Homilies

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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Knowing God’s Presence in Our Lives

By Fr. Jeff | 08/13/2018

Today’s first reading (8/13/18 – Monday of 19th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2) from Ezekiel provides what can be both a powerful and confusing image.  It can be confusing to us because it relies on imagery unfamiliar to us…

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19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 08/12/2018

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B 1 Kings 19:4-8 Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 (9a) Ephesians 4:30-5:2 John 6:41-51 August 12, 2018 Elijah was fleeing from King Ahaz and others after defeating the 450 prophets of the false god…

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The Lord’s Prayer – Homily for Holy Hour August 2018

By Fr. Jeff | 08/07/2018

Homily for August 2018 Holy Hour Isaiah 25:6a, 7-9 Psalm 23:1-3, 3-4, 5, 6 Romans 8:26-27 Matthew 6:7-15 We started our monthly holy hour last September as part of our diocesan Year of the Eucharist.  So, it was only logically…

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18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 08/05/2018

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15 Psalm 78:3-4, 23-24, 25, 54 (24b) Ephesians 4:17, 20-24 John 6:24-35 August 5, 2018 Last week we hear from the Old Testament of when Elisha fed 100 people with 20…

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17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 07/29/2018

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B 2 Kings 4:42-44 Psalm 145:10-11, 15-16, 17-18 (16) Ephesians 4:1-6 John 6:1-15 July 29, 2018 During the time Elisha served as a prophet of the Lord, there was a famine in the land. …

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16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – Homily “The Lord is My Shepherd”

By Fr. Jeff | 07/22/2018

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B Jeremiah 23:1-6 Psalm 23:1-3, 3, 4, 5, 6 (1) Ephesians 2:13-18 Mark 6:30-34 July 22, 2018 God has always cared for his people.  He had appointed people as kings and priests to be…

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Homily on “Freedom” for July 2018 Holy Hour

By Fr. Jeff | 07/18/2018

Homily for July 2018 Holy Hour Jeremiah 29:8-14 Psalm 123:1-2, 2, 3-4 Phil 2:5-11 John 15:9-17 Two weeks ago, we celebrated the Fourth of July as our national holiday.  As far as I know, we are the only country that…

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14th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 07/08/2018

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B Ezekiel 2:2-5 Psalm 123:1-2, 2, 2-4 (2cd) 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 Mark 6:1-6 July 8, 2018 One might think that people from Jesus’ “native place” would welcome him with great fanfare as the hometown…

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13th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 07/01/2018

13th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B Wisdom 1:13-15, 2:23-24 Psalm 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11, 12, 13 (2a) 2 Corinthians 8:7, 9, 13-15 Mark 5:21-43 July 1, 2018 Today we hear of Jesus doing two great healings.  One is for…

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Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 06/24/2018

Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist Vigil                                                                            Day Jeremiah 1:4-10                                                          Isaiah 49:1-6 Psalm 71:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 15, 17 (6b)                             Psalm 139:1-3, 13-14, 14-15 (14a) 1 Peter 1:8-12                                                              Acts 13:22-26 Luke 1:5-17                                                                 Luke 1:57-66, 80 June 24,…

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Our Ancestral Heritage

By Fr. Jeff | 06/18/2018

Today’s first reading (June 18, 2018) 1 Kings 21:1-16, begins with two people wanting the same property. The first, Naboth, is the owner of the property. The second is King Ahab. Ahab wants the property to be his “vegetable garden,…

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11th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 06/17/2018

11th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B Ezekiel 17:22-24 Psalm 92:2-3, 13-14, 15-16 (2a) 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 Mark 4:26-34 June 17, 2018 Using a parable, Jesus speaks to the crowds about the farmer scattering seed on the land and then…

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10th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 06/10/2018

10th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B Genesis 3:9-15 Psalm 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 (7bc) 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1 Mark 3:20-25 June 10, 2018 As Jesus came home, a crowd once again gathered.  How we long to see great crowds come…

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The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, Year B – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 06/03/2018

The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, Year B Exodus 24:3-8 Psalm 116:12-13, 15-16, 17-18 (13) Hebrews 9:11-15 Mark 14:12-16, 22-26 June 3, 2018 As we celebrate today’s Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, our…

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Seeing With the Eyes of Faith

By Fr. Jeff | 05/31/2018

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  At the Annunciation, Mary found out she had been chosen to be the mother of Jesus.  Mary’s reaction is not one of pride.  She does not begin…

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The Most Holy Trinity, Year B – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 05/27/2018

The Most Holy Trinity, Year B Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40 Psalm 33:4-5, 6, 9, 18-19, 20, 22 (12b) Romans 8:14-17 Matthew 28:16-20 May 27, 2018 Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity.  It would be a wonderful time…

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Pentecost, Year B – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 05/20/2018

Pentecost, Year B Acts 2:1-11 Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34 Galatians 5:16-25 John 15:26-27; 16:12-5 May 20, 2018 Our Easter season draws to a close today with our celebration of Pentecost.  To appreciate Pentecost, we need to look at…

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Homily for May 2018 Holy Hour

By Fr. Jeff | 05/16/2018

Homily for May 2018 Holy Hour 1 Kings 19:9-13a Psalm 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 Matthew 26:36-46 In June of last year, we begin a Year of the Eucharist in our diocese.  Bishop Matano proclaimed this…

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7th Sunday of Easter, Year B – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 05/13/2018

7th Sunday of Easter, Year B Acts 1:15-17a, 20a, 20c-26 Psalm 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20 (19a) 1 John 4:11-16 John 17:11-19 May 13, 2018 Today we hear Jesus’ final prayer before he is arrested and crucified.  He knew what was coming. …

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6th Sunday of Easter, Year B – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 05/06/2018

6th Sunday of Easter, Year B Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48 Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4 (2b) 1 John 4:7-10 John 15:9-17 May 6, 2018 Both our second reading from the First Letter of John and our gospel reading from John each…

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The Optional Memorial of St. Joseph the Worker

By Fr. Jeff | 05/01/2018

Today (May 1st) we celebrate the Optional Memorial of St. Joseph the Worker.  I stress the word “optional” because in the United States, depending on what resource one uses to look at for the daily readings, you won’t find it…

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5th Sunday of Easter, Year B – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 04/29/2018

5th Sunday of Easter, Year B Acts 9:26-31 Psalm 22:26-27, 28, 30, 31-32 (26a) 1 John 3:18-24 John 15:1-8 April 29, 2018 The Acts of the Apostles is the story of the building up of the early church.  One of…

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4th Sunday of Easter, Year B – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 04/22/2018

4th Sunday of Easter, Year B Acts 4:8-12 Psalm 118:1, 8-9, 21-23, 26, 28, 29 (22) 1 John 3:1-2 John 10:11-18 April 22, 2018 Peter becomes a bold preacher for Jesus.  He faces questions and persecution but he is no…

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Do We Recognize Jesus? Homily for April 2018 Holy Hour

By Fr. Jeff | 04/18/2018

Homily for April 2018 Holy Hour Acts 2:14, 22-33 Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11 1 Peter 1:17-21 Luke 24:13-35 In my homily this past Sunday I referred to the story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus.…

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