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Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Comments

Paul

I liked it...wish we got homilies like this at our local parish...

David

??

The "sanctuary" and the poncho this guy was wearing was a bit distracting... but when he started to snort in some sort of effort to laugh, I just couldn't take it anymore. I wonder if his grandmother's descriptions of hell included that snorting laugh.

At any rate, maybe someone capable of stomaching this guy could summarize the homily for me so I can figure out why Thomistic posted it. Thanks!

Peter

If this guy is an example, no wonder nobody goes into the priesthood any more.

Patrick

OK, Thomistic, I will take the bait. I will take a stab at this. I don't want to attack this priest, since I don't know much about him. However, if he can put down his grandmother's Catholic worldview, I feel free to critically analyze his homily.

First of all, much of what he says about joy is true. However, this is a case of emphasizing a truth to the exclusion of other truths. In other words, he is distorting the truth. I believe Belloc or Chesterton indicated that this is how heresies begin.

Spoiled, middle-aged baby-boomers don't like to hear about the reality of sin and Hell. But, we can't make them go away by ignoring them. It is common to hear people who grew up in the pre-Vat II era complain about how Sister Mary Severity scared them by talking about Hell. However, this guy should have taken his grandmother's warnings more seriously. If he doesn't want to listen to her he should read more of what St. Paul had to say. He quoted St. Paul on the issue of joy, but I believe St. Paul also said he works out his salvation in fear and trembling.

The thing that is missing from his homily is that a person must die in a state of grace in order to attain the beatific vision (heaven). He mentioned joy that comes from living a virtuous life, but non-Christians can practice virtue. We receive grace by living a sacramental life and we remain is a state of grace by avoiding sin and doing God's will. As St. Francis of Assisi (a very joyous guy) said in his Canticle of the Sun "Woe only to those who die in mortal sin."

A special kind of joy is part of the deal. However, we can, at times, experience spiritual aridity. The consolations of God (like joy) seem lacking. But, this does not mean God has abandoned us, it can be a sign of spiritual growth.

I have to listen to this sort of smiley face homily every Sunday. Never is there a word about avoiding sin, the reality of Hell, the sacraments, or even a decent commentary on the Gospel. It's always shallow happy-talk that sounds like something from one of those phony TV pop-psychology gurus. Then the priest will sit down, and there will be several moments of silent contemplation so we can ponder the profound words. There is never any time for silent contemplation during or after communion. Instead it's nonstop music that can be heard in the next county. Usually the music sounds like a cross between Sesame Street tunes and Barry Manilow. It's enough to send me running to the door bleeding from the ears.

I am not a priest with a degree in theology. And, maybe I don't know what I am talking about. But, I think I would have rather listened to what his grandmother had to say.

David1

Patrick wrote: “The thing that is missing from his homily is that a person must die in a state of grace in order to attain the beatific vision (heaven). . . . We receive grace by living a sacramental life and we remain is a state of grace by avoiding sin and doing God's will.”

I agree with this assessment, but I think it is only the first half of the plan God has for us. In addition to the salvation aspect, we have the sanctification. In the Catechism, we are reminded that God calls out to us to “share in his divine nature” (CCC 51). Sanctification is the state of our heart when it has become agape love. As Patrick said, we are to do God’s will. I think that it is God’s will that we participate with the actual graces and grow to sanctification (“holiness”). This participation (and the avoidance of sin) grows the sanctifying grace which is the measure of the “state of grace.”

Now, how are we to do this ourselves and help others along in their pilgrimage? For some, the threat of hell will be a motivation to seek the right path. For others, they will respond better to an approach that joyously proclaims, “repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Which is the better approach? I think we need room for the whole truth, not just one side or the other.

The real danger is to somehow substitute earthly “happiness” as the goal. As Augustine and Aquinas stated, our only real happiness will be when we are in harmony/holiness with God. Goals of earthly happiness can draw us away from the goal of our pilgrimage and lead ultimately to unhappiness.

As we move forward on our pilgrimage, one hopes that it can be done with periods of joy and optimism to sustain us through the periods of despair.

Patrick

David,

I mentioned St. Francis of Assisi. He was a saint who had the agape thing going to such a degree that he had sympathy for every thing in creation.

I don't want to seem too critical of this priest's homily. I don't know what the rest of his homilies are like. It is just that we get so much of this sort of thing these days.

One of the things I love about the Traditional Mass and eastern rite liturgies is that the Gospel reading will often be explained in light of what the Fathers of the Church had to say about it. It is rock solid.

On the issue of earthly happiness, anyone who has had a rough time of it (suffering, depression, whatever) will tell you the last thing you depend on is shallow, earthly notions of happiness. Boethius (The Consolation of Philosophy) and St. Thomas Aquinas (The Summa) demonstrated that incomplete, earthly happiness is undependable.

The pleasures of this life are incidental. They are just the gravy on top . The joy to aim for is like what St. Francis had going. If only the rest of us could reach that state!

David1

Amen. St. Francis also had his turn chasing earthly happiness.

However, I think if we have a strong degree of faith then the attendent hope will at least give us a sense of peace.

João Leitão

Somehow I do agree with him. I mean, should be Joy that brings us to total happiness. And, total happiness for me is Extasy. Love. God. When we are melted with the essence, we are one again.

thank you for the moview. enjoy life. greetings from Portugal and happy new year to you and your family.

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