Sermon given at 2018 parish Confirmations.
Trust Jesus
We say we trust Jesus, but what does that mean? Dictionary.com says trust is “reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence.” Trust is fundamental to our lives, for our lives are about love. God is Love and God is to be the center of our lives. We are made for God, therefore we are made for love. But there can be no love without trust.
The Humility of Christ as He rides into Jerusalem
So he rides into Jerusalem triumphant, though he has not yet conquered death. He comes now not so much to manifest his glory and power as conquerors do, but rather to show his humility. He’s riding upon a donkey – a slow, lowly beast, not a brilliant white charger. He teaches us that we can trust Him, that we can lay down our defenses and let Him in. He is simple, He is humble, He is approachable. We do not have to live in fear.
Contrition means conversion
The pouring out of animal blood in the Old Testament was a sign of contrition and a rendering of the life of the sinner who offered the sacrifice back to God. That means living for God. If your life has been given to God, your life is to be used as God sees fit. It’s not a token offering – “God, I offer you my life” – and then go about your business like nothing has changed. I can’t say I am giving you my car and not hand over the keys and let you use it as you see fit. The blood of animals itself had no power, of course, to wash away sin. But it was the contrition of the one offering the sacrifice which was pleasing to God. Contrition means conversion. One who does no agree to end his sinful ways is clearly not sorry for his sinful ways. Sorrow means amending our ways.
Why five loaves and two fishes? [Laetare Sunday]
The common interpretation says that this Gospel today (4th Sunday after Lent [Laetare Sunday] – John 6:1-15) is about the mercy of God, His benevolence towards man. But let’s take it in context – yesterday we had the readings about the chaste Susanna (Dan 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62) and the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11). Susanna was a holy woman falsely accused, and God, through the prophet Daniel, came to her defense. The woman caught in adultery was genuinely repentent. Yes, God is merciful … to the just and to the repentant. But what about today? Even atheists and pagans know about the story of the loaves and the fishes. But did you ever, why five loaves? Why two fishes?
Men’s Day of Reflection Talk 2 – Mary as our Mother
As our biological father gives life, our biological mother bears life. So God the Father gives life, His own life, so that we may live spiritually, Mary bears His life so that we may live spiritually. She is the mediatrix of all grace – grace is the life of God. As the source of grace, Jesus Christ came into the world through Mary, and so God chooses to continue to give the grace that He gives through her.
(Talk preached for an audience of Catholic men during a Silent Retreat)
Men’s Day of Reflection Talk 1 – Fathers reflect the Fatherhood of God
I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom all paternity in heaven and earth is named …
-Ephesians 3: 14-15
Fathers represent, and therefore teach us, about God the Father with whom we are destined to spend eternity. If we do not learn to know Him and love Him as a father, it will hinder our chances of achieving that end.
(Talk preached for an audience of Catholic men during a Silent Retreat)
Women’s Day of Reflection Talk 2 – Mary as our Mother
As our biological father gives life, our biological mother bears life. So God the Father gives life, His own life, so that we may live spiritually, Mary bears His life so that we may live spiritually. She is the mediatrix of all grace – grace is the life of God. As the source of grace, Jesus Christ came into the world through Mary, and so God chooses to continue to give the grace that He gives through her.
(Talk preached for an audience of Catholic women during a Silent Retreat)
Women’s Day of Reflection Talk 1 – Fathers reflect the Fatherhood of God
I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom all paternity in heaven and earth is named …
-Ephesians 3: 14-15
Fathers represent, and therefore teach us, about God the Father with whom we are destined to spend eternity. If we do not learn to know Him and love Him as a father, it will hinder our chances of achieving that end.
(Talk preached for an audience of Catholic women during a Silent Retreat)
The Suffering of our Lord and Savior
Today we are confronted with a great mystery of our faith. The Lord reveals to his disciples that He will suffer, that He will die, and that He will rise again on the third day [Luke 18: 31-43]. And we are told they could not understand this saying. We can understand, perhaps, how his rising from the dead might be difficult for them to grasp. Such a thing had only happened a couple of times in their recorded history. But that He would suffer and the He would die – why should this be difficult for them to understand?
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