tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14168956.post114157639919924536..comments2024-03-08T08:54:08.632-05:00Comments on Bonfire of the Vanities: One Baptism is an awesome Gift (Sunday homily)Fr Martin Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01375628123126091747noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14168956.post-1141680778227370652006-03-06T16:32:00.000-05:002006-03-06T16:32:00.000-05:00Father this is a totally rockin' homily. You gave...Father this is a totally rockin' homily. You gave something for everyone, a new scriptural insight, the reason we have holy water at the entrances, why we have only 1 baptism, a reminder of the importance of confession, a reminder that anyone can baptize and detailed instructions for it. I'm blown away. (and going to reread the Noah story tonight).Jennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17838676594500396265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14168956.post-1141672408224905922006-03-06T14:13:00.000-05:002006-03-06T14:13:00.000-05:00I'd never thought of that aspect of the Noah's Ark...I'd never thought of that aspect of the Noah's Ark story before, but now I want to go back and read it again. Thanks for pointing out a new facet of a familiar account.mrsdarwinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03446744635277205867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14168956.post-1141610348807835552006-03-05T20:59:00.000-05:002006-03-05T20:59:00.000-05:00Anna:Well, take a close look at chapters 6 and 7, ...Anna:<BR/><BR/>Well, take a close look at chapters 6 and 7, and you'll see what many Biblical commentators call a "discrepancy." <BR/><BR/>Their explanation is that someone did a sloppy job of editing two variant accounts together. The Scripture instructor at the seminary offered this alternate explanation, which has two virtues, in my mind: <BR/><BR/>First, it is a more credible explanation of the text than that someone did a sloppy editing job (because had it not been sloppy, we wouldn't have noticed it).<BR/><BR/>Second, it changes the portrait of God being more concerned for the lives of animals than for humans, to God wanting to save humanity, but humanity rejects his salvation.Fr Martin Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01375628123126091747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14168956.post-1141609976924431452006-03-05T20:52:00.000-05:002006-03-05T20:52:00.000-05:00Interesting view on the story of Noah, I have nev...Interesting view on the story of Noah, I have never heard that idea before. I will have to think and mediate about it.<BR/><BR/>Thank youAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14168956.post-1141604009498573692006-03-05T19:13:00.000-05:002006-03-05T19:13:00.000-05:00Deacon:Thanks, I liked that line too; I confess I'...Deacon:<BR/><BR/>Thanks, I liked that line too; I confess I'm not sure I actually uttered it!<BR/><BR/>I wandered from the text somewhat, especially around that point; and I only delivered this homily once, at our very early Mass (sans caffiene!)<BR/><BR/>At 10, we had a rite of sending our catechumen and candidate for the rite of election with the bishop -- and I cut some of this, so that I could talk about the two people in our midst "paying us Catholics the supreme compliment of wanting what they see that we have" and then about the treasures of the Catholic faith, etc. -- and so I took a different direction.<BR/><BR/>Jackie:<BR/><BR/>Yes, your suggestion is a good one. That's the kind of area I would explore were I to pursue the theme of theosis, which I do from time to time: "God became man so that men might become God." Also, I like to point out from time to time, not merely that God <I>wants</I> to become saints, but that becoming a saint <I>is our only hope</I>--i.e., either we'll be a saint in heaven, or we'll be in hell. (Purgatory is a finishing school for saints.)<BR/><BR/>Everyone in heaven is a saint.Fr Martin Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01375628123126091747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14168956.post-1141591170712314752006-03-05T15:39:00.000-05:002006-03-05T15:39:00.000-05:00Father,I consider this a "Mary Poppins" homily - '...Father,<BR/><BR/>I consider this a "Mary Poppins" homily - 'practically perfect in everyway'<BR/><BR/>It is connected to the readings (though, I know, it's not required); it is clearly Catholic (I wouldn't need to see your picture to know that this was a Catholic sermon); it evangelizes - reminds people that we are in the covenant - HE died for us; it has concrete facts, learnings, suggestions. (How to Baptize, what Holy Water should remind us of, etc.) and reminds them to go to confession.<BR/><BR/>The only tiny thing I would have added (and it is a nit noid thing, a pet peeve for me - maybe because I need to hear it rather than everyone else!) is that where you say Baptism makes us a Christian possibly you could have added the phrase it makes us a son or daughter of God. Because - now that we are in the family, we are a part of the family business - salvation. It's our job too.<BR/><BR/>God Bless and thanks for being a priest.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14168956.post-1141585083865298912006-03-05T13:58:00.000-05:002006-03-05T13:58:00.000-05:00Fantastic. Very clear lines of thought. Baptism ...Fantastic. Very clear lines of thought. Baptism and Penance. It ties it all together with a great catechetical tangent on the subject.<BR/><BR/>My reading mind wandered after “Help us become what our baptism promises.” <BR/><BR/>I don’t know why, because it is a very good closing. Perhaps my from my type of style I would have gone back to the last few lines of the Gospel – Jesus came to Galilee etc.Deacon Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18409546072521240987noreply@blogger.com