18th Sunday Homily-What matters to us?
Ms. Pope works with young adults at Stanford and observed that this generation of students are overly stressed out, materialistic and poorly educated.
Basically, “success” had become measured by these young adults through good grades and jobs with a big paychecks. Bad grades or when the dream job was not achieved, were considered failures, and importantly, the students did not know who to deal with it. Therefore the pressure they placed on themselves to be seen as successful was tremendous.
Ask a priest “How successful was your confirmation/RCIA/or parish in general?” I bet the answer will be how many kids went through the program, how many were initiated at the Easter Vigil, the collection amount on Sundays.
Denise Pope also talked about the students who were better adjusted. They were the ones who generally involved in helping others; who experienced a life beyond themselves. They were the ones interested in learning, not grades or status.
What would be a measure of our success, a Catholic, as a parish or church, as people?
There is some reflection going on in the Church about “Successful” parishes.
There is some reflection going on in the Church about “Successful” parishes.
If it were not for the immigrant populations, especially from South America, the Catholic Church, our parishes in the United States would be in sharp decline.
Our “success” rate in keeping our baptized members, in keeping our youth attracted in the faith...not so good. Our success in bringing forth the Good News of Jesus Christ...not so good.
Our “success” rate in keeping our baptized members, in keeping our youth attracted in the faith...not so good. Our success in bringing forth the Good News of Jesus Christ...not so good.
Our “success” in guiding our own into a deeper faith in Christ, not so good.
We may baptize a lot of infants, but their families do not come back.
We may confirm a lot of teens, but then many disappear.
We may welcome many new Catholics at Easter...but their life in the parish wanes.
Collection plates may be full..but the number of people engaged in living the faith...
We may baptize a lot of infants, but their families do not come back.
We may confirm a lot of teens, but then many disappear.
We may welcome many new Catholics at Easter...but their life in the parish wanes.
Collection plates may be full..but the number of people engaged in living the faith...
Several years ago the Archbishop of Malto said something that I can only paraphrase. The gist, using modern marketing language, is that we have an incredible product in Jesus Christ. We are not good in selling him.
Jesus Christ matters to us as Catholics, theoretically anyway.
He is our Lord, our Savior, the Way the Truth and the Life.
There comes a time when we all need to own the Faith, and ask ourselves this question: “what is it all about?”
“What is life about? Eat, drink and be merry?” or is there more?
What is being a Christian, a Catholic about...show up for 45-55 minutes per week, or is there more.
Jesus came so that we may have life and have it in the full.
Fullness of life is not about partying, nor about material success, nor anything superficial that one day will simply, rust, rot or corrode.
Fullness of life is a life in which we are free to love others (chose to believe in their goodness) and free to be loved by others (chose to believe in our own goodness).
Fullness of life is the depth of our connection with one another and with God.
Denise Pope again said that the better adjusted students were the ones involved in helping others, building connections.
Strong marriages and strong families are those in which the husband and wife make their love of the other the priority.
A strong successful parish builds love; becomes a center for which people are challenged, provoked, affirmed to love and be loved.
It is not about quantity of people or budgets, but about the quality of our efforts to build a better world. This matters most.
Young persons search for meaning, they search and want to build a better world. Yet, they are not always finding the means in our church.
This is sad for me.
Truly Christ provides the way for all people to participate in building a better world, a better community.
Forgiveness, compassion, mercy, humility, love justice...all are desperately needed in this world, in this state, in this city.
I wonder if too many of us have been placing our energies into what really does not matter. Even thinking we are doing what we are supposed to do: all worried about getting “myself” into heaven, and forgetting that we are supposed to really be more preoccupied with building heaven here on earth?
Therein lies our mission and our challenge. At Our Lady of the Snows, there is so much goodness here; but there is so much more potential here too. We are a people of faith, and with so much talent and opportunities.
By some measures we are successful; our finances are great, the staff is great, our buildings and grounds are in good shape…
Let’s not get too comfortable in this. Christ calls us for more.
What matters?
Jesus Christ matters to us as Catholics, theoretically anyway.
He is our Lord, our Savior, the Way the Truth and the Life.
There comes a time when we all need to own the Faith, and ask ourselves this question: “what is it all about?”
“What is life about? Eat, drink and be merry?” or is there more?
What is being a Christian, a Catholic about...show up for 45-55 minutes per week, or is there more.
Jesus came so that we may have life and have it in the full.
Fullness of life is not about partying, nor about material success, nor anything superficial that one day will simply, rust, rot or corrode.
Fullness of life is a life in which we are free to love others (chose to believe in their goodness) and free to be loved by others (chose to believe in our own goodness).
Fullness of life is the depth of our connection with one another and with God.
Denise Pope again said that the better adjusted students were the ones involved in helping others, building connections.
Strong marriages and strong families are those in which the husband and wife make their love of the other the priority.
A strong successful parish builds love; becomes a center for which people are challenged, provoked, affirmed to love and be loved.
It is not about quantity of people or budgets, but about the quality of our efforts to build a better world. This matters most.
Young persons search for meaning, they search and want to build a better world. Yet, they are not always finding the means in our church.
This is sad for me.
Truly Christ provides the way for all people to participate in building a better world, a better community.
Forgiveness, compassion, mercy, humility, love justice...all are desperately needed in this world, in this state, in this city.
I wonder if too many of us have been placing our energies into what really does not matter. Even thinking we are doing what we are supposed to do: all worried about getting “myself” into heaven, and forgetting that we are supposed to really be more preoccupied with building heaven here on earth?
Therein lies our mission and our challenge. At Our Lady of the Snows, there is so much goodness here; but there is so much more potential here too. We are a people of faith, and with so much talent and opportunities.
By some measures we are successful; our finances are great, the staff is great, our buildings and grounds are in good shape…
Let’s not get too comfortable in this. Christ calls us for more.
What matters?
Helping Marriages grow and thrive
Helping Men grow understanding of who they are as men and how they can be models of faith
Helping young persons walk into adulthood and beyond
Helping those who are poor know they are not forgotten
Those homebound, they are connected….
What more? What matters?
Helping Men grow understanding of who they are as men and how they can be models of faith
Helping young persons walk into adulthood and beyond
Helping those who are poor know they are not forgotten
Those homebound, they are connected….
What more? What matters?
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