Tag Archives: homily

Who do you say that I am?

Posted on August 24, 2008 by | 2 Comments

“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter said in reply,
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Matthew 16:13-16

Today’s reflection for Sustenance Sunday comes from a homily by the Rev. James P. Dougher of my home parish of St. Peter’s in Wellsboro, Pa.

Fr. Dougher says in today’s Scripture reading, Jesus asks each of the disciples out of their experience who he is. He is not looking for biographical information or that he is a carpenter or a friend. He is asking them what their experience of faith is. Only Peter is able to answer: “Yes, Lord, you are the Christ,” because of the faith that is planted within him to give that response to Jesus. It is that same response we should be able to give.

“It’s not just a question from sacred Scripture from 2,000 years ago, but it’s also for us directed in our everyday lives. We certainly do answer by how we pray, how attend Mass, by what we say and do to others. How do we respond to the question?….Out of a relationship built on faith and love? Let us be mindful of that question: ‘Who do you say that I am?’

Lord, let me be especially mindful this week of my answer to your question, in how I pray, and how I speak and act toward others. Amen.

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Not giving power to the demons of division in our lives

Posted on August 17, 2008 by | 2 Comments

In his homily on today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 15:21-28, Fr. Bryan Wright from my home parish in Wellsboro, Pa. spoke about those “demons that try to take us of course” by “wreaking havoc in our household, among our children, in our workplace, in our community, even in our church.”

God, meanwhile, he said, is patient and forgiving to ALL, with salvation for all. He is quick to forgive, patient and ready to take us back. We should treat others as he treats us with patience, being slow to anger and quick to forgive.

“This week, let us be aware of the workings of the Evil One…,” Fr. Wright said, “…and not allow the demons to reign.”

Lord, let my words, my actions, my thoughts be toward unity and not division among my family, my co-workers and my supervisors, and most especially my church, where sometimes I see and focus on those things that divide. Instead, let me to remember that as Fr. Wright said, “Salvation is for ALL,” not for just those whom I would like to think it is. Amen.

This post is cross-posted at Journeying with the Saints.

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Hearing God who is in a tiny whispering sound

Posted on August 10, 2008 by | 2 Comments

At the mountain of God, Horeb,
Elijah came to a cave where he took shelter.
Then the LORD said to him,
“Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD;
the LORD will be passing by.”
A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains
and crushing rocks before the LORD—
but the LORD was not in the wind.
After the wind there was an earthquake—
but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
After the earthquake there was fire—
but the LORD was not in the fire.
After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound.
When he heard this,
Elijah hid his face in his cloak
and went and stood at the entrance of the cave.

I Kings 19:9a, 11-13a

Today’s homily comes from Fr. James Dougher (pronounced like “Dewar’s”, he told us when he first introduced to us earlier this year), the pastor of my home parish, St. Peter’s in Wellsboro, Pa.

In his homily, Fr. Dougher related the story of an elderly relative who couldn’t hear until she put in her hearing aid. “Now I can hear you?,” she’d say.

Elijah expects to find God in the roar of the wind, in the earthquake, in the fire, but the Lord doesn’t present Himself until he [Elijah] quiets himself and listens with a different ear…

…how is God speaking to us in the our ordinary lives? We need to listen to God in the ordinariness of our lives so we can say, ‘Now I can hear you.’

My own reflection: Sometimes we expect God to speak to us in a loud, booming voice like thunder when he might just be whispering to us through the people and circumstances already in our lives. Often, though, we might be missing what He’s saying because we’re waiting to hear the loud, booming voice instead of the whisper in which he is speaking to us. Are you listening today? Am I?

Lord, help me to listen for what You may be whispering to me today. Let me quiet enough to hear it. Amen.

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Hearing God who is in a tiny whispering sound

Posted on August 10, 2008 by | 1 Comment

At the mountain of God, Horeb,
Elijah came to a cave where he took shelter.
Then the LORD said to him,
“Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD;
the LORD will be passing by.”
A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains
and crushing rocks before the LORD—
but the LORD was not in the wind.
After the wind there was an earthquake—
but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
After the earthquake there was fire—
but the LORD was not in the fire.
After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound.
When he heard this,
Elijah hid his face in his cloak
and went and stood at the entrance of the cave.

I Kings 19:9a, 11-13a

Today’s homily comes from Fr. James Dougher (pronounced like “Dewar’s”, he told us when he first introduced to us earlier this year), the pastor of my home parish, St. Peter’s in Wellsboro, Pa.

In his homily, Fr. Dougher related the story of an elderly relative who couldn’t hear until she put in her hearing aid. “Now I can hear you?,” she’d say.

Elijah expects to find God in the roar of the wind, in the earthquake, in the fire, but the Lord doesn’t present Himself until he [Elijah] quiets himself and listens with a different ear…

…how is God speaking to us in the our ordinary lives? We need to listen to God in the ordinariness of our lives so we can say, ‘Now I can hear you.’

My own reflection: Sometimes we expect God to speak to us in a loud, booming voice like thunder when he might just be whispering to us through the people and circumstances already in our lives. Often, though, we might be missing what He’s saying because we’re waiting to hear the loud, booming voice instead of the whisper in which he is speaking to us. Are you listening today? Am I?

Lord, help me to listen for what You may be whispering to me today. Let me quiet enough to hear it. Amen.

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