Homily for the Twenty-Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time (B)
St. Joseph’s Neier/Mass and More October 13-14, 2012
Rev. Kevin Schmittgens
Central Idea: Wisdom, in an hour and a half.
I prayed, and prudence was given me;
I pleaded, and the spirit of wisdom came to me.
I actually did this. I went on Facebook and I asked all of my Facebook buddies for the wisest thing they have ever heard. What follows is not philosophically elite or difficult. It is mainly homespun, practical and, in my humble opinion, life-giving. I had to limit it to twenty five (minus one for my own addition). So, here goes:
1. Rock bottom is where you build your foundation.
2. Pick your battles.
3. Put your blinker on before you touch your brakes.
4. "Take what you have, divide it by what you want, and you get what you get."
5. “Simple” isn’t always “easy.”
6. The grass is only greener on the other side because the people on the other side water.
7. The grass may be greener on the other side of the fence, but it still has to be mowed!!
8. It's the journey, not the destination.
9. Don't waste time living your 'ghost life' ....the life you wanted and planned. Revel in the life God has placed before you.
10. Love each other or perish.
11. The secret to a happy marriage: When you're wrong admit it and when you're right, shut up about it.
12. You get what you get, so don't throw a fit.
13. It is a lie that relationships are 50/50 - most days it's 90/10. It's about how you behave on the days when you're the 10.
14. The challenges in life are what show who you really are.
15. "Someone you love looks up to you....don't let them down"
16. No matter how great (or bad) a day you have had, 3 billion Chinese don't care.
17. Advice is what we ask when we already know but wish we didn’t.
18. If there is something you are stressed about look at the situation and ask yourself if there is anything you can do to change the situation. If there is, do it. If not, let it go because there is nothing you can do to change the outcome.
19. Act without expectation.
20. You begin parenting determined not to make the same mistakes your parents made...then you realize your parenting has mistakes all your own. (about teaching and priesthood too)
21. The wise know better than to judge. Why worry about someone who is so unwise as to do so?
22. As I have loved you, love one another. Treat your wife like a queen.
23. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
24. Fear not. (The message of the angels.)
25. My personal favorite: There are many things in life which are important, very few are serious.
The amazing thing about all of these, is that they were born of strife, trouble, illness, pain, heartache, regret and failure. They were lived. This is not some ivory tower sort of wisdom, it is real and vital. This wisdom puts our lives into perspective. To all who helped with this homily: Blessings.