Homilies

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, Year A – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 04/09/2017

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, Year A Matthew 21:1-11 Isaiah 50:4-7 Psalm 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24 Philippians 2:6-11 Matthew 26:14-27:66 April 9, 2017 Our opening blessing of the palms begins the holiest time of the year for…

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5th Sunday of Lent, Year A – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 04/02/2017

5th Sunday of Lent, Year A Ezekiel 37:12-14 Psalm 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 Romans 8:8-11 John 11:1-45 April 2, 2017 Last week we heard the story of the man born blind and how Jesus gave him physical sight and then…

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4th Sunday of Lent, Year A – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 03/26/2017

4th Sunday of Lent, Year A 1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6 Ephesians 5:8-14 John 9:1-41 March 26, 2017 Saul has turned out to be a bad king so God sends Samuel to anoint his successor. …

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3rd Sunday of Lent, Year A – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 03/19/2017

3rd Sunday of Lent, Year A Exodus 17:3-7 Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 Romans 5:1-2, 5-8 John 4:5-42 March 19, 2017 The Israelites have just left slavery in Egypt.  You might think they would be very thankful for being set free…

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2nd Sunday of Lent, Year A – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 03/12/2017

2nd Sunday of Lent, Year A Genesis 12:1-4a Psalm 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22 2 Timothy 1:8b-10 Matthew 17:1-9 March 12, 2017 In our responsorial psalm verse today we sang, “as we place our trust in you.”  We come here to…

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1st Sunday of Lent, Year A – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 03/05/2017

1st Sunday of Lent, Year A Genesis 2:7-9, 3:1-7 Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 17 Romans 5:12-19 Matthew 4:1-11 March 5, 2017 Today we hear the story of the “original sin.”  Adam and Eve were in the Garden and God had…

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8th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 02/26/2017

8th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Isaiah 49:14-15 Psalm 62:2-3, 6-7, 8-9 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 Matthew 6:24-34 February 26, 2017 “No one can serve two masters.” These are Jesus’ words to us.  As we hear them our first thought…

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7th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 02/19/2017

7th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18 Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13 1 Corinthians 3:16-23 Matthew 5:38-48 February 19, 2017 Our readings continue on the themes we have been hearing in recent weeks.  Paul continues to…

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6th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 02/12/2017

6th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Sirach 15:15-20 Psalm 119:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34 1 Corinthians 2:6-10 Matthew 5:17-37 February 12, 2017 Sirach reminds the people “If you choose you can keep the commandments, they will save you, if you…

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Assisted Suicide & the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 02/04/2017

This is our diocesan public policy weekend.  This year’s issue reflected below is speaking against a bill introduced in the NYS Legislative recently to allow assisted suicide.  For more on this issue, check out the USCCB “To Live Each Day…

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4th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 01/29/2017

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Zephaniah 2:3, 3:12-13 Psalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 Matthew 5:1-12a January 29, 2017 The prophet Zephaniah wrote in the 7th century B.C.  This is shortly before Jerusalem falls to the Babylonian…

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3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 01/22/2017

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Isaiah 8:23-9:3 Psalm 27:104, 13-14 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17 Matthew 4:12-23 January 22, 2017 Paul had helped start the Christian community at Corinth.  Now, he has heard about division and immorality going on…

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2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 01/15/2017

2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Isaiah 49:3, 5-6 Psalm 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10 1 Corinthians 1:1-3 John 1:29-34 January 15, 2017 Our first reading today is part of what are known as four “Suffering Servant Oracles” in…

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Epiphany – Homily – The Gift of Jesus

By Fr. Jeff | 01/08/2017

The Epiphany of the Lord Isaiah 60;1-6 Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13 Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 Matthew 5:1-12 January 8, 2017 Today we hear what we consider as the last piece of the Christmas story.  Here come the magi.  We don’t…

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Honoring Mary, Mother of God at Christmas – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 01/01/2017

Mary, the Holy Mother of God Numbers 6:22-27 Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8 Galatians 4:4-7 Luke 2:16-21 January 1, 2017 One week ago we celebrated Christmas day but our Christmas season continues until next week.  Today marks the eighth day…

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Christmas 2016 – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 12/25/2016

Christmas 2016 – Mass During the Night Isaiah 9:1-6 Psalm 96:1-2, 2-3, 11-12, 13 Titus 2:11-14 Luke 2:1-14 December 25, 2016 We are here to celebrate something very holy.  We began with a song familiar to many, O Come All…

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3rd Sunday of Advent, Year A – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 12/11/2016

3rd Sunday in Advent, Year A Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10 Psalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10 James 5:7-10 Matthew 11:2-13 December 11, 2016 “Be patient.” These are the words of James offers to the recipients of his letter.  What are they to be patient…

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The Sacrament of Reconciliation

By Fr. Jeff | 12/10/2016

Today we have our Advent Penance Service that includes First Penance for some of our children.  Below I share my homily with you to encourage you to think about what the Sacrament of Reconciliation means.  You will find a link…

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2nd Sunday of Advent, Year A – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 12/04/2016

2nd Sunday in Advent, Year A Isaiah 11:1-10 Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17 Romans 15:4-9 Matthew 3:1-12 December 4, 2016 Christmas is now just three weeks away.  So, our gospel readings shift from the Second Coming to the time just…

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1st Sunday of Advent, Year A – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 11/27/2016

1st Sunday in Advent, Year A Isaiah 2:1-5 Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 Romans 13:11-14 Matthew 24:37-44 November 27, 2016 It should be apparent that the seasons are changing.  Outside it is evident from the snow we got this past…

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Why We NEED Thanksgiving

By Fr. Jeff | 11/24/2016

Today we celebrate a national holiday.  There should be no surprise there as we have several national holidays.  Most of them get us a day off from work or school.  How much do we really do anything to celebrate some…

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Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Year C – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 11/20/2016

Christ the King, Year C 2 Samuel 5:1-3 Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5 Colossians 1:12-20 Luke 23:35-43 November 20, 2016 Until the days when Saul became king, Israel had not had a king.  There were leaders known as “judges” who lead…

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33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 11/13/2016

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C Malachi 3:19-20a Psalm 98:5-6, 7-8, 9 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12 Luke 21:5-19 November 13, 2016 Our readings this week continue on the theme of what the End Times will be like.  The question presented…

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32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 11/06/2016

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C 2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14 Psalm 17:1, 5-6, 15 2 Thessalonians 2:16-3:5 Luke 20:27-38 November 6, 2016 When I arrived here just four months ago, we were all hot.  That was summer.  Now, summer…

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31st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 10/30/2016

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C Wisdom 11:22-12:2 Psalm 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13, 14 2 Thessalonians 1:11-2:2 Luke 19:1-10 October 30, 2016 Zacchaeus is described as being “short in stature.”  He was short enough that he couldn’t see Jesus…

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