tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941511792519558253.comments2024-02-18T10:34:05.638-08:00Sparks and StubbleFather Seamushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03594411809451337049noreply@blogger.comBlogger96125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941511792519558253.post-59899198757077471702017-03-29T08:31:10.118-07:002017-03-29T08:31:10.118-07:00Why does it have to be an either-or proposition? W...Why does it have to be an either-or proposition? Why can't it be a both-and? If it were true only religious can change the world the protestant revolution would have failed. The evangelical protestant non-denominational churches are growing because those lay people share their faith. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941511792519558253.post-77571298928232620902017-03-23T13:02:31.956-07:002017-03-23T13:02:31.956-07:00http://www.patheos.com/blogs/steelmagnificat/2017/...http://www.patheos.com/blogs/steelmagnificat/2017/02/benedict-option-puzzles-benedictine/Father Stephanos, O.S.B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/15514276411365098148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941511792519558253.post-64179530950502330242017-01-31T10:06:17.728-08:002017-01-31T10:06:17.728-08:00You have to actually read the words, realizing tha...You have to actually read the words, realizing that every word either has meaning or hides meaning. Communication can enlighten or obfuscate. the best example that I can think of is "there is no relationship"Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02173944412224518358noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941511792519558253.post-12601445962553466982014-03-05T10:51:49.873-08:002014-03-05T10:51:49.873-08:00Your homily is filled with good advice and some lo...Your homily is filled with good advice and some lovely, poetic images. I like it, Father Seamus. I like better than February, and perhaps it will help me get through Lent.Cheryl Ruffinghttp://ruffedge.wix.com/ruffedgedesignnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941511792519558253.post-21221476187644389452014-02-26T06:35:35.386-08:002014-02-26T06:35:35.386-08:00Hmmm... I agree that fear is often the reason for...Hmmm... I agree that fear is often the reason for retaliation, but I do not think it is exclusively so. Sometimes hatred and vindictiveness, the desire to make another person "pay" for the wrong they have done are at root. Sometimes it also seems that expediency and ambition are a motive - when another person has obstructed our will. <br />So I think I would say that the absence of fear is a precondition, but not a guarantee that one will find the strength to forgive.Father Seamushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03594411809451337049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941511792519558253.post-69718060168232736602014-02-25T19:01:55.649-08:002014-02-25T19:01:55.649-08:00But why do we want to retaliate when someone has h...But why do we want to retaliate when someone has hurt us? Why do we want to make sure we don't get hurt in the first place (thereby making all those harsh laws)? Because we are afraid. Isn't that what hatred amounts to? We fear getting hurt by someone who should love us, or we fear being made a fool, or we fear the unknown (like the beliefs of a religion we don't understand). David, Stephen and Paul could love and forgive their enemies because they didn't fear them. This, too, comes from God: "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul ..." (Mt. 10:28).Cheryl Ruffinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15808011523753175563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941511792519558253.post-18784124961930491442014-02-18T12:49:00.412-08:002014-02-18T12:49:00.412-08:00Helpful. Thanks for posting.Helpful. Thanks for posting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941511792519558253.post-18986527667704630462014-02-17T15:22:04.430-08:002014-02-17T15:22:04.430-08:00Wow! What a blessing it was to read this. We (Bill...Wow! What a blessing it was to read this. We (Bill and I) may adopt your last paragraph as our daily prayer. Thank you, Fr. Seamus, for sharing your wisdom with us. We have been a part of the Worldwide Marriage Encounter Movement since 1989, and your words were refreshing, uplifting, and challenging all at the same time. Truth well put!ByCocohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03050465842684655120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941511792519558253.post-54875446296221184022014-02-10T13:56:01.036-08:002014-02-10T13:56:01.036-08:00The Bible is the most published book ever written....The Bible is the most published book ever written. I, as a Lector, in the Catholic church, find the words come to life as I read them. The Bible is the only Book ever written to record what God wanted revealed to mankind. The Bible tells me to not judge others and I won't, but I grieve that the people who claim to be Catholic go to Mass only for marriages, baptisms and on Holy days. Satan uses apathy to lure Jesus's followers away from the Church. The, "World's", ways lure people into apathy. You say the, "Church", is out of date. How do you know unless you read the Book? The road to Hell, is paved with apathy and ignorance.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03768180029151965655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941511792519558253.post-86166162663667874782014-02-09T13:52:22.236-08:002014-02-09T13:52:22.236-08:00This weeks Readings, Feb. 9th "Let your lig...This weeks Readings, Feb. 9th "Let your light Shine", prompted me to ponder about my own, "Light", as a practicing Catholic. In retrospect I see Jesus has been nagging my Soul about this. In daily life I personally encounter very few people. Most of my own, " Catholic family:, are, "Holiday Catholics". My step children were brought up in the Catholic Faith. Grown adults now, they put sports and other, " Things", before their obligations to raise their own children in the Faith. My wife, their mother grieves over this lack of commitment by her children. We, my wife and I, Cherish the Church we now share. I, as the, " Step Father", have done little more than set an example and pray Jesus will be done. Now I question my part in this situation. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03768180029151965655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941511792519558253.post-8986870006040990962014-01-15T16:07:42.187-08:002014-01-15T16:07:42.187-08:00You expressed this very well. Great to use for bap...You expressed this very well. Great to use for baptism preparation for those seeking it and for those who have not yet fully grasped the meaning of their own baptism. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941511792519558253.post-71715288924308147202013-12-10T08:14:22.051-08:002013-12-10T08:14:22.051-08:00Dennis and I enjoyed your homily when we heard it ...Dennis and I enjoyed your homily when we heard it on Saturday, Father Seamus, but I appreciate you reproducing it here. I seldom catch every word during Mass, and your blog is a great service.<br /><br />Thank you for concisely getting to the heart of the matter. It's too easy to think that simply by voting for someone who says, "We'll get the government to help the poor," we've fulfilled our obligation to help others. As you pointed out, Jesus calls us (and has always called us) — each one of us — to help others.<br /><br />I love poetry and photography for their capacities to make us look at the familiar in different ways and find something new there to appreciate. Pope Francis operates in a similar fashion.Cheryl Ruffinghttp://ruffedgedesign.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941511792519558253.post-34552683886573115322013-12-03T02:58:56.719-08:002013-12-03T02:58:56.719-08:00Beautifully writtenBeautifully writtenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941511792519558253.post-76453150818606701042013-11-20T07:06:11.791-08:002013-11-20T07:06:11.791-08:00Amen!Amen!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941511792519558253.post-52106401805073679382013-10-22T18:42:22.100-07:002013-10-22T18:42:22.100-07:00This is wonderful insight! Just wish I could get m...This is wonderful insight! Just wish I could get my 17 yr old son to pray!!;(nikita92https://www.blogger.com/profile/13658704413830632183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941511792519558253.post-48621109253317238622013-10-22T07:29:20.079-07:002013-10-22T07:29:20.079-07:00Father Seamus, love it! Thanks so much for this re...Father Seamus, love it! Thanks so much for this reminder.Josh Houdenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941511792519558253.post-69013079585162140882013-10-15T07:22:27.920-07:002013-10-15T07:22:27.920-07:00Thank you, Father Seamus! A great homily.Thank you, Father Seamus! A great homily.Stefany Gregoirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05559109191526395235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941511792519558253.post-39013168171195662572013-10-14T16:50:58.465-07:002013-10-14T16:50:58.465-07:00Wonderful!!!! Father SeamusWonderful!!!! Father SeamusDallas Adamsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941511792519558253.post-4211580837242138832013-08-28T05:55:07.096-07:002013-08-28T05:55:07.096-07:00It was not until my conversion ~3 years ago that I...It was not until my conversion ~3 years ago that I realized our pasture is in ruin. I pray that others see it, too, and embrace our Good Shepherd as a result!Stefany Gregoirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05559109191526395235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941511792519558253.post-72464941501780382302013-08-27T17:40:26.819-07:002013-08-27T17:40:26.819-07:00So true I we are given so many gifts as long as we...So true I we are given so many gifts as long as we live our lives according to the will of our Lord. its our will's that get make the gate so narrow .... ( miss hearing your sermons in person but glad I still get to read them ! ) Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13101273520370813461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941511792519558253.post-35562575071090331432013-08-13T12:21:49.585-07:002013-08-13T12:21:49.585-07:00Welcome to St. Michael's, Father Seamus! I lo...Welcome to St. Michael's, Father Seamus! I look forward to reading your thoughts and homilies on the web and, hopefully, getting to know you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941511792519558253.post-61434740160541054932013-08-05T19:22:53.465-07:002013-08-05T19:22:53.465-07:00As one of your new parishioners (and a fellow St. ...As one of your new parishioners (and a fellow St. Anselm graduate), I look forward to meeting you and experiencing one of your homilies in person. This one is lovely. I especially like this passage: "It is easy, when we are anxious about the road, to overlook those who are lying in the ditches. But we cannot allow ourselves to become so preoccupied with navigating the constant twists and turns of restructurings and changes that we no longer see and serve Christ who comes to us as our neighbor in need on the side of the road." It's a good reminder.Cheryl Ruffinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15808011523753175563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941511792519558253.post-71861022629039478052013-08-03T17:37:00.797-07:002013-08-03T17:37:00.797-07:00 These are wonderful. I am so glad you posted the... These are wonderful. I am so glad you posted them. I wish you the best in augusta. You are so important in my spiritual life You brought God alive for me. <br />dallasDallas Adamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14275725722348979017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941511792519558253.post-16649484780846963922013-08-03T03:43:44.434-07:002013-08-03T03:43:44.434-07:00Your homily helps me think about accommodation in ...Your homily helps me think about accommodation in a different way. Thank you for that. Something to explore further is how to not accommodate, and how, especially to build community support for not accommodating, rather than being a lone voice. God bless you. I wish you well in your new parish.Cathy Brunohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15501841893852162900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3941511792519558253.post-7988259163090832672013-07-01T18:29:15.340-07:002013-07-01T18:29:15.340-07:00Amen Father Weldon. Many Catholics and other Chri...Amen Father Weldon. Many Catholics and other Christians have gotten comfortable and may have forgotten our responsibility or out of convenience choosen to refrain from challenging those in our familes, neighborhoods, work places, government and churches, that it is our responsibility to support and defend our faith, families and freedom.<br /><br />This past Sunday's Homily focused on our responsibility; however, the message needs to be direct, in common language that we must support and defend religious liberty and our Constitution which reflects our God-given rights. So, my brothers and sisters, please stand up together and insist and yes we must demand that our Constitution be restored. If we think we can just attend Mass and go home and continue to absorb the humanistic, secular culture and refrain from living, practing and reflecting our faith in every place we walk, we will eventually be surprised to find ourselves and our nation in arevolution/civil war to restore our liberty. <br /><br />We have given up so much freedom already. The time is now to stand up and demand religious liberty be restore and all of our liberties. God bless. Peace, Peter ~Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com