Tools4evangelization

Sunday, July 16, 2023

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.

Tuesday, July 11, 2023

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.

Monday, July 10, 2023

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.

Sunday, July 9, 2023

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.

Thursday, July 6, 2023

Video - Revelation chapter 2

Audio script

2/Revelation, Chapter Two.

Revelation Chapter 2

1. Seven letters

They deal with 3 problems: 1. False teaching; 2. Persecution; 3. Complacency

2. 2:1-7 Ephesus

It is praised for its endurance, criticized for less love and encouraged to repent.

3. 2:8-11 Smyrna

It is praised for enduring suffering. It is not criticized and encouraged to be faithful unto death.

4. 2:12-17 Pergamum

It is praised for being faithful, criticized for believing in Balaam and encouraged to repent.

5. 2:18-29 Thyatira

It is praised for its faith and endurance, criticized for tolerating the evil Jezebel and encouraged to repent.

Saturday, July 1, 2023

Homily - 13A Sunday homily (02 July 2023) Choose Jesus

TOPIC: CHOOSE JESUS

1. STORY

Three-year-old Mary's uncle asked her to choose a gift on her birthday. He offered her a choice to select one of two ten-dollar bills. She noticed one was bigger than the other and was about to select the larger one when she paused and asked her mother for help. Her mother told her to select the smaller one which she did. Her mother then explained to her that the smaller one was a US ten-dollar bill worth much more that the larger one which was a Hong Kong one. Mary made the right choice.

2. GOSPEL, MATTHEW 10:37-44

A) CHOOSE JESUS

Jesus told his apostles that he was more important than anyone else including the members of his family. They must be willing to leave them in order to follow him.

B) WELCOME THE DISCIPLES OF JESUS

Jesus tells us that when a disciple of Jesus is welcomed by anyone, it is the same as welcoming Jesus himself and one will be rewarded by Jesus for such a welcome.

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

A) WHY WE SHOULD CHOOSE JESUS

We should choose Jesus for two reasons:

i) Jesus will remind us that it is our duty to love our parents and family members. He will remind us of the importance of the fourth commandment, "Honor your father and your mother."

ii) Jesus will give us the strength to carry out this command. Though we may be burdened with many other responsibilities such as caring for one’s own family, or working long hours, Jesus will help as we pray, hear his Word and by receiving the Eucharist.

B) HOW TO WELCOME THE DISCIPLES OF JESUS

We welcome Jesus' disciples in two ways:

i) When we welcome a priest, a nun or a Catholic, we welcome Jesus.

ii) When we help a needy person, we welcome Jesus. He also tells us that by doing this we will be rewarded because we are following his example. He will bring us peace, joy and happiness.

4. CONCLUSION

In the story, Mary was able to make the right choice of selecting the US dollar bill because of her mother's help. Jesus in today's gospel helps us to make the right choice of selecting him above all others including members of our family. In doing so we actually love them more because Jesus reminds us of the importance of honoring our parents and family and he gives us the strength to do so no matter how many obligations we may have. We welcome Jesus into our lives by welcoming his disciples such as priest, nuns, Catholics and the needy. For this we will be rewarded with peace, joy and happiness. We thank Jesus for his instruction and ask for his help to carry this out in our lives.