Cathedral Homilies - September 22 (Fr. Viel)

Manila Cathedral

21 Sept 202410:20

Summary

TLDRIn this homily, the speaker shares a personal story of learning to drive, drawing parallels to life's journey. They emphasize the importance of patience, practice, and perseverance in achieving greatness. The message highlights the role of guidance from others and the significance of facing challenges and sorrows. It concludes with the assurance that greatness is a process nurtured by God's continuous support and love.

Takeaways

🚗 The joy of learning to drive and the excitement of new experiences.
👴 The importance of learning from elders and the value of their guidance.
📚 The need for patience and gradual learning, not jumping to advanced stages too quickly.
👨‍🏫 The role of instructors in providing direction and correcting mistakes.
🙏 The spiritual aspect of greatness, involving humility and facing challenges.
🗣️ The significance of facing criticism and adversity as part of the path to greatness.
🌳 The metaphor of the fruit of wisdom, including purity, peace, gentleness, and mercy.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The responsibility to guide and encourage others on their path to greatness.
📖 The teachings from the letter of St. James on imparting wisdom.
🙌 The reassurance of God's support and guidance in our pursuit of greatness.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the homily?
-The main theme of the homily is the journey towards greatness, which involves patience, practice, perseverance, and learning from experiences and guidance.
What personal story does the speaker share to illustrate the concept of learning?
-The speaker shares a story about learning to drive, emphasizing the importance of following instructions step by step and the challenges faced when trying to learn too quickly.
How does the speaker describe the feeling of driving a car for the first time?
-The speaker describes the feeling as exciting and joyous, comparing it to the joy of being able to move the car from the parking spot to a distance away.
What does the speaker say about the process of learning to drive?
-The speaker mentions that learning to drive involves taking instructions from the instructor, such as gear shifting, slowing down, and turning, and acknowledges the importance of following these instructions.
What lesson does the speaker draw from their driving school experience?
-The speaker learns that to become great at something, one must take things step by step, rather than trying to jump ahead or ignore instructions.
How does the speaker relate the concept of greatness to the teachings of Jesus?
-The speaker relates greatness to the teachings of Jesus by emphasizing that greatness is not about being applauded or congratulated, but sometimes involves facing challenges, criticism, and even death, as Jesus did.
What does the speaker say about the role of others in our journey towards greatness?
-The speaker suggests that others play a crucial role in our journey towards greatness by correcting us, guiding us, and sometimes even speaking harsh words that we may dislike.
What does the speaker mean when they say 'the path to greatness is also sharing fruits of wisdom'?
-The speaker means that being great involves not only personal growth but also imparting wisdom and positive attributes such as purity, peace, gentleness, and mercy to others.
How does the speaker connect the idea of greatness with the teachings from the letter of St. James?
-The speaker connects greatness with the teachings from the letter of St. James by stating that every fruit of wisdom, such as purity, peace, and gentleness, contributes to greatness.
What does the speaker suggest as a way to encourage others on their path to greatness?
-The speaker suggests that to encourage others, one should share God's wisdom and provide positive reinforcement, rather than just focusing on their shortcomings.
How does the speaker conclude the homily?
-The speaker concludes by emphasizing that greatness is not an overnight achievement but requires patience and perseverance, and that God's guidance and support are essential in this journey.

Outlines

00:00

🚗 Learning to Drive: A Spiritual Journey

In the first paragraph, the speaker shares a personal story about learning to drive in 2019, which serves as a metaphor for life's journey. They recount the excitement of driving a car for the first time and the gradual learning process under the guidance of an instructor. The narrative highlights the importance of taking instruction seriously, the desire to learn quickly, and the realization that sometimes one must slow down and follow instructions step by step. The speaker then draws a parallel to Jesus' teachings about greatness, suggesting that being great involves facing challenges, receiving guidance, and sometimes enduring criticism.

05:01

🌟 The Path to Greatness: Trials and Encouragement

The second paragraph delves into the concept of greatness, contrasting it with the idea of immediate success and recognition. The speaker discusses how greatness is not always about being applauded but also about facing adversity and even death, as Jesus did. They emphasize the importance of learning from life's experiences, including the words and wisdom that can guide us. The speaker also touches on the role of encouragement and the sharing of wisdom, particularly in teaching others to be good and great. The paragraph concludes with a reference to the Psalm, reminding us that God's guidance and protection are essential in our pursuit of greatness.

10:02

🙏 Divine Support in Our Quest for Greatness

In the final paragraph, the speaker reassures the audience that God's support is a constant in our lives, even as we strive for greatness. The message is one of reassurance and faith, suggesting that while we may face trials and need guidance from others, it is ultimately God's love and care that will see us through. The paragraph serves as a closing thought, encapsulating the idea that our greatness is not solely dependent on our own efforts or the support of others but is also a gift from God.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Generosity

Generosity refers to the quality of being kind and giving, often without expecting anything in return. In the video's narrative, the speaker recalls the generosity of their grandmother who provided the means for them to enroll in a driving school. This act of generosity is highlighted as a pivotal moment that allowed the speaker to embark on a journey of learning and personal growth.

💡Eucharist

The Eucharist is a Christian sacrament that represents the Last Supper of Jesus Christ, symbolizing the sharing of his body and blood. The video's setting is a celebration of the Holy Eucharist at the Manila Cathedral, indicating a religious and spiritual context for the message being conveyed.

💡Ordinary Time

In Christian liturgical calendars, Ordinary Time refers to periods that are not part of the major liturgical seasons such as Advent, Christmas, or Lent. The mention of the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time situates the sermon within the context of the Christian calendar and suggests a continuation of spiritual teachings throughout the year.

💡Driving School

A driving school is an institution where individuals learn to operate motor vehicles. In the script, the driving school serves as a metaphor for life's learning experiences. The speaker recounts their initial excitement and subsequent challenges in learning to drive, paralleling the process of personal development and facing life's obstacles.

💡Patience

Patience is the capacity to accept or tolerate delays, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious. The video emphasizes the importance of patience in achieving greatness, as the speaker reflects on their desire to skip steps and rush through the learning process, only to realize that patience is essential for true mastery.

💡Practice

Practice involves the action of repeatedly performing an activity or activity to improve at it. The speaker discusses the years of practice required to become proficient at driving, which is used as an analogy for the ongoing effort and repetition needed to achieve greatness in any endeavor.

💡Perseverance

Perseverance is the determination to continue in a course of action despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. The video's message includes the idea that becoming great is not an overnight achievement but requires perseverance through challenges and setbacks.

💡Greatness

Greatness, in the context of the video, is not defined by external validation or accolades but by the internal qualities of patience, practice, and perseverance. The speaker contrasts the common misconception of greatness with the true path to achieving it, which involves facing adversity and learning from it.

💡Wisdom

Wisdom is the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment. The video references the 'fruits of wisdom' as purity, peace, gentleness, and mercy. These virtues are presented as essential qualities that guide individuals towards greatness and are to be shared with others.

💡Guidance

Guidance refers to the act of directing or showing how to do something. The script uses the driving school experience to illustrate the need for guidance, as the speaker's instructor provided direction and correction. This concept is extended to life's journey, where guidance from others and from God is essential for growth.

💡Cross

The cross is a symbol of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and is used in the video to represent the burdens and challenges one must bear to achieve greatness. The speaker mentions taking up one's cross as a part of the path to greatness, indicating a willingness to endure suffering and hardship.

Highlights

Welcome to the Manila Cathedral for the Holy Eucharist on the 25th Sunday in ordinary time.

Sharing a personal story about learning to drive in 2019.

The joy of driving a car for the first time.

The importance of following instructions from the driving instructor.

The challenge of learning to drive and the need for patience.

The realization of rushing through learning and not taking things step by step.

The metaphor of learning to drive as a lesson in life and spiritual growth.

The idea that greatness is not always about being applauded or congratulated.

The concept that greatness involves facing challenges and sometimes harsh words.

Jesus' reminder to his disciples about facing death and resurrection.

The misunderstanding of greatness as being about what you do or produce.

The path to greatness involves learning from life's experiences.

The letter of St. James on the fruits of wisdom.

The necessity of teaching others with good words and wisdom.

The role of encouragement and sharing God's wisdom in the path to greatness.

The Psalm's message about God's guidance and protection in our lives.

Greatness is not an overnight achievement; it requires patience, practice, and perseverance.

The importance of facing life's sorrowful mysteries to achieve greatness.

The necessity of being humble and needing guidance to grow and achieve greatness.

The assurance that God will continue to uphold and guide us towards greatness.