Name 1 or 2 things you have heard in a homily that have changed your life.. (or at least your day?)

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i heard this simple thing in a homily the other day… it was simple but for some reason, it hit home and i realized that i needed to take it to heart…

that God loves us more than he… wants to punish us. I guess life has been so punishing in the past, that i had lost sight of that truth…
 
This wasn’t actually in a homily, but rather in a letter that the pastor put in the bulletin on Palm Sunday. I wish I could remember it word for word, but basically it talked about how Holy Week is a reality check, that all of the crosses that we bear are temporary, and it’s the resurrection that counts. I’m totally not doing this justice, but it was a great message.

The other thing I heard that was really cool and maybe not life changing, but definitely perspective changing was during a cursillo weekend. The priest said “We’re not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.”
 
Jesus was weak and hungry after 40 days in the desert.

The devil tempted Jesus to turn stone into bread. Jesus said “No.”

How does this relate to us? We can’t turn stones into bread.
BUT we all do have special gifts and talents.
Do we use them for selfish purposes,
or do we say “No” and use our gifts for God’s purposes?

The devil tempted Jesus with all the kingdoms on the earth.
Jesus said “No.”

Kingdoms? How does this relate to us? We are not royalty.
BUT we all have power and influence over many people.
Do we use that power and influence for for personal gain,
or do we say “No” and use our power and influence to bring our neighbors closer to God?

The devil tempted Jesus to jump off a cliff. “God will send His angels to save you.”
Jesus said “No.”

Can you fly? I can’t. Do we imagine that God will reverse gravity to save us?
How does this relate to us?
BUT we know that God, in His great mercy,
offers to forgive all manner of sin, selfishness, and debauchery.
Do we then presume upon God’s mercy, and carelessly sin?
Or do we remember that the Lord will come like a thief in the night,
and guard ourselves carefully so that we are always ready to look Him directly in the eyes?

Jesus said “No”. Let us follow His example and do the same.
 
Let me see if I can get this right- unless you believe that bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus and that is only because Jesus had made it so, you can no more believe that Jesus is the Son of God, but only a prophet.
 
It was something Father Corapi said which was also used in a homily by our priest:

“Always remember that God’s mercy is bigger than all your sins no matter how many or bad they are.”
 
I’ve been a lurker for a year or so, but had to join just to respond to this…during a an advent homliy, “the best gift you can give a priest is to go to confession” changed my life.
 
“Let us receive Communion like it is the first time.”

“We walk by faith not sight”

Blessings
 
Just wanna share this nice story of our Parish Priest last sunday:

This is a story of Pedro.

In a province in Bicol (pronounced as BEE-kol, it is a province in the Philippines), there lived a young boy, named Pedro. Everyday, he goes to the public school. To do that, he has to cross a road that oftentimes causes accidents. One time, a man was ran over by a truck. Before going crossing, he goes to Church to pray to Jesus. One time, Fr. Agaton (pronounced as is) overheard young Pedro praying: “Hey Jesus, you know, I got a high grade in a pop quiz in school. My Classmate, Brutus kept on bullying me for notes but it’s ok, at least i’m still going to school. Papa said the harvest for this year won’t be as abundant as last year so we will be having problems with food. Mama doesn’t know where to get food. Maybe she will ask the money-lender again for money. She hits me again. Dunno why maybe she’s just having a bad day. but it’s ok, at least I still have a mama. Hey! your birthday is coming! Wait till you see my special gift for you! Well, classes will soon start, I have to go. Bye, Jesus!” Then Pedro saw Fr. Agaton and told him: “Father, you can now accompany me to the street.” (Fr. Agaton told Pedro that he will gladly accompany Pedro in crossing the street).

One day before Christmas, Pedro visited his Hidden Friend again in the church. He saw the old women, reciting their 35 km/hour rosary.

“Hi Jesus! I…”

“Why you @%*&^!!@#! Get out you are disturbing us!”

“Where is Fr. Agaton,” Pedro asks

“I don’t know, get out you @^^%$&*@!”

He has no choise. Pedro will cross the street alone. While crossing there was a blind curve ahead then suddenly, Pedro was ran over by a passing truck. His head was bleeding badly.

Fr. Agaton, after hearing the news went immediately to Pedro’s wake. “Who brought Pedro here? I heard there was no witnesses,” Fr. Agaton asked. Pedro’s dad said: “There was a man with a white t-shirt. He was very sorrowful. He whispered something tpo Pedro.” “What did he say?” “He told Pedro: Thank you for the gift. I will see you very soon in heaven. you know what, Fr. Agaton, I felt nice and comforting when He brought Pedro over here. It’s like Jesus was here.”
 
I will never forget Fr. Joe’s homily about faith, hope and trust in the Lord. On Friday, July 27, 2001, I miscarried our third child. On Sunday, July 29, during Fr. Joe’s homily, he spoke of a family who had lost a child, due just before Christmas. They waited 13 years before they were blessed with another baby. They then gave that child the Christmas gifts they had bought for their first child and had saved all that time. They had stayed away from church during that time, yet they still had enough faith and hope to keep the gifts for another baby. After 13 years God blessed their family with a healthy baby. His plan for them was to have a child, even though His timeframe was 13 years.

With our loss and our own heartache, with the hurt so fresh and new, I could only begin to imagine the fear, the questioning, the heartache, the longing they experienced over those years. Yet, they kept the gifts, hoping they would have another child to give them to. And their faith was rewarded, for God had a plan for them. After our miscarriage, my husband was ready to try again immediately. His faith was strong that God would bless us with another child. I was not so sure. I did not know what He was telling us with the miscarriage; was the answer “no” or “no, not now” or “no, not ever again.” We had gotten married a bit later in life and did not know how many children we could have. But, I tried to accept that whatever His answer was, it was all part of His plan for us and our family. After hearing that homily, I began to realize that we could deal with whatever happened and I tried to fully put my faith in Him and accept His will would be done, whatever that was. I did get pregnant again and with the exception of having gestational diabetes, I had a healthy pregnancy. Our second son, a healthy and strong little boy, was born in January, 2003.

I’ll never forget Fr. Joe’s homily that Sunday because I believe that was God’s providence at work. He spoke to us and comforted us and encouraged us to have faith, hope and trust through Fr. Joe and I am so grateful we heard. 🙂
 
SwizzleStick said:
I’ll never forget Fr. Joe’s homily that Sunday because I believe that was God’s providence at work. He spoke to us and comforted us and encouraged us to have faith, hope and trust through Fr. Joe and I am so grateful we heard. 🙂
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very uplifting story…

Thanks… it is hard to have faith sometimes… I would say it is impossible… but with Christ… who overcame everythihng… all is possible… the Bible says that the will of God will be accomplished through Him… (His Church)… 🙂
 
Molly said:
I’ve been a lurker for a year or so, but had to join just to respond to this…during a an advent homliy, “the best gift you can give a priest is to go to confession” changed my life.
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hmm… i am kind of wondering why??
 
thistle said:
It was something Father Corapi said which was also used in a homily by our priest:

“Always remember that God’s mercy is bigger than all your sins no matter how many or bad they are.”
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so true… the thing that trips me up and probably others is that sometimes i feel SO unforgiven by people… and the danger in that kind of thing si that you can transfer that feeling to God… you start thinking that God doesn’t forgive you either… and that can lead to despair… So we must always detach ourselves from the opinions of others… They DON"T matter!!!

i have had it happen that i go around thinking this or that is my worst sin… only to have it be shown to me while in Christ’s Presence, that HE focuses on something else… I can’t put into words what that something else is… and all that Jesus reveals ot me… very mysterious, very interesting… is all i can say… We humans are more frail than we realize… (until we are with HIm… and even then… we don’t always “get” all He is trying to say to us…).
 
distracted said:
hmm… i am kind of wondering why??
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The best gift you can give a priest is to go to confession!!!

What is a priest’s purpose? To save souls. The pay is lousy, but the fringe benefits are heavenly.

When you go to confession you give him the opportunity and special privilege of saving yours.

Molly, I’m never going to forget this. Thanks.
 
FraterAndre said:
“Why you @%*&^!!@#! Get out you are disturbing us!”

“Where is Fr. Agaton,” Pedro asks

“I don’t know, get out you @^^%$&*@!”

."
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am i understanding this… The old woman was swearing at him while in Church praying the rosary?? :eek:
 
Our Bishop G. Aymond of Austin Diocese said in the homily during the Dedication mass to our church “when you pray, ask God to help you see the way He sees you”. [not exact words but that is basically what he said]

He said this 2 years ago and he said again at the Cathedral last year.
 
water said:
Our Bishop G. Aymond of Austin Diocese said in the homily during the Dedication mass to our church “when you pray, ask God to help you see the way He sees you”. [not exact words but that is basically what he said]

He said this 2 years ago and he said again at the Cathedral last year.
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That’s a powerful one. Sometimes it’s hard to believe that who we really are is not necessarily who we*** think ***we are. God’s perspective is really the only one that matters. 👍
 
attended a parish mission about 15 years ago and the message the priest related (at least what sticks with us) is do not wait until tomorrow, until you graduate-get a better job-get married-retire-move to your new home-the kids are grown-or whatever excuse to live your life in, with and for Jesus Christ. stop making excuses and show up for your own life. we took it to heart and began to do all the good we had been putting off, and put things in progress to make it possible to life the life we wanted, and have today: supporting ourselves at subsistence level and serving the Church and God’s poor.
 
Pope Benedict - WYD in Sydney, just closing:
“Faith introduces a new dimension, and we can fly”
 
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