January 14, 2014: Tuesday, 1st week, Ordinary Time
Readings- 1 Sm 1:9-20 Hannah prayed, promising: “Lord, if you give your handmaid a male child, I will give him to the Lord.” Eli: “May God grant you what you have asked.” She conceived and bore a son whom she called Samuel [asked of/heard by God].
- 1 Sm 2:1, 4-7, 8abcd "My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior." The barren wife bears seven sons. The Lord puts to death and gives life, casts down and raises up, makes poor and makes rich, humbles and exalts.
- Mk 1:21-28 The people were astonished at Jesus' teaching, for he taught with authority. He rebuked an unclean spirit; all were amazed.
- Homily: Models of the believer:
- Scribes and Pharisees beat on regular folks, closing the door to the Kingdom. Some teach and witness this way now, and many think faith is as they present it.
- Eli, who disparages Hannah after her prayer, represents the “salesman” of the faith, a tepid priest whose heart isn't in it. People feel unloved by Christians. I have sympathy for Eli, because when she explained, Eli says, “May God grant your prayer.” He'd hidden his priestly anointing inside his laziness, the poor, lukewarm man.
- Eli’s sons, brigands chasing after power and money, exploited people, as corrupt Christians.
- Jesus, teaching with the authority of his own holiness, being close to people, seeking to heal.
Don't be hypocrites, corrupt, or lukewarm; be like Jesus, zealous to seek, heal, and love, and say: “If I do this, think how God loves you!”
- Gospel Joy (Evangelii Gaudium drill-down), continuing Chapter 3 (a series):
Homiletic resources: Pay attention both to what ought to be said and how. Respond to God's love with all your talents; don't offer a product of poor quality. Say much in few words. Use images; it helps people accept the message, making it seem familiar, practical, and related to life and can awaken desire and move the will. Have an idea, a sentiment, and an image.
The faithful benefit from simple, clear, direct, well-adapted preaching: understandable language, ordered, logical, focused, positive (suggesting what we can do better, pointing to attractive values, offering hope) Gather periodically to discover resources to improve preaching. (Reflections3.III, 156-159, pp. 124-127)
- Creighton: Do we pray seriously, with hope? Do we ask for things beyond our own lives, leaving the answer in our loving God's hands?
- RC.net: Jesus spoke God's word as never before. The unclean spirit had faith without hope or love.
- Song of Hannah (psalm)
- Hannah's song and Mary's Magnificat (psalm-related)
- Music:
- Director was the cantor and keyboardist, singing penitential act invocations and responsorial psalm from the piano (see Sept. 15).
- Two more singers, one guitar player; good voices, two-part harmony
- Good selections for day and season:
- Hark, the herald angels sing/ Wesley
- The Lord will bless his people/ Booth (for psalm; see Sunday)
- Healing waters/ Thomson
- We belong to you/ Thomson (back up for interview)
- All who are thirsty/ Kutless
- Let the river flow/ Evans
- Singable homegrown Mass parts
- Cantor and piano were heard the strongest.
- Keyboard tried to make an acoustic piano sound.
- Word:
- Good teen readers
- Presider integrated pre-Mass Confirmation class during greeting
- Homily length: 20-25 minutes
- Other:
- Lyrics were displayed on Screen behind the altar, below the crucifix. I found the "St. Prueba/Life Teen" display distracting when no song was in progress. During entrance song, verse 3 was displayed during verse 2. (I made up the name.)
- Each Eucharistic minister gave him/her-self Communion from the cup; it would have been a nice touch if presider gave it or they ministered to one another instead.
- "Kneeling person" tie bar: Hannah's prayer (1st reading)
- "Drop" pin :-(fell off tie before photo): Hannah wept during prayer (1st reading)
- "People" tie pin: barren wife bears seven sons (psalm)
Dress your life!
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