673980150.post-69370433613885932982023-11-02T08:52:00.002-04:002023-11-11T22:04:12.883-05:00All Souls Day (2023-11-02)<p><u><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua, serif; font-size: 16.6667px; font-weight: bold;">___</span><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-853643120/m-1102-7p-9m?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing"> <span style="background-color: #fcff01; color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Click Here for Audio of Homily </b></span></a><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua, serif; font-size: 16.6667px; font-weight: bold;">___ </span></u></p><p><u><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua, serif; font-size: 16.6667px; font-weight: bold;">____ </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9iVhXB30KU"><span style="background-color: #fcff01; color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Click Here for Video of Mass </b></span></a><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua, serif; font-size: 16.6667px; font-weight: bold;">____ </span></u></p><p><span style="font-size: 16.6667px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua, serif;"></span></u></b></span></p><p><b style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12.5pt;"><u>All Souls Day </u> </b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12.5pt;">Yesterday – November 1</span><sup style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">st</sup><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12.5pt;">
-- All Saints Day, a day of reflection on the nature of sainthood, the
qualities and virtues that make a person a saint, and our own personal journey
towards embodying saintly virtues.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Today
– November 2<sup>nd</sup> - we observe All Souls Day, which provides an
opportunity to delve deeper into the realm of the soul. What exactly is a soul?
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">What
distinguishes us as souls, and what does this term entail in our human
experience? The word "soul" carries interpretations related to music,
to food … and to personality.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">In
the Catholic Catechism, the term "soul" is multifaceted, often
referring to human life or the totality of an individual. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">However,
it also refers to the innermost and spiritually significant core of a person,
the aspect that mirrors the divine image within us. Essentially, the soul
embodies the spiritual essence of a human being.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">St.
Augustine has some “medical” and “spiritual” advice about the body and the soul
and the difference between the 2:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">“</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Take [GOOD] care of your body
as if you were going to live forever; and take [GOOD] care of your soul as if
you were going to die tomorrow.</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">It
is by our souls that we are judged and that we meet God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Also,
in Catholic sacramental life we speak not only being joined to others
physically but also spiritually.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Matrimony
is the union of 2 souls. We speak of spouses being “soul mates” and also good
friends being “soul mates”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">In
confession, we confessing and repenting of what is in our souls. It is true
that if, for example, if I have a troubled conscience or anxiety in my soul, I
may feel this in my body – as perspiration, heart rate, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">On
the plus side, if I feel spiritually relieved…if I receive forgiveness, I can
move about more freely. I can breathe a sigh of relief.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Jesus
says to the man who is forgiven and healed – body and soul. Rise pick up your
mat and walk.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">In
other words, God wants us to be restored both body and soul.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">But,
we begin with the soul. We are called to pray, to silence, to reflect on what
is in our souls.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I would like to use an example of rebuilding – first of
an actual building then of my own personal journey to the priesthood – to refer
to both body and soul.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Notre
Dame Cathedral<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">At
present, the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral in the city of Paris is need of extensive
restoration and reconstruction, following a devastating fire in 2019. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">The
fervent hope of French government officials was to see the beautiful cathedral
restored to its original grandeur and beauty, no later than the 2024 Paris Summer
Olympic Games. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">This
is the dream not only of Catholic people in France, but of the French – in a
sense, the church represents something both visible and invisible. The Church
is the soul of the city <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">However,
it appears that the cathedral may not be open in time for the Olympics and
might be ready by Christmas 2024. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">In
the meantime you can come here to Notre Dame de Lourdes. Our Lady of Lourdes.
We have a beautiful church. We are open.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">While
the physical restoration of the cathedral is indeed a remarkable endeavor,
there is a more profound goal underlying this effort - the recovery of the
cathedral's heart, soul, and intrinsic meaning.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I daresay the government of France is
wrong if they are opening the cathedral just to satisfy a tourist demand to
take selfies and sell more products and get more people into restaurants. The
church exists not only for the outside, but the inside. The soul.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Intriguingly,
this Notre Dame construction endeavor is not merely about employing
contemporary construction techniques. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Instead,
it involves a commitment to using ancient tools and methods that mirror those
employed by the original builders over 1,000 years ago. Builders are manufacturing,
crafting knives, axes, and cutting tools, preserving the historic authenticity
of the cathedral's construction. In doing so, they aim to rekindle the soul of
the church, recognizing that the essence of this magnificent structure
transcends its physical form. The soul.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Personal example</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Around the year 2000, I was
working and living in and around Hoboken, NJ in Hudson County.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I was comfortable there, but also sensing that I was
called to do something else. And, that “something else” was to become a
Catholic priest.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And, there were changes to my life that I would be called
to make both on the outside and inside.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>At the time – in 2000 – I started meeting with a local
priest who became my spiritual director and was very helpful to me in
understanding he Church and prayer and the priesthood.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I remember he gave me this example back then about how
the difference between appearance and reality, but that our feelings still have
validity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He said – let’s say you come into school or work one day
and you see someone and say “Good Morning” and the person appears to ignore
you, blows you off and does not respond and you feel rejected, perhaps sad,
maybe anxious, more…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Later, that day, you discover that the person is going
through a personal crisis that prevented him or from responding.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But, does that mean that your feelings had no merit? No
value?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He was urging me to consider that there is a level – in
our levels – beneath emotion and beneath feeling.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This the soul and you and I are a body-soul unity not
just being in control of our emotions.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I have been, at times, in control of my emotions – at
least nominally outwardly..but been a mess inside.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Recently, I had a chance to visit this priest and friend
again to talk about the priesthood and ministry <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The similarity is that now, 20 plus years later, I am
still learning what it means to be called to be a priest and also to look
beyond appearance.s.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>What it means to be rebuilt.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It is a meaningful coincidence to me that he – my friend-
lives in Hoboken, in the neighborhood where I used to live.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So I went to 704 Jefferson Street, to St. Ann’s Church,
to see him the other day.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A recent visit to a
neighborhood that held personal significance in the past serves as another
illustration of the enduring nature of our internal experiences. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">The urban
landscape had changed, with many new buildings and altered streets. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was determined not to use GPS as I had prior
knowledge of the streets, but due to all the construction and new lanes,
recreational parks, buildings, ramps, I had to use GPS.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">It
also felt strange to walk on these same streets carrying a smartphone. Back
then, I had the most basic cell phone with very poor/low battery and I rarely
turned it on.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">However,
amid these external changes, I also felt at home in an old neighborhood. The
soul.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">While
external circumstances may evolve, our internal experiences, emotions, and
recollections endure, forming an indelible part of our identity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">There
is a connection between the physical and the spiritual aspects of our
existence. The restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral demonstrates the significance
of maintaining the spiritual essence and soul of a monumental structure,
emphasizing that its authentic soul is far more enduring than the physical
stones and arches. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Meanwhile,
you and I have lasting identity of memories and experiences leave on the soul,
regardless of external changes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">While
our physical bodies may eventually decay, the soul remains immortal and
possesses eternal value. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">“</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Take [GOOD] care of your body
as if you were going to live forever; and take [GOOD] care of your soul as if you
were going to die tomorrow.</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">” (Augustine)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">This
eternal aspect of the soul invites prayer about on our actions, our choices,
and the quality of our lives. It underscores the idea that there is more to our
existence than our finite physical presence.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">You are
probably well aware that as you get on board on airplane – flight on United or
JetBlue – you are counted and the flight attendants take a final count of how
many passengers are on board.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">And,
then before take-off, the pilot will report to the Air Traffic Controller a
total count of every passenger, flight attendant, pilot, co-pilot – saying for
example: “There are 155 souls on board”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And, pilots will state the number of souls when declaring
an emergency.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Church is also here to care for you in the emergencies
and joys of life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Acts
like confession and prayer are deeply rooted in this understanding of the
eternal nature of the soul. They are not merely mechanisms for self-improvement
but rather expressions of our recognition of the eternal significance of the
soul. When we go to confession, we do so not only in pursuit of personal
betterment but also in acknowledgment of the eternal value of our soul and in
the hope of attaining eternity in heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Additionally,
these acts of reverence and devotion extend to our regard for others. We are
called to respect the inherent value of another person's soul, recognizing that
they too possess eternal worth. Often, we may fail to discern this eternal
aspect in our interactions, but our prayers should serve as a reminder to see
people as God sees them, not just as physical bodies but as unique body-soul
unities.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">The
soul has profound nature of the soul and eternal value. It prompts us to
recognize that we are more than the sum of our physical experiences and that our
actions and intentions resonate on a deeper, eternal plane. As we navigate the
complexities of life, we are reminded to cherish and respect not only our own
souls but also the souls of those we encounter, for within each soul lies an
eternal spark, a reflection of the divine.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">We
pray for the eternal rest of our loved ones – the names to be read are _____29___
souls in our prayer list tonight. But, of course, each one is more than a
number, but also a name and a person created by God and loved by you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%;">We also
pray in the silence of our hearts for the eternal rest of all of our deceased
loved ones.</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Father Jim Ferryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06488780235058622844noreply@blogger.com0