Blog Post 9/23/2023 - Homily 9/22/2023 School Mass at OLPH

Homily 9/22/2023 School Mass at OLPH

St. Paul in his letter to Timothy offers us guidelines for life: righteous, devotion, faith, love, patience and gentleness; they are excellent guidelines for us to follow.  Our presider this morning is Fr. Dan Lannon, OSFS, and Oblates of St. Francis de Sales.  They administer De Sales University, where Fr. Dan is the chaplain.  The Oblates follow the inspiration of St. Francis de Sales who said, “Be who you are and be that well to give honor to the master craftsman’s whose handiwork you are.”  

 

Each one of us has been given a glimpse of the master craftsman that we are called to share with the world.  If we share that glimpse the world will be illumined, it will be brighter, if we don’t the world will be darker.

Today’s Gospel reminds us that we are each, we are all called to proclaim the Gospel by our lives.  In Psalm 51 from Morning prayer [today], we ask God for Wisdom, “Indeed You love truth in the heart, then in the secret of my heart teach me wisdom.”  We began this school year emphasizing preparation and participation in Mass.  We do not come to Mass as a spectator, but to join with the priest, the deacon and our community  to serve God.   

 

How we enter, How we are present, How we kneel, sit and stand are important. Our reception of the Eucharist [sacred nourishment]—is a special time.  Our awareness the attentiveness of our mind and our heart are very important.   

 

How can we give to God our: Personal Best, Act Responsibly, Work & Play Safe and Show Respect?  By Entering/Walking into church – with prayer hands aware that we are visiting a special person’s home.  Then attentively make 1. The sign of the cross and use Holy Water, from the Baptismal Font [2 fingers].  2. We remind ourselves to enter Church is silence because we are entering holy space.  Then, 3. we Genuflect or Bowing [simple or solemn] toward the Tabernacle.  4. If we go past the Altar, we make a simple or profound bow.  5. When we receiving Holy Communion [our hands a throne] or Receiving a Blessing [we cross our arms o our chest], we are profoundly reverent doing either.  6. When we sing hymns and/or responses we do so with our voice and our heart.  7. After Mass we Depart Church – remembering our call to “... go in peace, glorifying the Lord by our life.  8. In all we do we offer these things to honor God and to thank God for creating us.

May God Be Praised.