Here's my homily from this morning's Mass on Gaudete Sunday. I sometimes like to call John the Baptist the patron saint of bad news. If we don't acknowledge the bad news in our lives, like sin, we won't be prepared for the Good News and Jesus our Savior.
A blessed first Sunday of Advent. We need to remember that we need God. There is an emptiness in us that only He can fill. Here's my homily from this morning's Mass
Here’s my homily from this morning’s Mass. From ugliness, hate, and brutality as Jesus is on the Cross rises one consoling voice - a whisper of prayer and support from a most surprising source.
Jesus speaks of duty in the Gospel today. We should think of what we can do for others and recover that sense of duty. I think of that as we look ahead to Veteran's Day. I thanked our veterans for their service to this country.
Here's my homily from this morning's Mass. Jesus warns us in the Gospel this morning about scandal. If we claim to be believers, we claim to have a high moral code. When we sin, it shocks people.
Jesus mentions the resurrection of the dead in the closing line of today's Gospel. This is the time of year the Church asks us to remember those who have already entered judgement and to prepare for when Jesus calls us at the time of our own death.
The Gospel means "good news" and we have good news in today's reading. There is a Heaven and God wants us there for all eternity. But we need to remember, we have free will and there is a Hell for those that choose not to have eternal salvation.
Jesus says the Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. Remember, He started calling His Disciples one by one. The simpler, the better. Here's my homily from this morning's Mass:
This morning's opening prayer used the phrase "long suffering" to talk about Saint Anthony Mary Claret whose feast we celebrate today. He never lost his sense of charity because of his devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Today we celebrate the feast of Saint Ignatius of Antioch. He is one of the most celebrated of the martyrs who understood we're fully alive when we live with God. Here's my homily from this morning's Mass:
Here's my homily from this morning's Mass. I want to focus on this line - Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires.
Celebrating the feast day of a saint seem to have more pizzazz when we can remember them in our lifetime. That's the case for Pope Saint John XXIII. I remember his humbleness and I'm grateful to God that he's now a canonized saint.
When I meet with couples who have been married 50 or 60 years, it is always the tough times they say brought them together. As Saint Paul says, strength is perfected in suffering. Here's my homily from this morning's Mass:
In today's Gospel, Jesus gives us a lesson on prayer. He tells us that our prayer needs to be pestering and we need to keep at it, like Saint Bruno did. We celebrate his feast today.
I suppose you, like me, get concerned when we hear dreary reports about people leaving the Church. It's sad, but not new, if you listen to Saint Paul in this morning's reading.
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I'm supposed to preach good news, but at first glance this morning's reading seems anything but good. Sometimes all we see is division, but that's only half of it. Good News will surely come.
Today we commemorate Saint Wenceslaus, a 10th century Bohemian martyr, and San Lorenzo Ruiz, a 17th century Filipino martyr. Since Saint Stephen, the first martyr, the Church reminds us that there is no greater love than to give one's life for another. My homily from today.
Here's my homily from this morning's Mass. I have a beautiful icon of Lazarus meeting Saint Vincent de Paul. He truly puts the parable of Lazarus into action: