Homilies
27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CHabakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 (8)2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14Luke 17:5-10October 5, 2025 The prophet Habakkuk is lamenting the way things are for the Israelites. He has good reason to lament as they are…
Read MoreWe are fighting a battle in the world today. The enemy in this battle is not Israel, Hamas, Russia or Ukraine. It is not an opposing political party or Islam. The enemy we need to be most concerned with is…
Read More25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CAmos 8:4-7Psalm 113:1-2, 4-6, 7-8 (see 1a, 7b)1 Timothy 2:1-8Luke 16:1-13September 21, 2025 There were those “who trample upon the needy and destroy the poor.” They were more interested in selling grain than practicing…
Read MoreYesterday we celebrated the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. In my homily, I spoke about the importance of this feast in a world where shootings and violence are growing in number. Today, September 15th, we celebrate the…
Read MoreExaltation of the Holy CrossNumbers 21:4b-9Psalm 78:1bc-2, 34-35, 36-37, 38 (7b)Philippians 2:6-11John 3:13-17September 14, 2025 Our nation experienced another shooting this week. Actually, there were two shootings making the national news on the same day this week. I want the…
Read More23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CWisdom 9:13-18bPsalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, and 17 (1)Philemon 9-10, 12-17Luke 14:25-33September 7, 2025 Last week I spoke about humility and pride (see my homily). If we are truly humble, we recognize God knows…
Read More22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CSirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29Psalm 68:4-5, 6-7, 10-11 (see 11b)Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24aLuke 14:1, 7-14August 31, 2025 Humility and pride. We talk about them as opposites. When we do, we view “pride” as boasting about what…
Read More21st 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…
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