𝑨𝑹𝑬 𝒀𝑶𝑼 𝑨 𝑴𝑼𝑹𝑴𝑼𝑹𝑬𝑹? | Homily 11 August 2024 with Fr. Jerry Orbos, SVD | 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Summary

The sermon reflects on the theme of murmuring, as mentioned in the Gospel of John, where people questioned Jesus' claim of being the 'bread from heaven.' The speaker emphasizes the negative impact of murmuring—complaining, gossiping, and criticizing others. He encourages the congregation to be better listeners, focusing on God's will and blessings, and urges them to stop murmuring. The sermon also highlights the importance of humility, respect, and love in communication, using Mary’s example of obedience to God's plan. The speaker concludes by asking for prayers and announcing an upcoming missionary trip.

Takeaways

• 🙏 Jesus emphasizes that He is the bread of life, and only those drawn by the Father will come to Him.
• 🍞 Jesus contrasts the manna eaten by the ancestors in the desert with Himself as the living bread that gives eternal life.
• 🙅‍♂️ Jesus rebukes the murmuring of the Jews, who question how He could have come from heaven.
• 🤫 The priest reflects on murmuring, warning against being a 'murmurer'—someone who gossips or complains about others.
• 💬 The homily emphasizes the importance of listening over murmuring, focusing on the positive and on God’s word.
• 👂 Listening to others with respect, openness, and humility is highlighted as a key way to improve communication and avoid judgment.
• ❤️ The priest encourages replacing murmuring with love, kindness, and encouragement, urging people to stop character assassination.
• 🌬 Positive murmuring, like the gentle whispers of love or the murmuring of nature, is encouraged over negative speech.
• 💡 The priest offers practical advice: listen to people carefully and attentively, showing that you care.
• 👼 He concludes with a reflection on the Feast of the Assumption, using Mary’s humility and trust in God's will as an example.

Q & A

What was the key message in the Gospel reading from John?

The key message was that Jesus is the 'bread of life' who has come down from heaven, offering eternal life to those who believe in Him.

Why did the Jews murmur in protest against Jesus?

The Jews murmured because they found it difficult to accept Jesus’ claim that He came down from heaven, especially since they knew His earthly parents.

What did Jesus tell the Jews to stop doing?

Jesus told the Jews to stop murmuring and to believe in Him, emphasizing that no one can come to Him unless drawn by the Father.

What does the priest mean by 'murmuring' in a negative context?

The priest uses 'murmuring' to describe a habit of quietly complaining, whispering, or gossiping about others, which he likens to 'character assassination' or spreading negativity.

How does the priest contrast negative and positive murmuring?

The priest contrasts negative murmuring, such as gossip and complaints, with positive murmuring, like whispering sweet things to loved ones or speaking God's word quietly.

What advice does the priest give to those who find themselves murmuring negatively?

The priest advises people to focus on more positive things, like listening to others with care, speaking kindly, and avoiding gossip or backbiting.

What does the priest suggest we focus on instead of murmuring?

He suggests focusing on 'the bread of life' and more important, positive aspects of life rather than dwelling on negative or petty issues.

What does the priest mean by 'treating things as spam'?

The priest encourages treating trivial or negative issues like spam in an email inbox—discarding them and not letting them disturb one's peace of mind.

How does the priest suggest improving listening skills in communication?

He recommends taking time to listen, being open-minded and respectful, listening with care, and avoiding listening with the intent to argue or rebut.

What lesson does the priest draw from the example of the Virgin Mary?

The priest praises the Virgin Mary for her humility and willingness to accept God's will without questioning or murmuring, suggesting that we should follow her example by accepting God's will, way, and time.