What did you hear today??

I'm always interested in what folks hear at Mass in the homily especially because I am a homilist.  In fact I have to pinch preach today for a neighboring church, my old home parish of St. Jane's in Abita Springs.  Today, I believe presents the homilist with several powerful options.  A homily is supposed to break open the Word of God, as we have heard proclaimed from the day's readings, especially the Gospel.  Today, we certainly have a good one as Jesus is approached by two Apostles, the brothers, James & John, wanted a little position of power.  Jesus uses their bad judgement to teach a lesson about humility and service.

First, can you walk the walk that Jesus must face?  Jesus mentions a cup he must drink and a baptism he must be baptised with?  He is, of course, referring to His coming passion and death.  But he teaches a greater lesson here too: in the Father's kingdom we are called to be humble and most certainly called to serve and not be served!

Today the Church gives us new role models we could preach about and their life of humble service.  With the canonization today of seven new Saints, we could look to any of their lives to reinforce today's Gospel message.  I'm going to choose the two American women who are now Saints: Saint Kateri Tekawitha and Saint Marianne Cope.  Both of these women faced amazing challenges and tough opposition to serve the Body of Christ without counting the cost.  They would be great examples to hear about in a homily!

This Sunday is also World Mission Sunday.  Did you hear anything about this today?  It is important that we continue to pray for and support financially the missions.  It is also important for us to realize that in 2012, we have become a mission nation in the USA.  We now need the amazing numbers of newly ordained Priests in places like Africa, India and South America to come to us now and help with our poor, albeit improving, vocations crisis in America.

It's also still the early days of the Year of Faith and the week after we remember the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council.

So as you can see, plenty to choose from.  What will I preach about tonight?  What did you hear?