August 10, 2023 = Feast of St. Lawrence

LISTEN

 

The title of my homily is, “Listen.”

Just one word: “Listen.”

You heard a lot of things these three days: “What did you hear?”

RESOLUTION

At the end of prayer, at the end of a retreat, St. Alphonsus said the key step is  to make a resolution.

Sometime in the time of these 3 days, you got the thought, “When I get home I’m going to….”

That’s a resolution.

It’s what we do at the end of a year – before a New Year. We make New Year’s resolutions. And they last a few days – at least – hopefully. It’s also what people do in prayer. It’s what people do on retreats - especially – near the end of a retreat.

Father Ed gave us 3 questions yesterday morning in his homily,

I’m giving one question: What is one resolution you have made?

If you’re not sure – yet – here’s one: Listen.

Go home and listen.

Go home and listen to the stories of the people in your life.

Little kids: what happened in school today? Or at the park? Or I saw you playing Monopoly or Parchesi or Shahai Rummy. Who won? What was the best moment you had?

Or spouse – living or dead? Listen to them.

Any nursing homes near by – did you ever see all those people by the elevators – down in the lobby near the front door? Who listens to them? Who asks them questions?

 

BILLY – THE CONNOLLY BOYS

 

MY DAD – PITTSBURGH

 

WE’RE ALL STORY TELLERS = TOBYHANNA FLOWERS

 

PLUMBER = GETTING YOU MONEY

 

LISTENING – GOSPEL – SHUT UP – DIE TO SELF – LISTEN

 

BEFORE FALLING ASLEEP – SOMEONE LISTENED TO ME TODAY – IT WAS ME

 

GOD IS THE GREAT LISTENER