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.

Outlines

00:00

🙏 Embracing Humility and Silence

The paragraph begins with a gospel reading where Jesus declares Himself as the 'bread of life.' The author reflects on the concept of 'murmuring' or complaining, which was prevalent among the Jews in response to Jesus' statements. The speaker urges the audience to stop murmuring and instead focus on listening with their hearts. He uses 'murmuring' to symbolize the quiet, often negative complaints or judgments people hold within themselves, suggesting that such behavior distracts from the more important spiritual focus on Jesus and His teachings.

05:00

🌬️ Positive Murmurs of Life

This paragraph contrasts negative and positive forms of murmuring. While many may associate murmuring with complaints or negativity, the author highlights that not all murmurs are bad. He provides examples of positive murmurs, such as the gentle rustling of the wind or sweet, affectionate words exchanged between loved ones. The speaker emphasizes the importance of redirecting our focus away from negativity and towards these positive, life-affirming forms of communication.

10:00

🔍 Focus on the Gems, Not the Spam

The author encourages the audience to focus on what is truly significant in life rather than on trivial matters that drain energy and joy. He uses the analogy of ‘spam’ to describe unnecessary, negative thoughts and conversations that detract from inner peace. Instead, he advises focusing on meaningful moments, 'gems,' which are encounters with God and expressions of love. He underscores the importance of listening actively and choosing what to think, say, and feel with intentionality and purpose.

15:06

🗝️ Listening with Openness and Respect

This paragraph provides practical advice on how to listen more effectively and compassionately. The author stresses the importance of listening with an open mind, free of preconceived notions or biases, and suggests using a 'password' or cue word in families to facilitate meaningful conversations. He advises listening not to argue or rebut but to understand and connect deeply with the speaker, promoting respect and empathy in communication.

20:10

🕊️ Choosing Love Over Murmuring

The final paragraph reflects on the example of the Virgin Mary, who accepted God's will without complaint or questioning, presenting her as a model for embracing life with grace and humility. The author urges the audience to stop murmuring, criticizing, or spreading negativity and instead align their will with God's purpose, trusting His timing. He closes by mentioning his upcoming missionary trip and encourages people to pray and support one another in positive ways.

Keywords

💡Murmuring

In the context of the script, murmuring refers to the quiet, discontented complaining or whispering by people. Jesus addresses this behavior, telling the people to stop murmuring when they question his divine origin. The concept is expanded upon to represent negative gossip, backbiting, and rumor-mongering, which detracts from focusing on spiritual matters such as the 'bread of life.'

💡Bread of Life

This refers to Jesus' statement, 'I am the bread of life,' signifying that belief in him leads to eternal life. He contrasts this with the manna eaten by the ancestors, which did not grant eternal life. The bread of life is a central symbol of spiritual nourishment and salvation, urging the audience to focus on spiritual fulfillment rather than trivial complaints.

💡Eternal Life

Eternal life in the video refers to the promise Jesus gives to those who believe in him. He contrasts the spiritual sustenance he offers with the temporary sustenance of manna in the Old Testament. Jesus assures that those who partake in the 'bread of life' will never die, indicating a life that transcends physical death and persists in the presence of God.

💡Whispering

Whispering is used as a metaphor for speaking ill of others behind their backs. The priest connects murmuring to whispering, suggesting that negative speech, even when done in a low or secretive tone, is harmful. The act of whispering about others in a negative way is equated with character assassination, and listeners are encouraged to refrain from such behavior.

💡Character Assassination

This term refers to damaging someone's reputation through gossip or negative talk. The priest explains that murmuring and whispering can 'murder' someone's character by unfairly bringing them down in the eyes of others. The script urges listeners to refrain from this destructive behavior and to instead focus on uplifting one another.

💡Missionary

In the script, a missionary is mentioned in the context of Father Moiko, who is being sent to Panama to spread the Christian faith. The idea of missionary work is connected to the call to share the Gospel and to face challenges such as new languages and cultures. It emphasizes the act of spreading faith and embodying Christ's message.

💡Listening

Listening is presented as an important virtue in the script, contrasting with the negative habit of murmuring. The priest urges the audience to be better listeners, not only to each other but also to God. Listening is described as an act of openness, humility, and respect, fostering understanding rather than debate or conflict.

💡Openness

Openness, in the context of the script, refers to the willingness to listen and receive guidance from God and others. The priest explains that being open means having an open mind and heart, ready to listen without judgment or defensiveness. This attitude is essential for spiritual growth and meaningful communication.

💡God's Will

God's will is emphasized as a key to leading a peaceful life. The priest contrasts this with people following their own will, which often leads to dissatisfaction and conflict. Aligning oneself with God's will, God's way, and God's time is portrayed as a path to tranquility and fulfillment, echoing the obedience of figures like Mary.

💡Humility

Humility is described as an essential quality for truly listening and understanding others. The priest mentions that humility involves acknowledging that one does not have all the answers and that everyone has a story worth hearing. This humility leads to better relationships and deeper spiritual insight, aligning with the virtues of patience and compassion.

Highlights

Jesus asserts that He is the bread that came down from heaven, causing the Jews to murmur in protest.

Jesus emphasizes that no one can come to Him unless drawn by the Father, and those who believe have eternal life.

Jesus declares, 'I am the bread of life,' contrasting it with the manna that the ancestors ate and died.

The bread Jesus offers is His flesh, given for the life of the world, promising eternal life to those who partake.

Father Miko, a missionary to Panama, is sent off with prayers, highlighting the challenges of a new language and culture.

The homily shifts focus on the concept of 'murmuring,' questioning why people focus on the negative aspects rather than the message of life and goodness.

The speaker encourages the congregation to become listeners rather than murmurers, highlighting the importance of positive communication.

Murmuring can be both negative, like spreading rumors, and positive, like whispering sweet nothings to loved ones or murmuring the word of God.

The speaker draws a parallel between 'murmurer' and 'murderer,' suggesting that negative murmuring can be akin to character assassination.

The homily urges listeners to avoid negative group murmuring and instead focus on uplifting and positive conversations.

Listening with respect, care, and humility is emphasized as a crucial aspect of communication.

The homily advises listeners to stop focusing on insignificant, negative details and instead focus on the 'bread of life' and God's teachings.

The speaker highlights the importance of listening to God and others with an open heart and mind, and making time for meaningful communication.

The Feast of the Assumption of Mama Mary is mentioned as an example of saying 'yes' to God's will without questioning or murmuring.

The speaker concludes by encouraging the congregation to live by 'God's will, God's way, God's time,' as a path to a more peaceful life, free from murmuring.

Transcripts

the Lord be with you and with your

spirit a reading from the holy Gospel

according to John glory to you oh

Lord the Jews started to murmur in

protest because Jesus claimed I am the

bread that came down from heaven they

kept saying is is this not Jesus the son

of Joseph jph do we not know his father

and mother how can he claim to have come

down from

heaven stop your murmuring Jesus told

them no one can come to me unless the

father who sent me throws him I will

raise him up on the last day it is

written in the prophets they shall all

be taught by God everyone who has heard

the father

and learn from him comes to me not that

anyone has seen the father only the one

who is from God has seen the father let

me firmly assure you he who believes has

eternal life I am the bread of life your

ancestors ate Mana in the desert but

they died this is the bread that comes

down from heaven for a man to to eat and

never die I myself am the living bread

come down from heaven if anyone eats his

this bread He Shall Live Forever The

Bread I will give is my flesh for the

life of the

world the gospel of the Lord praise to

you Lord Jesus Christ

Come Holy

Spirit bless this unworthy priest that

time we share with humility and with the

heart and holy spirit please bless the

heart of each one here who listen that

they listen with the heart Come Holy

Spirit

Come sisters and brothers

uh father Miko was the one who read the

gospel today and Father moiko we are

sending him off in this Mass he is our

missionary to

Panama it's a difficult place and new

language and

everything we send him off with our

prayers in this mass and father moiko

read in the B the gospel today the word

these words the Jews

murmured about Jesus

and the second time that his word is

said stop

murmuring murmuring is our quiet silent

Whispering

murmurer Are you a murmurer

murer there's something about that

word

why why am I focusing on that

word instead of

focusing on the bread of life on what

Jesus was saying

Bread of

Life all kinds of

murmuring and brothers and

sisters aren't we all

murmurers first cin and murmurer are the

rumor mongers

or

Mar first cin

Bashers those

people who think or speak ill of other

people today let us ask the Lord his

simple gift help me to become a

listener rather than a

murmurer a rumor mongerer or a basion

we focus on more beautiful things you

murmurer also has a very positive thing

not all murmurers are negative no like

the murmuring of the wind the murmuring

of

beautiful or murmuring sweet nothings to

your loved ones husbands who are herey

whisper

that's beautiful when you murmur

positive things to each other or when

you murmur the word of

God

Focus stop being a

murmurer murer

example

negative is Saw the Sign City proper

CER normal

school

com pick up 4 by4

and

every May the Holy Spirit remove these

negative mindsets from us because we're

focusing on the wrong

things Jesus was speaking about life

about goodness and you focus on what is

wrong what is bad

what Come Holy Spirit it's useless

really to keep murmuring negative things

about

everything so therefore our prayer today

is Lord help me to stop being a murmurer

but to be more of a listener to you and

to other

people how many parents here experience

this you say something at home and the

children my

murmuring you all know that and it's

painful so I believe we can change so

today

Lord

murmuring you can do that stop murmuring

among yourselves that's what the Lord is

telling us actually when you pronounce

the word murmurer it it sounds like

murderer oh yes when we murmur negative

things about people we actually murder

them character assassination

many times we are so

unkind God hears everything so dear

friends don't

kill the character of people don't kill

the hopes and dreams here somebody who

just hopes and dreams and what do we

shoot him down

[Music]

there are people who cannot uh accept

that there are people who are better

than them why do we murmur against

people number one maybe because we don't

like

them I'll shoot him down number two

maybe

because you uh you doubt them to

mind number three because

maybe they threaten you they threaten

your comfort

zones you bring out the insecurities in

you so that's your

defense let's stop playing the game of

murmuring

backbiting rumor mongering

Etc

useless

useless

question are you in a murmuring

group sisters and

brothers think about it why

is that

necessary is that

[Music]

useful no not necessarily you can

say I make a stand I feel uncomfortable

change topic or

next we end up tired and exasperated

let's talk of some other more pleasant

things so dear friends take time then

to make a move where when

people start

talking

innocent

murmuring Jerry

left group

chat Jerry

left try your best not to get involved

keep focusing on what is really

important instead of focusing

on what do we talk

about focus

on the bread of

life remember I told you before S at the

Gate of Heaven

special

langua

langua SS and

brothers instead of focus on more

important things like the bread of

life register you were focusing on the

wrong Little Things

spam please in your life a lot of

problems come a lot of issues hurts

these are spam treat them as spam silly

Petty adjustable

matter they're not the most important

things in your life focus on the gems

God encounter moments of your

life treat them SP

don't let them destroy your P that's why

it's so important in the

Eucharist at least when we come to us

Lord are nothing compared to your

presence choose what to think choose

what to say choose what to feel and so

what do we

do uh

listening listen more what does it mean

to listen the first thing is you cannot

listen if you don't take time to

listen listen take time to be still

before God take time parents an not I'm

here make time take

time number

two

openness to be open means

okay I'm willing to listen to

you open mind and open

heart register with God Lord I'm here

I'm open to you speak Lord your servant

is listening to people around you I'm

here no time I'm not even open to listen

to you by the way I repeat what what

makes listening and communicating easier

password family husband and wife make a

password password maybe coffee Cofe

coffee time

or once that word is

said I I'm going I have I want to talk

to you and you see hear that yes I'm

here

I what does it do it facilitate

talking if you make a decision password

nothing when this word is

said I'm here to talk you're here to

listen it's okay I'll take time to be

with you and to

listen and wife children with your

parents once that word is said

okay

password okay

assignment number two Let Us listen with

respect resp

when somebody tells you I need to talk

to you you respect

that and maybe even ask

respect one another and please don't

listen with

rebuttal you're listening not

to understand but to debate and put down

the other person that kind of listening

the and don't Len adom

listen with

care with Care number one you listen

carefully carefully means

okay

superfici listen with care and when you

say I care I am here I'm all ears I'm

all mind I'm all heart listening to you

100% s s all and lastly listen with

humility

to listen with humility means there are

many things I don't know I don't have

the Monopoly over truth and

[Music]

righteousness

about no no no every person has a story

to tell every person is worth stopping

for

and finally please

maraid learn to do everything with love

with the high listen

more August 15 is a very special day for

us the Feast of the

Assumption of Mama Mary the woman who

said yes to the Lord without

complaining without questioning without

murmuring picture

this father unknown

Etc if that was the attitude of Mama

Mary she would have missed the point

Mama Mary just said okay I don't

understand

but yes sisters and brothers let's try

to go this way from now on I really

would like to suggest if you want to

have a more peaceful life three

things God's

will God's

way God's

time why you have so many issues in your

life my will my way my time

if only we become more like Mama Mary

God's

will God's way God's time maybe we'll

stop

murmuring maybe we'll

stop hurting other

people so thank

you murm now

negative God bless you H Mama Mary loves

you

amen amen

amen

Ming by the

way I'm going for a trip to America on

Monday mission trip uh to help our

missionaries and some talks some

masses so I'll be in May August 15 St

Matthew in Corona

5:00 p.m. August 17 San Diego St Mary's

900 a.m. August 18 the Resurrection

Church

isido uh 2 p.m. and August 23 uh Niles

illino St Isaac

6:30 August 24 St stepen the

Marty the PLS Illinois 6:30 August 25 St

Ferdinand Chapel

Chicago Illinois and August 30 uh All

Souls in San Francisco Walnut Avenue 6:

p.m. St Timothy August 31 St Mato San

Mato 600 p.m. St Augustine September 1

5:30 p.m. South San

Francisco St Peter of the Hallow and All

Hallows September 7 10 a.m. Sacramento

and September 8th Divine Mercy in

Sacramento as well

Ming thank you please stop

murmuring just keep on praying and keep

encouraging people

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]