Video - Revelation chapter 5

 

Audio script

5/Revelation, Chapter Five.

Revelation Chapter 5

1.       5:1 Scroll

God holds a scroll written on both sides with seven seals.

2.      5:2-5 Who can open the scroll?

At first no one can open the scroll.  Then the lion of Judah was found to open it.

3.       5:6-8 The lamb

The lamb with seven horns (power) and seven eyes (knowledge) received the scroll from God.  He was able to open the scroll.  

4.      5:9-10 A new hymn

The elders sang a hymn saying the lamb was worthy to receive the scroll and to open it.

5.      5:11-14 Another hymn

Those in heaven sang another hymn singing:” To the one who sits on the throne and to the lamb be blessing forever and ever.”

 

Homily - 17A Sunday homily (30 July 2023) The pearl of great price

 

TOPIC: THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE

1. STORY

Edward was single and about 36 years old when he met a woman named Wallis.  Though she had been married and divorced twice, he continued to see her.  Eventually they came to love each other deeply. When he was 42 years old, his father died.  His father was not an ordinary man as he was the King of England.  In January of 1936, Edward became Edward VIII, the King of England.  He declared his intention to marry Wallis, his pearl of great price. His family, the Church of England, and the British Parliament opposed this. King Edward VIII had to make a choice; either be king or marry Wallis.  He could not have both. I n December of 1936, Edward made his choice. He chose to marry Wallis and submitted his abdication which was accepted by Parliament the next day.  He became the only British monarch ever to resign voluntarily.  He chose his pearl, Wallis, over everything else.

 

2. GOSPEL, MATTHEW 13:44­-46

A) THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE

There was a merchant who loved pearls and searched high and low for fine pearls.  To his great joy, he found one of great beauty which was so beautiful that he decided that he must buy it no matter what the cost. 

B) HE SOLD ALL HE HAD AND BOUGHT IT

He had to make a great sacrifice.  He sold all that he had to have enough money to buy his precious pearl.  He considered himself very fortunate in having the opportunity to buy what he so desired.  This purchase brought him great happiness.

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

A) MY PEARL OF GREAT PRICE

For some, health is the most important thing.  They eat carefully, exercise faithfully, and get enough sleep.  For others, money is most important.  They work hard, spend their money carefully, and save faithfully.  For others, happiness is number one.  Happiness for themselves, their family, and friends. In this parable, Jesus tells us that God should be number one in our lives, our precious pearl.  Why? The reason is that it is only God who can give us health.  He alone can give us strength to make money.He alone can give us happiness.  So in making God all important, we gain health, wealth, and happiness. 

B) WHAT MUST I DO WITH THIS GREAT TREASURE?

First, we must love God.  We must pray each day, both in the morning asking for help during the day and in the evening thanking him for his blessings.  We must be faithful in attending Sunday Mass where we hear the word of God and are able to receive the Eucharist.  We must read the bible or some spiritual book when time permits.  Secondly, we must love our neighbor.  We must be kind in our speech, patient in our attitude, and helpful in our actions.  We cherish this great treasure by loving God and by loving our neighbor.

 

4. CONCLUSION

Edward VII, king of England, discovered that his pearl of great price was his friend and future wife, Wallis Warfield Simpson. The price he had to pay was to give up the British throne and no longer be king.  The merchant in the parable sold all he had to purchase the pearl he wanted.  The parable teaches us that God should be our greatest desire and we show this by loving Him and our neighbor.  We pray for the grace to discover that God is truly our pearl of great price.

Homily - 16A Sunday homily (23 July 2023) The parable of the wheat and weeds

 

TOPIC: THE PARABLE OF THE WHEAT AND WEEDS

1. STORY

John loved to climb mountains.  One day, wearing his heavy coat, he set off to climb to the mountain peak.  When he reached the top, he saw a rattlesnake.  To his great surprise, the snake spoke saying he was starving and freezing and asked John to put him under his coat and take him down to the valley.  John refused saying that the snake would bite him and the bite would kill him.  The snake responded that for this favor he would not harm him.   At first John resisted but finally agreed to help the snake.  He picked up the snake and tucked him under his coat.   When they arrived at the valley, he took the snake from under his coat and laid it on the grass.  Then suddenly the snake bit John's leg.  John was shocked and reminded the snake of his promise not to harm him.  “You knew what I was when you picked me up,” answered the snake as he slithered away.  This is a reminder to avoid evil persons, places and things.

 

2. GOSPEL, MATTHEW 13:24­-30 

 A) A MAN SOWED GOOD SEEDS AND THE ENEMY SOWED WEEDS

The story tells us that in the field there are wheat and weeds.   The field represents the world, the wheat represents good people, and the weeds represent bad people.  In the world, there are both good and bad people.

B) LET THEM GROW TOGEHER UNTIL HARVEST

The slave is instructed not to take any action until the harvest when there will be a separation of the wheat and weeds.  God permits both good and bad people to live.  There will be a separation of the two at the last judgment.

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

A) THE WORLD HAS BOTH GOOD AND BAD PEOPLE

In the home, the church, and in the world, there are both good and bad people.  Good people, but their words and actions, harm us and we should avoid them.

B) GOD IS PATIENT AND GOD IS JUST

God wishes to save all and so is very patient with both the good and bad. He gives people a chance for the better, to improve their moral lives.   He sent Jesus to help us, and his work is carried on by the Church.   Jesus gives us the wisdom and strength to be good.   God is just as he will separate the good from the bad on judgment day.   He will reward the just and punish the bad.

 

4. CONCLUSION

In the story, John learned that it is dangerous to associate with a rattlesnake.   In the parable, we learn that in the world there are both good people, represented by the wheat, and bad people represented by weeds.  God permits both to live side by side in the hope that bad people, the weeds, will have a change of heart and repent their ways. Jesus has come to help us to be good.  Finally, God is just and at the last judgment will separate the good from the bad by rewarding the good and punishing the bad.

Homily - 15A Sunday homily (16 July 2023) The parable of the sower

 

TOPIC: THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER

1. STORY

John had a good business and a happy family life.  Due to work pressures, he began to drink which eventually caused him to separate from his family and lose his business.  While walking down the street, he picked up a bent and rusty nail which immediately reminded him of himself.  He was rusty and bent out of shape.  He took it home, hammered it to make it straight, and used sandpaper to remove the rust; it looked like a new nail.  He then thought that his life could straightened out just like the nail.  He decided to try.  Today John is reunited to his family and is back in business.  To this day, John keeps the restored nail in his wallet.  We need Jesus to avoid being a bent nail.

 

2. GOSPEL, MATTHEW 13:1­-19

A)  A FARMER WENT OUT SOWING SEED

In this beautiful parable, a farmer went out sowing seed.  Jesus went to preach the gospel, the word of God, which is like a seed.  Jesus helps us by giving us his teachings. 

B) SOME FELL ON GOOD SOIL

i) Some seed fell on a footpath, some on rocky ground, and some among thorns.  None of the seed grew. 

ii) Some seed fell on good soil and grew abundantly.  Just as some soil rejected the seed and some soil accepted the seed, so do some people reject and some people accept the teachings of Jesus.

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

A) JESUS CONTINUES TO SOW THE SEED

Jesus continues to sow the seed, to preach the gospel, and to help us. He does this each time we attend Mass and hear the homily, when we read the bible, and when we listen to the Pope or our Bishop.  Jesus is teaching us; he is sowing the seed.  We need the word of God to be his disciples. 

B) SOME REJECT AND SOME ACCEPT THE WORD OF JESUS

i)  Some people, due to a busy life, laziness, or see no value in the teaching of Jesus, reject him. 

ii) Some people accept the word of Jesus.  They accept Jesus by their head, heart, and hands.  They accept him by their heart when they follow his teachings.  They accept him by their hands when they carry out his commands.  In doing so, we change from being like a bent nail to a new nail, a follower of Jesus.

 

4. CONCLUSION

Just as a bent nail help john to change his life, the word of Jesus helps us to change our lives.  Some reject and some accept his help.  We heard the word of Jesus and carry it out by our head, our heart, and our hands.  We need the word of Jesus to be his faithful followers, his disciples.

Video - Revelation chapter 4

 

Audio script

4/Revelation, Chapter Four.

Revelation Chapter 4

1.      4:1-2A John goes to heaven

A voice tells John to enter heaven through the open door.

2.      4:2B-3 The throne

God sat on the throne which had a halo around it.

3.      4:4-6A Four living creatures

Around the throne were four living creatures resembling a lion, calf, human and an eagle (represent universal creation)

4.      4:6B-9 Twenty-four elders

Twenty-four elders dressed in white garments sat on 24 thrones which surrounded God’s throne.

5.       4:10-11 Elders worship God

The elders while singing a hymn fall down to worship God.

Video - Revelation chapter 3

 

Audio script

3/Revelation, Chapter Three.

Revelation Chapter 3

1.      3:1-6 Sardis

No praise is given.  It is criticized for being dead, and encouraged to be watchful and to repent.

2.      3:7-11 Philadelphia

It is praised for keeping God’s word.  It is not criticized.  It is encouraged to keep what they have.

3.      3:12-13 Philadelphia

In God’s temple, Christians will stand solid as pillars, and not have to run away because of danger.

4.      3:14-19 Laodicea

It is not praised, but criticized for being lukewarm and encouraged to seek God’s grace (gold).

5.       3:20-22 Laodicea

Jesus will eat with those who open the door for him when he knocks.

Homily - 14A Sunday homily (09 July 2023) Be gentle toward others

 

TOPIC:  BE GENTLE TOWARD OTHERS

1. STORY

The sun and wind had a dispute over which of the two was the stronger. One day an opportunity arose to settle the dispute.  A person dressed in a coat was walking down a country road. The sun said to the wind that the one who could make the person remove the coat faster would be the winner.  The wind went first.  He blew and blew, but the more he blew, the tighter the person held on to the coat. Finally, exhausted, the wind gave up.  Then the sun took over.  It merely shone on the person and within minutes, the person took off the coat. The moral of the story is you can achieve more by gentleness than by violence.

2. GOSPEL, MATTHEW 11: 25-30

A) LEARN FROM ME

Jesus is our great teacher who taught us by his words.  He taught us forgiveness in the story of the prodigal son.  He taught us about how some people need extra help by the story of the Good Shepherd.  He taught us to help others by the story of the Good Samaritan.  Jesus taught us by his work. He cared for the needy, the lame, the blind, the hungry and the sick.  He comforted those in sorrow and forgave the sinners.

 

B) I AM GENTLE AND HUMBLE OF HEART

Jesus was gentle. 

i) He was understanding when dealing with the problems and difficulties of others.

ii) He was forgiving and not critical of those who were sinners.

iii) He helped people become better.  Jesus was humble as he always obeyed his Father's will.

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

A) LEARN FROM JESUS

i) Many people teach us by their words and actions such as our parents, relatives, friends, and school teachers.  We are taught by what we read from newspapers, magazines, what we watch on TV and the computer, and what we hear on the radio.

ii) We must remember that our great teacher is Jesus.  He teaches us when we attend Mass, read the bible, and other spiritual books.  He teaches us through our Pope, bishop and priests.  He teaches us through our parents and good friends. 

B) BE GENTLE TOWARD OTHERS

We are gentle toward others by our words:

i) When we use kind, forgiving, encouraging, and supportive words.

ii) When we avoid using nasty, harsh, and hurtful words.

iii) When we are gentle toward others by works.

a) When we help those in need by using our time and money to make life a bit easier for them.

b) When we give our time to listen to people, to make a phone call showing our concern, and to visit the sick in the hospitals.

 

4) CONCLUSION 

Just as the warm sun was stronger than the powerful wind, so too was Jesus powerful as he treated people by his word and actions and taught us to treat others by our words and actions in a gentle way.  We follow Jesus' good example by using kind and encouraging words and by treating people with care and respect.