Epilogue to Sunday

Click  HERE  for the link to the actual homily.              Practice of Gratitude: Start of for one week, every night write down three things that either happened to you or that you were able to do for others that were good. Then see how you feel, and give it another go the next week. Science seems to indicate that by cultivating gratitude our brain literally changes and becomes more calm. Brother Steindal-Rast is a great catholic author on gratitude. Check him out. Questions for Thought: Think of example where the wisdom of Christ brought healing to you or someone you know. What ways do you practice and attitude of Gratitude? In what teaching or belief of the Catholic faith do you disagree or struggle with, and how do you navigate that tension?

  Click HERE to read the original homily What signs of Hope have you seen?      Hope was the child laughing with joy before mass started.  Hope was the compliment from a woman who said she positive changes in the parish, and I need to keep up the good work.  Hope is the young persons who have formed a community. Hope - a theological virtue:    (n1813 Catechism)  "Hope is the theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ's promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit..." Apocalypse:    The book of Revelation is a literary form called Apocalyptic,  That may sound scary, but it is not exactly what we may think it is.  Apocalypse means there is a change in the world, not the destruction of the world, but a change.  John of Patmos saw a change in Christ and through Christ in which the power of the Pagan Roman Empire would fall.  Yet John also knew and

 A Poem by Mary Oliver:  "Mysteries, Yes" Truly we live with mysteries too marvelous, to be understood/  How grass can be nourishing in the / mouth of lambs./  How rivers and stones are forever /  in allegiance with gravity / while we ourselves dream of rising./  How two hands touch and the bonds will / never be broken.  How people come, from delight or the scars of damage, / to the comfort of a poem./  Let me keep my distance, always from those / who think they have the answers.  Let me keep company always with those who say / "Look!" and laugh in astonishment, /and bow their heads. Questions: By taking a risk and going deeper into something (e.g relationship) what was the reward? What part of our faith as Catholic still confuses you and are unsure about? How has God worked to get you here and now?