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Our Blog

Tolerance, Hate Speech, and Dialogue

By Fr. Jeff | 01/12/2021

“Tolerance” has become a frequently used word.  We do well to ask ourselves what does it mean to “tolerate.”  Why?  Because I think it is being used beyond its actual meaning.  It seems to me that it is being used…

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Baptism of the Lord, Year B – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 01/10/2021

The Baptism of the LordIsaiah 55:1-11Isaiah 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6 (3)1 John 5:1-9Mark 1:7-11January 10, 2021 Our Christmas season will end this evening following our celebration of the Baptism of the Lord. Christmas is the celebration of the birth of our…

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Is Heaven a Crowded Place?

By Fr. Jeff | 01/08/2021

Is Heaven a crowded place? I ask the question with mixed feelings. I am an introvert and do not like crowded places. On the other hand, as a Christian and knowing how great a place Heaven is, I desire that…

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Three North American Saints

By Fr. Jeff | 01/05/2021

Often when we celebrate the memorials of saints it is a person who lived centuries ago and/or in Europe or Asia. This week we break this pattern with three consecutive days venerating North American saints who lived in the last…

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The Epiphany of the Lord, Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 01/03/2021

The Epiphany of the LordIsaiah 60:1-6Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13 (11)Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6Matthew 2:1-12January 3, 2021 On Christmas we heard the angel deliver “good news of great joy” to the shepherds, “For today in the city of David a savior…

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2020 is Over!

By Fr. Jeff | 01/01/2021

Today is January 1st. That means we begin a new year. It is now 2021! That means 2020 is over! 2020 is a year we might wish we could forget but probably never will. The Coronavirus pandemic has changed the…

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God in the New Year

By Fr. Jeff | 12/29/2020

On November 29th, we began a new year in the church with the First Sunday of Advent. In my homily that day, I spoke of people making new year’s resolutions for the secular new year on January 1st and how…

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The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, Year B – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 12/27/2020

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, Year B (Please note there are different options for the readings)Genesis 15:1-6, 21:1-3Psalm 105:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9 (7a, 8a)Hebrews 11:8, 11-12, 17-19Luke 2:22-40December 27, 2020 On Christmas Day Jesus was born in…

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Christmas Homily 2020

By Fr. Jeff | 12/25/2020

Christmas Mass During the NightIsaiah 9:1-6Psalm 96:1-2, 2-3, 11-12, 13 (Luke 2:11)Titus 2:11-14Luke 2:1-14December 25, 2020 Today we hear “good news of great joy.”  After a difficult 2020, we need to hear some good news.  The good news offered by…

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Keeping God First

By Fr. Jeff | 12/22/2020

As I write this we are just a couple of days from Christmas. Christmas this year will be different because of the Coronavirus. However, no matter how different your celebration is, it will still be Christmas, the celebration of the…

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4th Sunday of Advent, Year B – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 12/20/2020

4th Sunday of Advent, Year B2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16Psalm 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29 (2a)Romans 16:25-27Luke 1:26-28December 20, 2020 David had become a great king, living in a great palace.  There, “the LORD had given him rest from his…

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Angels

By Fr. Jeff | 12/18/2020

As we draw near to Christmas, we hear from the Bible of the role that angels played in the birth of Jesus. This Sunday (Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year B) we hear the story of the Annunciation (Luke 1:26-38), when…

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Invitation to New Webinar Series

By Fr. Jeff | 12/17/2020

For those of you who are regular readers of my blog, you are used to learning of the presentations I do and being provided a link to view the video of the presentation and handouts after the presentation is given.…

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Our Two Creeds

By Fr. Jeff | 12/15/2020

In our Catholic faith, we have two formal creeds, the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed. However, having two creeds does not mean we profess two different faiths. The two creeds are very similar in their content (you can see…

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3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 12/13/2020

3rd Sunday of Advent, Year BIsaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11Responsorial – Luke 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54 (Isaiah 61:10b)1 Thessalonians 5:16-24John 1:6-8, 19-28December 13, 2020 The time for the long-awaited messiah is near.  To prepare the way of the Lord, “John was sent from…

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Some Thoughts on Advent

By Fr. Jeff | 12/10/2020

Recently a friend suggested I write an article about Advent here. Honestly, my first reaction was to think I talk about Advent regularly in my Sunday homilies that are posted on this blog. (You can find them at https://blog.renewaloffaith.org/?cat=223.) You…

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The Immaculate Conception of Mary – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 12/08/2020

The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin MaryGenesis 3:9-15, 20Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4 (1a)Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12Luke 1:26-38December 8, 2020 God is the creator of the world, the “maker of heaven and earth.” What God created is good.  God created in…

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What About Accountability?

By Fr. Jeff | 12/07/2020

My recent blog articles on forgiveness as well as my article, “Remembering the Past and Building a Better Future,” have led to discussions with people on the subject of accountability. The question at hand is “does forgiving someone mean they…

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Advent Holy Hour Homily 2020

By Fr. Jeff | 12/06/2020

Advent Holy Hour 2020 with Vespers (Evening Prayer II)2nd Sunday of AdventRomans 8:18-27December 6, 2020 Our reading from Romans begins with Paul speaking of “the sufferings of this present time.”  How has your year been?  In what ways have you…

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2nd Sunday of Advent, Year B – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 12/06/2020

2nd Sunday of Advent, Year BIsaiah 40:1-5, 9-11Psalm 85:9-10, 11-12, 13-14 (8)2 Peter 3:8-14Mark 1:1-8December 6, 2020 Scholars divide the Book of the Prophet Isaiah into three sections.  Today’s reading from chapter 40 begins the second section.  God “speaks tenderly”…

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What Do You Seek in Prayer?

By Fr. Jeff | 12/04/2020

We are called to pray. Jesus spent time in prayer. If Jesus prayed, then all the more we need to. When you read the word “prayer”, what comes to mind? Is the Rosary the first thing that comes to mind?…

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The Prayer of St. Michael

By Fr. Jeff | 12/01/2020

In October I wrote two separate blog articles reflecting on The Serenity Prayer and the Prayer of St. Francis. Two years ago, I shared a homily from a holy hour reflecting on the Lord’s Prayer. Today I would like to…

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1st Sunday of Advent, Year B – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 11/29/2020

1st Sunday of Advent, Year BIsaiah 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19 (4)1 Corinthians 1:3-9Mark 13:33-37November 29, 2020 Our passage from Isaiah today comes from a time when the Babylonian Exile was ending and the Jews were returning to Jerusalem. …

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Thanksgiving Day Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 11/26/2020

Thanksgiving DaySirach 50:22-24Psalm 113:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-81 Corinthians 1:3-9Luke 17:11-19November 26, 2020 Today is our national day of Thanksgiving.  The custom of this holiday dates back to the first pilgrims in Massachusetts.  They were thankful that God had blessed them…

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Pray, Pay, and Obey

By Fr. Jeff | 11/24/2020

In the past, the understanding by many was that Catholics were supposed to “pray, pay, and obey” to be good Catholics. (A search on the Internet shows the order of the first two, pray and pay, are sometimes switched). The…

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