Watch Out

So, about 2 weeks ago my husband and I decided to change parishes. It may not seem like a huge move to many, but I've always felt very strongly that our Faith is to be lived out in a community and your parish community is a big part of that. (I'd love to have a conversation about how everyone decided on what parish to go to...)

Anyway, so we're now at the parish that is closest to our house (our physically "correct" parish). And I must say, as a cradle Catholic, I've heard a lot of homilies in life, but these are the most immediately usable. Since we are new to the parish, I'm not sure about the two priests' backgrounds, but I have a feeling that they are both late vocations. One has mentioned a former life on Wall Street, and the other I believe had some big-time financial job (bodes well for the building plan). But in any case, they take this insight into the working man's life and basically take the gospel and punch you in the stomach with it. (All of which I think is great.)

So last week they had the gospel of Lazarus and the rich man. Nice gospel... but you know... heard it before.

Well, so the priest's things was that each of the readings had a word associated with it that started with "W." The first was... I don't remember, and the second I don't remember either, but the gospel's was "Watch Out." I remember this because the priest said it about 12 times.

Watch out.

The rich man ended up in hell not because he was rich, or because he was murderer or even really that particularly bad. I mean, we don't know his whole story, but Jesus doesn't tell us anything THAT horrible he did "There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day." Honestly, I dined sumptuously tonight. Brother-in-law's birthday party. It was bbq. It was good. Anyway, what he was was selfish. Selfish and bossy. Selfish, not a gangster or a bank robber. Selfish. Watch out.

We are selfish everyday! And it is very, very easy to be selfish. It is hard to be giving. And the priest made it very clear we were not talking about being giving with money (only) but giving with yourself. It's the morning and you're tired and all you want is that nice, big cup of coffee, but your kids are screaming about a picture they drew 3 days ago and can't you look at it (again). Watch out! You want to cut someone off in traffic. Watch out! You want to tune out when your spouse is telling you a story. Watch out!

Watch Out! Selfishness is very, very easy. It leads to very hot places. Watch OUT!

These words of his obviously stayed with me. This week, my patience and desire to give have really been tested. But I kept hearing these words: Watch Out.

So I thought I'd share them.

Must say, I'm interested what will be said today. (If it's good, you'll probably hear about it.)

"My Lord and My God!" Homily week #2

So here's my attempt to hear one thing (at least) from the Lord through the homily. How many times have I heard the phrase "My Lord and My God," a million? But the way the Priest was talking about God the Father on Father's Day and he reminded us that as the host is raised that's what we're saying to the Lord. It struck me at how powerful that moment and those words are - 5 words can bring me to the verge of tears. So today I'm trying to head to adoration so I can sit and stare at the awesomeness of My Lord...... "My Lord and My God."

Last Sunday's Homily...

I just listened to Matthew Kelly's talk Becoming the Best Version of Yourself and it he mentions taking 1 thing you've learned from Mass each week and writing it down. Here are the 2 things I heard at Mass (I couldn't pick just one.)
1. Saints are sinners who just keep trying
2. The priest told a story about a woman who had gotten arrested after speeding. The next morning the officer approached her and said he had made a mistake in arresting her - he just assumed since her car was covered in pro-life stickers, that she had stolen the car. (Our actions always speak louder than our words!)

Great thought from Mass homily today

"The furthest distance possible is the distance between the human head and the human heart."

Two Seas

The following is taken from a homily I recently heard...

There are two seas in Israel. One is called the Sea of Galilee and the other is the Dead Sea. The Sea of Galilee is beaming with life. The water is beautiful and the home of many fish and different types of plant life. The Dead Sea on the other hand is exactly what its name says, dead. Nothing lives or grows in the Dead Sea. The water is murky and disgusting. What is it about these two sea that makes them so different? The Sea of Galilee receives water but is also gives water out. The Sea of Galilee flows into several other bodies of water giving its life to them. The Dead Sea receives but it never gives. Water comes in but it does not go anywhere else. Because of this the water is stagnate and as the water evaporates it leaves behind tons of salt that makes it impossible for things to live and grow.

Every one of us can be one of these two "seas". If we want to be full of life and beauty we have to give of ourselves like the Sea of Galilee. We must take what we receive and give it to others. If we on the other hand just take take take and never give we will end up ugly and dead with no chance of life and beauty just like the Dead Sea. These two "seas" are a glimpse of heaven and hell on earth. We experience a little bit of heaven when we give of ourselves because in heaven no one is selfish. Hell is filled with selfish people. In hell their is a huge banquet table with all the tastiest and finest foods. Everything you ever dreamed of eating is out on the table and everyone in hell is sitting around ready to eat. The only problem is that their forks are four feet long. Can you imagine trying to eat with a four foot long fork? No one could get the food into their mouth. It was torture. In heaven there is the exact same scene. The banquet table with all the food is there including the four foot forks. The difference though is that in heaven they are feeding each other. They are thinking of each other and giving to each other and in that everyone is fed. My sisters in Christ let us work every day to give of ourselves and never count the cost because our reward awaits us at the banquet feast of heaven.