Carla Mae's Blog

 Last month we reflected on the fact that the Liturgy is the source of our ongoing formation as disciples. This month we will focus on the very heart of the Gospel, what is called the kerygma. What is the central truth that is at the core of our lives as people of the Word? Pope Francis describes the kerygma in this way: “Jesus Christ loves you; he gave his life to save you; and now he is living at your side every day to enlighten, strengthen and free you.” ( The Joy of the Gospel, 164). For many Christians, this is just something about Jesus. They have been catechized, but they have not really been evangelized. To be evangelized is to have a personal relationship with Jesus. It is a form of friendship. This is when we become a disciple. We follow him and he becomes our teacher. For example, on the 24 th Sunday in Ordinary Time, we learned how we need to forgive. We are presented with the God of unbelievable mercy, and are called to the same kind of bigness in our forgiving. ...

 Once we Dominicans realize our distinct approach to preaching as contemplative, incarnational, communal, and sacramental , we can zero in on what is known as Kerigmatic preaching. This is the way we fuse these elements together: We gaze in wonder at this Word-in-our-flesh, in the humanity of the entire human family, as he daily transforms us, just as he transforms the bread into his living presence. This is the kerygma. The early Christians worded it simply by saying, “Jesus is Lord.” Pope Francis describes the kerygma in this way: “Jesus Christ loves you; he gave his life to save you; and now he is living at your side every day to enlighten, strengthen and free you.” ( The Joy of the Gospel, 164) How is it that throughout our catechesis no one ever proposed these most basic truths to us? Or if they did, the truths were ‘out there’ not ‘in here’ finding a home in my deepest heart? This is the basis for a personal relationship with Christ Jesus. Kerigmatic preaching leads the l...

The liturgy has only one thing in mind…shaping us up as disciples. The Church has a ‘one track mind’…to bring her children closer and closer to her Bridegroom. So September continues the mystagogy. We are being instructed on how to deepen the relationship begun in our baptism. As we enter the first signs of autumn, we are first reminded that it’s all about choices. No, not wishful thinking…like “I wish I could lose ten pounds…” It’s about a firm act of the will. No ‘if’s’ or ‘buts.’ This is what I choose, even if I mess up now and then. I choose to follow Jesus. Then we are reminded of the greatest challenge of all…not to wound love. By the way I think, by the way I speak, by the way I’m silent. Love is that fragile little flower…not to bruise it. Then our texts remind us that this pilgrim walk is not all about ‘me.’ Growing up is all about getting out of the ‘me’ bubble, and prayer extends me to the most important ‘Other.’ Then there is this ‘flesh’ thing. Keep in mind that the...

In August, we asked a question, and offered the beginning of an answer: What is distinctive about the Dominican approach to preaching? We identified four characteristics, all of which apply to praising -proclamation, blessing - proclamation, and preaching - proclamation: ·        It flows from a contemplative gaze at the Word–made-flesh in our historic times. ·        It is incarnational rather than abstract. ·        It is communal rather than individualistic. ·        It is liturgical-sacramental rather than merely humanistic. This month, we will tease out a bit more meaning to each of these characteristics. First, we will set the pattern: Experience-the Word-Experience. From what is happening, to the Word, and back to what is happening, in light of the Word. We begin with loving wonder, with awe.   The Contemplative Gaze: We begin with a long, l...