July 2023

Once ignited, faith goes beyond fireworks on the Fourth of July.  Faith is a lifetime journey— compelling, fearless, creative, God-filled— and even a force multiplier!

The following homily, delivered at St. John the Evangelist Church in Greenfield, WI by Fr. Alex on April 15, 2023, was recorded, transcribed, and edited (Lanoux, July 12, 2023).

Have you ever wondered about your faith, your belief in God?  Do you fully trust in the Lord?  For the most part, we struggle with our journey in faith.  We don’t understand what God’s invitation involves, so we feel somewhat fragile.  But we are not alone.

The disciples who shared at least three years with Jesus didn’t believe the first accounts of the resurrection of Jesus, who afterwards appeared and said to them, “Go out and proclaim the Good News to the whole world.”  Think about it.  Would you be willing to undertake an obligation without preparation?

In today’s first reading, the Pharisees and others are inquiring about the disciples; and, on learning that they were uneducated, chose not to punish them.  But what’s the excuse in today’s society?  We appreciate education, and some people even have titles like doctor or father.  But, what good are those titles when, even at that level, there’s a disconnect between what’s known and what’s practiced?  For instance, priests are well-educated and can deliver beautiful homilies without theological faults; but, in practical matters, how do they relate to those in their care?

The question here is this: How ready are we to share our faith in the Risen Lord?  If we can’t share our faith so that a seven- or eight-year-old child can easily understand, how well do we understand God?

We make God so complicated when all he wants is doable.  Jesus told the apostles, “Go out and share your struggles.  Tell them who you are.”  He doesn’t expect us to be fully prepared; he simply wants us to engage others on our faith journey.

The other day I was talking with someone pursuing ordained ministry.  “Remember that your preparation of theology is just the bare minimum.  Don’t think that, because you have a master’s in divinity, you know everything.  You’ll make a fool of yourself!  In time, as you minister to people, you’ll learn what was lacking in your studies.  So, be happy.  And, keep in mind that our faith and our struggles deepen our belonging to God.”  So, for this we pray.

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Prayerful thoughts

The accidents of life separate us from our dearest friends, but let us not despair.  God is like a looking-glass in which souls see each other.  The more we are united to him by love, the nearer we are to those who belong to him (St. Elizabeth Ann Seton).

A man who governs his passions is master of his world.  He must either command them or be enslaved by them.  It is better to be a hammer than an anvil (St. Dominic).

Speak to them of the great mercy of God….  Sometimes people are helped by your telling of your own lamentable past (St. Francis Xavier, SJ).

“There are two guarantees of a wise rule of conduct: the thought before action, and self-command afterwards” (St. Ignatius of Loyola).

You can make a difference.  You can tell people about the love of God.  You can even help some of them to become fishers of men, spreading the net of Christianity even farther.  There are opportunities everywhere….  All you have to do is tell your story; the Holy Spirit will give you the right words (the Word among us, July/August 2011, p. 49).

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Blessings 2023…  April 2023…  August 2023…  Christ’s glory…  Christmas 2023…  December 2023…  February 2023…  Flame within…  God’s gift…  January 2023…  June 2023…  Love’s heart…  March 2023…  May 2023…  November 2023…  October 2023…  September 2023…

Blessings 2022…  August 2022…  December 2022…  Journey’s light…  July 2022…  June 2022…  Kiss of God…  May 2022…  Mourning joy…  November 2022…  October 2022…  October saints…  Presence…  September 2022…  Sight…  Sitka’s St. Michael…  St. Michael prayers