{"id":271,"date":"2010-09-14T00:24:35","date_gmt":"2010-09-14T00:24:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/wordpress\/?p=271"},"modified":"2010-09-14T00:24:35","modified_gmt":"2010-09-14T00:24:35","slug":"pentecost-16","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/?p=271","title":{"rendered":"Pentecost 16"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none;\" align=\"center\"><strong><em><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;\">SIN<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none;\" align=\"center\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">SERMON PREACHED BY FR. TONY NOBLE ON September 12<sup>th<\/sup>, 2010<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 153.75pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"mso-tab-count: 1;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none;\" align=\"center\"><em><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Luke 15:10 \u201cT<\/span><\/span><\/em><em><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;\" lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">here is joy before the angels of God <\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\"><em><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;\" lang=\"EN\">over one sinner who repents<\/span><\/em><em><span style=\"mso-ansi-language: EN;\" lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 153.75pt;\" align=\"center\"><em><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 153.75pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Sin! One of the less romantic aspects of being a priest is that you have to deal with sin. Firstly, your own sin. Scripture says that it is an awful thing to put yourself in the hands of the living God. For a priest, it means acknowledgement of your unworthiness. You know that you\u2019ll be judged by a higher standard, not only by God, but by your parishioners.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 153.75pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 153.75pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">There\u2019s an old saying, \u201c<em>To stand before the people for God; and stand before God for the people<\/em>.\u201d This describes the role of the priest. \u201c<em>To stand before the people for God, and stand before God for the people<\/em>.\u201d But who would dare to stand in the place of the only mediator and advocate, Jesus Christ?<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 153.75pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 153.75pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">It\u2019s not only his unworthiness and sins that the priest must deal with; he also has to deal with the sins of others.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>In the confessional, he must give advice and counsel, as well as absolution. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 153.75pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 153.75pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Sometimes, the priest is called to deal with sinful situations within the parish. Perhaps, even confront people with their wrongdoings. The spiritual health of a parish and its\u2019 people demands this &#8211; but it is never something a priest enjoys.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>Nor is it something he wants to do.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 153.75pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 153.75pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">St. Gregory the great summed up the dilemma of a priest and sin when he spoke about the prophet Ezekiel being appointed a watchman &#8211; much like the shepherd that seeks the sheep.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>\u201c<em>A watchman<\/em>,\u201d St. Gregory says, \u201c<em>takes up his position on the heights so that he can see from a distance whatever approaches<\/em>.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 153.75pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 153.75pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">He goes on to say about himself, \u201c<em>When I speak, it is myself that I am reproaching&#8230;&#8230;.Since taking on my shoulders the burden of pastoral care, I\u2019ve been unable to keep steadily recollected, because my mind is distracted by many responsibilities. How can I do justice to the sacred ministry of the Word<\/em>?\u201d exclaims Gregory.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>He goes on to bewail his manifold sins and weaknesses, and concludes, \u201c<em>Yet the Creator and Redeemer of mankind can give me, unworthy though I be, the grace to see life whole, and power to speak effectively of it.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>It is for love of him that I do not spare myself in preaching him.<\/em>\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 153.75pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 153.75pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">These words were spoken and written over 1400 years ago, but they could have been written by me, or any priest, yesterday.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 153.75pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 153.75pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">That is why my text, Luke 15:10, is so important.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>All of us are sinners &#8211; but there is joy in heaven when we repent.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>As St. Paul said in his first Epistle to Timothy, \u201c<em>Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners<\/em>.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 153.75pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 153.75pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Jesus came for that very purpose, because there are two things proper to God:<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 153.75pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The honor we must pay him in confessing our sins, and the power of forgiveness, which he pours abundantly over us. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 153.75pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 153.75pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The words of Luke 15:10, where Jesus says that the angels rejoice over one sinner that repents, are quite profound.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>This verse is a fundamental link between the two parables &#8211; the lost sheep and the lost coin &#8211; and what follows.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>These are, probably, two of the best known parables.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>What follows is one of the most popular parables of all \u2013 the parable of the prodigal son.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>That parable concludes with the father welcoming back his son with joy and tears.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>The banquet that follows is surely an image of the joy of the angels of God when one sinner repents.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 153.75pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 153.75pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">In Luke 15 Jesus begins with these two parables. They tell us that God will search us out, wants to bring back the lost. Then he concludes with the marvellous story of God\u2019s overwhelming love and forgiveness as shown to the prodigal son.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>The link between these two sections is the note of joy in heaven.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 153.75pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 153.75pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Perhaps we aren\u2019t great sinners? Most of us are just ordinary Christians, trying to do our best.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>In fact today, you rarely hear the word \u2018sin\u2019 mentioned in church at all!<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 153.75pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 153.75pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">qIf we are not great sinners, we are certainly like sheep.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>Most sheep don\u2019t wander away on purpose.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>They just keep their heads down while munching on the grass.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>Their concern is only for the present moment, and what lies directly in front of them.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>When they look up, lo, the rest of the flock has vanished!<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 153.75pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 153.75pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">That\u2019s how it is with many people.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>We don\u2019t mean to get lost from God. We just get tied up in our own needs and what confronts us \u2013 our families, finances, health, time, and priorities.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>It all gets away from us, doesn\u2019t it?<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>And we get away from God in the process.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 153.75pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 153.75pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">C.S. Lewis, the great Anglican theologian, said that it doesn\u2019t take a big sin to take us out of orbit around God, just a little distraction will do.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 153.75pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 153.75pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Jesus is the Good Shepherd.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>We are like lost sheep, and he wants to bring us back.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>He came from heaven and gave his life on the cross to make it possible. But we have to go with him. We have to follow the Shepherd, and not be distracted.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 153.75pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 153.75pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">He waits for us today, as he always does, on the altar, in the most holy sacrament of Holy Communion.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>After we\u2019ve met him at the altar, we will say words that should be our continual response day-by-day:<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 153.75pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 153.75pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><em><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">So to assist us with thy grace that we may continue in that holy fellowship and do all such good works as thou hast prepared for us to walk in<\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><em><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SIN SERMON PREACHED BY FR. TONY NOBLE ON September 12th, 2010 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Luke 15:10 \u201cThere is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.\u201d \u00a0 Sin! One of the less romantic aspects of being a priest is that you have to deal with sin. Firstly, your own [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-271","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-recent-sermons"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=271"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=271"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=271"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=271"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}