Homilies
If we hear a message from a prophet of the Lord, we look for a message of hope. However, the messages received from prophets don’t always seem hopeful. They foretell of defeat. I’ve spoken of this recently when our first…
Read MoreThe Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin MaryGenesis 3:9-15, 20Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4 (1)Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12Luke 1:26-38December 9, 2024 God had placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Everything was wonderful. The garden was a gift from God…
Read More2nd Sunday of Advent, Year CBaruch 5:1-9Psalm 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6 (3)Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11Luke 3:1-6December 8, 2024 How do you feel about the world today? There is war in the Middle East. There is war in Ukraine and Russia. There…
Read More1st Sunday of Advent, Year CJeremiah 33:14-16Psalm 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14 (1b)1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2Luke 21:25-28, 34-36December 1, 2024 In 24 days we will celebrate something wonderful, the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. There is hope for Jesus comes to…
Read MoreOur Lord Jesus Christ, King of the UniverseDaniel 7:13-14Psalm 93:1, 1-2, 5 (1a)Revelation 1:5-8John 18:33b-37November 24, 2024 Today we celebrate this last Sunday of the present church year with the Solemnity of our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.…
Read MoreDaniel is giving a vision of the end times. Jesus speaks of what “those days after the tribulation” will be like (readings for 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B). Daniel writes of “a time unsurpassed in distress.” Jesus speaks…
Read More32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B1 Kings 17:10-16Psalm 146:7, 8-9, 9-10 (1b)Hebrews 9:24-28Mark 12:38-44November 10, 2024 Jesus continues to use opportunities that arise naturally to teach. Today He tells the crowds to “Beware of the scribes.” The scribes should…
Read MoreHow would you describe the Lord? Throughout this Sunday’s readings, various words are used to describe the Lord. In the psalm, the Lord is called “my strength.” Do we turn to the Lord for strength? Do we do so daily? …
Read MoreAll SaintsRevelation 7:2-4, 9-14Psalm 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-61 John 3:1-3Matthew 5:1-12aNovember 1, 2024 How many saints do you know by name? St. Francis of Assisi, St. Benedict, St. Joseph, St, Ignatius, St. Bonaventure…the list could go on and on. Every saint…
Read MoreHow do we look at our present age? How do we interpret what we see in the world today? Jesus speaks to us (see today’s gospel) of how we know that when we see certain things in the weather, we…
Read MoreThe world hates suffering. Yet, in Isaiah we read, “The Lord was pleased to crush in infirmity.” Isaiah is speaking of the suffering servant who will save us from our sins. This is fulfilled in Jesus’ suffering as He undergoes…
Read More28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year BWisdom 7:7-11Psalm 90:12-13, 14-15 16-17 (14)Hebrews 4:12-13Mark 10:17-30October 13, 2024 Do you allow the Lord to be in charge of your life? Do you pray for prudence? Do you pray for wisdom? Is the…
Read MoreOnce again, the Pharisees come to Jesus with a question. This time they ask, “Is it lawful for husband to divorce his wife?” (today’s gospel reading). It’s not a bad question. Actually, given the amount of divorce we see today,…
Read More26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year BNumbers 11:25-29Psalm 19:8, 10, 12-13, 14 (9a)James 5:1-6Mark 9:38-43, 44, 47-48September 29, 2024 Sometimes we find ourselves putting a lot of effort into worldly things. Sometimes it is because of the sins of greed…
Read MoreWhat makes the world the way it is? James writes (in today’s second reading), “Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice.” To me it is clear that there is disorder in the world. There…
Read More24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year BIsaiah 50:5-9aPsalm 116:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9 (9)James 2:14-18Mark 8:27-35September 15, 2024 Generally speaking, people want things to be easy. We think that if we “walk before the LORD,” it should be easy to be…
Read MoreThe Lord speaks “to those whose hearts are frightened.” Are you one whose heart is frightened? I am. My heart is not frightened in the sense of being scared of the Lord. I know that the Lord loves me. My…
Read More22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year BDeuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8Psalm 15:2-3, 3-4, 4-5 (1a)James 1:17-18, 21b-22, 27Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23September 1, 2024 Some of the Pharisees and the scribes saw that Jesus’ disciples “ate their meals with unclean, that is unwashed…
Read MoreJoshua said to the people, “If it does not please you to serve the LORD, decide today whom you will serve” (today’s first reading) We each have a choice to make. Do we want to serve God or not? It…
Read More20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year BProverbs 9:1-6 Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 (9a)Ephesians 5:15-20John 6:51-58August 18, 2024 Jesus says, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you…
Read MoreDo you hold bitterness or anger in your heart? How about fury, shouting, reviling, and malice? The Holy Spirit grieves when we hold such things in our heart (19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B). We need these things removed…
Read MoreEnslaved in Egypt the Israelites cried out to God for help. God heard their cry and sent Moses to lead them out from Egypt to the Promised Land. One would think they would be grateful but instead they “grumbled against…
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