tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18842286.post2850539567348604216..comments2024-02-26T09:30:54.111-06:00Comments on Domine, da mihi hanc aquam!: Neither terrorists nor viruses. . .Fr. Philip Powell, OPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14970857401221305221noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18842286.post-57578573453203519792014-08-10T06:09:32.417-05:002014-08-10T06:09:32.417-05:00HA! Well, not explode exactly. . .maybe throb a li...HA! Well, not explode exactly. . .maybe throb a little.Fr. Philip Powell, OPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14970857401221305221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18842286.post-67295904122556754602014-08-10T00:34:35.059-05:002014-08-10T00:34:35.059-05:00^Things to to say in order to make a homiletics pr...^Things to to say in order to make a homiletics professor's head explode.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18842286.post-9553339428286281842014-08-06T14:13:30.963-05:002014-08-06T14:13:30.963-05:00Stop critiquing??? :-(Stop critiquing??? :-(Fr. Philip Powell, OPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14970857401221305221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18842286.post-90424592778134881142014-08-06T12:13:13.665-05:002014-08-06T12:13:13.665-05:00I'll write more later, but simply put, if this...I'll write more later, but simply put, if this is the style of homily you are consciously trying for, then I will probably stop critiquing them for there is almost nothing to critique. It is basic, hits on a good basic idea, but that is it. When listening to the homily this morning my thoughts went elsewhere, which never happens to me during your homilies - there was a point a couple of minutes in where I honestly didn't care what you had to say, then something in the second paragraph brought me back. Sometimes what is from the heart IS an eloquence of words. And Paul could turn a phrase when he wanted to, but he apparently just wasn't a very good preacher :-). Shellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05485793986602894527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18842286.post-58235118510835882482014-08-06T11:49:26.504-05:002014-08-06T11:49:26.504-05:00While preparing some assignments for the seminaria...While preparing some assignments for the seminarians during my vacation, I went back and read several of my earlier homilies (2005-2007). I was struck by how unnecessarily complex they were. . .rhetorically complex and intellectually scattered. I enjoyed writing and preaching those homilies, but I get the feeling now that I was writing them for the sheer pleasure of exercising my long-dormant literary muscles. One of my former students from UD sent me a longish critique that I've taken to heart: she noted that I often sound like I'm trying too hard to be profound. I can't say that I've ever noticed myself being profound intentionally (!), but I get what she's saying all too well.<br /><br />In response to all this, I've made a conscious effort to streamline and simplify my style. I'm thinking of Paul when he writes to the Corinthians that he speaks to them "not with an eloquence of words" but from the heart. Of course, this doesn't mean that I have to compose simplistic homilies. . .it just means that I need to keep the decorative verbiage to a minimum.Fr. Philip Powell, OPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14970857401221305221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18842286.post-58558156474503581152014-08-06T11:43:53.199-05:002014-08-06T11:43:53.199-05:00You are most welcomed!You are most welcomed!Fr. Philip Powell, OPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14970857401221305221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18842286.post-34191629347643527142014-08-06T09:30:48.601-05:002014-08-06T09:30:48.601-05:00The reminder, "do not be afraid" is alwa...The reminder, "do not be afraid" is always good to hear. The homily itself is one I would place in the "decent" category - there were a couple of parts I really liked, such as the phrase "unflinching beacons of God's living glory" and the explanation of Jesus as the "literal flesh and blood of His promise." But this morning, as you read the Gospel during the Mass, a line jumped out at me which had never jumped out before: "... the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus...." They saw no one but Jesus - I don't think any homily could have competed with that phrase as it affected me this morning :-)!<br /><br />And thanks for the prayers! I am most grateful. God bless.Shellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05485793986602894527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18842286.post-16582936259555210742014-08-06T07:19:00.903-05:002014-08-06T07:19:00.903-05:00I think many of us are a bit jaded and world-weary...I think many of us are a bit jaded and world-weary. Upon reading your words, I was once more reminded to rise and do not be afraid. Thank you, Father.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com