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01 Nov 2015 - Solemnity of All Saints, Cycle B

When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. The committed climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said: “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you. “You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought. “You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat. “You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for. “You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world. “You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family. “You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom. “Count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds” (from Matthew 5:1-12a). Taken from The Message: Catholic/Ecumenical Edition by Eugene Peterson (ACTA Publications, 2014); actapublications.com; 800-397-2282.

blessed blessings

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God bless the child that's in the womb

08 Apr 2012 - Preaching the News for Sunday

"I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord," the psalmist affirms this Sunday. As the church celebrates new life in the risen Christ this Easter weekend comes word that new life in the womb of expectant mothers will be celebrated by the church in the form of a special Vatican-approved blessing dedicated to unborn children, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops USCCB) recently announced. “Rite for the Blessing of a Child in the Womb” should be available in English and Spanish at Catholic parishes from coast to coast in time for Mother's Day on May 13, said USCCB spokesperson Don Clemmer. The blessing was prepared to support parents awaiting the birth of their child, to encourage parish prayers for and recognition of the precious gift of the child in the womb, and to foster respect for human life within society, said a USCCB press release. It can be offered within as well as outside the context of the Mass. The blessing originated several years ago when then-Bishop Joseph Kurtz of Knoxville, Tennessee (now archbishop of Louisville) asked the USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities to see if a blessing existed for a child in the womb. When none was found, the committee prepared a text which was approved by the bishops in November, 2008 and then sent to Rome for editing and final approval, which has now been granted. “This new blessing gives thanks to God for the gift of life and imparts his blessing on the development [sic] child and his or her family,” said Clemmer. “As the blessing was requested by the U.S. bishops and approved by the Vatican as a blessing for use in the church in the United States, it can only be used” in the U.S., he added. Sources: A press release by the USCCB and an article by Agence France Presse

blessings life usccb joseph kurtz unborn

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Homily themes

01 May 2011 - Solemnity of the Second Sunday of Easter; Divine Mercy Sunday, Cycle A

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . .The reading from Saint Peter's first letter opens with a blessing. Such "benedictions" also occur in other places in scripture. In Ephesians 1:3, Saint Paul writes, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places . . . ." In 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, 7 he prays, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction . . . ." Zechariah's canticle also opens with a benedictus: "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them" (Luke 1:68). In these passages and others, biblical writers make a prayer of wonder at the grand story of the salvation God worked in Jesus. Homily points None of us have seen the signs contained in John's gospel. But we have seen some signs that John hints were left out. Those other signs are evident wherever Jesus is recognized in the least of our sisters and brothers, and where the fruits of the Spirit are alive and well. Fostering discipleship through religious education, the spirit of community, good liturgy, and growth in prayer will prepare us all to encounter the wounded world.

benedictions blessings

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Homily stories

18 Sep 2011 - Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

"If there's one thing I've learned in life, it's that things happen by God's Rolex not my Timex." Those words were shared at a reunion between two coworkers long after they both gave up trying to set the course of their lives on a timetable. They had spent a lot of time over the years on the "pity pot," as one of them called it, measuring, calculating, and weighing. And no matter how they figured it, God was shortchanging them. It just wasn't fair. Then, at a certain point, tired of listening to their own and the other's whines, they both realized that perhaps they were going about their situations all wrong. They started talking about powerlessness, acceptance, and God's will. They coached and counseled one another whenever the other was down. They weren't always sure of the truth of what they were saying, but they knew it was better than feeling sorry for themselves. They tried to live as if they really believed God was taking care of them and had their best interests at heart. Gradually their lives got better, or so it seemed to them. Despite all sorts of losses and illnesses, they remained grateful for their many blessings. Some would call this change of heart extraordinary. Others know this is just a day in the life of a practicing Christian.

Authors Patrice J. Tuohy

time listening grateful blessings

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Homily stories

28 Nov 2010 - First Sunday of Advent, Cycle A

OUR HOUSE was broken into recently while my family and I slept soundly in our beds. We woke when we heard noise on the back porch, but it was too late. The thief was gone along with a purse filled with cash, credit cards, and keys. A hundred "if onlys" went through our heads. If only we'd double-checked that the back door was locked, if only we'd hidden the purse from view, if only we'd woken sooner and scared the no-goodnik away, if only we'd been more prepared. But then, of course, came the gratitude we all felt: Thank goodness no one was hurt, thank goodness all the thief got was a purse, thank goodness we're not so desperate as to feel compelled to steal. Perhaps we were more prepared than we realized--not for preventing the theft, but for counting our blessings. Counting our blessings is an essential part of the Advent preparation. The more aware we are of the gifts we've been given, the more able we are to appreciate the gift of Love that is to come. We may not know the hour of Love's arrival, but we can rest assured that nothing can prevent love from reaching us if we are steadfast. Death and death-dealing acts will not prevail. The thief, the liar, the betrayer, the murderer will never have the last word. The last word is, was, and always shall be reserved for the first Word--who is Love

Authors Patrice J. Tuohy

counting blessings advent gifts Love

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The inner word

01 Nov 2009 - Solemnity of All Saints, Cycle B

What is a saint? How do you define the term? Whom do you think of when think of saints? You might also ask yourself who comes to mind when you think of those blessed in the gospel beatitudes: the poor in spirit, pure in heart, the merciful, sorrowing, honest, the peacemakers, those who suffer for the sake of righteousness. What “vision of a great multitude” do you see? What are the blessings in your own life?

beatitudes blessed Saints blessings

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Who's listening?

01 Nov 2009 - Solemnity of All Saints, Cycle B

On the celebration of All Saints the readings tell of the salvation that calls together the people of God and bestows blessings up on them. It helps to remember that beatitude means “happiness”—in fact, being as happy as possible. And that happiness comes ultimately from God. As Sister of the Visitation Anne Fiore wrote of her vocation in the 2010 issue of VISION magazine, “Amid the difficulties and surprises that life brings, the Lord calls us, above all, to be joyful. For this we were created. The Lord wants us to be happy. He has formed us, each one of us, to serve his glory in some specific place—a place where he knows that we will be happy.” Help those who hear this message to really believe not only that they can be happy but that God wants them to be so, and that there are places in their lives where that can happen.

blessings beatitudes happiness

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Homily themes

01 Nov 2009 - Solemnity of All Saints, Cycle B

He began to teach them, saying, “Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” The beatitudes in Matthew mark the beginning of the first of the five great speeches or discourses on which this gospel is built. Jesus goes up a mountain, traditionally a place of revelation, to address his disciples and deliver a set of beatitudes three times longer than those in the Gospel of Luke. Beatitudes were not new. They’re a form found in the Psalms, where blessings, and sometimes the reasons for them, are proclaimed. The gospel takes the beatitudes a step further by using them to describe the inhabitants of the kingdom of God: those who rely on God, grieve, are humble, and do God’s will; the merciful, peacemakers, and the persecuted. Not a bad description for all the saints—and those to whom God gives the fullness of life.

Authors Joel Schorn

beatitudes blessings sermon on the mount

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Who's listening?

19 Oct 2008 - Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

It was usual for ancient people to include in their letters a prayer or blessing for the recipient, and Saint Paul was no different, offering thanksgivings in one form or another in almost all his letters, including 1 Thessalonians, where he praises the community for continuing the work he and his colleagues began. In today’s world, however, being thankful for others is a lost art, in letters or just about anyplace else. The people in the assembly can ask themselves who they are thankful for, especially those who taught and formed and continue to lead them to a deeper understanding of what they believe. Today is also World Mission Sunday, and people have the opportunity not only to donate to the worthy work of whatever visiting missionary has the pulpit this weekend but also to give thanks for those who have formed them in faith and rededicate themselves to being a sign of that faith for others.

world mission sunday blessings thanksgiving

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Homily stories

01 Jan 2019 - Octave Day of the Nativity of the Lord; Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, Cycle C

I met a man who told me this story. He had three sons. And from the time they were first born he would bless them every morning and every evening. Touching their foreheads, he said the words he found in the Bible (Numbers 6:22-27). He would say, “May the Lord bless you and keep you! The Lord let his face shine upon you and be gracious to you! The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!” The boys grew up and in time resisted his blessings. It embarrassed them. And yet this father would continue to bless his sons in the morning and in the evening. And then they moved away. They went out on their own. The middle son got married and soon he and his wife had a child of their own. On the day of the Baptism, the middle son brought his infant child to his father and asked, “Dad, will you bless my boy the way you used to bless me?” The father choked up. The son continued, “And Dad, can you bless me again the way you used to bless me? I think I really need it now.” And the father felt a great love and gratitude well up inside him and his own face beamed and he let his face shine upon his son and his grandson. And God’s own face beamed and the face of God shone upon them all that day.

Authors Tom McGrath

blessings

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