Great homilies to improve the faith and understanding of Christians
So much of our dignity comes from work. And yet, we vilify work. Our society romanticizes 4-hour work weeks and early retirement. However, our being is deeply impacted by what we spend our time doing. In work, God allows us to collaborate with Him. We should therefore give careful thought to how we approach our work.
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When is courage required? Is it in big moments? Moments like standing up to a totalitarian government. Or like running into a burning building to rescue someone. If courage is only required in big moments then most people will never require it. St Paul has a different thought on courage and when it is required. Far from big moments, it is actually required all the time. Fr. Mike describes how courage is the foundation for all virtues Christians aspire to.
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Isn’t it the case that many people want to see something with their own eyes in order to believe it. Why didn’t Jesus reveal himself after his resurrection to Pontius Pilate or to the Jewish leaders in the Sanhedrin. Perhaps it is because he wanted people who were willing to be a witness. The reality is that most people can see something amazing and just as easily go back to a life of apathy. Do you understand what it is to be a proper witness?
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How did you choose your career? For most people it’s a product of luck and circumstance. We have an opportunity early in our working lives and that becomes something we build into a career. This presentation by Bishop Barron is something I wish I had seen earlier in life. Instead I was guided in career choices by things like the Myers-Briggs assessment. We need to change our perspective on career discussions. The egotism in career advice should be alarming. Instead of what can I accomplish? Instead of what will make me most happy? We should be asking in what way can I be most loving! In what way can I be most generous! The fruit of the Holy Spirit described in Galatians 5 is the most compelling career advice I have ever heard. And I say this after spending several decades in Human Resources.
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St Peter tells us there is no salvation through anyone but Jesus. How then do we reconcile ourselves to other religions? Do we use imperialism or violence to bring people into Christianity? Or conversely, do we give into an indifferent mindset. One that says that all faithful people from any religion may be saved? Neither extreme is correct.
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How many of us have struggled with self-love as we grew up? We craft personas to try to be cool. We hide our secret identities so as to be liked. In fact, a lot of people walk around with a secret identity that they hate. Everything changes, however, if we remember where we came from and what we are. Fr Mike discusses the implications of being made in God’s image. Do you know God’s secret identity?
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Our Faith is very much a gift from God. In many respects, Faith is like learning a musical instrument. The gift of an instrument is one thing. But your ability to play is based on going for lessons. It is based on regular practice. And if the instrument is in need of repairs, then we have to actively seek these out. It takes effort.
Jesus says you must strive for heaven. This does not entail a life of comfort. Nor should we expect heaven if our life is full of distractions and abstractions. We need to be seeking a relationship with God. We need to be agonizing for heaven.
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