Forgiveness

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 09/06/2020

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year AEzekiel 33:7-9Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 (8)Romans 13:8-10Matthew 18:15-20September 6, 2020 Today we hear about how God calls us to respond to sin.  The first reading is sometimes known as the Parable of the Watchman. …

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Receiving a Penance

By Fr. Jeff | 09/01/2020

After we have confessed our sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we receive a “penance.” We are not just “given” or “assigned” a penance as punishment for our sins. We must receive the penance. By “receive” I mean we willing…

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Does God Change?

By Fr. Jeff | 08/13/2020

Does God change? God is eternal, without beginning or end. Does He ever change? I ask the question because recently I was asked about God’s vengeance. There is some tendency to see God in the Old Testament as a punishing…

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How Often Should I Go?

By Fr. Jeff | 06/16/2020

Prior to the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) it was common for Catholics to go to Confession at least monthly if not every other week. Some even went weekly. For some it didn’t matter if they didn’t know of any mortal…

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Forgiveness Can Be Hard

By Fr. Jeff | 05/01/2020

The Coronavirus shutdown continues. Some states are beginning to lift restrictions. New York State, where I live, continues under shutdown. We are now around the six week mark. Of course, the challenges caused by the pandemic started before we actually…

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Presentation on the Sacraments of Healing

By Fr. Jeff | 03/20/2020

I was scheduled to do the next presentation in my series on the Sacraments on March 25th. Like so many other things, because of the Coronavirus, that in-person has been cancelled. Because of the uncertainty of how long it will…

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2nd Sunday of Advent, Year A – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 12/08/2019

2nd Sunday of Advent, Year A Isaiah 11:1-10Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17 (3)Romans 15:4-9Matthew 3:1-12 December 8, 2019 Advent is a time to reflect on the coming of Jesus.  Last week’s gospel spoke of the Second Coming.  The birth of…

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31st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 11/03/2019

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CWisdom 11:22-12:2Psalm 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13, 14 (see 1)2 Thessalonians 1:11-2:2Luke 19:1-10November 3, 2019 A few years ago, I was ministering in a parish that had a school.  One of the things we would…

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24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 09/15/2019

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CExodus 32:7-11, 13-14Psalm 51:3-4, 12-13, 17, 19 (Luke 15:18)1 Timothy 1:12-17Luke 15:1-32September 15, 2019 Today’s readings should be familiar to us.  Our Sunday readings are on a three-year cycle so if you have been…

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5th Sunday of Lent, Year C – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 04/07/2019

5th Sunday of Lent, Year CIsaiah 43:16-21Psalm 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6(3)Philippians 3:8-14John 8:1-11April 7, 2019 As Paul writes to the Philippians he tells them, “I consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my…

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4th Sunday of Lent, Year C – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 03/31/2019

4th Sunday of Lent, Year CJoshua 5:9a, 10-12Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 (9a)2 Corinthians 5:17-21Luke 15:1-3, 11-32March 31, 2019 Sometimes I hear parents lamenting that they feel like all they are to their children is a chauffeur and/or a source of…

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30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 10/28/2018

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B Jeremiah 31:7-9 Psalm 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6 (3) Hebrews 5:1-6 Mark 10:46-52 October 28, 2018 The Bible is the story of God’s people.  It is not just history.  It does not just tell…

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God Our Help and Our Hope – Homily for October 2018 Holy Hour

By Fr. Jeff | 10/17/2018

Homily for October 2018 Holy Hour Ezekiel 34:1-6, 11-12a Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 17 1 John 1:5-2:2 Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 In the days of Ezekiel many shepherds were more concerned about their own wants than taking care of the flock…

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My Latest Presentation on Video – “Why Is It So Hard to Forgive Myself (and others)?”

By Fr. Jeff | 10/06/2018

I just finished uploading my latest presentation.  This one is on forgiveness.  Here’s the description: We know we need forgiveness, yet it can be hard to think that God will forgive us.  We think we are not worthy.  We might…

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Why Is It Hard to Forgive?

By Fr. Jeff | 08/16/2018

As Christians we are called to be people of forgiveness.  Every time we pray the Lord’s Prayer we say, “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”  We acknowledge our need to be forgiven and we…

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