Tenth Sunday after Pentecost ~ Homily Notes

 

Gospel: Luke 18:9-14

And to some who trusted in themselves as just, and despised others, he spoke also this parable: Two men went up into the temple to pray: the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee standing, prayed thus with himself: O God, I give thee thanks that I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, as also is this publican. I fast twice in a week: I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not so much as lift up his eyes towards heaven; but struck his breast, saying: O God, be merciful to me a sinner. I say to you, this man went down into his house justified rather than the other: because every one that exalteth himself, shall be humbled: and he that humbleth himself, shall be exalted.

 

Notes taken from Fr. John Shannon’s homily on August 13, 2017

Humility is the virtue in which, realizing our own nothingness, we attribute all our good works to God. Everything we have has come from God.

Publicans often were guilty of extortion and adultery. The Publican was indeed a sinner, but we see him being truly sorry for his sins. Ironically, the Pharisee is guilty of the same sins he sees in the Publican. When someone becomes puffed up with pride, he or she falls into the same type of sin which he or she judges. The Publicans hid their extortion with religious hypocrisy… the latter sin of which the Pharisee is guilty. The Pharisee is also guilty of a kind of spiritual adultery.

It is important to remember that the only comparison that matters is that to Christ, the model of virtue. It is sometimes tempting to look down upon others, especially those who do not belong to the Catholic Church (or those who we deem to be more sinful than ourselves), but we must not fall into this trap.

Country Star’s New Song about Veteran Mistreatment

There’s no way in the world that I support the American and Canadian military today – going off to the Middle East, causing unrest, and stealing oil. I’m against radical Islam terrorism, but I also believe that the American military sent off to Islamic countries also causes the problem in the first place.

But I’ve also always been very interested in war and its consequences ever since I was a young girl reading books about World War II (now, the veterans of that war I can praise). I remember how much the old Jason Aldean music video for “Tattoos on this Town” touched me back when it was still on YouTube – a song about making memories together comes to a climax in which the young wife learns that her soldier husband is dead. I can’t help but feel a throb in my heart on November 11th and every single time I see John McRae’s “In Flander’s Fields.”

That’s why I was so intrigued to see Milo Yiannopoulos’ post about Brad Paisley’s newest song, “Love and War.” (Well, new to me… the album was released in April.)

I don’t know much about how war veterans are treated, although I have heard about unfair treatment (although in generalities more than anything). I have to say – even if a young man has misguided ideas about what he fights for, I think he should be rewarded for having the guts to go to the front lines. Nowadays, our men all seem to be beta cucks who are insecure about their masculinity. Usually, these kind of things make me laugh, but at some point, it’s just really depressing.

Does anyone know more about how veterans are treated? I’d love to hear more from someone who is a little more informed.

 

In other words, on a more superficial, I think Brad Paisley’s new album sounds A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. Definitely getting this one.

The Destruction of the Education System (Alberta and Beyond)

“Just a regular day for Alberta Christian schools…. gettin’ attacked for morality,” I started a Facebook post before continuing in earnest.

I grew up being told that I was lucky to live in Alberta because I could actually be homeschooled here. There was a couple of pesky teacher visits a few times a year, but other than that, my parents were mostly left alone with their decisions of how they would homeschool my sister and me. It’s been four years since I graduated and left homeschooling behind (until, perhaps, my own children down the road), but the changes that have happened since then are rather disheartening. For several years, Christian and Catholic schools have been under constant attack for pro-life and anti-homosexuality, anti-morality statements, etc.

And now this. (Go ahead, read the article. I’ll wait.)

Have we really gotten to the point where we have to censor books because something is offensive? It’s the same old story (pun intended). Even if we were to look at the Bible as just another piece of literature (well, a library of different types of literature, really), the same idea remains. This reminds me of hearing about the controversy over The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (one of my favourite novels ever). “This word is too offensive,” the anti-Huck people say. “We must censor this word out of the novel.” And yet, the entire point of the word ‘nigger’ appearing in Twain’s novel was to illustrate the power white slaveowners hold over their slaves.

I hear some schools use revisionist history textbooks; if this is the case, we’re doomed to repeat history. (We already see this with ANTIFA, calling people names and beating them up — sounds rather totalitarian, doesn’t it??) Junior High English no longer exists here – it’s called “Humanities,” and I have learned from parents and students I tutor that the “melding together of Social Studies and English” is just a way to all but remove literature from the schools. Not only does this harm the students in that they are left with a gap in their knowledge, entering high school with no knowledge of of grammar or reading comprehension of literature, …. but it’s a dumbing-down of the population. I was shocked to find out in university that most people had no idea how to write an essay. That was MY GENERATION. Imagine how much more stupid the children that are ten years younger, or the next generation will be (it’s not their fault – it’s ours, for letting it happen).

It’s morality and education that are at stake here. I’m begging my peers, my future teachers, my future parents who can complain at their schools – we need all the help we can get. Even if there’s nothing else you can do, at least pray.

I’ve grown up seeing way too many people just sitting on the fence, not caring to do anything. That was my parent’s generation, and the generation before. But I’ve also seen many young people starting to realize the problems in their political and social surroundings. It’s very heartening to see so many people of my own age taking the red pill.

But it’s not only being “woke,” as the kids these days say. We have to do something about it.

Anna’s Favourites Day 16: Lady Antebellum

2. Which is my favourite album or EP from this artist?

My favourite album would probably be Own the Night, although Need You Now comes in a close second.

 
3. What is my favourite song from this artist?

“Love Don’t Live Here” … “Need You Now” … “Hello World” … “Wanted You More”  (I would avoid watching the video for certain sections) … “Love I’ve Found in You” … “Goodbye Town” … “All For Love” (below) … “Bartender” (ignore the wacked up bartender haha)

I don’t have too much description for the songs below because I think they’re pretty self-explanatory – since they’re so spot on.

 

Anna’s Favourites Day 15: Keith Urban

I was on vacation over May long weekend, but now I am back at the music posts again!

 

I don’t have a lot of K artists that I know of, but Keith Urban is definitely a favourite.

1. What draws me to this particular artist’s music?

Country. Good lyrics and excellent music.

 

Anna’s Favourites Day 14: J

Out of all the J artists I have on iTunes, Josh Groban would probably be my favourite for just the Beauty of his music, with Josh Gracin coming in for a close second since he’s a great country artist. However, since I have so many singleton favourites, I’m going to let this post just be a mismatch of them all and focus on the last few questions from my questions list. This post shall be a mixture of classical crossover, country, and a few others which I don’t know how to brand.

 

Anna’s Favourites Day 13: Imagine Dragons

 

1. What draws me to this particular artist’s music? Which is my favourite album or EP from this artist?

I really like the alternative rock sound of Imagine Dragons. While the band has transitioned to more electronic-alternative music recently, I still quite enjoy their music. I’m really enjoying the songs released from Evolve so far, so I think I like it just as equally as Night Visions so far.

Anna’s Favourites Day 12: Il Volo

 

1. What draws me to this particular artist’s music?

Ahh. It’s just so beautiful. And *cough* Gianluca’s voice *cough*.

 
2. Which is my favourite album or EP from this artist?

We Are Love. Just from the very first song (an Italian cover of “I Don’t Wan to Miss a Thing”) all the way through, this album is incredible.

 
3. What is my favourite song from this artist?

My favourites are all below, but #5 is my absolute favourite.

 
4a. Which song best describes my past?

Recent past – “This Time,” but before that, it was “Smile.”

I’m waiting for a sign
So tell me that it’s real this time.

 
4b. Which song best describes my life right now?

I think “Grande Amore” could work (and it’s also one of my top favourite songs and music videos of theirs, so that works out perfectly). However, there’s also “I Bring You to My Senses.” ❤

Tell me why when I think, I just think of you
Tell me why when I see, I see only you
Tell me why when I believe, I believe in you only, great love

 
4c. Which song best describes I want my future to be like?

“Un Amore Così Grande”

 
5. Which song best describes my #aesthetic?

L’Immensità (This is the best quality I could get for a video… sad, since it’s my favourite song of theirs.)

Anna’s Favourites Day 11: Hunter Hayes

Country and Catholic and some of the best love song lyrics (in my opinion)? Yeahhh that’s Hunter.

 

2. Which is my favourite album or EP from this artist?

Hunter Hayes (Encore). (I do like a bunch of songs from Storyline, but I haven’t listened to his newest music.)

 
3. What are my favourite songs from this artist?

I love most of Hunter’s songs, but some of my absolute favourites besides the ones below are “Rainy Season” (I really love the chorus), “More Than I Should” (my 11/River song), “Tattoo,” and “Invisible” (the last song definitely helped during the difficult times – also, the bit about labels makes me really angry for a reason I might need to explain later on in a separate blog post).

Dare to be something more.

 

Anna’s Favourites Day 10: Halsey

(H will be another letter with at least one more post, if not two.)

 

 

1. What draws me to this particular artist’s music?

There’s this sound to Halsey’s music that I don’t know how else to describe but to use the word grunge, since it makes me think of the texture. I just really love her entire sound because it speaks to my soul in a certain way – the #darkaesthetic part of me that likes dystopia, politics, and exploring the psychology of sin (another reason why I’m finally reading The Brothers Karamazov now). Some of her lyrics are a little questionable, she dresses indecently, and she has a music video I don’t approve of (“Ghost”), but I ignore particular songs and salvage the rest.