Father Mel Byrne in Medjugorje – August 7, 2010
All during this week for the youth I have heard talk after talk after talk. And you know what? I have had enough of talk! I’m really up to here with talk. The greatest speech that was ever written, that ever occurred, and you have heard it all before, you know it very well. In fact, you may know it so well that it doesn’t impress you any more. Because, for me, good things very often don’t impress me at all. (The Gospel Reading today was about the Annunciation.)
Have you taken any particular notice of the Mass this morning, and I would guess the day before that and the day before that and the Sunday before that and last year? You have been to Mass many times, haven’t you? This is almost routine, is it not? What would change it from becoming routine into something very special? Do I need to bounce off the floor? Does Jesus need to come down off His Cross? Does Our Lady need to appear to us in this church?
I have been in this holy place well over six times. Friends of mine have been here 20, 30 and 40 times. How often have you been here? How many more times do I have to come? How many times do you have to come to be able to say, as this Woman of Nazareth, “Be it done unto me completely, according to your Word”? How many more times must I stand here in this holy place to be able to say with complete surrender, “Lord be it done unto me according to your Word. Lord, take everything from me”?
So, you have been here 20 times, 30 times. Why aren’t you totally converted? Why aren’t I totally surrendered to God? How many more times must I come before I say, “Yes Lord, Totus Tuus”? What would happen if this were my last visit to Medjugorje? No more chances, the time has come to make a decision.
Father Mel Byrne Co. Down Ireland Passionist Priest
At the post office the other day, a woman discovered that I was a priest. She said that I did not look like a priest. I was wearing my summer shorts, sandals and white shirt, and maybe I didn’t look like a priest. I asked her what does a priest look like. She explained that he would wear a black shirt with a white collar and black pants. I told her that I know many priests who do not wear black clericals. I again asked, “What really is a priest supposed to look like?” She interrupted me, and then responded, “Priests are supposed to be holy.”
People, don’t be afraid to surrender to the Holy Spirit. Tell me, and this is the real question, would you like to be holy? Really, really holy? I say, ‘ Yes Lord.’ I want the full course on holiness. There are no tips on holiness. You can’t find it on the shelves in the store, or buy a kit that will make you holy. Then, who makes us holy? The Spirit makes us holy.
I hold bread at Mass. This bread from the fields, this wheat mixed with water. I say, ‘This is My Body,’ and this piece of bread becomes God’s Body because of the power of the Spirit. That Spirit says to you in Confession ‘I absolve you from all your sins.’ Not just 1, 2,3,4,5,6,10, but all your sins. Out of the Spirit I absolve you from all your sins. How many more times do you have to go to Confession to be holy, to Mass to be really holy? How many Communions do I have to receive before I am able to say, ‘Be it done unto me totally’? Do you want to be holy? Do you really want to become holy? All you have to do is to become like bread, totally submissive to the Spirit at work. Say to the Spirit, ‘Make me holy as your Mother is holy, Lord God. Allow me, move me, melt me, mould me, and carve me into the Image of Your Son.’
Wherever I go, wherever I speak, whatever line I walk, let Your Words and Your Presence be transparent in me to be holy. That is why we are here, to become holy people. God uses holy people for His Work.
18 thoughts on “Enough of talk!”
Our Lady is FULL of the Holy Spirit. If the Holy Spirit is to renew the face of the earth, then we all need personally to work at allowing the Holy Spirit to FILL US and renew us. Only then can the Kingdom of Heaven Reign on earth,(in you and me) as said in the Our Father Prayer. Let’s not be like the rich man who had everything, kept the law, but could’nt let it go. That would be sad. Imitate our Blessed Lady, then we too can be beautiful. This homily brings that home.Praise b Jesus @ Mary
Our Lady is FULL of the Holy Spirit. If the Holy Spirit is to renew the face of the earth, then we all need personally to work at allowing the Holy Spirit to FILL US and renew us. Only then can the Kingdom of Heaven Reign on earth,(in you and me) as said in the Our Father Prayer. Let’s not be like the rich man who had everything, kept the law, but could’nt let it go. That would be sad. Imitate our Blessed Lady, then we too can be beautiful. This homily brings that home.Praise b Jesus @ Mary
Our Lady is FULL of the Holy Spirit. If the Holy Spirit is to renew the face of the earth, then we all need personally to work at allowing the Holy Spirit to FILL US and renew us. Only then can the Kingdom of Heaven Reign on earth,(in you and me) as said in the Our Father Prayer. Let’s not be like the rich man who had everything, kept the law, but could’nt let it go. That would be sad. Imitate our Blessed Lady, then we too can be beautiful. This homily brings that home.Praise b Jesus @ Mary
Unfortunately, the silly converstation between the priest and the woman at the post office about what a priest wears may have never happened if the priest looked like a priest. That is why our Religious have worn clothing that sets them apart and identifies them as Religious for centuries. A person in need (spiritual) may be more likely to approach or address a priest if he is proud to dress like one. The homily was very encouraging, spiritual, thought-provoking, uplifting, and inspirational.
This article, pointing out the pitfalls of “routine” has answered my question: why did it take a lifetime just for me to see what is and always has been right there in front of me … peace, love, brotherhood, unconditional love. As works in progress, we still have a chance to grow and pay it forward. United energy, connected to Jesus and Mary, is the stuff miracles are made of!
Amen! Yes – means “Yes, Lord”; and NO – means “No, Lord”….
It’s time now! Time of peace, time of joy, time of forgiveness… time of our dearest Dad. Wake up now, be brave, be Alive. Peace in Christ for all of us.
It’s time now! Time of peace, time of joy, time of forgiveness… time of our dearest Dad. Wake up now, be brave, be Alive. Peace in Christ for all of us.
Our Lady sows the seeds of holiness in us which grow into grace and virtue. For our part, we must ask for them by praying and fasting (penance) in order to crush what obstructs holiness in our lives; that being, self-will, pride, disobedience, hate, fear, dispair, impatience…Humble yourself before God, come to know Him, love Him, and serve Him and expect from Him whatever you seek…AND may you seek HOLINESS.
Real holy priests dress like priests.
I read this article & was sad. Aren’t the priests suppose to be the example of God’s faith. I pray why is there so much confusion among this world. I went to Medjugorje & had a conversion with Our Blessed Mother. We need to pray for our Pope, Priests & all the clergy. When we don’t understand such a simple question, we are lost & are looking for our Priests for answers. We need to pray & say the rosary, because Satan wants to destroy Catholics. God Bless…..
I read this article & was sad. Aren’t the priests suppose to be the example of God’s faith. I pray why is there so much confusion among this world. I went to Medjugorje & had a conversion with Our Blessed Mother. We need to pray for our Pope, Priests & all the clergy. When we don’t understand such a simple question, we are lost & are looking for our Priests for answers. We need to pray & say the rosary, because Satan wants to destroy Catholics. God Bless…..
The holy spirit was in us as a baptised baby and the holy spirit remains with us as long as we want him to be .The Holy Spirit who leads us to holiness and allows us to feel guilt when we do wrong .what a joy to have the Holy Spirit.what a joy to feel his presents. yes we were given our Lord Jesus in the body and blood at comunion this is how much he loves us .what a joy to have jesus in us. Jesus is our only peace .
I like this text because it goes to the point that holiness is in the spirit.
Dearest, the word “holy” comes from the hebrew word which means – apart from the world . That is why we pray and fast no matter what the cross that we carry may be that is how we become the light for the others . No matter how heavy the burden is or how long the time of trial may be He is always there . Always . 🙂 No matter who we are or what we gain it is always His Love .. Always . 🙂 And we become holy . 🙂
I once heard from a priest during confession that the saints nowadays are the ones who get up after each fall, and who never give up fighting. Our lord Jesus chose sinners to manifest his flory, like Paul, who killed and persecuted early Christians. Holiness is a gift of the Holy Spirit to the faithful. Our Lady is calling us to become an example for others by growing in holiness. Paul says, that perfect people are those who make an effort, and holy people are those who remain faithful.
That’s all what we are called to be: to be holy! LORD, send us your Spirit and clothe us in holiness! Soak us in holiness! Immerse us in holiness! Permeate us in holiness! Let all the cells in our body cry out for holiness, and fill our very soul with Your holiness! Amen.
That’s all what we are called to be: to be holy! LORD, send us your Spirit and clothe us in holiness! Soak us in holiness! Immerse us in holiness! Permeate us in holiness! Let all the cells in our body cry out for holiness, and fill our very soul with Your holiness! Amen.