Father Pat's Sermon Notes

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Fourth Sunday of Advent: December 18, 2005

Meet Father Pat			Face Your Fear! Several years ago, I went on a silent retreat for five days. One evening while sitting alone in the small chapel, I was moved to ask God why I was not more responsive to him. I really wanted to know and had made up my mind that I was going to wait for as long as it took to hear from God. In a matter of seconds, an answer immediately came to me: *"You are afraid."*

Surprised by this answer, I asked God what I was afraid of. God's response was again immediate: "Me!" I was saddened by this reply ~ probably because I knew it was true! Nonetheless, I protested: Lord, why would I be afraid of you! You have only been good to me, you have blessed me, provided for my needs, given me my vocation. So, why Lord? Why would I be afraid of you?

God showed me during this prayerful encounter that I was afraid to really surrender to him for fear of being led somewhere I didn't want to go ~ or being left somewhere I wasn't equipped to handle. Apparently while I wouldn't hesitate to call God good and compassionate, I had serious questions about his navigation skills when it came to my future!

As with Mary, God had to do some convincing before he was going to get my full consent! I have questioned God's wisdom many times only to have it proven again and again that he is an infinitely better guide than I am! Mary asked just one question: "How can this be?" before she surrendered and changed the world forever! What are you afraid of? And how long will YOU question God's plan for you, before you surrender to it?

Past Sermon Notes

December 2005

Third Sunday of Advent : December 11, 2005

Second Sunday of Advent : December 4, 2005

November 2005

First Sunday of Advent : November 27, 2005

Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time : November 6, 2005

October 2005

Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time : October 30, 2005

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time : October 23, 2005

Twenty Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time : October 16, 2005

Twenty Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time : October 9, 2005

Twenty Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time : October 2, 2005

September 2005

Twenty Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time : September 25, 2005

Twenty Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time : September 18, 2005

Twenty Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time : September 11, 2005

Twenty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time : September 4, 2005

August 2005

Twenty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time : August 28, 2005

Twenty First Sunday in Ordinary Time : August 21, 2005

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time : August 14, 2005

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time : August 7, 2005

July 2005

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time : July 31, 2005

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time : July 24, 2005

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time : July 10, 2005

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time : July 3, 2005

June 2005

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time : June 26, 2005

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time : June 19, 2005

Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time : June 12, 2005

Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time : June 5, 2005

May 2005

Feast of The Body & Blood of Christ : May 29, 2005

Trinity Sunday : May 22, 2005

Pentecost Sunday : May 15, 2005

The Feast of the Ascension of the Lord : May 8, 2005

Sixth Sunday of Easter : May 1, 2005

April 2005

Fifth Sunday of Easter : April 24, 2005

Fourth Sunday of Easter : April 17, 2005

Third Sunday of Easter : April 10, 2005

Second Sunday of Easter : April 3, 2005

Easter Sunday: March 27, 2005

March 2005

Palm Sunday: March 20, 2005

Fifth Sunday of Lent: March 13, 2005

Fourth Sunday of Lent: March 6, 2005

February 2005

Third Sunday of Lent: February 27, 2005

Second Sunday of Lent: February 20, 2005

First Sunday of Lent: February 13, 2005

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time: February 6, 2005

January 2005

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time: January 30, 2005

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time: January 23, 2005

Feast of the Baptism of the Lord: January 9, 2005

Feast of the Epiphany: January 2, 2005

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