"We are travellers…not yet in our native land" – St. Augustine
Homily means ‘dialogue’ – it should create a dialogue between the Gospel and a person’s life, so that we can insert our lives into the Gospel, and that includes being disturbed and challenged by the Gospel. If a homily doesn’t do this, it’s not a homily.
– Fr Gabriel OSB
This is my kind of post. Theology and dancing 🙂
Today’s song is the title track from the superb debut album from John Waller, “The Blessing”. If you listen carefully, you might be able to identify the other well-known Christian singer joining him on this song…
Let it be said of us…while we walked among the living
Let it be said of us…by the ones we leave behind
Let it be said of us…that we lived to be a blessing for life
Let it be said of us…that we gave to reach the dying
Let it be said of us…by the fruit we leave behind
Let it be said of us…that our legacy is blessing for life
This day you set life, you set death right before us,
This day every blessing and curse is a choice now
And we will choose to be a blessing for life
Let it be said of us…that our hearts belonged to Jesus
Let it be said of us…that we spoke the words of life
Let it be said of us…that our heritage is blessing for life
For your Kingdom, for our Children
For the sake of every nation
As Pascha nears we will contemplate the Resurrection, the witness to it and the key arguments against it.
Our Holy Faith teaches us Jesus, suffered, died and rose in accordance with God’s plan. Christ’s entering into our suffering was half of the story. The story of man’s redemption didn’t end with Christ’ suffering and death, even if we choose to focus on His Death as the perfect sacrifice. It ends with Christ’s triumphal Resurrection, the conquering of death, His ascension and His reigning at the right hand of the Father and eventual return as ultimate Victor. This is what motivated the Apostles, disciples and early Christian martyrs to give everything – even to the point of dying to bring even us the full Gospel, the “good news” of His death and resurrection.
So while it’s true that seeing Jesus’ sufferings helps us bear our own, there’s the added boost that we know all this suffering is temporary. All will be made right some day and then we will have joy that we cannot even imagine now. “O Death, where is thy sting? Grave, where is thy victory?” – 1 Corinthians 15:55
God raised Christ up putting an end to the agony of death since it was impossible for him to be held in it’s power. It was impossible because He was the righteous God-man and had given himself over in perfect love to God the Father. Not only did Jesus surrender his immortality and die on the cross, he rose with supreme authority over the whole realm of the dead. He burst out of the prison of death, breaking the chains and locks of all those held in captivity and carrying the keys of the prison with him.
Think of the triumphant icon of Christ standing over the gates of Hades and death, gripping Adam’s and Eve’s wrist in one hand while their other is outstretched in supplication. Look closely, you will see little keys and broken locks strewn about in the darkness around a prostate and bound Hades. Each of the keys is the key of death and Hades for each one of us. Hades is not destroyed – it is still there – but its power to bind people is gone. There are no chains, no locked doors. If only we raise our hands in supplication and longing for Jesus Christ, He is there to lift us from the grave. “…By death He trampled death…” we sing the hymn of victory!
Without the bodily resurrection, Christianity is a cruel hoax and our Faith is useless. Christ’s Holy Resurrection is a new experience of grace in the world. It was a completely, stunning, and shocking revelation.
Most people think they’re the same thing, but what’s the difference between a “Sister” and a “Nun”?
Dr. Barber tests his son on the Faith…
Today’s post is a guest post by Robin Armit who works for Holy Art, a company which sells all kinds of religious gifts. All religious items have a wondrous story to tell, and Robin enjoys telling them…
It is common knowledge that monks and nuns have a long history of manufacturing many different kinds of products. Production has traditionally been restricted to fairly standard items such as jams, sweets, beers, wine, and even some medicinal goods. Some monasteries are particularly famous for the quality of their products. For example, Trappist monk beer is considered by many to be some of the best brew in the world.
However, not all monasteries have restricted themselves to the more traditional products. Over the years, some monastic communities have branched out into more unusual ventures. For example, would you like to buy some modern cosmetics and skin care products? Perhaps you might want to learn how to ski? Maybe you would like to liven up an evening with some tonic wine? While I wouldn’t recommend trying these all at the same time, but it might surprise you to know that Catholic monks can help you in each of these cases! In the article which follows you’ll learn more about these enterprising monks, as well as the products and services which they supply.