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WOF Radio > Sermons > Sermon Archive for 2012 > Sermon 599 : Faith and the Law : 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Current rating: 3.7 (25 ratings)

Sermon 599 : Faith and the Law : 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time

7/1/2012

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The Book of Leviticus outlines laws, practices and directives of things, people and animals that are unclean and shouldn't be touched. But Jesus decisively touches the unclean, allows himself to be touched, and sets about a new course for those who follow him. The new laws ask followers to believe in him, trust in him, and become a part of his community.

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Comments

Sr. Mary Chennattu AASC

It's a great teaching of Faith,inspiring,consoling, strengthening.

6/26/2012 7:11:26 AM

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vito benigno

Thank you Father Barron for always giving us the historical context of what the people of ancient time meant and thought.This sermon really illustrates the fact that we are all fallen but only redeemed by our LORD JESUS. I think when people look at the priest scandal or a fallen priest they should immediately realize that we are all sinners and only redeemed by the Lamb of God,the CHRIST!HOLY MOTHER CHURCH has been here over 2000 yrs and will be here when our LORD JESUS returns.She has raised up many great saints through out time who have battled every kind of ism and heresy possible.HOLY MOTHER CHURCH or the majesterium has not been changed in all this time,nor will it be.Father Barron said we do not belong to a club but rather a living organism.God love you!

6/26/2012 10:19:57 AM

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Tessie Sugay

Fr Barron, you surely helped me understand God little by little with your sermons & your series in Catholicism. Thank you for all that you do.

6/27/2012 3:07:12 PM

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Isabel

Thank you Father Barron. I am very grateful to you.

6/27/2012 3:38:51 PM

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Kathy

This transition from the laws of Leviticus,to the healing hand of Jesus, was painful to listen to. My heart tagged it as "judgemental", while my spirit acknowledged that we all have our day of judgement. Jesus doesn't have to go to the girls home to heal and raise her. He could have healed her, raised her from the spot where he was. But He does come to us, doesn't He? God Speed!

6/29/2012 10:31:18 AM

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Lauren

Thank you, Father Barron, for explaining how Christ relates to Jewish law. I would love to hear more about this subject!

6/29/2012 5:10:25 PM

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Rev.Dr. Harry Pickett

Thanks Fr for the Levitical insights. I was going to preach on 'Waiting for the Lord' our perceptions of time and God's time, however you changed my mind.
Blessings.

6/30/2012 12:30:50 AM

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Carla

This sermon took several days to think about before I could respond. Despite the fact that we shouldn't judge, the "cleanliness" of a person's past life and current behaviors, we do, and it is very difficult not to judge. Especially in a comunity where people work closely together, such as a church. For example, when people need to be trained in how to use the sound and AV equipment in our church's hall, many will say "I hope that "so and so" doesn't do my training. This woman is so harsh, that people are afraid of her, and want to stay away from her. In essence, she is an "unclean" spirit. Her negative and harsh approach can infect or contaminate others in a way that cause them to fall into sin through judgement and backlash. I've worked with maladaptive behaviors in the past, and this woman is deeply entrenched in her behaviors. I have addressed her issues directly, and told her how she makes me, and others feel. The previous and current pastors don't do anything about it (it's almost as if they are capitalizing on her behaviors as if they are a strength-like putting her in the position of "safety." They send her out to deal with the "difficult" parishioner, or transient. This is re-enforcing her behavioral problems.)
Fr. Barron, It's difficult not to employ the cleanliness laws....even in our spiritual lives.

6/30/2012 11:14:34 AM

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Diane Rockwood

Father, that was very interesting and made me think of another story in the Gospel of Mark, 7:15-16.
"Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile." He speaks of the Pharisees and Scribes keeping the traditions but their hears are far from me.

6/30/2012 1:34:02 PM

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Loren

Fr. Barron, thanks again for the great sermon. May God continue to accomplish His desires through your person. Vito Benigno, I really like your comment and totally agree with you with every word. Well-said. Ms. Carla, every time I read your comment, you always give a new perspective on things. God bless you. Have a safe 4th July weekend everyone. Remember, God is the source of FREEDOM and INDEPENDENCE. You cut that string from Him, you are NOT free in its truest sense of being free. Take it or leave it..

7/1/2012 6:18:47 AM

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Monica

Wow, as usual, Father Barron, I learned so much from your reflections. The way you bring teachings and faith together is incredible... The depth of understanding after I hear your homilies is exponential. Thank you and may the Lord continue blessing you with thie great gift.

7/1/2012 8:26:19 AM

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vito benigno

May the peace of our LORD JESUS be with you Loren and to all of you my dear brothers and sisters!Let us always and everywhere raise our voices to protect our religious freedom!MI IMMACULATA

7/1/2012 10:20:31 AM

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Diane

After reading Carla's post and not reacting to it right away…thank you my dear Lord for patience, I gave it allot of thought. I know exactly what you are talking about. I think most Church's has someone that is a bit hostile, overbearing and believes that he/she has the same rights that our Priests do. Basically, they seem and believe they can "run" the church. I just experienced this less than a year ago. I kept my mouth shut and let him be his own downfall, and sure enough it happened. He was kicked out of the church. Yes, the one who thought he was holier than thou. His arrogance and ego led him to believe he was invincible to the point he began to boss and tell the employees of the church what to do, which he was not one of. It came to blows and I mean physical blows. Right in the church with a church employee, no, not a Priest. He literally punched and fought with someone he had no business with. The church employee did not press charges against him, but to my surprise one of the Priest's called the police and had him removed. Soon after he received a letter from the church stating that he was not allowed to come onto church property. I believe there was much more said in the letter, however I don't know what that was. This situation should never have gotten out of hand, but it did.
I can honestly say now, when I have been in the same company as he has I feel sorry for him. He seems like a lost ship that's trying to find land. Since he has left the church he has had some difficult hardships. One of the Priests from the church keeps in touch with him and helps him out. I now look at him so differently than I did a year ago. I now feel sorrow.
I'm convinced that the church became his identity, therefore, he was really a lost soul. I know that must sound odd being a lost soul within the church, but when you are there at every waking moment of the day and are down right arrogant something is just not right. You are right in saying they seem to be capitalizing on his/her behavior in the position they put them in, however that person should know better on how to treat others since they are a practicing Catholic. A nice guide on the 9 Fruits of the Holy Spirit wouldn't be a bad idea to pass around and discuss.
Best of luck and I truly understand your situation. Patience is the key.

7/1/2012 3:23:33 PM

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Jeremy

Hi all
fantastic addition to the Gospel, listening to this homily

My local priest also observed that Jesus never assisted anyone who did not ask for assistance first.

Jeremy

7/1/2012 9:32:11 PM

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plc

In so many of the gospel readings and sermons, we hear and are told that how as Christians we are to follow the example of Jesus. To see Jesus in other people. To be salt and light. To love one another as Christ has loved us.

I think Jesus loved "unclean" people. The outcasts. All of us "poor banished children." He allows us to touch Him. He touches us in return. He, according to law and custom, became one of them, one of us. Unclean. When He is mocked during His passion and on His Holy Cross, He is certainly seen as "unclean" by the status quo.

He didn't have to do that. He could have healed us from afar. He could have just told us to trust Him and leave it at that. But He is never afraid to get dirty, to let everyone see Him doing that. He is never a slave to pharisaic restrictions. Seems of all the times He was most annoyed, it was when we used our religious faith to put ourselves above another, or to use our religious faith to profit in a worldly manner, to build our own little kingdoms rather than truly live and love in His kingdom.

Is this how we treat one another, are we willing to love the way He loves us, all of us unclean as we are, or do we adhere to the social customs of the day, the status quo. What was that He said? I come not to call the just, but sinners to penance. When we get too controlling or self-righteous like some of the pharisees and scribes He was usually annoyed by, then we act according to human respect and allow that to guide our lives. I think what He shows us clearly, is that we are all "unclean" in one way or another, and none of us should imagine ourselves to be otherwise. Especially to the point where we become control freaks, or "clean freaks" as they say!

Sorry to say it, but it seems to a great extent, whether it's a modernist view or a traditionalist view of what the Church "should" be, we certainly seem to tend to be control freaks, clean freaks, in the way we present ourselves to one another. This one is "in", that one is "out", and so on. But any one of us who comes to Him looking for help, looking for life, is.... "in". It's when we hang around Him looking for ways to build our own little empires, like you-know-who, who ended up selling Jesus out, and himself in the bargain, for a little bit of silver, was it thirty pieces? that we are unable to see what the Church means to us all as He calls us to enter into His Kingdom.

7/2/2012 8:32:42 AM

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Paul Mugerwa

A Grocer who does not believe in God, was praising the new parish priest. "Have you heard him preach?" he was asked. "No." The Grocer answered. "Then how do you know he is good?" "Because his church members have begun to pay up their bills." The Grocer answered. The famed French minister and gifted orator called Massilon, used to say, "I don't want my church members saying, "what a wonderful sermon, what a wonderful preacher." I want them to go out the church saying, "I will do something."

7/2/2012 6:12:20 PM

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Sofie S

Wonderful insight, Father Barron it is indeed a special gift you have! Thank you!

7/2/2012 9:05:52 PM

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dag

This point of humble actual contact happens today in receiving Holy Communion?

7/4/2012 5:26:17 AM

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Ronnie

I felt so close to Jesus when listening to this sermon. Fr. Barron, thank you so much.

7/5/2012 7:11:10 PM

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Eileen Miller

I love your comments plc! Only - I would use different wording rather than "human respect" in that one sentence. Even tho the Jews thought they were being respectful (by following Leviticus), they weren't really. Or I am thinking the wrong way?

One point - the Golden Rule requires us to be respectful in all our relationships toward God and each other.

Thank you for this insight on Leviticus. Never knew this.

7/10/2012 8:21:11 AM

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plc

I appreciate your comments Eileen. Thanks. And your point about respecting God and all of His creation was appreciated too.

I was using the term "human respect" in perhaps the older sense, where it is referred to as a type of pride in us that causes us to seek the approval of others without much caring about whether what we do and want is something that contributes to the kingdom of God. Our actions and desires then can become confused, selfish, disrespectful, and so on, because we are not really serving God but rather we are being self-serving and focused on our own pride and fears.

To Jesus through Mary. Ave Maria!

7/12/2012 12:33:44 PM

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