Cathedral Homilies - September 29 (Fr. Viel)

Manila Cathedral

28 Sept 202410:19

Summary

TLDRIn this homily, the preacher reflects on the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, highlighting the joy brought by God's precepts as expressed in the Responsorial Psalm. Drawing from the Book of Numbers, the sermon emphasizes God's spirit shared with leaders to assure the Israelites of His goodness amidst their trials. The Gospel narrative illustrates Jesus' approval of those who perform good deeds in His name, even if they are not His followers, as they also bring joy. The preacher encourages the congregation to spread joy, like the Manila Cathedral choir did through their music, and to remember the archangels' roles in bringing God's joy. The message concludes with a call to be a source of joy to others, reflecting God's love and goodness.

Takeaways

🙏 We gather as a family to celebrate the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time and give thanks for the blessings received.
📜 The precepts of the Lord bring joy to our hearts, as mentioned in the Responsorial Psalm.
🔑 In the first reading from the Book of Numbers, God shares the spirit of Moses with seven men to assure the people of His goodness and presence.
👥 Sharing of the spirit and responsibility signifies God's care and the presence of life and hope.
😇 In the Gospel, Jesus frees someone from the spirit of evil, showing God's power to bring joy and freedom.
🚫 Jesus encourages not to prevent anyone who does good in His name, emphasizing the importance of good deeds.
💧 Giving a cup of water as a simple act of kindness is equated to spreading joy and will be rewarded.
👀 We are reminded that our bodies can lead us to sin, and we should be vigilant to maintain joy in our hearts.
🎉 The Manila Cathedral choir's Thanksgiving concert is highlighted as an example of spreading joy through music and perseverance.
🎶 The concert's impact is noted to have brought joy to many hearts, emphasizing the power of music and community.
👼 The feast of the archangels Gabriel, Michael, and Raphael is observed on the 29th of September, symbolizing God's joy in our hearts through their actions.
💖 We are encouraged to remind ourselves of God's goodness, the blessings we have, and the importance of spreading joy to others.

Q & A

What is the significance of the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time?
-The 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time is a day for the congregation to come together as a family, give thanks to God, and reflect on the precepts of the Lord that bring joy to the heart.
What did the people of Israel complain about in the desert?
-The people of Israel complained about being hungry in the desert, desiring more than the manna they were given.
How did God show His goodness to the Israelites in the book of Numbers?
-In the book of Numbers, God showed His goodness by sharing the spirit of Moses with seven other men, ensuring the people that there is life and hope.
What is the importance of the responsorial psalm mentioned in the script?
-The responsorial psalm emphasizes that the precepts of the Lord bring joy to the heart and are a source of spiritual nourishment.
How did Jesus demonstrate God's goodness in the Gospel reading?
-Jesus demonstrated God's goodness by allowing someone to perform miracles in His name, even if that person was not officially following Him, showing that God's grace extends beyond the chosen few.
What is the significance of giving a cup of water in the context of the Gospel?
-Giving a cup of water symbolizes small acts of kindness that can bring joy to others and is a way of spreading God's goodness.
What role do our bodies play in leading us to sin according to the script?
-Our bodies can be a source of temptation and sin, but recognizing this can help us to open our eyes and hearts to God's precepts and will.
Why is it important to share joy with one another as mentioned in the script?
-Sharing joy with one another is a way to be a disciple and spread God's goodness, which in turn brings joy to the hearts of many.
What was the Manila Cathedral choir's recent activity mentioned in the script?
-The Manila Cathedral choir held a Thanksgiving concert after months of practice and ongoing formation and training.
What is the significance of the feast of the archangels on the 29th of September?
-The feast of the archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael is a day to remember how these archangels brought joy to the hearts of people through their actions, such as defending the people from Satan, bringing good news, and healing.
What is the message of the script regarding God's goodness and joy?
-The script conveys that God's goodness and will always bring joy to our hearts, and as recipients of God's blessings, we should also aim to bring joy to the hearts of others.

Outlines

00:00

🙏 Celebrating God's Precepts on the 26th Sunday

The speaker begins by welcoming the audience and reflecting on God's precepts that bring joy to the heart. The sermon emphasizes the importance of gratitude for the blessings received and highlights the story from the Book of Numbers, where God's spirit was shared with Moses and seventy elders, offering hope to the Israelites during their time of struggle. The speaker draws parallels between this story and the Gospel, where Jesus teaches that those performing good deeds in His name, even if not part of the immediate group, should not be stopped. God's goodness is manifest in these actions, showing the joy that comes from following His precepts.

05:02

💧 Sharing Joy Through Simple Acts

The speaker encourages the congregation to share the joy they receive from God with others. Using the metaphor of giving a cup of water, the speaker highlights how simple, selfless acts—whether through inspiration, generosity, or time—can spread joy. The example of the Manila Cathedral Choir’s thanksgiving concert is mentioned, where their dedication brought happiness to the hearts of many. The speaker also reflects on how God's goodness continues to bring joy through the examples of the archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, who defended, healed, and delivered God’s messages.

10:03

🌟 God's Goodness Continues to Give Joy

The final message is a reminder that God's goodness will always bring joy to our hearts. The speaker urges the audience to refrain from adding to the burdens of others and instead contribute to the joy and inspiration of those around them. By embracing God's will and the support of the people around us, we can live each day knowing that God's goodness endures.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Responsorial Psalm

A responsorial psalm is a form of liturgical dialogue in which a cantor sings or recites a verse from a psalm, and the congregation responds with a repeated refrain. In the video, it is mentioned that the congregation sang and prayed the precepts of the Lord as part of their worship, which is a central part of Christian liturgy.

💡Precepts of the Lord

The precepts of the Lord refer to the teachings or commandments given by God in religious texts, particularly in the Bible. In the context of the video, these precepts are said to bring joy to the heart, indicating that following God's teachings can lead to inner happiness and fulfillment.

💡Spirit of Moses

The spirit of Moses mentioned in the video script refers to the divine inspiration and leadership qualities that were attributed to Moses in the Bible. The Lord shared this spirit with seven other men in the Book of Numbers, symbolizing the distribution of wisdom and responsibility among leaders.

💡Ordinary Time

In the Christian liturgical calendar, Ordinary Time refers to the periods of the year that are not part of a particular liturgical season such as Advent or Lent. The 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time is a specific date in the calendar, and the video's message is centered around the themes and readings associated with this particular Sunday.

💡Joy

Joy is a central theme in the video, representing happiness and contentment that comes from spiritual fulfillment. The speaker mentions that the precepts of the Lord bring joy to the heart, and this joy is a sign of God's presence and goodness in one's life.

💡Gospel

The Gospel refers to the message of Jesus Christ as recorded in the New Testament, particularly the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. In the video, the Gospel is mentioned in relation to how Jesus' name was used to perform miracles, illustrating the power and goodness of God.

💡Disciple

A disciple is a follower of Jesus Christ, committed to learning from and emulating his teachings. The video encourages viewers to be disciples who share God's goodness with others, such as by offering a cup of water, which symbolizes acts of kindness and charity.

💡Cup of Water

In the context of the video, offering a 'cup of water' is a metaphor for small acts of kindness that can bring joy to others. It is mentioned as a way to emulate Jesus' teachings and spread God's love and joy.

💡Feasts of the Archangels

The feasts of the archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael are celebrated in the Christian calendar on September 29th. These archangels are mentioned in the video as examples of God's goodness and joy, as they performed significant acts in the Bible, such as Michael's defense against Satan and Gabriel's announcement to Mary.

💡Goodness of God

The goodness of God is a recurring theme in the video, emphasizing that God's love and kindness are the sources of joy and hope for believers. The speaker encourages the congregation to recognize and share this goodness with others.

💡Manila Cathedral Choir

The Manila Cathedral Choir is mentioned in the video as an example of how sharing talents and hard work can bring joy to others. Their concert is described as an event that spreads joy through music and the collective efforts of its members.

Highlights

Greeting and thanksgiving for the new week and the blessings received.

Celebration of the 26th Sunday in ordinary time.

Reflection on the responsorial psalm and the precepts of the Lord that bring joy to the heart.

Explanation of how the Lord's precepts bring joy by providing assurance of God's goodness.

Story from the book of Numbers about the Lord sharing Moses' spirit with seven men.

The importance of sharing the spirit and responsibility as demonstrated in the story from Numbers.

Connection between the precepts of the Lord and the Gospel reading about Jesus freeing someone from evil.

Jesus' teaching on not preventing those who perform good deeds in his name.

The significance of giving a cup of water as an act of kindness that brings joy to the heart.

The role of our bodies in leading us to sin and the importance of being mindful of this.

Encouragement to open our eyes to God's precepts, will, and goodness every day.

The reason for being blessed and alive is to experience joy in the heart, as per God's will.

The Manila Cathedral choir's Thanksgiving concert and its impact on the audience.

The joy brought by the choir's training, perseverance, and voices.

The feast of the archangels Gabriel, Michael, and Raphael and their roles in bringing joy.

The reminder of God's continuous goodness and the joy it brings to our hearts.

The call to not add to the suffering of others but to spread joy instead.

The importance of recognizing and sharing joy with others through everyday interactions.