Homily for Third Sunday in Advent - B
Theme: Get thee to the Penance Service!
In a reflection written by Fr. Cantalamessa for Pope Benedict this Advent, he states, "the Christian novelty consists in this… Every religious proposal begins by telling men what they must do to save themselves or to obtain 'illumination.' Christianity does not begin by telling men what they must do, but what God has done for them in Jesus Christ. Christianity is a religion of Grace." There are points in this quote worth noting. One is that Jesus came down here to work on our behalf, to offer us salvation. The second one is that we profess a Religion of Grace.
The first readings in Advent all deal with the Israelites waiting for God to come into the world. They wanted Him to come and fix the world. They were a bit confused; it was not the world that needed fixed, it was themselves. We brought sin into the world and the consequence of living in sin is death. So God came into the world, on that first Christmas, not to fix the world, but to heal you and I. Jesus left behind the Holy Spirit and the Church to continue His work of offering us healing. The Israelites missed Jesus because they were expecting the world to be healed instead of themselves. We can make the same mistake if we look for God someplace else rather than His Church.
There are two important points to remember about Grace. One is that it is a free and undeserved help that God gives us to live a life of holiness. The second point is that while it is a free gift it demands a response from you and I. God offers you and I a supernatural gift of grace, but we have to want to accept it and part of this acceptance is showing up where God is dispensing this gift, that is in the Church through the Sacraments.
On Sunday and Monday evening we will be have the Sacrament of Penance here at St. Brigid. It is an opportunity for us to come and have an encounter with Jesus and receive the gift of healing. It is an opportunity for us to replenish the gift of Grace. Just in case it has been awhile, since we have thought about this sacrament I have a list of questions that we can use to examine our conscience:
Do I pray everyday?
Have I taken God's name in vain?
Have I missed Mass on Sunday and/or Holy Days of obligation?
Have I dishonored my parents?
Have I gotten angry?
Have I hurt others with my words?
Have I made fun of others?
Have I had an abortion or helped with one?
Have I had impure thoughts/actions?
If you are not married, Have I fornicated? or engaged in promiscuous behavior?
If you are married, Have I committed adultery? Have I used birth control?
Have I looked at pornography?
Have I lied?
Have I cheated?
Have I been jealous?
Have I been drunk?
Have I used illegal drugs?
Have I been judgmental?
Have I been proud?
Can we be found guilty by any of these questions? I know I can. If we can be found guilty then we have a responsibility to confess them.
A number of people missed Jesus being born into the world because they were busy with their lives. A number of people heard Jesus, but decided not follow Him. If we want to encounter and follow Jesus then we must respond. It takes a decision to cooperate with His Grace. You and I probably have many reasons why it would be inconvenient to come to Church again on a Sunday evening, but we recall that Jesus left the splendor of heaven to be with us. Certainly we can rearrange our schedule to have an encounter Jesus and receive the Gift of Grace. To let an earthly excuse be the reason for missing our Messiah, would be as incomprehensible as rejecting a loving Christmas gift from our best friend.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Get thee to Penance
Homily for Third Sunday in Advent - B
Theme: Get thee to the Penance Service!
In a reflection written by Fr. Cantalamessa for Pope Benedict this Advent, he states, "the Christian novelty consists in this… Every religious proposal begins by telling men what they must do to save themselves or to obtain 'illumination.' Christianity does not begin by telling men what they must do, but what God has done for them in Jesus Christ. Christianity is a religion of Grace." There are points in this quote worth noting. One is that Jesus came down here to work on our behalf, to offer us salvation. The second one is that we profess a Religion of Grace.
The first readings in Advent all deal with the Israelites waiting for God to come into the world. They wanted Him to come and fix the world. They were a bit confused; it was not the world that needed fixed, it was themselves. We brought sin into the world and the consequence of living in sin is death. So God came into the world, on that first Christmas, not to fix the world, but to heal you and I. Jesus left behind the Holy Spirit and the Church to continue His work of offering us healing. The Israelites missed Jesus because they were expecting the world to be healed instead of themselves. We can make the same mistake if we look for God someplace else rather than His Church.
There are two important points to remember about Grace. One is that it is a free and undeserved help that God gives us to live a life of holiness. The second point is that while it is a free gift it demands a response from you and I. God offers you and I a supernatural gift of grace, but we have to want to accept it and part of this acceptance is showing up where God is dispensing this gift, that is in the Church through the Sacraments.
On Sunday and Monday evening we will be have the Sacrament of Penance here at St. Brigid. It is an opportunity for us to come and have an encounter with Jesus and receive the gift of healing. It is an opportunity for us to replenish the gift of Grace. Just in case it has been awhile, since we have thought about this sacrament I have a list of questions that we can use to examine our conscience:
Do I pray everyday?
Have I taken God's name in vain?
Have I missed Mass on Sunday and/or Holy Days of obligation?
Have I dishonored my parents?
Have I gotten angry?
Have I hurt others with my words?
Have I made fun of others?
Have I had an abortion or helped with one?
Have I had impure thoughts/actions?
If you are not married, Have I fornicated? or engaged in promiscuous behavior?
If you are married, Have I committed adultery? Have I used birth control?
Have I looked at pornography?
Have I lied?
Have I cheated?
Have I been jealous?
Have I been drunk?
Have I used illegal drugs?
Have I been judgmental?
Have I been proud?
Can we be found guilty by any of these questions? I know I can. If we can be found guilty then we have a responsibility to confess them.
A number of people missed Jesus being born into the world because they were busy with their lives. A number of people heard Jesus, but decided not follow Him. If we want to encounter and follow Jesus then we must respond. It takes a decision to cooperate with His Grace. You and I probably have many reasons why it would be inconvenient to come to Church again on a Sunday evening, but we recall that Jesus left the splendor of heaven to be with us. Certainly we can rearrange our schedule to have an encounter Jesus and receive the Gift of Grace. To let an earthly excuse be the reason for missing our Messiah, would be as incomprehensible as rejecting a loving Christmas gift from our best friend.
Theme: Get thee to the Penance Service!
In a reflection written by Fr. Cantalamessa for Pope Benedict this Advent, he states, "the Christian novelty consists in this… Every religious proposal begins by telling men what they must do to save themselves or to obtain 'illumination.' Christianity does not begin by telling men what they must do, but what God has done for them in Jesus Christ. Christianity is a religion of Grace." There are points in this quote worth noting. One is that Jesus came down here to work on our behalf, to offer us salvation. The second one is that we profess a Religion of Grace.
The first readings in Advent all deal with the Israelites waiting for God to come into the world. They wanted Him to come and fix the world. They were a bit confused; it was not the world that needed fixed, it was themselves. We brought sin into the world and the consequence of living in sin is death. So God came into the world, on that first Christmas, not to fix the world, but to heal you and I. Jesus left behind the Holy Spirit and the Church to continue His work of offering us healing. The Israelites missed Jesus because they were expecting the world to be healed instead of themselves. We can make the same mistake if we look for God someplace else rather than His Church.
There are two important points to remember about Grace. One is that it is a free and undeserved help that God gives us to live a life of holiness. The second point is that while it is a free gift it demands a response from you and I. God offers you and I a supernatural gift of grace, but we have to want to accept it and part of this acceptance is showing up where God is dispensing this gift, that is in the Church through the Sacraments.
On Sunday and Monday evening we will be have the Sacrament of Penance here at St. Brigid. It is an opportunity for us to come and have an encounter with Jesus and receive the gift of healing. It is an opportunity for us to replenish the gift of Grace. Just in case it has been awhile, since we have thought about this sacrament I have a list of questions that we can use to examine our conscience:
Do I pray everyday?
Have I taken God's name in vain?
Have I missed Mass on Sunday and/or Holy Days of obligation?
Have I dishonored my parents?
Have I gotten angry?
Have I hurt others with my words?
Have I made fun of others?
Have I had an abortion or helped with one?
Have I had impure thoughts/actions?
If you are not married, Have I fornicated? or engaged in promiscuous behavior?
If you are married, Have I committed adultery? Have I used birth control?
Have I looked at pornography?
Have I lied?
Have I cheated?
Have I been jealous?
Have I been drunk?
Have I used illegal drugs?
Have I been judgmental?
Have I been proud?
Can we be found guilty by any of these questions? I know I can. If we can be found guilty then we have a responsibility to confess them.
A number of people missed Jesus being born into the world because they were busy with their lives. A number of people heard Jesus, but decided not follow Him. If we want to encounter and follow Jesus then we must respond. It takes a decision to cooperate with His Grace. You and I probably have many reasons why it would be inconvenient to come to Church again on a Sunday evening, but we recall that Jesus left the splendor of heaven to be with us. Certainly we can rearrange our schedule to have an encounter Jesus and receive the Gift of Grace. To let an earthly excuse be the reason for missing our Messiah, would be as incomprehensible as rejecting a loving Christmas gift from our best friend.
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