Sunday's homily

St. Maria Goretti
was a focal point for Sunday's homily, which I had the privilege to hear twice (something that happens when one is part of the music).
He focused especially on the last verse of the gospel:
And he called the people to him again, and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside a man which by going into him can defile him; but the things which come out of a man are what defile him”. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a man”.
and also on this verse from the Epistle:
Therefore put away all filthiness and rank growth of wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
Father preached on how important it is, in our culture, for Catholics to live up to the call we have been given to be truly holy in thought, word, and deed. He spoke about how we need to be prepared to resist defilement and to preserve where possible, and recover where necessary, our God-given purity. He spoke against the temptations against purity including the general licentiousness of our culture (although he did not use the word licentious but rather simpler words that carried the same meaning). This young priest ( I would estimate him to be no more than 30) had a little bit of a speech impediment, and had an unfortunate tendency to speak in a monotone, but he was so earnest and inspired by his topic that one could tell all the congregation was listening intently.
I was impressed. Over at Christus Victor Christine posted many of the reasons why homiletics and sermons are not as central to Catholic worship as they are to Protestants, but lately I have been hearing homilies that are so excellent, I wish that I could tape record them for later contemplation.