Fr Greg, Carmelite priest – blog, homilies, fun and holy ideas
Carmelite homily for Lectionary 465 – Friday, October 11, 2019
Today’s Gospel is about the devil and they’re accusing Jesus of being the devil. Teresa of Avila has a great line. She says, “Why are people so afraid of the devil; all you have to do is say the word ‘God’ and the devil flees.” It’s as simple as that.
Carmelite homily for Lectionary 463 – Wednesday, October 9, 2019
Today the Gospel passage is the “Our Father.” Saint Teresa of Avila notes that there are seven petitions – you know, like “thy kingdom come” or “give us our bread” or “help us to forgive” – seven petitions to the Our Father. And she says, it is better to pray one petition mindfully than to pray the Our Father mindlessly. This comes from The Way of Perfection. So today, pray one petition of the Our Father instead of the whole Our Father.
Carmelite homily for Lectionary 462 – Tuesday, October 8, 2019
In today’s Gospel we have the story of Martha and Mary. The time-honored interpretation is that Martha represents the ‘active life’ and Mary represents the ‘contemplative life.’ Blessed Titus Brandsma says “The lives of the Carmelite saints are evidence that the active and contemplative life can be combined and lead to holiness.” Saint Teresa of Avila says it so much more simply; she says, “Martha and Mary must combine.”