Homilies
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CIsaiah 66:18-21Psalm 117:1, 2 (Mark 16:15)Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13Luke 13:22-30August 24, 2025 The question is “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” Jesus answers, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I…
Read More20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CJeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10Psalm 40:2, 3, 4, 18 (14b)Hebrews 12:1-4Luke 12:49-53August 17, 2025 They claimed, “Jeremiah ought to be put to death.” Why do they seek his execution? They wanted to put him to death…
Read MoreThe Assumption of the Blessed Virgin MaryRevelation 11:19a, 12:1-6a, 10abPsalm 45:10, 11, 12, 16 (10bc)1 Corinthians 15:20-27Luke 1:39-56August 15, 2025 John shares his vision of the day when he saw “God’s temple in heaven” opened. He could see the “ark…
Read More19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CWisdom 18:6-9Psalm 33:1, 12, 18-19, 20-22 (12b)Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19Luke 12:32-48August 10, 2025 Jesus says to us, “Do not be afraid any longer.” What makes you afraid? How do you respond to the fear? Whatever…
Read MoreAs Jesus disembarked from the boat (see today’s gospel), “his heart was moved with pity” for the crowds. He knew their longings. He knew what they needed. He knew better than they did what they were searching for. He knew…
Read More18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CEcclesiastes 1:2, 2:21-23Psalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17 (95:8)Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11Luke 12:13-21August 3, 2025 Are you attached to worldly things and/or activities? Does your attachment to them dictate what you do? A person comes…
Read More17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CGenesis 18:20-32Psalm 138:1-2, 2-3, 6-7. 7-8 (3a)Colossians 2:12-14Luke 11:1-13July 27, 2025 Jesus teaches us how to pray. When we pray, what do we ask for? Jesus says, “What father among you would hand his…
Read More16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CGenesis 18:1-10aPsalm 15:2-3, 3-4, 5 (1a)Colossians 1:24-28Luke 10:38-42July 20, 2025 Martha welcomed Jesus. Mary sat at the feet of Jesus while Martha was “burdened with much serving.” From this the question is sometimes asked,…
Read MoreIn the last couple of days we have heard how God called Moses to lead his people out of Israel. Yesterday’s first reading concluded the call of Moses at the burning bush. Today’s first reading jumps ahead a few chapters. …
Read MoreAs Christians we know we are supposed to love our neighbors. We are even called to love our enemies (see Matthew 5:43-48). The problem is that we get confused about what this means. Some people think it means we must…
Read More15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CDeuteronomy 30:10-14Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 11 (9a)Colossians 1:15-20Luke 10:25-37July 13, 2025 Each Sunday we pray the Nicene Creed (at times some parishes exercise the option to use the Apostles’ Creed). We say the words…
Read More14th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CIsaiah 66:10-14cPsalm 66:1-3, 4-5, 607 16, 20 (1)Galatians 6:14-18Luke 10:1-12, 17-20July 6, 2025 The Lord says, “Rejoice, with Jerusalem, and be glad.” Why? What reason do they have to rejoice? They had been defeated…
Read MoreSaints Peter and Paul, ApostlesActs 12:1-11Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 (5b)2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18Matthew 16:13-19June 29, 2025 Today begins the thirteenth week in Ordinary Time. Yet, it is not the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time that we celebrate today. Our…
Read MoreGod’s timing is perfect. As the fighting between Israel and Iran continues, today’s first reading is the story of when God first promised to Abram, who would become known as Abraham, “I will make of you a great nation.” What…
Read MoreThe Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, Year CGenesis 14:18-20Psalm 110:1, 2, 3, 4 (4b)1 Corinthians 11:23-26Luke 9:11b-17June 22, 2025 Today we celebrate what in Latin is called Corpus Christi. In English we call it The Most Holy Body…
Read MoreThe Most Holy TrinityProverbs 8:22-31Psalm 8:4-5, 607, 8-9 (2a)Romans 5:1-5John 16:12-15June 15, 2025 Jesus does not act alone. There is much to tell the disciples what it means to follow him but He knew they could not bear it all…
Read MorePentecostActs 2:1-11Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-30, 34 (30)1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13John 20:19-23June 8, 2025 Before the people began to build the tower of Babel, “the whole world spoke the same language” (see Genesis 11:1-9). The people decided, “Come, let us build…
Read More7th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CActs 7:55-60Psalm 97:1-2, 6-7, 9 (1a, 9a)Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20John 17:20-26June 1, 2025 Jesus knows He is about to be arrested. He knows He will be beaten, mocked, scourged, and crucified. Knowing this, He…
Read MoreWhen I began to reflect on today’s gospel, I read Jesus’ words, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices,” and immediately thought this is exactly how I feel. I weep at the…
Read MoreThe Ascension of the LordActs 1:1-11Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9 (6)Ephesians 1:17-23Luke 24:46-53 We just heard of Jesus’ Ascension twice in the readings. The gospel reading comes from the very end of the Luke’s Gospel. The first reading is the very…
Read MoreJesus says in the gospel reading for today, “the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God.” At times people talk about wars as fought on behalf of religion. People have claimed…
Read More6th Sunday of Easter, Year CActs 15:1-2, 22-29Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8 (4)Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23John 14:23-29May 25, 2025 Jesus does many miracles. He teaches many things but Jesus does not act on his own. The word He speaks is not…
Read MoreFifth Sunday of Easter, Year CActs 14:21-27Psalm 145:8-9, 10-11, 12-13 (see 1)Revelation 21:1-5aJohn 13:31-33a, 34-35May 18, 2025 Paul and Barnabas go out to proclaim the good news. Led by the Holy Spirit, they had “made a considerable number of disciples.” …
Read MoreThere are people who say if you want to be a good Christian, you need to belong to a good bible-based church. I agree with them. That’s why I am grateful that I belong to the Catholic Church because it…
Read More4th Sunday of Easter, Year CActs 13:14, 43-52Psalm 100:1-2, 3, 5 (3c)Revelation 7:9, 14b-17John 10:27-30May 11, 2025 The Catholic Church has been in all the news this week. It reminds me of how, in the first reading, we hear that…
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