I need to start a Homliy journal… 

Gonna speak to my priest, see if he minds me taking notes during his homily….

Not sure if other people do it in other parishes? But it’s an unheard (notunheard “shocking” unheard…more literally not suggested) thing at my parish…

Gonna do it properly too. Put headings on the top of each page… ie. 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B. Put the date, readings, etc.

And when I read the Sunday reading before Mass (i usually try to before that upcoming Sunday) I will make notes on what I got out of the reading… and see if that helps me understand my priests homliy better.

because, WOW! His homily blew my mind tonight - like overloaded with awesomeness! and I can barely remember it. Just a few the rough idea! there were so many times I wish I had a notebook and pen on me. So i could write down those awesome statements he was making! But alas, I didn’t…

I mean, why not? We take notes at youth nights. When i go to events, i never go to a tak without it… why should a homily be less important?

6 August 2012 - The Feast of the TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD

Daniel 7:9-10, Psalm 97, Mark 9:2-10

Be constantly open and aware to those moments when God surprises you with an “epiphany moment” - moments of clarity, truth, enlightenment, light, of knowing God’s presence in a special way.

spiritualinspiration:

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13, NIV)

Really cool advert, just watch :) 

Faith - it does not make things easy, it makes them possible

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The blood [of the lamb] shall be a sign for you, upon the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall fall upon you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt. 

Exodus 12:13

Song of Songs 4:7 - You are beautiful in every way, my friend, there is no flaw in you! NAB

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spiritualinspiration:

So that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe (Philippians 2:15)

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What do you believe is the main difference between a Protestant and a Catholic? 

That Protestants are really tough and gutsy. Here’s why.

Two people are crossing a desert on foot. One of them packs plenty of water and supplies and goes with a group that knows the way. The other crosses alone, with just a little water and a little food.

The first one is a Catholic, who can count on the Eucharist (1 Kings 19:3-8) and Confession for sustenance and strength on the journey, and who has the Church for guide and support in interpreting the faith and the Scriptures.

The second is a Protestant, who has Baptism, grace, and contact with God in prayer (Catholics have all that too), but is essentially left alone in discovering the meaning of what we read in the Bible.

Both have good will, both are on the right track, both can get there. But it takes a lot of guts to choose to be the second one. I, for one, certainly wouldn’t. Call me a wimp if you will.

God bless you!

- Father Shane

The Holiest thing on Earth? Catholic Cell Group Debates…. 

So Wednesday night cell group got good tonight!

[I am Catholic, and I am part of a group of fellow Catholic, early-20-somethings who get together once a week to prayer, chat, discuss theology, spirituality, etc]

Tonight we were discussing last Sunday’s Gospel, specifically Matthew 22:39 “The second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself.”

Simple? Sigh, with us it never is…

My one friend quoted some-important-person-or-other, “The most Holy thing in the world is the Eucharist, the second is the person sitting next to you in the pew.”

Now, typical me, I take this and turn it completely upside down and squiggle it around….

I said I agreed with the statement, but I maintain that there are TWO most important things in this world, that they are on “par” Holiness so to speak. And I feel, that Scripture places joint 1st place with Holy Eucharist.

Now, unfortunately, us Catholics tend to underestimate the importance of Sacred Scripture, we are so against the Protestant views of Sola Scruptura (by scripture alone, come on peeps, brush up on your latin :P) that we veer the complete opposite way and rely completely on Tradition and run away from the Word of God.

I know that is a sweeping statement, and does not apply to ALL Catholics, but unfortunately it applies to many Catholics I know :(

Now, back to my argument em, um, i mean debate… As far as I understand it, The Holy Eucharist is Jesus, The Incarnate Word of God. And, as Scripture is the Written Word of God and as we understand it, basically Jesus. 

I never fully “got” this until I got my new Bible (Life Teen’s Catholic Teen Bible) and read the preface.

I mean, in the Catechism, paragraph 108 it says: Still, the Christian faith is not a “religion of the book.” Christianity is the religion of the “Word” of God, a word which is “not a written and mute word, but the Word which is incarnate and living”. If the Scriptures are not to remain a dead letter, Christ, the eternal Word of the living God, must, through the Holy Spirit, “open [our] minds to understand the Scriptures.”

In John 1: 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

K… to some up - Jesus is the Incarnate Word of God. Scripture is the Written Word of God. I believe that the Holy Eucharist AND Sacred Scripture are the most Holy things on this earth.

Sigh… maybe we shouldn’t be “ranking” things’ Holiness? I dunno… My one friend just wasn’t “getting” it… i dunno, am I wrong? sigh.

I really want your opinions! What do you think?

Reading Jesus of Nazareth (vol 1) by the Pope! Loving It!

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This will defos be one of the readings at my wedding Mass one day <3