Homilies
Soon we will celebrate the first Coming of Jesus with our Christmas season. Christmas is too important to celebrate with just a single day. We celebrate Christmas a season that begins with our Christmas Masses and lasts until we celebrate…
Read MoreIn today’s first reading (Friday, 34th Week in Ordinary Time, Year I), we hear of a vision the prophet Daniel has. It contains imagery we may not understand, at least I know I don’t understand. The Bible continues a lot…
Read MoreThanksgiving DaySirach 50:22-24Psalm 145:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9, 10-111 Corinthians 1:3-9Luke 17:11-19November 25, 2021 Ten lepers came to Jesus calling out, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” Jesus replied by cleansing them of their leprosy. They had come to Jesus looking…
Read MoreOur Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Year BDaniel 7:13-14Psalm 93:1, 1-2, 5 (1a)Revelation 1:5-8John 18:33b-37November 21, 2021 This is the last Sunday of our liturgical year. We always celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of…
Read MoreOur liturgical year in the church is drawing to a close. In two weeks we will begin a new year with the First Sunday of Advent. As we draw this year to a close, our readings turn to the end…
Read MoreOur gospel reading and the first reading for this 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) speak of God’s commandments. We think in terms of 10 commandments. The Jews list 613 commandments with the 10 being the most important and…
Read More30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year BJeremiah 31:7-9Psalm 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6 (3)Hebrews 5:1-6Mark 10:46-52October 24, 2021 As Jesus leaves Jericho, “Bartimaeus, a blind man,” is sitting by the roadside begging. When he hears that Jesus of Nazareth is there,…
Read MoreToday’s first reading comes from the fourth of four passages in the Book of Isaiah that speak of a “suffering servant.” People see suffering as something terrible and to be avoided. However, in the first reading, regarding the suffering servant,…
Read MoreIn today’s gospel Jesus speaks of “generations.” We use the word “generation” to signify the changing of stages. Most often we use it in the sense of biological generations. When parents have children, the children began a new generation. Grandchildren…
Read MoreIn the gospel for today (27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B), the Pharisees asked Jesus a question. They asked this question to test him. They were looking for a way to prove He was not the Messiah. While their…
Read More26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year BNumbers 11:25-29Psalm 19:8, 10, 12-13, 14 (9a)James 5:1-6Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48 Jesus’ words today may seem shocking. “If you hand causes you to sin, cut it off…And if your foot causes you to sin,…
Read MoreIn today’s first reading we hear, “Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training.” This…
Read MoreWe need to ask ourselves what is most important. Lots of things have importance but what is most important? We need things. We need food, clothing, and shelter to feed our physical bodies. To have these things we need money.…
Read MoreIn today’s reading for the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B we hear three different ways of thinking about discipleship. The first comes from the third of four servant servant oracles in the Book of Isaiah. The suffering servant…
Read MoreOne of our parish deacons is preaching this weekend so I have not prepared a homily for this Sunday (22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B). Even when I am not preaching I still like to spend some time in…
Read More21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year BJoshua 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18bPsalm 34:2-3, 16-17, 18-19, 20-21 (9a)Ephesians 5:21-32John 6:60-69August 22, 2021 Today we come to the conclusion of Jesus’ Bread of Life Discourse. Many people had been there when Jesus fed the…
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, 2021 Normally we would be celebrating the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time of Year B today. Instead, we are celebrating the…
Read MoreOn this 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time of Year B, we hear of the time when Elijah was on a journey and “prayed for death.” This comes shortly after Elijah defeated the 450 prophets of Baal (See 1 Kings 18).…
Read More18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year BPsalm 78:3-4, 23-24, 25, 54 (24b)Ephesians 4:17, 20-24John 6:24-35August 1, 2021 “The whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron.” Why? Because they had no food. Now, we need food to eat. That is…
Read MoreIn today’s first reading (17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – 2 Kings 4:42-44) we hear the story of what I will call a “small” miracle. The event happens in a time of drought. So, water is scarce. That…
Read More16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year BJeremiah 23:1-6Psalm 23:1-3, 3-4, 5, 6 (1)Ephesians 2:13-18Mark 6:30-34July 18, 2021 Jeremiah served as a prophet of the Lord in the time leading up to and including the start of the Babylonian Exile. God…
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