post #343
The pastor gave an interesting sermon last Sunday afternoon. I was quite busy on Saturday due the training (so was my excuse ;D) so I decided to attend the mass on Sunday. On Sunday morning, I was still a bit sleepy n lazy...n I didn't want to make going to the church just some kind of meaningless routine, so I continued my sleep and went in the afternoon.
It was the forth week of Easter, the readings were taken from Acts 4:8-12, 1 John 3:1-2, and John 10:11-18. The bible was about the good shepherd. God is the good shepherd, and pastors were given the same task to herd the sheep.
The sermon was started with a bit illustration about the number of pastor compared to parish in the city. It's not ideal enough. What if there's no regeneration, and the current pastors are getting old? Who will replace them if no one is willing to make that vow of celibacy?
The pastor then talked about his calling. How he wanted to be a pastor since he was in kindergarten. He was amazed by a pastor he saw, in Eucharist, when the pastor spread his arms....he said that the pastor looked so noble. Then when he was in 3rd year of elementary school, he said to his father that he wanted to be a pastor. Time went by and it made him forget his own words. When he was at 3rd year of Jr. High, he was a naughty student (so did hey say) btw...his father asked him about his intention to be a pastor, did he still want to be one. He answered yes, but didn't actually mean it.
But still...he turned out to be a pastor. Then he continued his sermon with asking the parish, who wanted to be a pastor, or sister, or live in a monastery? Or perhaps let their children become one? Anyone who's willing were welcomed to raise their hands....guess what, nobody did. Then he elaborated more about the reasons why we were reluctant to give ourselves in more special way (by being a pastor, etc) to God. We're afraid that we'd lose our freedom, since if we become a pastor, we cannot have a wife, have a family, to feel love.
But he said that it was a wrong perception. Pastor is not a robot, he's a person who can feel love as well. In fact, it's a must so he can love his the parish he's assigned to. Yeah there are some things that he has to sacrificed....but who doesn't make any sacrifices in this world? Who's really free? Married man, a family man has an obligation to his family.
The point (I think) of his sermon was that we all have our calling and that calling needs to be nurtured. Whatever our calling is, accept it...hopefully there'll be enough pastor...not only for the archdiocese, but also for other regions, esp the ones where the parish can only celebrate Eucharist once a year, or maybe once every two years. We should consider ourselves lucky to live in the big city where we can choose which mass at which church to attend. It's very convenient.
It's such a shame for us who have the privilege but take it for granted while there are so many people out there who long for it....
So...I'd like to pray for the regeneration and continuity of the shepherd...and may they really inspired by the one and only, true role model of a good shepherd...
May this one voice heard...well, at least the pastor's voice (when he was at kindergarten) was heard ;)
Billy Gilman - One Voice
Some kids have and some don't
And some of us are wondering why
Mom won't watch the news at night
There's too much stuff that's making her cry
We need some help
Down here on earth
A thousand prayers, a million words
But one voice was heard
A house, a yard, a neighborhood
Where you can ride your new bike to school
A kind of world where Mom and dad
Still believe in the golden rule
Life's not that simple
Down here on earth
A thousand prayers, a million words
But one voice was heard
One voice, one simple word
Hearts know what to say
One dream can change the world
Keep believing
Till you find a way
Yesterday while walking home
I saw some kid on newberry road
He pulled a pistol from his bag
And tossed it in the river below
Thanks for the help
Down here on earth
A thousand prayers, a million words
But one voice was heard
One voice was heard
One voice was heard
The pastor gave an interesting sermon last Sunday afternoon. I was quite busy on Saturday due the training (so was my excuse ;D) so I decided to attend the mass on Sunday. On Sunday morning, I was still a bit sleepy n lazy...n I didn't want to make going to the church just some kind of meaningless routine, so I continued my sleep and went in the afternoon.
It was the forth week of Easter, the readings were taken from Acts 4:8-12, 1 John 3:1-2, and John 10:11-18. The bible was about the good shepherd. God is the good shepherd, and pastors were given the same task to herd the sheep.
The sermon was started with a bit illustration about the number of pastor compared to parish in the city. It's not ideal enough. What if there's no regeneration, and the current pastors are getting old? Who will replace them if no one is willing to make that vow of celibacy?
The pastor then talked about his calling. How he wanted to be a pastor since he was in kindergarten. He was amazed by a pastor he saw, in Eucharist, when the pastor spread his arms....he said that the pastor looked so noble. Then when he was in 3rd year of elementary school, he said to his father that he wanted to be a pastor. Time went by and it made him forget his own words. When he was at 3rd year of Jr. High, he was a naughty student (so did hey say) btw...his father asked him about his intention to be a pastor, did he still want to be one. He answered yes, but didn't actually mean it.
But still...he turned out to be a pastor. Then he continued his sermon with asking the parish, who wanted to be a pastor, or sister, or live in a monastery? Or perhaps let their children become one? Anyone who's willing were welcomed to raise their hands....guess what, nobody did. Then he elaborated more about the reasons why we were reluctant to give ourselves in more special way (by being a pastor, etc) to God. We're afraid that we'd lose our freedom, since if we become a pastor, we cannot have a wife, have a family, to feel love.
But he said that it was a wrong perception. Pastor is not a robot, he's a person who can feel love as well. In fact, it's a must so he can love his the parish he's assigned to. Yeah there are some things that he has to sacrificed....but who doesn't make any sacrifices in this world? Who's really free? Married man, a family man has an obligation to his family.
The point (I think) of his sermon was that we all have our calling and that calling needs to be nurtured. Whatever our calling is, accept it...hopefully there'll be enough pastor...not only for the archdiocese, but also for other regions, esp the ones where the parish can only celebrate Eucharist once a year, or maybe once every two years. We should consider ourselves lucky to live in the big city where we can choose which mass at which church to attend. It's very convenient.
It's such a shame for us who have the privilege but take it for granted while there are so many people out there who long for it....
So...I'd like to pray for the regeneration and continuity of the shepherd...and may they really inspired by the one and only, true role model of a good shepherd...
May this one voice heard...well, at least the pastor's voice (when he was at kindergarten) was heard ;)
Billy Gilman - One Voice
Some kids have and some don't
And some of us are wondering why
Mom won't watch the news at night
There's too much stuff that's making her cry
We need some help
Down here on earth
A thousand prayers, a million words
But one voice was heard
A house, a yard, a neighborhood
Where you can ride your new bike to school
A kind of world where Mom and dad
Still believe in the golden rule
Life's not that simple
Down here on earth
A thousand prayers, a million words
But one voice was heard
One voice, one simple word
Hearts know what to say
One dream can change the world
Keep believing
Till you find a way
Yesterday while walking home
I saw some kid on newberry road
He pulled a pistol from his bag
And tossed it in the river below
Thanks for the help
Down here on earth
A thousand prayers, a million words
But one voice was heard
One voice was heard
One voice was heard
0 Comments:
Post a Comment