~~~SisterSea~~~

Shared Homily Starter First Reading: Zechariah 9.9-10 Second Reading: Romans 8:9-13 Gospel Reading: Matthew 11.25-30 Today, I'm going to talk about the two themes the Gospel raised for me. They are a childlike open heart and surrender. These themes are counter-cultural to the popular thinking of our society. Our culture is full of messages like “stand on your own two feet” and “just get over it.” Often people who say these things think they have all the answers until something in their lives brings them almost to their knees. I say “almost” because many of us call on God only as a last resort, while not fully believing that God will help. The Gospel is giving us a different message. In an earlier part of Matthew 11, today's chapter, Jesus asks ‘to what will I compare this generation? He says, “It is like children shouting to others as they sit in the market-place, ...

First Reading: Acts 2.1-11 Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12.3b-7. 12-13 (12.3-13) Gospel Reading: John 20.19-23 Once we have been touched by the Spirit, we are changed. The first reading recounts that the Apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in other languages . Some people in the crowd asked, “ how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? ” In the verse directly following today's reading, we are told, “ All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’ 13 But others sneered and said, ‘They are filled with new wine,'” meaning, they're drunk. I remembered this last verse and looked it up to make sure, because I was reflecting on Pentecost as the birthday or inauguration of the church. As I reflected, I thought that gifts of the Spirit were not just bestowed upon the Apostles but upon all who were present that da...