Defensiveness, denial, rationalization, avoidance. What do these things have in common? It’s what we do when we avoid shame. None of us like to experience shame. None of us like to experience suffering. And we love to avoid. We love to deny. We love to distract ourselves because shame does not feel good. Here is the gospel, though, where Saint Peter does the same thing. He tells Jesus, “No, you cannot die. You cannot suffer. You cannot experience shame. I will protect you. I will defend you. We will avoid this.” But the reality is that Jesus Christ embraces all of these things. He embraces shame. He embraces suffering for us. This is what makes Christianity so radical that our God is not afraid to embrace shame and suffering for us. So the next time that you experience some shame or suffering, you know that your God has gone before you experience this with you.
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Gate To Heaven
So, at the end of your life, you get to the gates of heaven, and the person guarding the gates of heaven, either St. Peter or Morgan Freeman, asks you, “Why should I let you into heaven?” And we could have so many answers, like ” because I’m awesome,” ” because I gave much money to the poor,” ” because I went to mass every Sunday,” or “I’m not Voldemort.” We can give many good answers…
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I Wrote A Book!
Exciting news! Fr. Tim Anastos wrote a book, and we want to give you a free copy! If you support Reel Homilies with a recurring donation of $10 per month or more, we will send you a copy of Jesus, Make Me Fully Alive. This book features 30 Holy Hour reflections to help you grow in your prayer life. Set up your donation, and we will send you a copy of the book!
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Voice of God
Okay, guys, you have to check out this photo. This photo was taken in 1974 of a little boy named Harold. Harold could not hear anything, so doctors placed a hearing aid in his ear, which is the reaction of Harold hearing sound for the first time. And this picture is so moving, but what we hear in the gospel for this Sunday is even more moving and more incredible. Jesus Christ takes a deaf man away from the crowd…
