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5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – HomilyJob 7:1-4, 6-7Psalm 147:1-2, 3-4, 5-6 (3a)1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-3Mark 1:29-39February 4, 2024 “Job spoke saying: Is not man’s life on earth a drudgery?…I shall not see happiness again.” These are the words…
Read MoreThe Eucharistic Prayer – The Institution Narrative cont’d Last week we discussed the Institution Narrative where Jesus instituted the Eucharist as he said, ‘this is my Body…this is my Blood.” We believe in the Real Presence because Jesus says so. …
Read MoreSome Christians will ask, “when were you saved?”. Generally, the people who ask this question have experienced a time in their lives when they felt a profound conversion in their lives and gave their lives over to Christ. This is…
Read MoreThe Eucharistic Prayer – The Institution Narrative After the Epiclesis comes the Institution Narrative. The Institution Narratives are Jesus’ own words at the Last Supper. The Catholic Church did not make up its teaching on the Eucharist. Our belief in…
Read More3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – HomilyJonah 3:1-5, 10Psalm 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9 (4a)1 Corinthians 7:29-31Mark 1:14-20January 21, 2024 You can see near the end of this homily, I did something different to help people understanding the Bible shapes…
Read MoreThe Liturgy of the Eucharist – “My Sacrifice and Yours” As we transition from the offertory to the Eucharistic Prayer, the priest says, “Pray my brothers and sisters,, that my sacrifice and yours, may be acceptable to God, the almighty…
Read MoreThe Nativity of the Lord (Mass During the Night)Isaiah 9:1-6Titus 2:11-14Luke 2:1-14December 25, 2023 We come today to celebrate something very special and we do so with “abundant joy and great rejoicing.” We come into church from a world with…
Read MoreWe are about to start a very busy weekend in the Church. This Sunday (December 24th) is the Fourth Sunday of Advent. Then Christmas arrives on Monday. That means there will be the normal Sunday Masses. Then, at 4 pm…
Read MoreThe Liturgy of the Eucharist – The Offertory Part 3 When the gifts of bread and wine have been placed on the altar, water is used twice. The first is as the priest or deacon pours wine into the chalice…
Read MoreAs we approach Christmas, there are specific readings for daily Masses on the final eight days before Christmas. The gospel readings focus on the events just before the birth of Jesus including the announcements of the pending births of John…
Read MoreIn our present season of Advent, we are called to reflect on our readiness for the Second Coming of Jesus. This means we need to make a thorough examination of conscience. The color violent is a color that symbolizes penance…
Read MoreThe Liturgy of the Eucharist – The Offertory Part 2 After the gifts of bread and wine have been brought to the altar, the priest holds up first the bread and then the wine and says (silently if music is…
Read MoreAntisemitism has been a problem for a long time. It is hostility and/or prejudice against Jews. With the present fighting between Israel and Hamas, the news reports that antisemitism is rising across the world. The increase is likely a reaction…
Read More2nd Sunday of Advent, Year BIsaiah 40:1-5, 9-11Psalm 85:9-10, 11-12, 13-14 (8)2 Peter 3:8-14Mark 1:1-8 December 10, 2023 Isaiah the prophet speaks of a voice that cries out. Today’s gospel speaks of a voice crying out in the desert. Isaiah…
Read MoreToday we celebrate the Solemnity of the the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. You will not find a story of the Immaculate Conception of Mary in the Bible. The Bible does not tell us much about Mary. What…
Read MoreYesterday I completed my series, Made for Discipleship. My website is presently undergoing an overhaul, leaving me unable to update it for a few days. So, here is a link to watch the video recording of yesterday’s webinar on my…
Read MoreThe Liturgy of the Eucharist – The Offertory The first part of the Liturgy of the Eucharist is the Offertory. At a Sunday Mass, two things happen concurrently while the offertory hymn is song. The altar is set and a…
Read MoreIf you hear a homily that speaks about spending more time in prayer, do you immediately dismiss it because you are too busy? If you read in the bulletin that your parish is looking for more volunteers, do you immediately…
Read MoreDefeated by their enemies, their nation and temple destroyed, many scattered in exile, the Israelites cry out to God, “Why do you let us wander, O LORD, from your ways, and harden our hearts so that we fear you not?”…
Read MoreThe Liturgy of the EucharistLast week we ended our discussion of the Liturgy of the Word with the Prayers of the Faithful. Now, we turn to the second half of the Mass, the Liturgy of the Eucharist. After Jesus’ Resurrection,…
Read MoreWith the new year just five days away, have you made plans for how you will celebrate the beginning of the new year? Will you make any new year’s resolutions? The new year begins on Sunday, December 3rd. I will…
Read MoreOur Lord Jesus Christ King of the Universe, Year AEzekiel 34:11-12, 15-17Psalm 23:1-2, 2-3, 5-6 (1)1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28Matthew 25:31-46 November 26, 2023 The Lord speaks through the prophet Ezekiel in a time when those who had been appointed shepherds…
Read MoreAfter setting up for Mass this morning, I glanced at a Catholic news headline that said, “Dublin archbishop responds to stabbing of 3 children that sparked violent riots”. Ugh! Stabbing children? Why? Why? I clicked on the headline. Reading the…
Read MoreThe Liturgy of the Word – The Prayers of the FaithfulFollowing the Creed, we conclude the Liturgy of the Word with the Prayers of the Faithful. They are also commonly called the General Intercessions or Universal Prayer. The priest introduces…
Read MoreToday we celebrate our national holiday of Thanksgiving. It is a secular holiday but the practice of giving thanks is very much in keeping with our faith. In fact, the word “Eucharist” means thanksgiving. We give thanks to God for…
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