Fr Charbel gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Sep 04, 2024, where he reflects on a foundational question from the Baltimore Catechism: "Why did God make you?" The response-"God made me to know, love, and serve Him in this world and be happy with Him forever in the next"-is crucial to understanding the purpose of life. This answer highlights two goals: to serve God on earth and to attain eternal happiness in heaven. Keeping this purpose at the forefront of our minds helps guide all of life’s decisions. Father uses the analogy of a journey, explaining that, much like a traveler who always knows their destination, we must always keep our ultimate purpose-serving God and reaching heaven-present in our thoughts.
He emphasizes that while miracles are a means to grow in faith, they are not ends in themselves. He refers to the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law (Matthew 8:14-15 - bible.usccb.or...) as an example of how a miracle prompted immediate service to God. Similarly, ministers and preachers serve as means to guide us toward God, but we should not fixate on them at the expense of focusing on Christ Himself. Father refers to 1 Corinthians 3:4 - bible.usccb.or..., where St. Paul warns against divisions caused by allegiance to specific preachers rather than to Christ.
Finally, Father encourages us to balance means and ends, always reflecting on whether our decisions help us know, love, and serve God better, with the ultimate goal of eternal happiness with Him. He prays for the intercession of the Blessed Mother, who perfectly kept her end in mind throughout her life.
Ave Maria!
Mass: St. Rose of Viterbo - www.newadvent.o...
Readings: Wednesday in the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time - usccb.org/bible...
1st: 1co 3:1-9
Resp: psa 33:12-15, 20-21
Gsp: luk 4:38-44
More on the Readings: airmaria.com/r...
Also on Facebook: fb.watch/uomXp...
For Audio and Transcript go to airmaria.com/?...
By the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate marymediatrix.com
To Subscribe to this channel: www.youtube.com...
To contribute to Franciscanfriars and AirMaria: airmaria.com/c...
To learn more about Mary and share with others subscribe to our magazine Missio Immaculatae at missiomagazine...
Interested in Franciscan Spirituality as a layperson? See our MIM movement marymediatrix....
For information on becoming a friar: marymediatrix....
25 сен 2024