Bonus cut: the homily I didn't give today

In my previous post, I posted the homily I gave today, focusing on the first two parables in today's Gospel reading.  But up until late last night, that was not the homily I had planned to give today.  This one I'm posting below the break is the one I had worked on (more to the point, struggled with and fought) for quite a few hours this week.  It's based, not on the parables of Jesus in the Gospel reading, but on the prayer of King Solomon from today's first reading (readings are here).

Before I went to bed last night, I put the finishing touches on this one, practiced giving it, and printed it so it would be all ready to bring with me to the early mass this morning.  But I never loved it.  And I woke up at about 5:30 this morning with the conviction that, if I had enough time, I would redo it.  I had to drop one of my children off at work at 6 am.  That gave me about 50 minutes to draft a new homily.  That is not the recommended way to create a homily!  But I had been ruminating on the readings for days - more than a week - so I wasn't really starting ice-cold. So the new homily just came pouring out through my fingers on the keyboard onto the laptop screen.  I was able to type it out, edit it and print it within a 45 minute window.  I'm quite sure I had divine help getting that done. Then I put on some church clothes and headed to church, arriving in time for 7:30 am mass.  I didn't have time to practice it beforehand, which is not optimal.  But I think it worked out okay.  I gave it again at the 9:30 am mass and I think it was a little stronger that time. 

Here is the one I didn't give.  I'd welcome any comments. My own take is: it is more like a post here at NewGathering than a homily.  I'm glad I changed my mind.

All in

This is my homily for today, the 17th week in Ordinary Time, Cycle A.  Today's readings are here.

Are Independents Having a Moment?

 Recently Joe Manchin launched the Independent Leadership Council, an initiative to recruit and support independent candidates across the country.  

From an article on MSN:

Midterm elections 2026: Five independent candidates to watch amid Joe Manchin's new political push

The Conformity Gap - Catholics

 This came in an email this morning from Ryan Burge  that is relevant to the discussion of original sin and baptism.

“There’s a running joke in American religious life that goes something like this: ask ten Catholics what the Church teaches on a given issue, and you’ll get eleven different answers. It’s meant to be affectionate, a nod to the big-tent nature of a tradition that has managed to hold together nearly a billion people across wildly different cultures, languages, and political contexts. But like most jokes, it contains more than a little truth.

Original Sin

 There is a group on Facebook that discusses the books and ideas of Fr. Richard Rohr.  It is not a group sponsored by Rohr or the Center for Action and Contemplation, but just a place where those interested in his insights and ideas can converse.  There was a post today that caught my eye because I don't agree with the Augustinian understanding (official church teaching) of original sin.  I accepted all of it when I was a kid, and was well into adulthood before I really began dissenting from the many christian and Catholic teachings that don't make sense to me, such as atonement theology, transubstantiation, and original sin (among others).  This was the lead comment in the FB group today. Thoughts?

Several years ago, i attended a church that was doing an infant dedication, and the pastor offered an interesting suggestion.

He asked his creative arts department to design "onesies" for the babies, with the following printed on the front:

Dιɾƚყ Rσƚƚҽɳ Sιɳɳҽɾ

And on the back:

𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗠𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗹

What do you think of this idea?

If YOU were the Creative Arts Director...

What would you have printed on the front/back?!

[Note: most in the audience that day cheered loudly, while I became a little sick to my stomach. They likely hadn't read Immortal Diamond, or anything else by Father Richard... and they need to]

Pope Leo's Sesquicentennial letter to Americans

While looking for something else today, I ran across this letter from Pope Leo to the American people on the occasion of our 250th annivesary.  The letter, which is pretty short, is here.  

I don't think there is anything controversial about it (although I could be wrong - I'd be interested in folks' thoughts about it).  Here are my random observations, below the break:

What to make of the Graham Platner situation?

As I am sure everyone knows by now, Graham Platner, the Democratic nominee for the Maine Senate seat occupied by Republican Susan Collins for 30 years, has ended his campaign.  A drip-drip-drip of revelations of problems in his personal history has become more than Democratic leaders and donors can stand, and they have prevailed upon him to step down.  

I confess I am not sure what to make of it.