Theological Status: Critical Concern
Biblical Parallel(Archetype): Thyatira
❓ What do these grades mean?
🔍 Biblical Discernment: The 7 Church Parallels
The Cold Orthodox Parallel
Ephesus
Teaching that upholds doctrinal precision yet parallels the loss of the "first love"—the vital, motivating power of the Gospel (Rev 2:4).
Why strictly "Mark & Avoid"?
We do not issue this rating to attack the speaker, but to protect the listener. This church's overall teaching trend consistently deviates from sound doctrine. As per Romans 16:17, we identify these patterns so believers can guard their hearts.
We do not issue this rating to attack the speaker, but to protect the listener. This church's overall teaching trend consistently deviates from sound doctrine. As per Romans 16:17, we identify these patterns so believers can guard their hearts.
🧐 Overview
Sermon Summary: This sermon encourages believers to be 'salt and light' by performing acts of mercy for the needy. While commendable on the surface, it critically presents these good works as the means by which a person's light shines before God, rather than the grateful result of a salvation already secured by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
Big Idea: We are called to shine as lights and seasoners in the world, reflecting Christ's teachings and actions. [00:20:27 ▶️ 📄]
Pastoral Analysis: The sermon, delivered within the context of a Roman Catholic Mass, fundamentally errs by teaching a works-based soteriology. It posits that performing the 'works of mercy' is the mechanism for believers to 'shine' and be effective, reversing the biblical order of grace and works. This foundational error is compounded by the liturgy's explicit teaching of Transubstantiation, which presents the communion as a re-sacrifice of Christ, thereby undermining the finality and sufficiency of His 'once for all' atonement on the cross.
Biblical Parallel(Archetype): Thyatira — The sermon, embedded within its liturgy, promotes a works-based system of righteousness and a sacramental theology that corrupts the gospel, seducing believers away from the sufficiency of Christ's finished work.
🧭 Biblical Alignment Dashboard
Overall Verdict: Fundamentally in Error
| Category | Status | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| Soteriology | ❌ FAIL | The sermon teaches a synergistic, works-based system where salvation and spiritual effectiveness are achieved through human effort (works of mercy) rather than being received by grace through faith alone in Christ's finished work. It presents heaven as the reward for service, not a gift of grace. |
| Bibliology | ⚠️ WEAK | While Scripture is read, its authority is functionally subordinate to church tradition and a pre-determined liturgical calendar. This leads to a topical and moralistic application rather than a Christ-centered exegesis of the text in its context. |
| Hermeneutic | ❌ FAIL | The sermon employs a moralistic hermeneutic, detaching the ethical commands of Scripture from the indicative power of the gospel. Works are presented as the cause of being a 'light' rather than the evidence of a heart already regenerated by grace. |
| Theology Proper | ⚠️ WEAK | The consistent focus on human action and merit obscures the sovereign grace and monergistic work of God in salvation. The sermon presents a God who responds to human works for salvation, rather than a God who initiates and accomplishes salvation for His elect. |
| Sacramentology | ❌ FAIL | The liturgy explicitly promotes the doctrine of Transubstantiation, treating the communion elements as the literal body and blood of Christ and presenting the Mass as an acceptable 'sacrifice'. This denies the 'once for all' sufficiency of Christ's atonement as taught in Hebrews 10. |
📖 How they Handle Scripture & Jesus
Primary Text: Matthew 5:14-16 (Topical)
Scripture Saturation: Verses Read: 4 | Referenced: 2 | Alluded: 2
Passages Read Aloud:
-
Matthew 5:14-16
[00:19:33 ▶️ 📄]-[00:19:55 ▶️ 📄]
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden, nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket. It is set on a lampstand where it gives light to all in the house."
-
Not a biblical verse
[00:09:05 ▶️ 📄]
"Just like more than two months I haven't had a full church. Just the two weeks had the impact of two months."
-
Isaiah 58:7
[00:12:40 ▶️ 📄]-[00:12:57 ▶️ 📄]
"Thus says the Lord, share your bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the homeless, clothe the naked when you see them, and do not turn your back on your own."
Key References: Isaiah 58:7-10, Luke 22:19-20
Christological Connection: Moralistic: Christ is presented as an example to be imitated and a source of 'equipment' for good works, rather than the Savior whose imputed righteousness is the sole basis for the believer's standing before God.
🧱 Sermon Outline
- Introduction: The Call to be Salt and Light [00:20:27 ▶️ 📄] : The pastor introduces the theme from Matthew 5, stating that believers have a special privilege to shine as light and act as salt in the world.
- Point 1: The Foundation of Knowing Christ [00:26:55 ▶️ 📄] : The pastor uses Paul's example to argue that knowing Christ crucified is what equips a believer to shine, framing a sequence of knowing, loving, and then serving God to attain heaven.
- Point 2: The Practice of Corporal and Spiritual Works [00:30:14 ▶️ 📄] : The sermon outlines the traditional lists of corporal and spiritual works of mercy as the primary, practical way for a believer's light to shine and for them to be useful.
- Conclusion: The Danger of Uselessness [00:36:43 ▶️ 📄] : The pastor concludes by warning that failing to intentionally perform these works of mercy makes a believer useless, like salt that has lost its taste.
💧 Sacraments & Ordinances
Fencing the Table (Communion):
- Believers Only Stated: ❌ No (Open Table Risk)
- Warning Against Unworthy Manner: ⚠️ None Detected
🗝️ Key Topics & Themes
- Being the light of the world [00:20:27 ▶️ 📄] : The pastor discusses the importance of Christians reflecting Christ's light and actions in their daily lives.
- Works of mercy [00:30:14 ▶️ 📄] : The pastor emphasizes the importance of both corporal and spiritual works of mercy.
- Spiritual Works of Mercy [00:30:14 ▶️ 📄] : The pastor discusses the importance of spiritual works of mercy such as correcting sinners, instructing the ignorant, counseling the doubtful, praying for the living and the dead, forgiving injuries, and bearing wrongs patiently.
- Communion [00:53:35 ▶️ 📄] : The pastor leads the congregation in the act of Communion.
✅ Commendations
Pastoral Heart | Genuine Concern for the Needy
The sermon demonstrates a commendable and biblical concern for the practical needs of the poor, the sick, and the homeless, urging the congregation to tangible acts of charity.
Liturgical Order | Reverent Reading of Scripture
The public reading of Scripture during the liturgy was conducted in an orderly and clear manner, allowing the words of the Bible to be heard by the congregation.
⚠️ Theological Concerns
🔴 Works-Based Righteousness (Legalism)
Root Cause: Legalism / Semi-Pelagianism: This error elevates human works to a meritorious status, suggesting that man cooperates with God to earn salvation. It denies the biblical doctrine of Sola Gratia (Grace Alone) by making human performance a necessary component for justification.
"He says if you do this then your light will shine." [00:26:12 ▶️ 📄]
Correction: Ephesians 2:8-10 states, 'For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.' Salvation is the cause; good works are the effect.
🔴 Doctrine of Transubstantiation
Root Cause: Idolatry / Denial of Christ's Ascension: This doctrine confuses the sign with the thing signified, leading to the adoration of the physical elements. It also denies the abiding physical reality of Christ's ascended and localized human body in heaven.
"make holy therefore these gifts we pray by sending down your spirits upon them like the dewfall so that they may become for us the body and blood of our lord jesus christ" [00:47:21 ▶️ 📄]
Correction: Christ's statement 'This is my body' (Luke 22:19) is sacramental language, similar to God saying the Passover lamb 'is the Lord's Passover' (Ex. 12:11). The sign is called by the name of the thing it signifies. Christ's physical body ascended into heaven and remains there until his return (Acts 1:9-11).
🔴 The Mass as a Re-Sacrifice of Christ
Root Cause: Denial of the Sufficiency of the Atonement: This teaching implies that the sacrifice on the cross was not sufficient in itself and must be continually re-presented or re-offered by the church. This undermines the finality of Christ's cry, 'It is finished' (John 19:30).
"Brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the Almighty Father." [00:44:56 ▶️ 📄]
Correction: Hebrews 10:12, 14 says, 'But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God... For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.' The work is finished and cannot be re-offered or re-presented.
📜 Full Sermon Transcript (Audit)
Use the 📄 icons next to quotes above to automatically jump to their location in this raw transcript.
[00:00:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_10]
[00:00:00] because without me i am the vine you are the branches whoever remains in me and i in him will bear much fruit because without me you can do nothing in the gospel of john jesus reminds us that he is the vine and we are the branches just as a vineyard flourishes when carefully tended
[00:00:34] Diocesan Support Appeal is Tending the Vineyard. Please join me in watching some of the ways all of you through your gifts to the DSA bring the Word and Spirit of Christ to those yearning
[00:00:48] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:00:48] to grow. I am the true vine and my father is the vine grower. It was hard at the beginning especially when you're alone like me when I got here. It was for a friend of me and she
[00:01:07] introduced me to the Catholic Charity. So Hilda came in, she had been through some
[00:01:18] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:01:18] domestic violence and had had some real challenges. We set goals around helping her to secure, to get safe and secure housing. It's a very holistic approach.
[00:01:29] Food, counseling, case management, all these things stabilize families. So what we're really doing with the DSA funding is stabilizing families. And they have
[00:01:39] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:01:39] changed my life and my faith and i have no words to say how thankful i am you are already pruned
[00:01:49] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:01:49] because of the word that i spoke to you remain in me as i remain in you through our baptism through
[00:02:36] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]
[00:02:36] our being stated right for our english ocia class you'll see some students who are completely new to to the idea of Catholicism.
[00:02:53] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]
[00:02:53] I love the classes here.
[00:02:55] The way they explain things to you, it's very easy to understand, honestly.
[00:03:00] Every time I do go to church on Sundays, I kind of feel like I'm with family.
[00:03:05] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]
[00:03:05] The DSA, it draws each parish into the greater community of the diocese.
[00:03:13] This is a community.
[00:03:15] People know things cost money, but they're here because they belong.
[00:03:34] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_12]
[00:03:34] When I think back on my years at St. Joseph's College Seminary, I'm filled with gratitude.
[00:03:43] Those years weren't just about classes and study, they were about formation of the heart.
[00:03:49] I learned what it truly means to live as a disciple, to listen for God's voice, and to grow in the habits of prayer, service, and fraternity.
[00:04:00] and these sustain me every day as a priest i'm deeply aware that this formation and my ability to serve today was made possible through the diocesan support appeal your generosity supports the formation of future priests like i once was preparing them to serve our parishes and bring
[00:04:22] christ's love to every corner of our diocese when you give to the dsa you're not just funding programs. You're investing in the future of the church and tending the vineyard.
[00:04:33] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_10]
[00:04:33] Here in the Diocese of Charlotte, God has entrusted us with a beautiful vineyard.
[00:04:40] Our parishes, schools, Catholic charities, and the many ministries that bring people closer to Christ. Each of us has a role in cultivating this vineyard and stewarding the faith so that future generations may also know the joy of the
[00:04:57] Gospel. Your gift to the Diocesan Support Appeal is one way we work side-by-side in this mission. Together we strengthen the roots of our faith, care for those in need, and bear fruit that will last generations. I invite you to join me
[00:05:20] in tending the vineyard the Lord has given us. Through your gifts and prayers may we continue to reflect Christ's light in all that we do. And may God bless you and your loved ones abundantly good afternoon we welcome any visitors
[00:06:16] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:06:16] who join us for worship today as we celebrate the fifth Sunday in ordinary time please turn off your cell phones or set them to silent mode for safety reasons we ask that all children be accompanied by an adult when attending
[00:06:30] the restrooms our presider for this mass is Father Engelbert Ophan our gathering hymn is number 848 gather us in everyone please stand
[00:07:04] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:07:04] streaming banished away in the light of this day us in the lost and forsaken hear us in the blind and the lame call to us we shall awaken we shall rise at the sound of our
[00:07:33] name mystery We are your face, we have history.
[00:07:50] I see the whole human race in the potty.
[00:07:59] Gather us in the plan, the strong.
[00:08:03] Give us the heart, our reach to enter the song.
[00:08:15] Water, we will take the bread of new birth.
[00:08:20] Here you shall call waters, call us to be salt for the earth.
[00:08:30] Give us to drink the wine of compassion.
[00:08:33] Give us to eat the bread that is you Nourish us well and teach us to fashion Lives that are holy and hearts that are true Good afternoon.
[00:08:55] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:08:55] Good afternoon, Father.
[00:08:57] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_15]
[00:08:57] It gladdens my heart to see the church once full again, once more as full.
[00:09:02] Just like more than two months I haven't had a full church.
[00:09:05] Just the two weeks had the impact of two months.
[00:09:08] So we are all welcome to worship again as one big family, entrusting ourselves to God, the world, and his people.
[00:09:19] In this Mass, we shall be praying for the eternal peace of Agnes Norton and for Lisa Cimino.
[00:09:29] In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, the Lord be with you.
[00:09:35] Beloved in Christ, for a worthy celebration of this Mass, let us call to mind our sins.
[00:09:42] You were sent to heal the contrite of hearts. Lord, have mercy.
[00:09:46] You came to call sinners. Christ, have mercy.
[00:09:50] You are seated at the right hand of the Father to intercede for us. Lord, have mercy.
[00:09:57] May Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
[00:10:08] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:10:08] Glory to God in the highest.
[00:10:14] people let us pray keep your family safe oh lord we don't fail in care that relying solely on the
[00:12:07] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_15]
[00:12:07] hope of heavenly grace they may be defended always by your protection through our lord jesus christ his son who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the holy spirit god forever and ever a reading
[00:12:40] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_11]
[00:12:40] from the book of the prophet Isaiah. Thus says the Lord, share your bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the homeless, clothe the naked when you see them, and do not turn your back
[00:12:57] on your own. Then your light shall break free forth like the dawn, and your wound shall quickly be healed your vindication shall go before you and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard then you shall call and the Lord will answer you shall
[00:13:21] cry for help and he will say Here I am if you remove from your midst oppression false accusation and malicious malicious speech if you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted then the light shall rise for you in the
[00:13:44] darkness and the gloom shall become for you like midday the word of the Lord
[00:13:52] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:13:52] thanks be to God a light rises in the darkness for the He is generous, merciful, and just. It goes well for the man who deals generously and conducts his affairs with justice.
[00:15:01] The just man is, he will never be moved, shall the just be remembered, he has no fear of evil new, with a firm heart he trusts in the Lord, with a steadfast heart he will not fear,
[00:15:53] gives to them his justice stands firm forever his might shall be exalted in glory a reading from
[00:16:42] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_13]
[00:16:42] the first letter of saint paul to the corinthians when i came to you brothers and sisters proclaiming the mystery of god i did not come with sublimity of words or of wisdom for i resolved to know
[00:17:01] nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling and my message and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom but with a demonstration
[00:17:23] of spirit and power so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on
[00:17:32] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:17:32] the power of God. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. The Lord be with you. And with thy spirit.
[00:19:03] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_15]
[00:19:03] Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew. Glory to you, O Lord. Jesus said to his disciples, you are the salt of the earth, but if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?
[00:19:22] It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
[00:19:33] You are the light of the world.
[00:19:36] A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden, nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket.
[00:19:46] It is set on a lampstand where it gives light to all in the house.
[00:19:55] Just so, your light must shine before others, so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.
[00:20:11] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_14]
[00:20:11] The Gospel of the Lord.
[00:20:14] Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
[00:20:27] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_15]
[00:20:27] God is good, and all the times.
[00:20:32] Today, the liturgy of the world seems to want us to reflect on this special privilege we all have, especially as baptized people, participating in the light, the brightness of Christ, shining like light to other people, to our other brothers and sisters,
[00:21:00] seasoning the lives of our other brothers and sisters for in the gospel acclamation just listen to Christ as his disciples I am the light of the world he who follows me bride will shine anyone who follows me will shine as a light in
[00:21:28] the darkness or the just everyone will follow me she will shine as a light now the gospel acclamation again christ tells us all that this is what the gospel that is the gospel acclamation now the response which we just took again we are told the just man shall shine
[00:21:52] light light in the darkness for the upright again that light again in the first reading of this the prophet isaiah tells the people of course he's a mouthpiece of god he they will share their
[00:22:10] bread with the hungry who offer shelter to the oppressed and to the homeless those who give drink and other those works of mercy their light will shine and then he goes us to enumerate the benefits if we do those things dear brothers and sisters in Christ then in the gospel Christ
[00:22:34] comes to tell us you are the light of the world you are the salt of the earth one of the things which I got to know in my days reading chemistry in school was that about the
[00:22:48] properties of salt it has so many I mean uses for salt the uses of salt it has a couple of reasons but these two struck me even though I'm not a good cook but I
[00:23:02] learnt that one of the uses of salt is that it seasons it gives brings out flavor, food, and another is that it preserves, it is used as a preservative.
[00:23:14] Now based on the other kinds of salt, there are other kinds of salt which are not the edible ones, those ones could also fertilize and other things, but I'm talking of the context in which Christ speaks, he uses by the salt that is used
[00:23:29] as food, as an ingredient, an element in the kitchen. We also know that salt by itself is dangerous it is only useful when it is used when it is applied on in the context it is used for something for example no one wants to take a pinch or
[00:23:52] a quantity of salt and start eating of course you are killing yourself we know is killing likewise the light light the Sun by itself has no value even this candles here stripped of why they are here stripped of the of why they are here they make
[00:24:11] they are they make no sense light is relevant light becomes useful only to the extent that it dispels darkness and then people can see brightly people can see clearly the sun may have no use unless it reflects and then people can see things clearly so the salt that christ
[00:24:35] tells us and the light he tells us they are to be used they are not necessary in themselves they were meant even when god created the he separated he created the sun and the moon and all those
[00:24:49] creatures all of them had reasons so christ details that of the sun to us you are to shine your sun yet your light shine so that through you and your activities others can give glory to god
[00:25:06] so the sun you are the light of the world means that just like we were lighted up in at our baptism and we grow to be closer to christ and then gets brighter and brighter in our in that
[00:25:20] capacity to be luminous to be shine as we grow in that capacity it's not to be kept so if i am baptized i live in my life of prayer and pray every day do a lot of fasting and come for adoration
[00:25:35] it's not enough it's not enough the light must shine that prayer coming for prayers doing adoration is also very good because in that your light shine others some people some people who depend on you from their faith for the growth of their faith they see you and they are convinced
[00:25:55] they say there is something there there is something that is doing all the time in this church there is something mommy is doing there is something hidden there's some benefits hidden in things they do but for our lives to shine for the for us to taste like the salt of the earth
[00:26:12] we must go practical it must be concrete and that is why in the first reading we are outlined those things the prophet isaiah says all this thing and he says if you do this then your light will shine
[00:26:27] in other words god tells us in the scriptures today through the prophet isaiah that we need our lights to shine because we are lighted already. But the fact that we're lighted at baptism is not
[00:26:41] enough. We need to feed that light to get brighter and brighter as we age on to get brighter and brighter. We will understand now why Saint Paul in the second reading will remind the Corinthians,
[00:26:55] remember that when I was with you, I did not come with words of sublimity or of wisdom of human wisdom he went for one thing and only that one was sufficient for the rest of that text to flow that all i desired was to know christ and christ crucified
[00:27:18] so having christ and knowing christ as a christ crucified it equips us to shine out because the Christ crucified is the Christ who denied himself, who let go something of himself so that others can become something.
[00:27:41] So St. Paul, the foundation of his works and of his teaching is knowing Christ.
[00:27:49] Sometimes we don't know Christ.
[00:27:51] If we were to take our personal moments of reflection and to write down what you know about Christ, you'll find yourself limited.
[00:28:00] You find yourself wanting. Sometimes it's also good to just get a journal. Just write. Just write.
[00:28:08] You find yourself wanting. You say, is this how little I know about him?
[00:28:15] Or sometimes again, after sometimes you come and act. Something strikes you, you come and act.
[00:28:19] But even at one point you will discover that, hey, there's a lot about Christ that I need to know.
[00:28:27] The basic questions at the very early years of our faith formation is for us, at least from where I learned my doctrine was who made you? God made me. Secondly, why did God make you? It's funny, isn't it? In the case of the Catholic Church, it's the same case. He made me
[00:28:45] to know him, to love him, to serve him, and to be happy with him forever in heaven. Take it the other way. All of us want to be happy forever in heaven at the end of our lives. How can we do it? By
[00:29:00] serving God how can you serve God by you how can you serve God by loving him how can you love him because you know him and when you know him then you can serve him and I know him then you will love him and we love him there you can serve
[00:29:18] it but how do you know him another place text in the scripture will tell us how can we get to know him we can know him how can we know him when we are not
[00:29:27] taught about him? How can we be taught about him when someone is not sent? How can someone be sent when he is not called? So we are all called on the day of our baptism to be followers of Christ
[00:29:41] and to be followers of Christ is not enough. We must struggle to know Christ more and when we know him more and more then our actions will flow from that knowledge just like Saint Paul's action
[00:29:55] flows from his knowledge of Christ. When we know Christ intimately, then we will not have difficulties in practicing the works of mercy. So the church presents us today those works of mercy. Of course, in the early 80 days of our life, I think most of us will know, will have
[00:30:14] known the corporal works of mercy. I don't want to ask you now. I will name it for you.
[00:30:20] a couple of them appeared in the first treaty, feed the hungry give drink to the thirsty home the homeless or provide shelter to the homeless when we prepare to tell the homeless they will visit the sick
[00:30:41] visit those in prison clothe the naked and essentially those are the seven corporal works of mercy but there is another work of mercy which benefits the soul and very often it is there neglected because we, as humans, we naturally are biased towards the body.
[00:31:05] We give preferential, we are easily inclined to do things that are tangible, that are physical, that have to do with the body.
[00:31:15] But there are also these other works of mercy which are spiritual.
[00:31:18] And we do some of them, but unless we are intentional and we get to know them and get them to know that they exist exist as spiritual works of mercy recommended for our spiritual growth then we'll ignore some of
[00:31:33] them and they have to do a lot though they are spiritual works of mercy when we don't deliberately intentionally do them then it affects even our spiritual relationship i mean our physical relationship our interpersonal relationship correct sinners that's the first of them correct
[00:31:55] sinners. Even if they sinned, yes, their actions are bad. Correct them. That's the spiritual work of mercy. Instruct the ignorant. Many people perish because of lack of knowledge. Even Christ says it in the pictures, scriptures. My people perish for lack of knowledge. Instruct the
[00:32:19] ignorant. Don't mind your business when people are in sinful situation. Don't mind your business when people are ignorant.
[00:32:28] The third of them is counsel the doubtful.
[00:32:32] There are people whose faith are shaking.
[00:32:35] They are living constantly in a state of doubt and they can't engage in the practice of their faith because they have doubts about the faith.
[00:32:45] Sometimes some will not express it.
[00:32:47] But if you can come across somebody who can express it, if you cannot counsel that person, direct the person to the church.
[00:32:54] direct the person to somebody another Christian many Christians are very knowledgeable and very devoted they can help there are many groups ministries in this church prayer groups ministries that can help people in growing in your
[00:33:09] faith when we counsel the doubtful it's a spiritual work of mercy another spiritual work of mercy is that of praying for the living and the dead I I think this parish is top-notch when it comes to praying,
[00:33:26] making petitions, the intentions of this Mass.
[00:33:30] The intentions of this Mass, we pray very much for the living and the dead, which is very, very good.
[00:33:35] Sometimes we are tempted to wait until somebody dies before we can pray for them.
[00:33:40] No, pray for people even while they are alive.
[00:33:43] Pray for them while they are alive.
[00:33:45] Another of those spiritual works of mercy is to forgive injuries.
[00:33:50] To forgive injuries.
[00:33:54] If we learn how to forgive injuries, we will reduce the rate at which we curse people, the rate at which we misuse or mishandle the name of the Lord.
[00:34:07] Sometimes when some things happen, they may appear very, very awkward or bad.
[00:34:15] they may not be very pleasant but sometimes some of those things happen because the lord uses them to to protect us from bigger things that would have happened so before bear forgive injuries and then bear wrongs patiently of course we i think the the crushing majority of of us here
[00:34:38] where we want to come you say you get back to yourself and you want to see a weakness one of the things you call is impatience but we should bear wrongs patiently that's a spiritual work
[00:34:50] of mercy because when we bear wrongs patiently we give people the impetus to try again to be striving on the way we get impatient with each other sometimes really how it really stops our growth
[00:35:05] our progress and progress of things in which we find out situations in which we find ourselves So, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, these are those spiritual works of mercy which are very, very vital for our life. So, the church teaches us today through that first reading and the rest
[00:35:21] of the liturgy of today that if we have to shine the light on us that has been lit at the time of our baptism and our closeness to Christ, we should practice these works of mercy. Incidentally, it's
[00:35:37] It's a reading that coincides in two very special ways.
[00:35:41] First, we just listen about the DSA.
[00:35:44] Those are essentially the works of mercy that the diocese does, and which many of us still do privately and in different ways.
[00:35:52] Maybe that show, that slide, just simply encourages us to say, you are on the right footing.
[00:36:00] Secondly, within this week, we are beginning tomorrow, beginning from Wednesday, we are getting into Lent.
[00:36:06] Maybe it's a call to us to revisit this concept, this works of mercy, not just the corporal, but also the spiritual works of mercy, especially praying for the living and the dead, bearing one another's limitations in a patient way.
[00:36:26] All those things when we do them, counseling the ignorant people, correcting sinners, counseling the doubtful and instructing the ignorant people, correcting sinners, it comes back to us.
[00:36:43] Our lights become brilliant.
[00:36:45] Our lights shine out.
[00:36:47] So may God grant us the graces as we daily struggle to shine.
[00:36:52] Otherwise we become as useless as a sun, as a salt.
[00:36:56] that loses its taste.
[00:36:59] And that is not the will of God.
[00:37:00] We were created to shine.
[00:37:03] We were created to taste.
[00:37:05] If we don't intentionally shine out, if we don't intentionally give taste to the gloomy situations of our brothers and sisters, if we don't shine our light in the darkness for the one who is hungry,
[00:37:20] the darkness in the life of the one who has nowhere to sleep tonight, and the ones who are ignorant, well, don't let our light shine in those ways, then the light becomes useless, the soul becomes useless.
[00:37:34] It's like the light that is not associated with the light of Christ, the taste that is not associated with Christ who came to give taste to the world.
[00:37:43] May this same Christ grant us his mediation as we seek the mercy of God for the times we have not been so.
[00:37:50] Amen.
[00:37:58] I believe in one God, the father almighty maker of heaven and earth of all things visible and invisible i believe in one lord jesus christ the only begotten son of god born of the father before all ages god from god
[00:38:14] light from life true god from true god begotten not made consubstantial the father through him all things were made for us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary and became man. For our sake he was
[00:38:35] crucified on the Pontius Pilate. He so far died and was buried. He rose again again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in
[00:38:50] glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. I I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified.
[00:39:06] He has spoken through the prophet.
[00:39:08] I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.
[00:39:13] I profess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
[00:39:16] And I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.
[00:39:21] Amen.
[00:39:22] Brothers and sisters, we lift up our hearts in prayers to God that he may continue to grant us the graces we need to shine out for the well-being of our other brothers and sisters and for our salvation as we pray.
[00:39:36] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_11]
[00:39:36] In charity, let us pray to the Lord.
[00:39:44] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_16]
[00:39:44] Lord, hear our prayer.
[00:39:46] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_11]
[00:39:46] For the physical and spiritual needs of the sick and for those who care for the ill with compassion, let us pray to the Lord.
[00:39:55] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_16]
[00:39:55] Lord, hear our prayer.
[00:39:57] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_11]
[00:39:57] For the eternal rest of the faithfully departed of our parish and families, and for the grieving, let us pray to the Lord.
[00:40:06] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_16]
[00:40:06] Lord, hear our prayer.
[00:40:09] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_11]
[00:40:09] For those preparing for the sacraments of initiation, especially in the Easter season, let us pray to the Lord.
[00:40:16] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_16]
[00:40:16] Lord, hear our prayer.
[00:40:18] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_11]
[00:40:18] for all married couples that they may continue the journey of love and commitment and for the many couples of our parish currently preparing for the sacrament of matrimony let us pray to the Lord that civil officials may
[00:40:35] govern and legislate with the gifts of wisdom and prudence for the greater good of society let us pray to the Lord for greater love and protection for God's precious gift of life and for all expectant couples let us pray to the
[00:40:52] Lord Lord hear our prayer that our parishioners may strive to follow the peaceful example of our patroness st. Therese and our mission statement by loving God following Jesus and serving all let us pray to the Lord Lord hear
[00:41:09] our prayer for the prayers that we hold in the silence of our hearts may they be answered in accord with God's will. Let us pray to the Lord. God our Heavenly
[00:41:27] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_15]
[00:41:27] Father you listen to sincere prayers we have presented these petitions to you hoping that you bless us with all the graces we need to remain your faithful followers and also messengers to our brothers and sisters through Christ our
[00:41:42] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:41:42] Lord. Please join us in singing number 744 as the fire is meant for burning Number 744.
[00:41:59] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:41:59] Glory, in God's name, bridge of care.
[00:44:56] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_15]
[00:44:56] Brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the Almighty Father.
[00:45:03] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:45:03] May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands. For the
[00:45:06] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_15]
[00:45:06] praise and glory of his name, for our good and the good of all his holy church. Amen. O Lord, our God, who once establish these created things to sustain us in our frailty grant we pray that they may become
[00:45:21] for us now the sacrament of eternal life through christ our lord the lord be with you and with thy spirit lift up your hearts we lift them up to the lord let us give thanks to the lord our god
[00:45:35] it is right and just it is truly right and just our duty and our salvation always and everywhere to give you thanks Lord Holy Father almighty and eternal God for in you we live and move and have our being
[00:45:50] and while in this body we know we not only experience the daily effect of your care but even now possess the pledge of life eternal for having received the first fruit of the spirit through whom
[00:46:09] you raised Jesus from the dead we hope for an everlasting share in the paschal mystery and so with all the angels and saints we praise you
[00:46:20] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:46:20] as in joyful celebrations we acclaim you are indeed holy o lord the found of all holiness
[00:47:21] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_15]
[00:47:21] make holy therefore these gifts we pray by sending down your spirits upon them like the dewfall so that they may become for us the body and blood of our lord jesus christ at the time he was
[00:47:31] betrayed and entered willingly into his passion he took bread and giving thanks broke it and gave it to his disciples saying take this all of you and eat of it for this is my body which will be given
[00:47:45] up for you in a similar way when supper was ended he took the chalice and once more giving thanks he gave it to his disciples saying take this all of you and drink from it for this is a chalice of my
[00:48:11] blood, the blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of me.
[00:48:21] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:48:21] Therefore, as we celebrate the memorial of his death and
[00:49:10] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_15]
[00:49:10] resurrection, we offer you, Lord, the bread of life and the chalice of salvation, giving thanks that you have held us worthy to be in your presence and minister to you humbly we pray that partaking of the body and blood of christ we may be gathered
[00:49:27] into one by the holy spirit remember lord your church spread throughout the world and bring her to the fullness of charity together with you our pope and michael our bishop and all the clergy remember also our brothers and sisters who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection
[00:49:44] and all who have died in your mercy welcome them into the light of your face Have mercy on us all, we pray, that with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, with Blessed Joseph, her spouse, with your blessed Apostles, Saint Teresa of the Child Jesus,
[00:50:01] and all the Saints who have pleased you throughout the ages, we may merit to be coheirs to eternal life and may praise and glorify you through your Son, Jesus Christ. Through him and with him and
[00:50:19] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_14]
[00:50:19] in him oh god almighty father in the unity of the holy spirit all glory and honor is yours forever
[00:50:30] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_15]
[00:50:30] and ever at the savior's command and formed by divine teaching we dare to pray our father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven
[00:51:06] give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from you deliver us Lord we pray from every evil graciously grant peace in our
[00:51:25] days that by the help of your mercy we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our
[00:51:33] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:51:33] Savior Jesus Christ Lord Jesus Christ who said to apostles peace I leave you
[00:51:42] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_15]
[00:51:42] my peace I give you look not on our sins but on the faith of your church and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will who live and reign forever and ever the peace of the Lord be with you always let us offer
[00:51:59] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:51:59] each other the sign of peace peace be with you peace be with you behold the lamb of god behold
[00:53:35] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_15]
[00:53:35] he who takes away the sins of the world blessed are those called to the supper of the lamb lord i'm not worthy that you should enter under my roof but only see the word and my soul shall be
[00:53:48] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:53:48] healed communion him is 478 returned to God number 478 let us pray O God who
[01:07:04] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_15]
[01:07:04] have willed that we be partakers in the one bread and the one chalice grant us we pray, so to live, that made one in Christ, we may joyfully bear fruits for the salvation of the
[01:07:20] world. We make our prayers through Christ our Lord. Scripture and Spirits is on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
[01:07:34] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[01:07:34] at Boone's Ogler's Brewing. Our speaker will be Father Hoover. Come and enjoy great fellowship and conversation. The Christian Mission Blanket Drive will be next weekend. Please drop off new blankets in the parking lot by the donation sign more details in the bulletin small groups
[01:07:55] program at saint therese registration is now open registration will be available for the next two weeks with many sessions and locations in the lake norman area visit the website for full details join us for the mardi gras fun night hosted by the saint therese colombiettes next tuesday please
[01:08:17] He's RSVP using the QR code in the bulletin.
[01:08:23] Registration for the annual Women's Day of Reflection is open.
[01:08:27] Space is limited.
[01:08:29] Registration details are in the bulletin.
[01:08:32] The Knights of Columbus will be soliciting donors for the February 14th Red Cross Blood Drive.
[01:08:38] There is a critical blood shortage in our area.
[01:08:42] Please take a moment to sign up and give the gift of life.
[01:08:46] The summer session parent interest meetings are rescheduled for February 22nd and February 24th.
[01:08:53] Contact Faith Formation Office for more details.
[01:08:58] Join us for a bilingual Lent retreat on February 28th.
[01:09:02] Space is limited.
[01:09:03] Please register at the parish office.
[01:09:06] More information on our website.
[01:09:08] Please check the bulletin for more information about what's happening here at St. Therese.
[01:09:14] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_15]
[01:09:14] The Lord be with you.
[01:09:17] May Almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
[01:09:24] Go forth, the Mass is ended.
[01:09:28] A blessed week to you all.
[01:09:31] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[01:09:31] Please join us in singing number 775, Go Make a Difference, 775.
[00:00:00] because without me i am the vine you are the branches whoever remains in me and i in him will bear much fruit because without me you can do nothing in the gospel of john jesus reminds us that he is the vine and we are the branches just as a vineyard flourishes when carefully tended
[00:00:34] Diocesan Support Appeal is Tending the Vineyard. Please join me in watching some of the ways all of you through your gifts to the DSA bring the Word and Spirit of Christ to those yearning
[00:00:48] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:00:48] to grow. I am the true vine and my father is the vine grower. It was hard at the beginning especially when you're alone like me when I got here. It was for a friend of me and she
[00:01:07] introduced me to the Catholic Charity. So Hilda came in, she had been through some
[00:01:18] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:01:18] domestic violence and had had some real challenges. We set goals around helping her to secure, to get safe and secure housing. It's a very holistic approach.
[00:01:29] Food, counseling, case management, all these things stabilize families. So what we're really doing with the DSA funding is stabilizing families. And they have
[00:01:39] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:01:39] changed my life and my faith and i have no words to say how thankful i am you are already pruned
[00:01:49] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:01:49] because of the word that i spoke to you remain in me as i remain in you through our baptism through
[00:02:36] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]
[00:02:36] our being stated right for our english ocia class you'll see some students who are completely new to to the idea of Catholicism.
[00:02:53] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]
[00:02:53] I love the classes here.
[00:02:55] The way they explain things to you, it's very easy to understand, honestly.
[00:03:00] Every time I do go to church on Sundays, I kind of feel like I'm with family.
[00:03:05] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]
[00:03:05] The DSA, it draws each parish into the greater community of the diocese.
[00:03:13] This is a community.
[00:03:15] People know things cost money, but they're here because they belong.
[00:03:34] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_12]
[00:03:34] When I think back on my years at St. Joseph's College Seminary, I'm filled with gratitude.
[00:03:43] Those years weren't just about classes and study, they were about formation of the heart.
[00:03:49] I learned what it truly means to live as a disciple, to listen for God's voice, and to grow in the habits of prayer, service, and fraternity.
[00:04:00] and these sustain me every day as a priest i'm deeply aware that this formation and my ability to serve today was made possible through the diocesan support appeal your generosity supports the formation of future priests like i once was preparing them to serve our parishes and bring
[00:04:22] christ's love to every corner of our diocese when you give to the dsa you're not just funding programs. You're investing in the future of the church and tending the vineyard.
[00:04:33] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_10]
[00:04:33] Here in the Diocese of Charlotte, God has entrusted us with a beautiful vineyard.
[00:04:40] Our parishes, schools, Catholic charities, and the many ministries that bring people closer to Christ. Each of us has a role in cultivating this vineyard and stewarding the faith so that future generations may also know the joy of the
[00:04:57] Gospel. Your gift to the Diocesan Support Appeal is one way we work side-by-side in this mission. Together we strengthen the roots of our faith, care for those in need, and bear fruit that will last generations. I invite you to join me
[00:05:20] in tending the vineyard the Lord has given us. Through your gifts and prayers may we continue to reflect Christ's light in all that we do. And may God bless you and your loved ones abundantly good afternoon we welcome any visitors
[00:06:16] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:06:16] who join us for worship today as we celebrate the fifth Sunday in ordinary time please turn off your cell phones or set them to silent mode for safety reasons we ask that all children be accompanied by an adult when attending
[00:06:30] the restrooms our presider for this mass is Father Engelbert Ophan our gathering hymn is number 848 gather us in everyone please stand
[00:07:04] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:07:04] streaming banished away in the light of this day us in the lost and forsaken hear us in the blind and the lame call to us we shall awaken we shall rise at the sound of our
[00:07:33] name mystery We are your face, we have history.
[00:07:50] I see the whole human race in the potty.
[00:07:59] Gather us in the plan, the strong.
[00:08:03] Give us the heart, our reach to enter the song.
[00:08:15] Water, we will take the bread of new birth.
[00:08:20] Here you shall call waters, call us to be salt for the earth.
[00:08:30] Give us to drink the wine of compassion.
[00:08:33] Give us to eat the bread that is you Nourish us well and teach us to fashion Lives that are holy and hearts that are true Good afternoon.
[00:08:55] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:08:55] Good afternoon, Father.
[00:08:57] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_15]
[00:08:57] It gladdens my heart to see the church once full again, once more as full.
[00:09:02] Just like more than two months I haven't had a full church.
[00:09:05] Just the two weeks had the impact of two months.
[00:09:08] So we are all welcome to worship again as one big family, entrusting ourselves to God, the world, and his people.
[00:09:19] In this Mass, we shall be praying for the eternal peace of Agnes Norton and for Lisa Cimino.
[00:09:29] In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, the Lord be with you.
[00:09:35] Beloved in Christ, for a worthy celebration of this Mass, let us call to mind our sins.
[00:09:42] You were sent to heal the contrite of hearts. Lord, have mercy.
[00:09:46] You came to call sinners. Christ, have mercy.
[00:09:50] You are seated at the right hand of the Father to intercede for us. Lord, have mercy.
[00:09:57] May Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
[00:10:08] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:10:08] Glory to God in the highest.
[00:10:14] people let us pray keep your family safe oh lord we don't fail in care that relying solely on the
[00:12:07] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_15]
[00:12:07] hope of heavenly grace they may be defended always by your protection through our lord jesus christ his son who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the holy spirit god forever and ever a reading
[00:12:40] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_11]
[00:12:40] from the book of the prophet Isaiah. Thus says the Lord, share your bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the homeless, clothe the naked when you see them, and do not turn your back
[00:12:57] on your own. Then your light shall break free forth like the dawn, and your wound shall quickly be healed your vindication shall go before you and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard then you shall call and the Lord will answer you shall
[00:13:21] cry for help and he will say Here I am if you remove from your midst oppression false accusation and malicious malicious speech if you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted then the light shall rise for you in the
[00:13:44] darkness and the gloom shall become for you like midday the word of the Lord
[00:13:52] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:13:52] thanks be to God a light rises in the darkness for the He is generous, merciful, and just. It goes well for the man who deals generously and conducts his affairs with justice.
[00:15:01] The just man is, he will never be moved, shall the just be remembered, he has no fear of evil new, with a firm heart he trusts in the Lord, with a steadfast heart he will not fear,
[00:15:53] gives to them his justice stands firm forever his might shall be exalted in glory a reading from
[00:16:42] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_13]
[00:16:42] the first letter of saint paul to the corinthians when i came to you brothers and sisters proclaiming the mystery of god i did not come with sublimity of words or of wisdom for i resolved to know
[00:17:01] nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling and my message and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom but with a demonstration
[00:17:23] of spirit and power so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on
[00:17:32] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:17:32] the power of God. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. The Lord be with you. And with thy spirit.
[00:19:03] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_15]
[00:19:03] Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew. Glory to you, O Lord. Jesus said to his disciples, you are the salt of the earth, but if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?
[00:19:22] It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
[00:19:33] You are the light of the world.
[00:19:36] A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden, nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket.
[00:19:46] It is set on a lampstand where it gives light to all in the house.
[00:19:55] Just so, your light must shine before others, so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.
[00:20:11] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_14]
[00:20:11] The Gospel of the Lord.
[00:20:14] Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
[00:20:27] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_15]
[00:20:27] God is good, and all the times.
[00:20:32] Today, the liturgy of the world seems to want us to reflect on this special privilege we all have, especially as baptized people, participating in the light, the brightness of Christ, shining like light to other people, to our other brothers and sisters,
[00:21:00] seasoning the lives of our other brothers and sisters for in the gospel acclamation just listen to Christ as his disciples I am the light of the world he who follows me bride will shine anyone who follows me will shine as a light in
[00:21:28] the darkness or the just everyone will follow me she will shine as a light now the gospel acclamation again christ tells us all that this is what the gospel that is the gospel acclamation now the response which we just took again we are told the just man shall shine
[00:21:52] light light in the darkness for the upright again that light again in the first reading of this the prophet isaiah tells the people of course he's a mouthpiece of god he they will share their
[00:22:10] bread with the hungry who offer shelter to the oppressed and to the homeless those who give drink and other those works of mercy their light will shine and then he goes us to enumerate the benefits if we do those things dear brothers and sisters in Christ then in the gospel Christ
[00:22:34] comes to tell us you are the light of the world you are the salt of the earth one of the things which I got to know in my days reading chemistry in school was that about the
[00:22:48] properties of salt it has so many I mean uses for salt the uses of salt it has a couple of reasons but these two struck me even though I'm not a good cook but I
[00:23:02] learnt that one of the uses of salt is that it seasons it gives brings out flavor, food, and another is that it preserves, it is used as a preservative.
[00:23:14] Now based on the other kinds of salt, there are other kinds of salt which are not the edible ones, those ones could also fertilize and other things, but I'm talking of the context in which Christ speaks, he uses by the salt that is used
[00:23:29] as food, as an ingredient, an element in the kitchen. We also know that salt by itself is dangerous it is only useful when it is used when it is applied on in the context it is used for something for example no one wants to take a pinch or
[00:23:52] a quantity of salt and start eating of course you are killing yourself we know is killing likewise the light light the Sun by itself has no value even this candles here stripped of why they are here stripped of the of why they are here they make
[00:24:11] they are they make no sense light is relevant light becomes useful only to the extent that it dispels darkness and then people can see brightly people can see clearly the sun may have no use unless it reflects and then people can see things clearly so the salt that christ
[00:24:35] tells us and the light he tells us they are to be used they are not necessary in themselves they were meant even when god created the he separated he created the sun and the moon and all those
[00:24:49] creatures all of them had reasons so christ details that of the sun to us you are to shine your sun yet your light shine so that through you and your activities others can give glory to god
[00:25:06] so the sun you are the light of the world means that just like we were lighted up in at our baptism and we grow to be closer to christ and then gets brighter and brighter in our in that
[00:25:20] capacity to be luminous to be shine as we grow in that capacity it's not to be kept so if i am baptized i live in my life of prayer and pray every day do a lot of fasting and come for adoration
[00:25:35] it's not enough it's not enough the light must shine that prayer coming for prayers doing adoration is also very good because in that your light shine others some people some people who depend on you from their faith for the growth of their faith they see you and they are convinced
[00:25:55] they say there is something there there is something that is doing all the time in this church there is something mommy is doing there is something hidden there's some benefits hidden in things they do but for our lives to shine for the for us to taste like the salt of the earth
[00:26:12] we must go practical it must be concrete and that is why in the first reading we are outlined those things the prophet isaiah says all this thing and he says if you do this then your light will shine
[00:26:27] in other words god tells us in the scriptures today through the prophet isaiah that we need our lights to shine because we are lighted already. But the fact that we're lighted at baptism is not
[00:26:41] enough. We need to feed that light to get brighter and brighter as we age on to get brighter and brighter. We will understand now why Saint Paul in the second reading will remind the Corinthians,
[00:26:55] remember that when I was with you, I did not come with words of sublimity or of wisdom of human wisdom he went for one thing and only that one was sufficient for the rest of that text to flow that all i desired was to know christ and christ crucified
[00:27:18] so having christ and knowing christ as a christ crucified it equips us to shine out because the Christ crucified is the Christ who denied himself, who let go something of himself so that others can become something.
[00:27:41] So St. Paul, the foundation of his works and of his teaching is knowing Christ.
[00:27:49] Sometimes we don't know Christ.
[00:27:51] If we were to take our personal moments of reflection and to write down what you know about Christ, you'll find yourself limited.
[00:28:00] You find yourself wanting. Sometimes it's also good to just get a journal. Just write. Just write.
[00:28:08] You find yourself wanting. You say, is this how little I know about him?
[00:28:15] Or sometimes again, after sometimes you come and act. Something strikes you, you come and act.
[00:28:19] But even at one point you will discover that, hey, there's a lot about Christ that I need to know.
[00:28:27] The basic questions at the very early years of our faith formation is for us, at least from where I learned my doctrine was who made you? God made me. Secondly, why did God make you? It's funny, isn't it? In the case of the Catholic Church, it's the same case. He made me
[00:28:45] to know him, to love him, to serve him, and to be happy with him forever in heaven. Take it the other way. All of us want to be happy forever in heaven at the end of our lives. How can we do it? By
[00:29:00] serving God how can you serve God by you how can you serve God by loving him how can you love him because you know him and when you know him then you can serve him and I know him then you will love him and we love him there you can serve
[00:29:18] it but how do you know him another place text in the scripture will tell us how can we get to know him we can know him how can we know him when we are not
[00:29:27] taught about him? How can we be taught about him when someone is not sent? How can someone be sent when he is not called? So we are all called on the day of our baptism to be followers of Christ
[00:29:41] and to be followers of Christ is not enough. We must struggle to know Christ more and when we know him more and more then our actions will flow from that knowledge just like Saint Paul's action
[00:29:55] flows from his knowledge of Christ. When we know Christ intimately, then we will not have difficulties in practicing the works of mercy. So the church presents us today those works of mercy. Of course, in the early 80 days of our life, I think most of us will know, will have
[00:30:14] known the corporal works of mercy. I don't want to ask you now. I will name it for you.
[00:30:20] a couple of them appeared in the first treaty, feed the hungry give drink to the thirsty home the homeless or provide shelter to the homeless when we prepare to tell the homeless they will visit the sick
[00:30:41] visit those in prison clothe the naked and essentially those are the seven corporal works of mercy but there is another work of mercy which benefits the soul and very often it is there neglected because we, as humans, we naturally are biased towards the body.
[00:31:05] We give preferential, we are easily inclined to do things that are tangible, that are physical, that have to do with the body.
[00:31:15] But there are also these other works of mercy which are spiritual.
[00:31:18] And we do some of them, but unless we are intentional and we get to know them and get them to know that they exist exist as spiritual works of mercy recommended for our spiritual growth then we'll ignore some of
[00:31:33] them and they have to do a lot though they are spiritual works of mercy when we don't deliberately intentionally do them then it affects even our spiritual relationship i mean our physical relationship our interpersonal relationship correct sinners that's the first of them correct
[00:31:55] sinners. Even if they sinned, yes, their actions are bad. Correct them. That's the spiritual work of mercy. Instruct the ignorant. Many people perish because of lack of knowledge. Even Christ says it in the pictures, scriptures. My people perish for lack of knowledge. Instruct the
[00:32:19] ignorant. Don't mind your business when people are in sinful situation. Don't mind your business when people are ignorant.
[00:32:28] The third of them is counsel the doubtful.
[00:32:32] There are people whose faith are shaking.
[00:32:35] They are living constantly in a state of doubt and they can't engage in the practice of their faith because they have doubts about the faith.
[00:32:45] Sometimes some will not express it.
[00:32:47] But if you can come across somebody who can express it, if you cannot counsel that person, direct the person to the church.
[00:32:54] direct the person to somebody another Christian many Christians are very knowledgeable and very devoted they can help there are many groups ministries in this church prayer groups ministries that can help people in growing in your
[00:33:09] faith when we counsel the doubtful it's a spiritual work of mercy another spiritual work of mercy is that of praying for the living and the dead I I think this parish is top-notch when it comes to praying,
[00:33:26] making petitions, the intentions of this Mass.
[00:33:30] The intentions of this Mass, we pray very much for the living and the dead, which is very, very good.
[00:33:35] Sometimes we are tempted to wait until somebody dies before we can pray for them.
[00:33:40] No, pray for people even while they are alive.
[00:33:43] Pray for them while they are alive.
[00:33:45] Another of those spiritual works of mercy is to forgive injuries.
[00:33:50] To forgive injuries.
[00:33:54] If we learn how to forgive injuries, we will reduce the rate at which we curse people, the rate at which we misuse or mishandle the name of the Lord.
[00:34:07] Sometimes when some things happen, they may appear very, very awkward or bad.
[00:34:15] they may not be very pleasant but sometimes some of those things happen because the lord uses them to to protect us from bigger things that would have happened so before bear forgive injuries and then bear wrongs patiently of course we i think the the crushing majority of of us here
[00:34:38] where we want to come you say you get back to yourself and you want to see a weakness one of the things you call is impatience but we should bear wrongs patiently that's a spiritual work
[00:34:50] of mercy because when we bear wrongs patiently we give people the impetus to try again to be striving on the way we get impatient with each other sometimes really how it really stops our growth
[00:35:05] our progress and progress of things in which we find out situations in which we find ourselves So, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, these are those spiritual works of mercy which are very, very vital for our life. So, the church teaches us today through that first reading and the rest
[00:35:21] of the liturgy of today that if we have to shine the light on us that has been lit at the time of our baptism and our closeness to Christ, we should practice these works of mercy. Incidentally, it's
[00:35:37] It's a reading that coincides in two very special ways.
[00:35:41] First, we just listen about the DSA.
[00:35:44] Those are essentially the works of mercy that the diocese does, and which many of us still do privately and in different ways.
[00:35:52] Maybe that show, that slide, just simply encourages us to say, you are on the right footing.
[00:36:00] Secondly, within this week, we are beginning tomorrow, beginning from Wednesday, we are getting into Lent.
[00:36:06] Maybe it's a call to us to revisit this concept, this works of mercy, not just the corporal, but also the spiritual works of mercy, especially praying for the living and the dead, bearing one another's limitations in a patient way.
[00:36:26] All those things when we do them, counseling the ignorant people, correcting sinners, counseling the doubtful and instructing the ignorant people, correcting sinners, it comes back to us.
[00:36:43] Our lights become brilliant.
[00:36:45] Our lights shine out.
[00:36:47] So may God grant us the graces as we daily struggle to shine.
[00:36:52] Otherwise we become as useless as a sun, as a salt.
[00:36:56] that loses its taste.
[00:36:59] And that is not the will of God.
[00:37:00] We were created to shine.
[00:37:03] We were created to taste.
[00:37:05] If we don't intentionally shine out, if we don't intentionally give taste to the gloomy situations of our brothers and sisters, if we don't shine our light in the darkness for the one who is hungry,
[00:37:20] the darkness in the life of the one who has nowhere to sleep tonight, and the ones who are ignorant, well, don't let our light shine in those ways, then the light becomes useless, the soul becomes useless.
[00:37:34] It's like the light that is not associated with the light of Christ, the taste that is not associated with Christ who came to give taste to the world.
[00:37:43] May this same Christ grant us his mediation as we seek the mercy of God for the times we have not been so.
[00:37:50] Amen.
[00:37:58] I believe in one God, the father almighty maker of heaven and earth of all things visible and invisible i believe in one lord jesus christ the only begotten son of god born of the father before all ages god from god
[00:38:14] light from life true god from true god begotten not made consubstantial the father through him all things were made for us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary and became man. For our sake he was
[00:38:35] crucified on the Pontius Pilate. He so far died and was buried. He rose again again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in
[00:38:50] glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. I I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified.
[00:39:06] He has spoken through the prophet.
[00:39:08] I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.
[00:39:13] I profess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
[00:39:16] And I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.
[00:39:21] Amen.
[00:39:22] Brothers and sisters, we lift up our hearts in prayers to God that he may continue to grant us the graces we need to shine out for the well-being of our other brothers and sisters and for our salvation as we pray.
[00:39:36] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_11]
[00:39:36] In charity, let us pray to the Lord.
[00:39:44] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_16]
[00:39:44] Lord, hear our prayer.
[00:39:46] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_11]
[00:39:46] For the physical and spiritual needs of the sick and for those who care for the ill with compassion, let us pray to the Lord.
[00:39:55] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_16]
[00:39:55] Lord, hear our prayer.
[00:39:57] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_11]
[00:39:57] For the eternal rest of the faithfully departed of our parish and families, and for the grieving, let us pray to the Lord.
[00:40:06] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_16]
[00:40:06] Lord, hear our prayer.
[00:40:09] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_11]
[00:40:09] For those preparing for the sacraments of initiation, especially in the Easter season, let us pray to the Lord.
[00:40:16] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_16]
[00:40:16] Lord, hear our prayer.
[00:40:18] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_11]
[00:40:18] for all married couples that they may continue the journey of love and commitment and for the many couples of our parish currently preparing for the sacrament of matrimony let us pray to the Lord that civil officials may
[00:40:35] govern and legislate with the gifts of wisdom and prudence for the greater good of society let us pray to the Lord for greater love and protection for God's precious gift of life and for all expectant couples let us pray to the
[00:40:52] Lord Lord hear our prayer that our parishioners may strive to follow the peaceful example of our patroness st. Therese and our mission statement by loving God following Jesus and serving all let us pray to the Lord Lord hear
[00:41:09] our prayer for the prayers that we hold in the silence of our hearts may they be answered in accord with God's will. Let us pray to the Lord. God our Heavenly
[00:41:27] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_15]
[00:41:27] Father you listen to sincere prayers we have presented these petitions to you hoping that you bless us with all the graces we need to remain your faithful followers and also messengers to our brothers and sisters through Christ our
[00:41:42] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:41:42] Lord. Please join us in singing number 744 as the fire is meant for burning Number 744.
[00:41:59] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:41:59] Glory, in God's name, bridge of care.
[00:44:56] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_15]
[00:44:56] Brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the Almighty Father.
[00:45:03] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:45:03] May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands. For the
[00:45:06] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_15]
[00:45:06] praise and glory of his name, for our good and the good of all his holy church. Amen. O Lord, our God, who once establish these created things to sustain us in our frailty grant we pray that they may become
[00:45:21] for us now the sacrament of eternal life through christ our lord the lord be with you and with thy spirit lift up your hearts we lift them up to the lord let us give thanks to the lord our god
[00:45:35] it is right and just it is truly right and just our duty and our salvation always and everywhere to give you thanks Lord Holy Father almighty and eternal God for in you we live and move and have our being
[00:45:50] and while in this body we know we not only experience the daily effect of your care but even now possess the pledge of life eternal for having received the first fruit of the spirit through whom
[00:46:09] you raised Jesus from the dead we hope for an everlasting share in the paschal mystery and so with all the angels and saints we praise you
[00:46:20] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:46:20] as in joyful celebrations we acclaim you are indeed holy o lord the found of all holiness
[00:47:21] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_15]
[00:47:21] make holy therefore these gifts we pray by sending down your spirits upon them like the dewfall so that they may become for us the body and blood of our lord jesus christ at the time he was
[00:47:31] betrayed and entered willingly into his passion he took bread and giving thanks broke it and gave it to his disciples saying take this all of you and eat of it for this is my body which will be given
[00:47:45] up for you in a similar way when supper was ended he took the chalice and once more giving thanks he gave it to his disciples saying take this all of you and drink from it for this is a chalice of my
[00:48:11] blood, the blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of me.
[00:48:21] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:48:21] Therefore, as we celebrate the memorial of his death and
[00:49:10] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_15]
[00:49:10] resurrection, we offer you, Lord, the bread of life and the chalice of salvation, giving thanks that you have held us worthy to be in your presence and minister to you humbly we pray that partaking of the body and blood of christ we may be gathered
[00:49:27] into one by the holy spirit remember lord your church spread throughout the world and bring her to the fullness of charity together with you our pope and michael our bishop and all the clergy remember also our brothers and sisters who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection
[00:49:44] and all who have died in your mercy welcome them into the light of your face Have mercy on us all, we pray, that with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, with Blessed Joseph, her spouse, with your blessed Apostles, Saint Teresa of the Child Jesus,
[00:50:01] and all the Saints who have pleased you throughout the ages, we may merit to be coheirs to eternal life and may praise and glorify you through your Son, Jesus Christ. Through him and with him and
[00:50:19] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_14]
[00:50:19] in him oh god almighty father in the unity of the holy spirit all glory and honor is yours forever
[00:50:30] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_15]
[00:50:30] and ever at the savior's command and formed by divine teaching we dare to pray our father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven
[00:51:06] give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from you deliver us Lord we pray from every evil graciously grant peace in our
[00:51:25] days that by the help of your mercy we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our
[00:51:33] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:51:33] Savior Jesus Christ Lord Jesus Christ who said to apostles peace I leave you
[00:51:42] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_15]
[00:51:42] my peace I give you look not on our sins but on the faith of your church and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will who live and reign forever and ever the peace of the Lord be with you always let us offer
[00:51:59] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:51:59] each other the sign of peace peace be with you peace be with you behold the lamb of god behold
[00:53:35] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_15]
[00:53:35] he who takes away the sins of the world blessed are those called to the supper of the lamb lord i'm not worthy that you should enter under my roof but only see the word and my soul shall be
[00:53:48] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:53:48] healed communion him is 478 returned to God number 478 let us pray O God who
[01:07:04] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_15]
[01:07:04] have willed that we be partakers in the one bread and the one chalice grant us we pray, so to live, that made one in Christ, we may joyfully bear fruits for the salvation of the
[01:07:20] world. We make our prayers through Christ our Lord. Scripture and Spirits is on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
[01:07:34] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[01:07:34] at Boone's Ogler's Brewing. Our speaker will be Father Hoover. Come and enjoy great fellowship and conversation. The Christian Mission Blanket Drive will be next weekend. Please drop off new blankets in the parking lot by the donation sign more details in the bulletin small groups
[01:07:55] program at saint therese registration is now open registration will be available for the next two weeks with many sessions and locations in the lake norman area visit the website for full details join us for the mardi gras fun night hosted by the saint therese colombiettes next tuesday please
[01:08:17] He's RSVP using the QR code in the bulletin.
[01:08:23] Registration for the annual Women's Day of Reflection is open.
[01:08:27] Space is limited.
[01:08:29] Registration details are in the bulletin.
[01:08:32] The Knights of Columbus will be soliciting donors for the February 14th Red Cross Blood Drive.
[01:08:38] There is a critical blood shortage in our area.
[01:08:42] Please take a moment to sign up and give the gift of life.
[01:08:46] The summer session parent interest meetings are rescheduled for February 22nd and February 24th.
[01:08:53] Contact Faith Formation Office for more details.
[01:08:58] Join us for a bilingual Lent retreat on February 28th.
[01:09:02] Space is limited.
[01:09:03] Please register at the parish office.
[01:09:06] More information on our website.
[01:09:08] Please check the bulletin for more information about what's happening here at St. Therese.
[01:09:14] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_15]
[01:09:14] The Lord be with you.
[01:09:17] May Almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
[01:09:24] Go forth, the Mass is ended.
[01:09:28] A blessed week to you all.
[01:09:31] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[01:09:31] Please join us in singing number 775, Go Make a Difference, 775.
