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I just uploaded the video and handouts of my latest presentation “Are They Rules or a Way of Life: A Look at the Ten Commandments and Beatitudes” to my website. You can view it at www.renewaloffaith.org/wayoflife. Here’s a description of…
Read More4th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CJeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19Psalm 71:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 15, 17 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13Luke 4:21-30February 3, 2019 This passage from 1 Corinthians is one of the suggested readings for weddings. I think couples pick it as their…
Read More3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CNehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 15 (see John 6:63c)1 Corinthians 12:12-30Luke 1:1-4, 4:14-21January 27, 2019 Catholics have a reputation for not knowing the Bible. In years long past, Catholics were sometimes told…
Read More2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CIsaiah 62:1-5Psalm 96:1-2, 2-3, 7-8, 9-101 Corinthians 12:4-11John 2:1-11January 20, 2019 Having brought our Christmas season to a close last weekend with our celebration of the Baptism of the Lord, we are now in…
Read MoreHomily for January 2019 Holy Hour1 Samuel 8:1-22Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13Romans 13:1-6Matthew 22:15-22 In much of the Old Testament period, people were led by “kings”. Yet, before the time of Samuel, Israel did not have a king. Ultimately God…
Read MoreThe Baptism of the LordIsaiah 40:1-5, 9-11Psalm 104:1b-2, 3-4, 24-25, 27-28, 29-30 (1)Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7Luke 3:15-16, 21-22January 13, 2019 Throughout our Christmas season, I’ve talked about the connections between the feasts and solemnities we celebrate during this season. With our…
Read MoreIn today’s gospel (Tuesday between Epiphany and the Baptism of the Lord), we hear of Jesus feeding the 5,000 as told in Mark 6:34-44. Jesus feeds so many with so little. It is a powerful image. The feeding of the…
Read MoreThe 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 6, 2019 For our Masses on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning, we heard the story of Jesus’ birth from Luke’s gospel. Our gospel reading for the…
Read MoreMary, the Holy Mother of GodNumbers 6:22-27Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8Galatians 4:4-7Luke 2:16-21January 1, 2019 As we gather here today to celebrate a holy day, it is January 1st. In our country it is New Year’s Day. However, the fact…
Read MoreThe Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph1 Samuel 1:20-22, 24-28Psalm 84:2-3, 5-6, 9-101 John 3:1-2, 21-24Luke 2:41-52December 30, 2018 Today, as part of our Christmas season that will continue for two more weeks, we celebrate the Feast of the…
Read MoreChristmas – 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, 2018 Today we celebrate something very special. Today we celebrate a birth. The birth of any baby can bring joy and a warm smile…
Read More4th Sunday of Advent, Year CMicah 5:1-4aPsalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19 (4)Hebrews 10:5-10Luke 1:39-45December 23, 2018 God loves us. John 3:16 tells us that “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes…
Read MoreHomily for December 2018 Holy HourGenesis 8:1-14Psalm 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14Romans 8:18-27Mark 4:26-29 It is almost Christmas but not yet. The stores started anticipating Christmas with their displays right after Halloween. This doesn’t make Christmas come any sooner. We still…
Read More3rd Sunday of Advent, Year CZephaniah 3:14-18aIsaiah 12:2-3, 4, 5-6 (6)Philippians 4:4-7Luke 3:10-18December 16, 2018 In less than two weeks we will celebrate Christmas, a time of hope and joy. Yet, for now we remain in our season of Advent. We…
Read MoreAdvent Penance Service 2018Colossians 1:12-13Psalm 51Luke 15:1-7December 15, 2018 We are here today to celebrate a Sacrament. We begin with this Penance Service as a way to pray together before we celebrate the Sacrament individually. Some call this sacrament Confession.…
Read More2nd Sunday of Advent, Year C Baruch 5:1-9 Psalm 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6 (3) Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11 Luke 3:1-6 December 9, 2018 Our gospel starts with a list of names, names that I don’t really know how to pronounce. This…
Read MoreIn today’s readings (Dec. 5th, Wednesday of the First Week of Advent, Year 1), we hear of the Lord providing for his people. He provides the nourishment we need. In the gospel today we again find Jesus going up on…
Read More1st Sunday of Advent, Year C Jeremiah 33:14-16 Psalm 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14 (1b) 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2 Luke 21:25-28, 34-36 December 2, 2018 Today begins a new year, a new year in the church that is. Jesus’ Incarnation that we…
Read MoreI just completed another presentation and put the video and handouts on my website at www.renewaloffaith.org/adventprep. It’s something to reflect on as we start our season of Advent and prepare for the Incarnation. This video is about 50 minutes. The…
Read MoreOur Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Year B Daniel 7:13-14 Psalm 93:1, 1-2, 5 (1a) Revelation 1:5-8 John 18:33b-37 November 25, 2018 Daniel prophesized that a Son of Man will come who will given “dominion, glory, and kingship”…
Read MoreThanksgiving 2018 First Reading at Ecumenical Service – Isaiah 63:7-9 First Reading at Mass – Sirach 50:22-24 Luke 17:11-19 November 22, 2018 We are here in recognition of our national Thanksgiving day holiday. The story of the first Thanksgiving goes…
Read MoreToday we celebrate the Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is celebrated on November 21st marking the dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary the New in Jerusalem in the year 543. As with most of…
Read More33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B Daniel 12:1-3 Psalm 16:5, 8, 9-10, 11 (1) Hebrews 10:11-14, 18 Mark 13:24-32 November 18, 2018 In two weeks, we will begin a new liturgical year in the church on the First Sunday…
Read MoreHomily for November 2018 Holy Hour Jeremiah 1:4-9 Psalm 18:2-3, 3-4, 47, 51 1 John 4:7-16 John 15:1-17 We come here tonight not to be alone. No, we come to be here with Jesus, Jesus who is Son of God,…
Read More32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B 1 Kings 17:10-16 Psalm 146:7, 8-9, 9-10 (1b) Hebrews 9:24-28 Mark 12:38-44 November 11, 2018 Today’s gospel portrays two types of people, the givers and the takers. First Jesus speaks about the scribes…
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