Homilies
“After Jesus had been taken up to heaven the apostles returned to Jerusalem.” There, “they went to the upper room” (first reading for this 7th Sunday of Easter) The upper room is where they had gathered with Jesus after his…
Read MoreThere is suffering in the world. We wish there wasn’t. We pray for an end to all suffering. We need to seek to do our part to alleviate suffering. Yet, we know the reality is that there is suffering. It…
Read More5th Sunday of Easter, Year AActs 6:1-7Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19 (22)1 Peter 2:4-9John 14:1-12May 7, 2023 The first half of today’s gospel reading is probably the gospel reading most selected at funerals. It makes sense. Jesus tells us, “Do not…
Read MoreOur first reading today begins with Peter standing up with the Eleven. All of the Eleven were called to be Apostles. As God’s calling, this was their vocation in life. Peter is called to be the first among the Apostles.…
Read More3rd Sunday of Easter, Year AActs 2:14, 22-33Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11 (11a)1 Peter 1:17-21Luke 24:13-35April 23, 2023 When Jesus was arrested, Peter denied him three times. The other disciples fled. Now, Peter stands up and proclaims Jesus. He…
Read MoreWe are all in need of God’s Divine Mercy. Following the revelation of the Divine Mercy devotion by Jesus to Sr. Faustina, Pope John Paul II declared the Second Sunday of Easter to be Divine Mercy Sunday (cf. my article…
Read MoreEaster Sunday Morning, Year AActs 10:34a, 37-43Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23 (24)Colossians 3:1-4John 20:1-9April 9, 2023 “On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark.” What did…
Read MoreEaster Vigil Year AGenesis 1:1-2:2Genesis 22:1-18Exodus 14:15-15:1Isaiah 55:1-11Romans 6:3-11Matthew 28:1-10April 8, 2023 What we have been celebrating in recent days is nothing short of amazing. On Thursday evening, we celebrated the Mass of the Lord’s Supper where Jesus instituted the…
Read MoreGood Friday 2023Isaiah 52:13-53:12Psalm 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25 (Luke 23:46)Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9John 18:1-19:42April 7, 2023 Jesus is put on trial. First, He is brought before the high priest who is among those who do not believe that Jesus…
Read MorePalm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, Year AMatthew 21:1-11Isaiah 50:4-7Psalm 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24 (2a)Philippians 2:6-11Matthew 26:14 – 27:66April 2, 2023 Today we start Holy Week. It is called holy because it contains the most important events that…
Read MoreIn the midst of the Babylonian Exile God offers Ezekiel a vision that points to the Resurrection and new life (first reading – read all of chapter 37 for the whole story). The Lord promises that He will open our…
Read MoreIn today’s gospel we hear the story of the man who was born blind. In those days, serious illnesses like blindness were seen as punishment for sin. So, seeing the man who was been blind from birth, Jesus’ disciples ask…
Read More3rd Sunday of Lent, Year AExodus 17:3-7Psalm 95:1-2, 607, 8-9 (8)Romans 5:1-2, 5-8John 4:5-42March 12, 2023 Jesus is making his way through Samaria. “Tired from his journey,” He pauses to rest at the well. While He is sitting at the…
Read MoreOur first reading today comes from Genesis 12 where the story of Abram, who God would later rename “Abraham.” Before this passage, the only mention of Abraham is his genealogy presented in Genesis 11:10-32. These four verses in today’s first…
Read More“The LORD God formed man out of the clay of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life.“ These are the words that begin our first reading today. God created humanity. The first part of this verse…
Read MoreAsh WednesdayJoel 2:12-18Psalm 51:304, 5-6ab, 12-13,14 and 172 Corinthians 5:20-6:2Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18February 22, 2023 What are we doing here today? It’s the middle of the week. We go to church on Sunday. Why are we here in the middle of…
Read More7th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year ALeviticus 19:1-2, 17-18Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13 (8a)1 Corinthians 3:16-23February 19, 2023 Today is our last Sunday before we begin Lent. The readings are picked for Ordinary Time but they give us some…
Read MoreOur first reading from Sirach speaks of the choice we have. It is our choice whether to follow God’s commandments or not. God gives us free will to make our choice. However, we must realize our choices have consequences. If…
Read More5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year AIsaiah 58:7-10Psalm 112:4-5, 6-7, 8-9 (4a)1 Corinthians 2:1-5February 5, 2023 Last week we heard the beginning of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount from Matthew’s gospel. We will continue to hear from Jesus’ Sermon each…
Read MoreOur readings today begin with the prophet Zephaniah calling us to “Seek the LORD.” God did not create us and walk away. God wants to be part of our lives everyday. We are called to humble ourselves to follow him.…
Read More3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year AIsaiah 8:23-9:3Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14 (1a)1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17January 22, 2023 Each Sunday we gather to celebrate Mass. We begin with the procession followed by the Sign of the Cross, a greeting, Penitential Rite,…
Read MoreOur Christmas season has ended. We have entered Ordinary Time. There can be a tendency from the term “ordinary” to think of it as a time to lay back and relax. One might think that nothing special is going on.…
Read MoreThe Epiphany of the LordIsaiah 60:1-6Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13 (11)Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6January 8, 2023 Today we celebrate another important part of the Christmas story, the Magi coming from the east seeking the newborn king of the Jews. We call…
Read MoreChristmas, the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ is far too important to celebrate with a single day. We celebrate Christmas for a season that lasts until the Baptism of the Lord (which falls on Monday, January 9th this year).…
Read MoreThe Nativity of the Lord (Mass During the Night)Isaiah 9:1-6Titus 2:11-14Luke 2:1-14December 25, 2022 You can find a video of this homily on my website page for my upcoming series, The Greatest Gift: The Eucharist at www.renewaloffaith.org/greatestgift (scroll down on…
Read More