| We hope you enjoy your visit! You're currently viewing Catholic CyberForum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our online cyberparish, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free. Join our community! Messages posted to this board must be polite and free of abuse, personal attacks, blasphemy, racism, threats, harrassment, and crude or sexually-explicit language. If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features: |
| Online sermons | |
|---|---|
| Topic Started: Thursday, 28. September 2006, 10:11 (1,255 Views) | |
| Rose of York | Friday, 12. January 2007, 23:56 Post #31 |
![]()
Administrator
|
I must not be smug, Emee, about beating you to the post. You'll just have to come up with alternative words of wisdom, won't yer! I'm sure you have some. |
|
Keep the Faith! | |
![]() |
|
| Angus Toanimo | Sunday, 14. January 2007, 11:42 Post #32 |
![]()
Administrator
|
|
![]()
| |
![]() |
|
| Rose of York | Sunday, 14. January 2007, 16:04 Post #33 |
![]()
Administrator
|
Here goes, Rose is not about to mess about.
Gifts are indeed given to all. I can be devout and visit the sick, as a Lenten Penance. How patronising! I can phone "the sick" and say "I'm fed up to the teeth, its chucking it down, I take the dog out and there's nobody around, do me a favour, can I come round, I want your company". That's me telling you all how holy I am, I give "the housebound" their dignity, I need THEM.
Whats all this? Is Father Terry suggesting that the nice couple who walked my dog three times a day for two weeks, and did all our shopping, and put the black bags out, two years ago, when I had an accident within one minute of my husband coming home after surgery, are every bit as good as that woman who sent me a prayer card? Father Terry is a priest, for goodness sake. How dare he say people who give hospitality and help the parish (or their neighbours) with administration have been gifted by the Spirit. Rose ps please take my posting with a pinch of salt. |
|
Keep the Faith! | |
![]() |
|
| maklavan | Monday, 15. January 2007, 22:31 Post #34 |
|
jesus said to Mary," Why are you asking me? I haven't even clocked on yet. The Union will be on my neck just now!" |
![]() |
|
| Deacon Robert | Monday, 15. January 2007, 23:37 Post #35 |
|
Ay, then there is the Vintners co-op, transport, and the servers union. |
|
The burden of life is from ourselves, its lightness from the grace of Christ and the love of God. - William Bernard Ullanthorne | |
![]() |
|
| Gerard | Tuesday, 16. January 2007, 11:45 Post #36 |
|
Here, for what its worth, is what I take from that verse Woman - a formal address. A reference to "The Woman" in Genesis (I will put enmity between you and the Woman). So, Jesus moves into formality, He knows this is an important moment (He knows his hour may have come - He may have had feelings similar to those we hear in the garden of Gethsemeny). He does not refuse but asks what has it to do with him. His hour has not yet come. His "hour" is his passion. He is telling Mary that if he does this the clock has started ticking. Mary understands this (cf "a sword will pierce your heart). She could have said "well lets wait then" instead she said "do what He tells you". This is still leaving the decision to Jesus but Mary is (again) saing yes. Mary recognised the plight of the Groom and interceded. The Holy Spirit inspired her to prompt Jesus. Jesus recognised the prompt and the intercesion and acted. mary's last words in the Gospel are "Do whatever he tells you". Gerry |
| "The institutional and charismatic aspects are quasi coessential to the Church's constitution" (Pope John Paul II, 1998). | |
![]() |
|
| Derekap | Tuesday, 16. January 2007, 12:02 Post #37 |
|
A wonderful interpretation! |
| Derekap | |
![]() |
|
| Eve | Thursday, 8. February 2007, 16:51 Post #38 |
|
Former Admin/Moderator
|
http://torch.op.org/preaching/sermon/1144]LINK[/URL]] Blessedness, happiness or something else? Benjamin Earl O.P. 11 February 2007 Sixth Sunday of the Year © fr. Benjamin Earl looks at what the calling to be "happy" or "blessed" really means. Today's account of the beatitudes from St Luke's Gospel is rather more "down to earth" than St Matthew's version: and not just because in St Luke's gospel this episode take place "on a level place" while St Matthew has it as part of the "sermon on the mount". St Luke talks of the poor, those who actually have nothing; the hungry, those who actually have nothing to eat; those who weep, those actually shedding tears; and those who are actually excluded by the community. St Matthew's beatitudes are rather more spiritualised, talking instead about the poor in spirit; those who hunger for righteousness; those who mourn, but aren't necessarily crying; and those reviled and slandered but not necessarily cast out of their communities. St Luke also passes over the other four of St Matthew's beatitudes (the meek, the merciful, the pure in heart and the peacemakers) preferring instead to report four "anti-beatitudes", four proclamation of woe to those who are not poor, hungry, weeping and outcast. It is a matter of continuing controversy whether the beatitudes should be translated into English using the word "happy" or the word "blessèd". In fact, though, neither word quite fits the bill. It is conceivable that someone who is "poor in spirit" could be happy and contented and even consider himself fortunate to have this spiritual gift. The "poor in spirit" could also be considered blessed, receiving God's consecration and worthy of reverence. But in St Luke's account, Jesus doesn't talk about the "poor in spirit": he talks about those who are actually poor, hungry, weeping and outcast. Poverty, hunger, tears and exile may not be absolute barriers to happiness, but in no sense can they be regarded as causes of happiness; on the contrary, they are causes of suffering and distress. And if poverty, hunger, weeping and exile are signs of blessedness, then God has very strange and seemingly unjust ways of showing his favour. We can't simply say that the beatitudes promise future happiness to the suffering; certainly they do promise future reward for the poor, hungry, weeping and outcast, but these people are told that they are happy or blessed now, not just in the future. Why are these suffering people called blessed? We need to recognise that it is not the fact of suffering itself which implies blessedness; as is made clear in the fourth beatitude, it is those who suffer "on account of the Son of man" who are happy, and this qualification applies by implication to all the beatitudes. It is the purpose and end which we pursue that leads to happiness or blessedness, not in itself the suffering we may endure on the way. This is made clear also by our first reading from the prophet Jeremiah: blessing or curse depends on where we place our trust, whether in man or in the Lord. So blessedness or happiness is a result of our purpose or aim; but the question still remains of what the beatitudes mean when they say that people are "happy" or "blessed". Curiously, the Greek word we translate "blessed" or "happy" is one with connotations of divinity. It is used as an attribute of God in the New Testament (1 Timothy 1:11), and the Ancient Greek poets Homer and Hesiod both use it of their Greek gods. It is the calling of each one of us to be "divinised", to be made a participant in the divinity of God. In this sense we are quite accustomed to use the term "blessed" as a title for the saints: the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and of course all those saints who have not been canonised. The happiness and blessedness of the saints goes far beyond simple contentment or consecration, extending to sharing in the divine life of God. St Luke's "anti-beatitudes" give a stark warning: if you enjoy the comforts of this world for their own sake, you are not a saint, and you will know the desolation of separation from the divine. But this is a warning alongside a greater promise. The message of the beatitudes then is this: if you do everything for the sake of the Son of Man, even to the point of suffering worldly pains, you are already a saint. And that is a cause for leaping and rejoicing. fr. Benjamin Earl is bursar and lector in Canon Law at Blackfriars Hall and Studium, Oxford and assistant bursar of the English Dominican Province. He is a member of the Priory of the Holy Spirit, Oxford. [/quote] |
| Howdy Folks. Has anybody seen my husband lately? | |
![]() |
|
| Derekap | Thursday, 8. February 2007, 18:28 Post #39 |
|
"if you do everything for the sake of the Son of Man, even to the point of suffering worldly pains, you are already a saint. And that is a cause for leaping and rejoicing." I somehow I don't think we would be leaping and rejoicing if we were suffering worldly pains. |
| Derekap | |
![]() |
|
| Rose of York | Thursday, 8. February 2007, 19:09 Post #40 |
![]()
Administrator
|
I have never met anybody who does. Saints are few and far between. We can but try.
The leaping and rejoicing will not be on account of the suffering. It will be on account of how we accept or reject adversity. |
|
Keep the Faith! | |
![]() |
|
| Gerry2 | Friday, 9. February 2007, 00:20 Post #41 |
|
A fellow spirit! Is he bipolar as well? Gerry2 |
| Love is as strong as death (Songs 8:6) | |
![]() |
|
| Rose of York | Friday, 9. February 2007, 00:47 Post #42 |
![]()
Administrator
|
My feeling about suffering is, that those who have suffered in the past, tend to be thankful for the simple things in life, and they are likely to have compassion for others in difficulty. Those who have apparently lived charmed lives are the ones who say things like "there is no reason why any person in this country should go without a meal every day, or not have a roof over their head", "people who are ill should have looked after themselves" or "those old people on benefits should have made provision for themselves." When I lived in Devon, I knew two people whose lifestyles differed significantly. One had little in the way of money or luxuries, due to his earning power having been reduced by ill health. He could laugh, smile and be friendly. The other was a rather well off young woman. She had a prestigious job, with the glamorous image, and she owned a very expensive old cottage with lots of land. The woman told me the man had done her a great service. By his example of cheerfulness and acceptance she had come to realise that position, money and property are not the most important things in life. Yes, those who suffer can indeed be blessed with wisdom. Mind you, I wouldn't say that to them at a time when they feel they have hit rock bottom. T'would be cold comfort. |
|
Keep the Faith! | |
![]() |
|
| Eve | Friday, 9. February 2007, 22:22 Post #43 |
|
Former Admin/Moderator
|
Father Tasard's sermon fits nicely with the one from The Dominicans.
|
| Howdy Folks. Has anybody seen my husband lately? | |
![]() |
|
| Rose of York | Sunday, 11. February 2007, 13:55 Post #44 |
![]()
Administrator
|
What a load of waffle. |
|
Keep the Faith! | |
![]() |
|
| Derekap | Sunday, 11. February 2007, 17:19 Post #45 |
|
I can't think where this contribution should go so I dared to choose Sermons on Line. Rose/Alan/Patrick are free to do what they like. This morning the sun was shining beautifully (it still is). Although most of the trees are still bare and apart from a bank of snowdrops there are no flowers, even the residential avenues with their houses and gardens and the main road looked beautiful on our drive to church. A short view of the countryside and then back to older property on the verge of a medieval town centre, passed two supermarkets and we were there. It is a simple brick built church simply-furnished and decorated. As usual it was well-attended and the congregation joined in the singing and responded well. The Entrance Hymn was: "O Lord my God in whom I awesome wonder" with that great chorus: "How Great Thou art". Sadly my cold prevented me joining in as well as I wanted to. Every line, word or phrase was wonderfully expressive. On looking back to the journey I thought, yes, God is everywhere. I also thought what a great pity we didn't sing this prior to V2. Non-Catholics may be "in error" but my goodness what depth of Faith some of them had or have - they can put us to shame! The Celebrant made the Sign of the Cross said "The Lord be with you!" and we responded accordingly. Then he said "Good Morning" and we responded "Good Morning Father". Immediately I felt a bond, as a large family he and we were for the next hour or so going to offer The Holy Sacrifice of Mass together. Obviously the Priest is the essential Celebrant but we matter too. As an aside I thought how can anyone criticise this opening. Then into the Penitential Rite, The Gloria and so on. The Celebrant asking us to pray that this Sacrifice may be worthy, To Lift up our hearts, ... and we heartily sang a Holy Holy Holy. He related the main event at The Last Supper and said the Important Words of Consecration. Meanwhile the sun was shining on the large crucifix high up on the back wall of the Sanctuary. I thought of Holy Mass being offered in town churches, baroque bascilicas, St Peter's Rome and a little chapel in New Zealand I saw on Television many years ago. The back wall of the Sanctuary was a completely glass ...looking onto beautiful countryside. I thought how could anyone criticise this experience! Holy Communion was distributed under both kinds with the help of a Deacon and two EMsHC. It was all as reverend as it was practical to be. I don't think kneeling at Altar Rails would have made it more reverend, in fact there would have been more movement. Then the final prayer, Blessing and Dismissal and final hymn: "Make me a Channel of your Peace". The back portion of the church can be screened off to form a meeting room. This morning Teas, Coffee and biscuits were available by two lady volunteers. Free but contributions requested. As I sat there I observed the friendly greetings, banter, hasty business-like discussions etc. in which the Priest and Deacon partipated. Not a general meeting but small casual and changing groups. Then the drive home with Almighty God everywhere. I still think, how can anyone criticise and, sadly, even attack The New Rite of Holy Mass and its present English. I would pray and wish everyone to enjoy and benefit from the same experience. |
| Derekap | |
![]() |
|
| 1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous) | |
| Go to Next Page | |
| « Previous Topic · Archived Discussions · Next Topic » |







3:50 PM Jul 11