Homilies

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C Ecclesiastes 1:2, 2:21-23 Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11 Luke 12:13-21 August 4, 2013 Qoheleth speaks of vanity and putting too much effort into building up earthly things?  What is the point? A person asks Jesus…

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C Genesis 18:1-10a Colossians 1:24-28 Luke 10:38-42 July 21, 2013 This gospel might beg the question, “So are you more like Martha or Mary?” Some people are ‘doers’ and ‘followers.’ Martha is trying to…

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C Deuteronomy 30:10-14 Colossians 1:15-20 Luke 10:25-37 July 14, 2013 The story of the Good Samaritan is familiar to many.  The phrase “Good Samaritan” is still used today to describe the laws that protect…

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C Isaiah 66:10-14c Galatians 6:14-18 Luke 10:1-12, 17-20 July 7, 2013 Once again, Jesus is teaching us as believers of what it means to be a disciple.  We have different callings in a common…

13th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C 1 Kings 19:16b: 19-21 Galatians 5:1, 13-18 Luke 9:51-62 June 30, 2013 Sr. Edna’s Retirement Jesus demands an immediate response of his disciples.  When I say immediate, Jesus does not even grant time…

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C Zechariah 12:10-11, 13:1 Galatians 3:26-29 Luke 9:18-24 June 23, 2013 What defines who we are? If someone asks you about yourself, what do you tell them?  Do you tell them about your job? …

11th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C 2 Samuel 12:7-10, 13 Galatians 2:16, 19-21 Luke 7:36-8:3 June 16, 2013 Like all of us, the Jews of Jesus’ time had their “rules and customs.”  The Pharisees were among the experts on…

10th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C 1 Kings 17:17-24 Galatians 1:11-19 Luke 7:11-17 June 9, 2013 When we know someone who is suffering or we are suffering ourselves, we pray for miracles.  This is good.  We should always pray…

Corpus Christi, Year C Genesis 14:18-20 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 John 9:11b-17 June 2, 2013   Melchizedek offered bread and wine in recognition of Abraham’s victory over the “enemy”.  No explanation is offered for why bread and wine is used and…

The Most Holy Trinity, Year C Proverbs 8:22-31 Romans 5:1-5 John 16:12-15 May 26, 2013 Today we honor the Trinity, a nice simple topic to talk about right? All I need to do today is explain the Trinity right? No,…

Pentecost, Year C Acts 2:1-11 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13 John 20:19-23 May 19, 2013 Today we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit.  It is a gift because of what it means for us. It’s a gift in part because…

7th Sunday in Easter, Year C Acts 7:55-60 Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20 John 17:20-26 May 12, 2013 The standard to be a disciple is set pretty high.  First, there is Jesus himself who literally gives his life up for us…

6th Sunday in Easter, Year C Acts 15:1-2, 22-39 Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23 John 14:23-29 May 5, 2013 First Communion What does it mean to be a church? When you hear the word “church,” what do you think of?  Do you…

5th Sunday of Easter, Year C Acts 14:21-27 Revelation 21:1-5a John 13:31-33a, 34-35 April 28, 2013 We need hope. We live in a world of turmoil.  Bad things happen.  Bombings in Boston, the explosion in Texas, and the possibility of…

4th Sunday of Easter, Year C Acts 13:14, 43-62 Revelation 7:0, 14b-17 John 10:27-30 April 21, 2013  My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me. Remember last week when the disciples saw Jesus on the shore…

3rd Sunday of Easter, Year C Acts 5:27b-32, 40b-41 Revelation 5:11-14 John 21:1-19 April 14, 2013 The Apostles are now arrested and on trial.  They are zealously preaching the faith.  They had previously given orders to ‘stop teaching in that…

2nd Sunday of Easter, Year C Acts 5:12-16 Revelation 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19 John 20:19-31 April 7, 2013 Jesus has been crucified.  They know the tomb is empty.  The disciples are locked in a room.  Why did they lock themselves in…

Palm Sunday, Year C Luke 19:28-40 Isaiah 50:4-7 Philippians 2:6-11 Luke 22:14-23:56 March 24, 2013 Today we begin no ordinary week.  This week celebrates Jesus’ final days on Earth and so today we begin with his journey into Jerusalem. He…

Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and King Nebuchadnezzar – I think I will remember these names forever.  They appear in today’s first reading. I think back to 1999, shortly after I returned to church after many years of not going.  I had the opportunity…

5th Sunday in Lent, Year C Isaiah 43:16-21 Philippians 3:8-14 John 8:1-11 March 17, 2013 As Jesus continues his ministry to teach the people, once again the scribes and the Pharisees come to test Jesus.  They come bringing the woman…

4th Sunday in Lent, Year C Joshua 5:9a, 10-12 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 March 10, 2013 The first reading speaks of the entrance of the Israelites into the Promised Land.  This marks a new beginning for them.  Once,…