Think about those times in your life when you have felt inspired to something really great. Where does that inspiration come from?
The Holy Spirit. God inspires us to do great things with our lives.
----Matthew Kelly

Welcome to The Not So Perfect Catholic!

Disclaimer: I am not a theologian, just a Catholic empty-nester trying to figure it all out. The views on this blog are my own.

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

To say I had a difficult time hearing what the Priest was saying during his Homily today would be an understatement. I sit in the choir section which makes it difficult to hear very well, and he is hard to understand (I'm not sure if it's the frequency of his voice that I have trouble with.).  Plus, I was having some difficulty paying attention.
Today's Gospel was JN 6:1-15, or the "Fish and Loaves Story". The priest did say some things that I understand that got me thinking:

God gives us more than we want and need. He uses this for reconciliation and to bring people together.
We may think we want & need more, but God knows best. He's giving us everything we need & want...and then some.

We still use food to bring people together.
Man, do we ever! Food was and is a big part of family gatherings. We always had more than we needed. I think most families' gatherings center around food. Summer get-togethers, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Easter, birthdays, anniversaries: what would they be like if there were no food?
The parish that we attended in SC had "Supper Club" groups. It was a great way for parishioners to meet other parishioners they may not have met otherwise. Once a month, someone in the group was responsible for the main dish; others brought the sides & dessert. We met several people we wouldn't normally have met, and we even liked most of them! 
Even at one of my schools where I work, when we have monthly meetings, food is offered. More parents come to them when food is offered.

I think Father definitely pegged it this morning...even though I couldn't understand half of what he said!

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Wow. I really haven't been doing well with keeping up with my posts!
This was Deacon Weekend...the Deacons were in charge of the Homilies.
With everything going on in the news lately, the 1st Reading really grabbed my attention, especially the "opener":
JER 23:1-4
Woe to the shepherds
who mislead and scatter the flock of my pasture,
says the LORD. 
Therefore, thus says the LORD, the God of Israel,
against the shepherds who shepherd my people:
You have scattered my sheep and driven them away. 
You have not cared for them,
but I will take care to punish your evil deeds. 
I myself will gather the remnant of my flock
from all the lands to which I have driven them
and bring them back to their meadow;
there they shall increase and multiply. 
I will appoint shepherds for them who will shepherd them
so that they need no longer fear and tremble;
and none shall be missing, says the LORD.


The Deacon at the Mass I attended talked about the WWJD bracelets that were so popular some years ago. He talked about how, when it's his time to stand in front of God, he wants to be able to say he did and said everything he possibly could. He talked about how it's our responsibility as Christians to stand up for our beliefs.
As for those bracelets: I think it's time to bring them back.