Bishop Michael’s homily focused on the Resurrection narratives (noting his early sighting of a Pittsburgh road sign proclaiming Resurrection Avenue – “you can’t get better than that!”) Calling the post-Resurrection appearances “spine-tingling” and “out of this world, in every sense of that term”, he expressed his puzzlement as to why the Apostle Thomas has had such an unfavorable press, given that he is a model for Christians and Christian community. It is he who acknowledges Jesus with the stunning declaration “My Lord and My God”. From Thomas, members of the Church – and future clergy – should learn to point always to Jesus and our Lord’s encounter with Thomas may be understood in liturgical terms, as both acknowledgment and acclamation.
Bishop Michael decried the tendency of contemporary evangelical revivalism to emphasize the person making the decision to accept Christ, almost to a Pelagian level, when the truth is that such decisions can only be a response to God’s choosing and calling. Everyone will have a different story – as it should be – and the call of today’s graduating class has been tested and matured and will now be evidenced in ministry. Companionship – not just of God but of mentors – will be important on their present journey.
Is there some reason we can’t just call it a [i]sermon[/i]? Is the word sermon too scary for 21st century Christians?
I must confess that I thought the two terms interchangeable.
This Lent, TSM faculty were [url=http://www.tsm.edu/news_stories/reading_through_the_book_of_homilies]reading[/url] through the Book of Homilies, described as “two books of thirty-three sermons developing the reformed doctrines of the Church of England.”
A homily is a pastoral reflection drawing on scripture with the goal of encouraging the faithful whereas a sermon is technically a more academic exposition on the text itself for teaching purposes. But the distincition has pretty much been lost
[i]”…when the truth is that such decisions can only be a response to God’s choosing and calling.”[/i]
Please help a left-footer out here. Does this refer to the U, the L or the I in Five Point Calvinism? ;o