tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18842286.post2167792070560412703..comments2024-02-26T09:30:54.111-06:00Comments on Domine, da mihi hanc aquam!: Where's your courage?Fr. Philip Powell, OPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14970857401221305221noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18842286.post-70915471657927697382012-06-19T09:02:32.251-05:002012-06-19T09:02:32.251-05:0099.999% of us fight those Little Battles, right? ...99.999% of us fight those Little Battles, right? The Big Battles rarely come along until the little ones have left us exhausted and vulnerable.Fr. Philip Powell, OPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14970857401221305221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18842286.post-63262998510618309772012-06-17T09:43:49.311-05:002012-06-17T09:43:49.311-05:00For me this was a poignant reflection on how lil d...For me this was a poignant reflection on how lil d could easily use seemingly insignificant battles lost to keep my tree of Life in Christ from sprouting. Or, if my little sapling wilts and dies then the big battle doesn't matter for I'm already lost. Crafty little bugger. I'm foregoing the second cup of coffee....Natstellenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18842286.post-60920560876124261522012-06-16T21:14:04.534-05:002012-06-16T21:14:04.534-05:00Father, this homily is so important. To think it w...Father, this homily is so important. To think it will heard from a pulpit! From that vantage point it will be even more rousing. I hope I catch your Mass tomorrow. I will now be asking the Lord for courage and I know he will give it to me since he always grants what we ask for according to his will. I will also ask for the attendant gifts. Thank you thank you for this rousing call to spiritual arms.Cloenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18842286.post-36449857591722953792012-06-16T20:39:24.010-05:002012-06-16T20:39:24.010-05:00It worked for me and spoke to me on several differ...It worked for me and spoke to me on several different levels: how we can grow in courage and strength in mustard-seed like bits, hopefully nourishing our faith so that when called upon we'll find it a tall, strong tree. Realizing, of course, that without water and fertilizer and light it will grow poorly and be weak and not prepared for the fight that is to come.<br /><br />But I did find it a bit understated. Such a hard task, to walk that razor's edge - should I push a little and risk the fall, or hold back and maybe never realize the potential? There is a lot of leeway for independent thought, and again you have to ride that edge hoping to balance the specific with the general, and lead/encourage without seeming pushy. But sometimes courage requires "pushy", doesn't it? Then again, sometimes it calls for holding back - tough call. Over all this seems fairly balanced, but I neither know your congregation or what you are hoping people to get out of your words. <br /><br />And for some strange reason, after reading this I had a strong desire to go to confession!! <br />Take care, SP.Shellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05485793986602894527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18842286.post-22198603790265992152012-06-16T19:09:45.747-05:002012-06-16T19:09:45.747-05:00Oh! And I am always soliciting comments. . .that&...Oh! And I am always soliciting comments. . .that's the only purpose of the blog.Fr. Philip Powell, OPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14970857401221305221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18842286.post-3827417409030852492012-06-16T19:06:26.953-05:002012-06-16T19:06:26.953-05:00Ben, I hear you and I almost went there. . .there&...Ben, I hear you and I almost went there. . .there's a very, very thin line btw encouraging obedience to the faith when attacked and soliciting for one side of a political agenda. I'll think more on it. . .thanks!Fr. Philip Powell, OPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14970857401221305221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18842286.post-60912817643347598542012-06-16T18:21:17.425-05:002012-06-16T18:21:17.425-05:00Are you still soliciting comments, Father? I thin...Are you still soliciting comments, Father? I think that the last three paragraphs are very good, but I think they are disconnected from the first two paragraphs. I think that this homily falls into the "shorthand" category. You and I know what it means to follow Christ, but does everybody know that? I've been commenting recently about the LCWR and the Vatican's actions (or lack thereof) to bring them into line. But the LCWR thinks they are following Christ. I'd suspect if they heard this homily they'd think "we're being attacked, so we're doing the right thing". They don't know the shorthand. They haven't heard all the homilies you may have given before that more fully flesh out what it means to follow Christ.<br /><br />So, if you're interested, I think your homily could be improved by being more specific. You hint at something with "piece of legislation". I know you may already feel like everyone already knows all that, and you don't want to rehash the same position statement every week, but the reality is you have to think about people hearing your homily for the first time. A few sentences would be enough: "People say contraception is OK, but it takes courage to stand with the Church and say it's not. People say divorce is OK, but it takes courage to stand with the Church and say it's not." Something like that inserted into the homily would help focus it, I think.<br /><br />Thanks for all you do.GenXBenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15298459502431357489noreply@blogger.com