Colonel Catholics Podcast: Recent Episodes
St. Thomas Aquinas
Homilies, talks, and conversations from the Colonel Catholics at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana
Homily for the Monday of the Fourth Week of Advent
Readings for Monday of the Fourth Week of Advent:
First Reading: Judges 13:2-7, 24-25A
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms71:3-4A, 5-6AB, 16-17
Gospel Reading: Luke 1:5-25
Homily for the Fourth Sunday of Advent
Readings for December 18, 2022
1st Reading: Isaiah 7:10-14
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
2nd Reading: Romans 1:1-7
Gospel: Matthew 1:18-24
Homily for the Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the ChurchReadings for Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent:
First Reading: Isaiah 45:6C-8, 18, 21C-25
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms85:9AB AND 10, 11-12, 13-14
Gospel Reading: Luke 7:18B-23
Homily for the Tuesday of the Second Week of AdventReadings for Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent:
First Reading: Isaiah 40:1-11
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms96:1-2, 3 and 10ac, 11-12, 13
Gospel Reading: Matthew 18:12-14
Homily for the Monday of the Second Week of AdventReadings for Monday of the Second Week of Advent:
First Reading: Isaiah 35:1-10
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms85:9ab and 10, 11-12, 13-14
Gospel Reading: Luke 5:17-26
Homily for the The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
Readings for November 20, 2022
1st Reading: 2 Samuel 5:1-3
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5
2nd Reading: Colossians 1:12-20
Gospel: Luke 23:35-43
Homily for the Monday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time How strong is our faith? Do we believe and trust that Jesus hears us when we cry out? When we are in great need do we believe that Jesus will respond to us, will strengthen us and heal us? Trusting Jesus may not be as easy as it sounds. When life is painful, frightening and confusing, how can we put our trust in Jesus...
Homily for the Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings for November 13, 2022
1st Reading: 2 Malachi 3:19-20a
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 98:5-6, 7-8, 9
2nd Reading: 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12
Gospel: Luke 21:5-19
Homily for the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome (Vocations Week) Keep your temple clean, and as it's clean, you will hear the father speaking to you.
Homily for the Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time It is the same love of the Father that will enable us to embrace the difficulties and trials of life, even the moment of death. We know that nothing can separate us from the love of God. With this awareness and the hope of entering into eternal life after death, we live each moment as it is our last, so that our last will be eternal in the presence of God.
Readings for November 6, 2022
1st Reading: 2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 17:1, 5-6, 8, 15
2nd Reading: 2 Thessalonians 2:16-3:5
Gospel: Luke 20:27-38
Homily for the Monday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time Much of life involves the expectation of repayment for the things we do — I'll do this for you, and you'll do something for me. Some relationships are built on doing things for each other, which is not necessarily bad. The expectation of repayment can exist even though it may not be stated explicitly.
Homily for the Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time You are not the sum of your weakness; you are the sum of the Father's love for you
Readings for October 30, 2022
1st Reading: Wisdom 11:22-12:2
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13, 14
2nd Reading: 2 Thessalonians 1:11-2:2
Gospel: Luke 19:1-10
Homily for the Monday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
Through His healing of the woman suffering for such a long time, the Lord wanted to show them His wonderful love. He wanted us to recognise this love and learn to love Him more and more. I
Homily for the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings for October 23, 2022
1st Reading: Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 34:2-3, 17-18, 19, 23
2nd Reading: 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
Gospel: Luke 18:9-14
Homily for the Memorial of Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, Priests, and Companions, Martyrs
Homily for the Feast of Saint Luke, evangelist
Today, let us all strive to follow in the footsteps of St. Luke the Evangelist, and do whatever we can, at every opportunities presented to us, to be the role models for one another and to help each other in our respective journeys of faith in life.
Homily for the Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr When the rich fool was blessed by God with bountiful harvest, he desired to increase his wealth all the more. Hence, he built larger barns in place of the existing ones and seemed to plan for a retirement so that he could rest, eat, drink and be merry. He was completely unaware that his life would end anytime soon leaving his wealth behind. For Jesus, to be a true disciple, one should not devote one’s self to accumulating material wealth, but should rather live in holiness and virtues, which are the true spiritual riches. Similarly, if God blesses a person with material wealth, he or she should not set his or her heart on it, but should utilize it according to God’s will. What one receives from God should be shared with others as a blessing.
Homily for the Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
There is a battle, that is meant to be fought on two fronts.
Readings for October 16, 2022
1st Reading: Exodus 17:8-13
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 121:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8
2nd Reading: 2 Timothy 3:14-4:2
Gospel: Luke 18:1-8
Homily for the Wednesday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings for October 12, 2022
1st Reading: Galatians 5:18-25
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 1:1-2, 3, 4 AND 6
Gospel: Luke 11:42-46
Homily for the Tuesday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings for October 11, 2022
1st Reading: Galatians 5:1-6
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 119:41, 43, 44, 45, 47, 48
Gospel: Luke 11:37-41
Homily for the Monday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings for October 10, 2022
1st Reading: Galatians 4:22-24, 26-27, 31–5:1
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 113:1B-2, 3-4, 5A AND 6-7
Gospel: Luke 11:29-32
Homily for the Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, archangels
Don't give the devil too much credit. Instead, go to the God who created all. The God who has recreated all of us. And, the God who remains victorious.
Homily for the Wednesday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time
It's time to stop looking back to where you came from and it's time to start looking to where you are going. When Jesus calls, we are expected to respond. The Lord is giving us a chance to respond to his invitation
Homily for the Memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul, Priest
Today we honor a saint who spent most of his life striving to ease the burdens of those in great need; those who were poor, sick, imprisoned, and otherwise suffering in a world that largely ignored them.
Homily for the Monday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time
For those who love God, everything works out for their good. St. Paul means all things, which would include anypresent difficulties you are undergoing. If you are loving God, these difficulties are all going to work for your good.
Homily for the Memorial of Saints Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, Priest, and Paul Chŏng Ha-sang, and Companions, Martyrs
We come to renew our commitment to our family. A family that we have been adopted in. We come to grow together in deep authentic friendship of knowing each other.
Homily for the Monday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Just like a lamp that is lit in the house, it must be seen outside or at least by someone who enters it. When we listen to the gospel, it must be not be concealed but instead, it must show itself in our life. We cannot hear the Word of the Lord and keep it secretly. It must be made visible in our words, actions, and behavior.
Homily for the Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Will you give up temporal riches that you will lose anyway by investing them in His kingdom, with His promise that you will inherit eternal riches that you will never lose? It’s a surefire way to get rich—truly rich!
Readings for September 18, 2022
1st Reading: Amos 8:4-7
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 113:1-2, 4-6, 7-8
2nd Reading: 1 Timothy 2:1-8
Gospel: Luke 16:1-13
Homily for the Memorial of Saint John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
For me, life means Christ, and death is gain.
Through Christ our Lord we assert his lordship over the world and over death. He has the power to raise the dead and bring them back to life. In the same manner, it is only our Lord who can save us from death. He raises us to live with him; in communion with him, our sorrows are turned into joy!
Homily for the Monday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
What we do, does not determine how much faith we have.
Homily for the Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
God tells us we are valuable and shows that there is no limit to how far He will go to prove it.
Readings for September 11, 2022
1st Reading: Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 51:3-4, 12-13, 17, 19
2nd Reading: 1 Timothy 1:12-17
Gospel: Luke 15:1-32
Homily for the Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time (9:00 pm)
Jesus increasing in our lives is the primary goal we must have. It means that He takes greater possession of our minds and will. It means He possesses us and we possess Him. It means that our number one goal and desire in life is the fulfillment of His holy will in all things. It means that fear is cast aside and charity becomes our reason for living. It’s very freeing to allow the Lord to increase in our lives. It’s freeing in the sense that we no longer have to try and manage on our own. Jesus now lives in and through us.
Readings for August 28, 2022
1st Reading: Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 68:4-5, 6-7, 10-11
2nd Reading: Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24a
Gospel: Luke 14:1, 7-14
Homily for the Thursday of the Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time
Through the story of ten virgins, this parable is meant to tell us that we do not know when the Lord’s coming is, so we must stay vigilant. Will we be prepared when the time has come?
Homily for the Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle
Our identity is found in our relationship with God. If we don't begin there, if we don't first focus on our Lord, then these "other goods" of the world can quickly corrupt.
Homily for the Tuesday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
God is inviting you to focus on the main thing. He doesn't want you to over-analyze everything, but instead to just look and focus on him.
Homily for the Memorial of The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary
“Let It Be Done Unto Me According To Your Will”
Mary is both a queen and a mother, but she is more mother than queen. Mary’s Queenship and “mothership,” or motherhood, spark to life simultaneously. In the very moment Mary becomes a mother at the Annunciation, she also becomes a queen.
Homily for the Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
The heavenly race will not be an easy one. We are reminded of God’s discipline and training. God will train us how to walk through the narrow door proposed by Jesus. This training will be painful, but the goal is to guide us through the right path. These readings invite us to accept God’s training towards inclusivity and acceptance of “others” especially the socially excluded in our midst.
Readings for August 21, 2022
1st Reading: Isaiah 66:18-21
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 117:1, 2
2nd Reading: Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13
Gospel: Luke 13:22-30
Homily for the Friday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
Jesus invites us now to love according to the measure of his own love: the love whereby he loved both his Father and us to the end.
Homily for the Thursday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
As we go out into the world, don't hold the message you received a secret. Be bold even if it means risking something that may make you ridiculed or talked about. Share the message of the good news of the Lord.
Homily for the Tuesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
Whatever we can to resist the temptations of worldly glory, pleasures, and other material goods that can mislead us down the wrong path, let us also make the effort to resist those temptations, and distance ourselves from pride and ego, learning instead to be humble and to be willing to listen to the Lord. Let us all be open to welcome Him into our midst and do whatever we can to follow Him to the best of our abilities.
Homily for the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is about Jesus’ promise of eternal life to all who believe and put their trust in him. In Mary’s assumption, we stand on the promise that we can each make a difference in this world. The poor, the hungry, the lowly and those who sit on thrones will all have an opportunity to make this world a better place.
Readings for August 15, 2022
1st Reading: Revelation 11:19A; 12:1-6A, 10AB
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 45:10, 11, 12, 16
2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:20-27
Gospel: Luke 1:39-56
Homily for the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Lord is calling all of us to be his advocates and to be His voice. We have to become courageous Christians and seek out those who are the flesh of Christ.
Inasmuch as the flesh of Christ includes every human being on the planet, this will require the resources of the Holy Spirit. So let us ask him to give us the grace to go out to the outskirts of life and evangelize and proclaim the Good News of the Lord.
Readings for August 14, 2022
1st Reading: Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 40:2, 3, 4, 18
2nd Reading: Hebrews 12:1-4
Gospel: Luke 12:49-53
Homily for the Memorial of Saint Jane Frances de Chantal, religious
As sons and daughters of our Lord, we are under His rule, and His rule is love. His love for us is not subject to how we feel about ourselves, no matter what we’ve done or how tempted we are to dwell on the past. Nothing can ever taint or alter His Love.
His love is selfless. He is love.
Homily for the Memorial of Saint Clare, Virgin
St. Clare devoted herself to God from an early age, dedicating herself to pious works and charitable actions from her youth. She was born from a rich and noble family, but she endeavored to leave everything behind to follow the Lord after encountering St. Francis of Assisi and listening to his sermons.
Clare led her spiritual life by example by putting her understanding of God and scripture into action. She served others continuously. Her sisters testified after her death that whenever the sisters would spend the day begging or doing works of charity in the community when they came home, Clare would bend down and wash their feet. At night she would stroll the town and cover the homeless with blankets so they wouldn’t be too cold. Clare always provided for the poor and was attentive to their needs. She cared for the sick and, on occasion, would heal them.
The cross of Christ was not just an object of devotion but also a representation of how to mirror the life of Christ, marking its subjects on how to live. With no actual mirrors in her time, she spent hours contemplating the cross to reflect Christ in sacrificial love, servant leadership, and deep compassion for God’s creation.
Homily for the Feast of Saint Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr
St. Lawrence should inspire us all to do more for the sake of our fellow brothers and sisters, as how the saint and martyr chose to suffer and endure trials rather than betray the works and responsibilities entrusted to him. St. Lawrence showed us that as Christians, each and every one of us has the calling and the mission to reach out to our brethren and to the world, to stand up for our faith, and to be courageous in living our faith through our lives. Unless we do so, we cannot be truly considered Christians.
Homily for the Tuesday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Children are a great gift to us. They have the ability to teach us throughout our lives. Most adults think that children should imitate them. Yet, Jesus completely reverses this thought. Adults should strive to have the innocence, joy, frankness, and unconditional love that children naturally embody. Ponder, how different would my life be if we truly would follow the example of children?
Homily for the Memorial of Saint Dominic, Priest
St. Dominic established the foundation of his new religious order, dedicating himself and all others to a new way of life, focusing on God and leading a more ascetic and holy way of living, distancing himself from worldly temptations and desires, and spending the time and effort to get ever closer to God. And through his extensive travels and missionary works, St. Dominic inspired many people to turn back towards the Lord in faith and many people were also inspired to join his religious order. He showed a great example of faith and became a great inspiration for many down the centuries, and his devotion to Our Lady, the Blessed Mother of God, and one of the earliest use of the rosary also brought many great graces to the Church and the people of God.
Homily for the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (10:30 am)
Your Father will give you the kingdom which is eternal life with him. If we believe and have hope to see this promise fulfilled, what must we do? Live in such a way that shows what our true treasure is. “Where your treasure lies, there your heart will be.” Is our treasure in material things or spiritual? Is our treasure in others or in God? Is it on what we can see, feel, or what is unseen? Are we servants waiting for the Master to return or are we the ones in charge? Are we the faithful, farsighted servant or the wicked servant?
We put our trust in God’s promises because of who God is. We express this faith by living in a way that shows we are anticipating and expecting his return either in death or at the end of time. We want to be ready to welcome him as we act in faith and live in hope.
Readings for August 7, 2022
1st Reading: Wisdom 18:6-9
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 33:1, 12, 18-19, 20-22
2nd Reading: Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19
Gospel: Luke 12:32-48
Homily for the Friday of the Eighteenth Week of Ordinary Time
Do you wish to follow Jesus? In our heads, that’s an easy question. Yes, of course, we do. But this is not a question we can answer only with our heads. It must be also answered by our choice to do what Jesus said was a necessity. Namely, wishing to follow Jesus means denying yourself and taking up your cross.
Communion prayer service talk Tuesday on the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Peter had to unlearn being a fisherman to be a fisher of men. Today, Jesus encourages us to feed His sheep and tend His lambs. We are called to spread the gospel to the world and help prepare people for the family of God. We are to become fishers of men and women. There is no greater work or privilege on the face of the earth, as a man called Peter learned.
Homily for the Memorial of Saint Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Never let an impossible situation intimidate you. Why? Because nothing is impossible with God. God doesn't expect us to do the impossible, but he does expect us to rely on Him.
Homily for the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The spiritual journey any of us is on is about enriching oneself before God, laying up treasure in heaven rather than on earth. Life does not consist of possessions but in sharing what we possess with others. The goods of the earth have been given to everyone.
Readings for July 31, 2022
1st Reading: Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21-23
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 and 17
2nd Reading: Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11
Gospel: Luke 12:13-21
Homily for the Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus
The flesh of our faith is Hope which refers to the resurrection. Through this hope in our faith, it gives us an assurance and consolation of eternal life after our earthly life. Thus, the reality of death becomes the door of the life promised to us by Jesus as He promised to Martha that those who believe in Him will have eternal life. Thus, the death of Lazarus becomes the venue to reveal the mystery of the resurrection or life eternal wherein the resuscitation of Lazarus prefigures His own resurrection. Our faith in Jesus is not in vain because He did not remain in death but eventually resurrected so that just as we share in His passion and death so we also share His glorious resurrection.
Homily for the Thursday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time
Our life rests in God's hands. Like a skilled potter, He knows how to apply precise pressure, when to relax His grip, how to score our life with his fingernail, how to squeeze and nudge- all of which increases our fitness as a vessel for His use.
Homily for the Wednesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time
When you decide to serve God with your whole heart and make Him first in your life, your soul will prosper and your joy and peace will increase. Remember to lean on Him more than anything else, and tell Him, “God, I want to do this, but I can’t do it without You.” Even if you mess up, don't be discouraged and let it hold you back, God will give you grace to do what you need to do.
Homily for the Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Todays parable makes clear that any attempt to root out the weeds will only do more damage to the crop. Ask yourself "am I sowing weeds or wheat?" What are the areas of my life where there appears to be more weeds than wheat? What do I want to do to change that? Then identify the weeds in your life. How deep are these weeds rooted?
Do you wish to uproot them and allow the good seed to grow?
Homily for the Feast of Saint James, Apostle
There is almost an innate desire within human beings for acclaim, recognition and appreciation. All of these gifts are proper and good in moderation. However, individuals who received abundant acclaim or praise also might be tempted to develop a big ego. Jesus desires that his disciples be humble. Humility does not mean groveling or demeaning yourself. Humility requires that we simply be who we are and share who we are with the people in our lives. God has gifted us! Jesus invites us to generously share our gifts, love and attention with others! However, he desires that we do this in a simple, unobtrusive way!
Homily for the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
In the midst of our persistent prayer we realize that what we ask for might seem best for us in the moment, but there may be a higher good that God desires to give us. This greater good is the gift of the Holy Spirit, who is given to us to dwell within us, to reveal the love of God to us, to lead us to the truth, to be our advocate, to sanctify us and to empower us as witnesses of Jesus Christ.
Readings for July 24, 2022
1st Reading: Genesis 18:20-32
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 138:1-2, 2-3, 6-7, 7-8
2nd Reading: Colossians 2:12-14
Gospel: Luke 11:1-13
Homily for the Thursday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Jesus is telling us that by welcoming Him into our life and listening with understanding to His teachings, our life will be nourished and enriched by the truth and beauty of His message. Our interest in Him will increase and by constant listening to His words, more revelations are given to us. We then grow in wisdom and knowledge.
Homily for the Wednesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Our role is not to feel like we have to be the ones to produce the good fruit. We don't have to be the ones to produce and plant the seeds of faith and to give everything to everyone because you'll just become frustrated and aggravated. There's only one thing that's commanded of us... be the good soil, be good dirt.
Homily for the Tuesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Who do you love and cherish the most? God did not intend for us to be alone, but to be with others. He gives us many opportunities for developing relationships with family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. That is why he created us – to be united with him and to share in his love.
Homily for the Monday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Lots of people are looking for signs, signs that they need to trust in Jesus in the first place, and that they need to obey Jesus. Well, we’ve been given the only sign we should need Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. Are we holding out for more?
Homily for the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (9pm)
Surrender your heartache and buried hurt to God. The posture of your heart says a lot about the way you feel about God. Your heart should be in a posture of complete surrender, humility, adoration, and faith. A surrendered and humble heart tells God that you are releasing control to Him. A heart of adoration acknowledges who God was, is, and will be. A faithful heart lets God know that you trust Him to keep you. When we are not functioning from a Godly heart posture, we are not functioning in direct alignment with God. Ask yourself, “are you out of alignment with God?”
Readings for July 17, 2022
1st Reading: Genesis 18:1-10a
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 15:2-3, 3-4, 5
2nd Reading: Colossians 1:24-28
Gospel: Luke 10:38-42
Homily for the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (10:30)
The posture of a disciple, the posture of Mary is always the primary position for every one of us as a Christian... to sit at the foot of the master and to reflect his love and his life out.
Our life should revolve around doing what needs to be done at the moment, but also on spending time and focusing on the Lord and his teachings. For in the end what will be the most important aspect of heaven? Gazing on the face of God as well as enjoying the bliss of eternity.
Readings for July 17, 2022
1st Reading: Genesis 18:1-10a
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 15:2-3, 3-4, 5
2nd Reading: Colossians 1:24-28
Gospel: Luke 10:38-42
Homily for the Memorial of Saint Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Just as St. Bonaventure dedicated his life to God and His Church out of his love for Him, therefore all of us should also remember all the love and kindness that God has shown us, and do our very best to show that same love in our lives, in how we remain firmly faithful in God and in our exemplary living, and in loving one another, in the same way, that we love ourselves and God, and not to harden our hearts against Him as the Pharisees and others had done in the past.
Homily for the Memorial of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Virgin
Each of us has our own struggles and burdens in life, some greater than others. At times, we are overwhelmed by the heaviness of the weight upon us. Jesus knows the burdens of human life, for he was like us in all things but sin. He gives us a plan of action. First, come to him. Be in relationship with him. Seek him. Second, instead of carrying the load on our own, as we have been doing unsuccessfully, he invites us to share our burdens with him by yoking ourselves to him.
Readings for July 14, 2022
1st Reading: Isaiah 26:7-9, 12, 16-19
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 102:13-14AB AND 15, 16-18, 19-21
Gospel: Matthew 11:28-30
Homily for the Wednesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
To have faith like a child is to blindly trust the goodness, care, leadership, and provision of a father.
Being the child of God affords us the opportunity to live under his constant provision and leadership. As our good Father, he longs to provide for us a wonderfully abundant life full of joy, peace, purpose, laughter, friends, and unconditional love. But so often we go our own way and live our lives apart from all that’s available to us in God. Whether it be by a lack of revelation, impatience, fear, wrong teaching, or past experiences, we so often fail to have faith that God will shepherd us to his perfect plans.
God is calling you to a greater lifestyle of childlike faith. He is calling you to place your trust in him alone for your finances, relationships, future, past, and present.
Homily for the Tuesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
It is said that "familiarity breeds contempt," and sometimes in our daily walk with God, we take Him for granted and treat Him with contempt. When we question the integrity and ability of God, we treat Him with contempt. When we give less than our best to God, we treat Him with contempt. The spirit of familiarity exacts a heavy price and we must break from familiarity because it is the enemy of reverence. Today, may the Lord open our eyes to behold wondrous things in his law, day after day after day.
Homily for the Memorial of Saint Benedict, Abbot
We are meant for the life to come. The world's values are not the things Jesus values. The world's pleasures are not the pleasures of an Ambassador of Christ, tempting as they may be, but rather the worship of God and living our lives as light in the dark. We are called to be in the world and not of the world.
Homily for the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (10:30)
Why is it hard to love people well? Just as in our love for those who hate us, we cannot properly love those with whom we disagree if we are not already loving God rightly.
Readings for July 10, 2022
1st Reading: Deuteronomy 30:10-14
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 19:8, 9, 10, 11
2nd Reading: Colossians 1:15-20
Gospel: Luke 10:25-37
Homily for the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (7PM)
“You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27
The story of the Good Samaritan is one that should wake us up to some not-so-pleasant truths about love of neighbor, or the lack thereof. The conclusion shows us that we should be like the Good Samaritan who showed mercy to the man in need. On an intellectual level, it is easy to conclude this fact. However, in practice, it is not always the case.
Readings for July 10, 2022
1st Reading: Deuteronomy 30:10-14
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 19:8, 9, 10, 11
2nd Reading: Colossians 1:15-20
Gospel: Luke 10:25-37
Homily for the Friday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
As long as we are sheep we are victorious but, as soon as we become like a wolf we lose.
Homily for the Thursday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
As we sometimes take other people for granted and fail to be fully aware of them, we can also oftentimes take God for granted, and fail to be fully aware of him. The great thing about God is though, that he continues to invite us back to him.
Homily for the Memorial of Saint Maria Goretti, virgin and martyr
Sometimes you may wonder, why did God use those 12 vessels of clay... those 12 disciples. But then you begin to realize it was all in His plan. He wants to show a fallen, lost, and sinful humanity that anybody can be used for the glory of God. Don't ever use your weakness and inadequacy as an excuse for not being a more useful Christian. If you surrender who and what you are to Him, He can do wonders through you just as He did through the 12. Jesus chose the 12, not for what they were, but for what they could become. It was their potential that made them His choice.
Homily for the Tuesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
The Church is calling on each and every one of us to reclaim the mission of evanglization. That doesnt necessarily mean you have to quit your job to become a full time missionary, though some are called to do that. But it means that wherever you go in life, you take your friend Jesus with you and introduce Him to others.
Homily for the Monday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
God wants to fellowship with His people. He wants to woo you into a covenantal relationship. If you will follow Him and obey Him, you can be part of His treasured people out of all nations.
Homily for the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Every person in the world wants to know what will make him or her happy. We’re all desperately seeking the person, place, or thing that will meet our expectations, needs, and wants. But, what will truly satisfy the desires of our hearts?
Readings for July 3, 2022
1st Reading: Isaiah 66:10-14c
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 66:1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16, 20
2nd Reading: Galatians 6:14-18
Gospel Reading: Luke 10:1-12, 17-20
Homily for the Friday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
God chose you for a purpose just like He chose Peter, Paul (Saul), and Matthew. His choice alone, His plan, His purpose. It may not seem to make sense at the time, but God does not judge as you do. He does not look at the outward appearance, but at the heart and He is never wrong.
Today, ask yourself... do you trust God in His choice? God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called. It is the One who called that is important not the one who is called. Understanding and remembering this is the key to our every step in faith.
Homily for the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles Mass during the Day
Ask yourself, "What can I do to make a difference?" The more we open ourselves up to doing the will of God the better the world and we become. Continue to allow Jesus to work within you daily.
Homily for the Memorial of Saint Irenaeus, Bishop, and Martyr
In times of uncertainty, there is one thing that we can be assured of, and it is that God’s love never fails. He is in the boat with us, and even though the waves may come...they're not going to overturn us. In the midst of everything, Jesus is there to protect us.
Homily for the Monday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
You are called to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. Christ teaches us how to evangelize, how to invite people into communion with him, and how to create a culture of witness: namely, through love...
Homily for the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
We read about freedom, dream about freedom, rejoice in the notion of freedom, teach, advocate, and hope for freedom, but what do we mean by freedom? What is the true freedom that God desires to offer to us?
Readings for June 26, 2022
1st Reading: 1 Kings 19:16b, 19-21
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11
2nd Reading: Galatians 5:1, 13-18
Gospel: Luke 9:51-62
Homily for The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Fr. Mitch's Farewell Mass)
Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things... - Matthew 25:21
Readings for June 19, 2022
1st Reading: Genesis 14:18-20
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 110:1, 2, 3, 4
2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Sequence: Lauda Sion
Gospel: Luke 9:11b-17
Homily for the Thursday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
Prayer is how we draw closer to God. Whether we pray to praise God, lament our suffering, or ask for our needs, prayer draws us into a union with our Triune God that is the foundation of our being.
Like Elijah, we can do nothing without God. And like Elijah, our words and actions ought to reflect God’s desires and his glory. So may our own habits of prayer help us to grow in this area, and to rely ever more on God who loves us.
Homily for the Wednesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
Whether it’s from one generation to the next, from one president to the next, or from one pastor to the next, the transfer of leadership can produce tension and anxiety in any community. This was certainly the case with Elijah and Elisha and their prophetic community in today's reading in 2 Kings 2:1, 6-14. Today’s portion marks the conclusion of Elijah’s career, the point at which he must concede his power and position to his younger apprentice, Elisha.
Homily for Tuesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
The real and inescapable problems of life in this fallen world should lead us to prayer. Prayer should lead us to remembering and meditating on the promises of God, both those fulfilled in the past and those that we trust will be fulfilled in the future. Remembering the promises of God will help us to praise Him as we should. As we praise Him, we can continue to face with grace, the problems that come daily into our lives.
Homily for The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
Love requires someone to give and someone to receive. In a society that is so confused about how to find real happiness, an examination of the Trinity can reveal the love everyone is looking for. The Trinity is a communion of persons, a family whose life is love.
Readings for June 12, 2022
1st Reading: Proverbs 8:22-31
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 8:4-5, 6-7, 8-9
2nd Reading: Romans 5:1-5
Gospel: John 16:12-15
Homily for the Thursday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
Lean into the sacramentals... those graces where our Lord and our Blessed Mother and Holy Mother Church want to arm you with. So, when the battles of daily life come, you are not out there without your sword of the rosary or the breastplate of the scapula. Continue to keep your mind on the Lord so you can receive those graces that you need to get through your daily battles.
Homily for the Wednesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
The Lord allows us to choose whether we will follow Him or the false gods and unrighteous ways of the world. While you are free to choose your course of action, you are not free to choose the consequences. Whether for good or bad, consequences follow as a natural result of the choices you make. Some sinful behavior may bring temporary, worldly pleasure, but such choices delay your progress and lead to heartache and misery. Righteous choices lead to lasting happiness and eternal life.
Homily for the Tuesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
By the end of his earthly ministry, Christ had made it clear that the gospel was to have a universal application. He commanded his followers to go and teach all nations, to baptize them, and teach them everything he had taught. As Christians we should spread the gospel of Christ to everyone. We are to do as much good in the name of Christ as we can, and we are to share the light of the gospel with as many as we can.
Homily for the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church
Mary was at the foot of the cross when Jesus handed over his Spirit to the Father and Jesus' side was pierced from which blood and water flowed. Mary was with the Apostles and the hundred and twenty in the Upper Room on Pentecost when she received a fresh outpouring of the Spirit, now as the Mother of the Church. Her role was to walk with the early Church, sharing with them her memories of Jesus' early life. She acts as a witness of what it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit as an icon of holiness and a witness to the Risen Lord. As our Mother, she leads us to a deeper relationship with Jesus in the Spirit to the Father.
Readings for June 6, 2022
First Reading: Gn 3:9-15, 20
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms: 87:1-2, 3 and 5, 6-7
Gospel: John 19:25-34
Homily for Pentecost Sunday
The Holy Spirit comes to us on a rescue mission. To what extent are we conscious of the presence and lead of the Spirit in our daily lives?
Readings for June 5, 2022
1st Reading: Acts 2:1-11
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34
2nd Reading: Romans: 8:8-17
Sequence: Veni, Sancte Spiritus
Gospel: John 20:19-23
Homily for the Memorial of Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions, Martyrs
At times we may not understand what Jesus is saying to us. However, no matter who we are or what positions we hold, we still are not in charge of our life. Nor can we control what our future will be. However, there is one area of control: we can make the decision to walk with Jesus daily and to trust Him with all our hearts.
Homily for the Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter
Our love for God, neighbor, self, and enemy reveals our oneness, and the measure of our oneness, our God-likeness, is love. In love, there may be differences but there is no division. As the Father and Jesus love each other, so does Jesus love his disciples, and so must his disciples love each other. Only if the disciples, and all of us, remain in God's love, will we be able to see Jesus' glory, the glory that he has with the Father.
Homily for the Memorial of Saint Justin, Martyr
As we celebrate today the memorial of the philosopher, apologist, and martyr St. Justin, we stand with the Catholic apologists of every century in proclaiming with joy, compassion, mercy, and freedom the truths of the Sacred Scripture, the truths of the Creed, the truths of the Sacraments, and the truths of our Catholic moral teaching.
Homily for the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Feast of the Visitation recalls Mary’s visit to her aging cousin Elizabeth. Both had recently and unexpectedly been told that they would bear children who were central to God’s plans for Israel. Mary took the demanding journey to the hill country of Judaea to share the good news with her cousin. It was always going to be a joyful meeting, one marked by the courtesy of both women.
Homily for the Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter
While we cannot avoid all pain and suffering in this life, Jesus, nonetheless assures us that he will guide us safely through any difficulty or trial we may have to undergo for his sake. Jesus calls each of us to take courage because he has overcome the world. The Holy Spirit gives us a living hope in the power of the resurrection and confident trust in God‘s abiding presence. Nothing can overcome this faith and hope in Christ's victory -- no trial, suffering, temptation, or testing. The Holy Spirit gives us the strength and courage we need to overcome adversity and persevere in faith.
Homily for The Ascension of the Lord
Jesus came down from heaven to share in our human life, in all our sufferings and joys, but the resurrection was not the end of the story for Jesus. He ascends into heaven so that we can follow him. Every road leads now to heaven if we walk with Jesus who goes with us. So let us keep walking with him.
Readings for May 29, 2022
1st Reading: Acts 1:1-11
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9
2nd Reading: Ephesians 1:17-23
Gospel: Luke 24:46-53
Homily for the Friday of the Sixth Week of Easter
As your sacramental life grows, your daily Eucharist, your daily food, and your daily strength for the journey are what you need in the sacrament of the Eucharist. Wherever you need strength in your life to overcome parts where you may have daily battles, lay them at the altar and cast your cares on the Lord.
Homily for the Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter
No matter how young or how old you may be, the Lord does not stop calling us. He calls us to make a difference in our own way...sometimes greater, sometimes to a lesser degree, but to ultimately make a difference. As we strive to do the Lord's work, be able to use that good that is beneficial to other people.
Homily Wednesday of the Sixth Week of Easter
What does God require? Not success but faithfulness in what he has assigned to you. Today, ask yourself: what has Jesus called meto do? You aren’t responsible to save the world, but you are responsible to follow Christ in yoursituation. For a servant, “success” in life is identifying what God has called you to and being completely faithful in it.
Homily for the Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter
When we hear the word advocate, we think of someone who supports us. The same Holy Spirit that consoles us can also expose the rawness of our participation “in the world” if we are willing. The unmasking of our sins and transgressions is exceptionally uncomfortable. However, when we allow the advocate to help us spiritually judge our “internal self,” we become “as a child.” We can properly understand the wrongs we have done and move towards righteousness and perfection. This benefit of this truth comes with the positive effect of also knowing we are in the divine embrace of the fullness of Christ.
Homily for the Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter
The joy of the Lord is not a feeling nor an emotion that is here one moment but gone the next. It is more lasting. It is a gift, a grace, the fruit of living in the Spirit. The source of this joy is Jesus, his life within us, which we share because of his great love for us. Whatever the Lord has given us, His children, are meant to be shared with others.
Homily for the Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter
Baptism is our gift. It is a mark, a seal on the soul made by the Holy Water in the baptismal font. And so branded, we get to wear that brand and live with it throughout our lives. It is a reminder of just who and whose we are… that we are a part of the body called the church and are beloved and accepted. And just as we are claimed as God’s in baptism, we will finally be claimed as God’s at death.
Homily for the Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter
There is a peace that only Jesus Christ makes available to us in a world full of tribulation. Even on this painful path, we can “take heart”. How? Why? Because Christ has overcome. When you feel defeated, remember, that Christ has overcome. When you feel like the world is squeezing the life out of you, remember, that Christ has overcome. When life feels unsafe, remember, that Christ has overcome. Through his death and resurrection, Christ has overcome.
Homily for the Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter
“Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me."
When we are obedient to Jesus' command to love as he has loved us, then the infinite enters into our lives in a new and transforming way. Simple. Not really. Because of the root of sin in our lives, it is hard to love others as Jesus has loved us. Yet, this is the key to his indwelling presence within us. Our spiritual journey is moving from the darkness of selfishness into the light of selflessness. The bridge is love. Not just any love. The agape love of Jesus which seeks what is truly best for us and others.
Homily for the Fifth Sunday of Easter (7:00 PM)
When we suffer, we participate in the saving act of redemption. This is not because Christ did not do all he needed to do, but rather that Christ allows us, by divine will, to participate in this aspect of our own and others’ salvation. Suffering is not meaningless.
Readings for May 15, 2022
1st Reading: Acts 14:21-27
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 145:8-9, 10-11, 12-13
2nd Reading: Revelation 21:1-5a
Gospel: John 13:31-33a, 34-35
Homily for the Fifth Sunday of Easter (10:30 AM)
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” - James 1:2-4
The Christian growth cycle is ongoing, with a snowball-like effect of building from one success to the next. As we persevere and grow through hardship, we are strengthened and prepared for even greater challenges of faith down the road. We are continually pressing upward into greater maturity as we move toward our goal—our full potential of complete and “perfect maturity” in Jesus Christ. Seek to do the will of God in all circumstances.
Readings for May 15, 2022
1st Reading: Acts 14:21-27
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 145:8-9, 10-11, 12-13
2nd Reading: Revelation 21:1-5a
Gospel: John 13:31-33a, 34-35
Homily for the Fourth Sunday of Easter (10:30AM Mass)
My sheep hear my voice and I know them.
The Good Shepherd makes sacrifices for his flock. One of the dynamics of family life is that Parents make sacrifices for their children acting out of love and not just out of an obligation. God knows our needs before they ever reach our lips. God anticipates our needs and goes before us to prepare the way. Who are the people who have helped and shepherded us in our lives? How have we helped and shepherded others along the way?
We oftentimes hear the phrase “God will not give us more than we can bear. He may bend us but we will not break.” Some of us may feel that God is giving us too much and bending us too much. It is in the moments of “bending” that our faith is tested. We must trust in the “unchanging hand” of God to see us through. The same God who brought us through so much in our lives will bring us through this moment as well. The reality is that the journey that we travel in this life teaches us how to live the life of faith.
Today, live in the present moment. Maybe this moment is filled with pain, dashed hopes, broken relationships, and unrealized dreams. We may not know how to deal with this situation, but God is with us! God knows your prayers. Listen to Him.
Readings for May 8, 2022
1st Reading: Acts 13:14, 43-52
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 100:1-2, 3, 5
2nd Reading: Revelation 7:9, 14b-17
Gospel: John 10:27-30
Homily for the Thursday of the Fourth Week of Easter
Working as a messenger of the Good News has never been easy. Bending down low to wash the dirtiest part of another’s body is an act of humble service. Jesus had shown us the way and He is inviting us to do the same.
Homily for the Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Easter
Antioch is set before us as an example. The people operated by God’s grace, not by legalism. Simple believers who knew that God has called every Christian to serve Him. They proclaimed the gospel as the power of God for salvation to every one who believes. They saw grace as the motivation to go on with the Lord. Their leaders set the example and taught them from God’s Word. They were generous givers, trusting God to meet their needs. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and considerable numbers were brought to the Lord.
Homily for the Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter
What God has made clean, you cannot say that it is unclean. Peter shared with his brethren that seeing the Spirit fall upon the Gentiles, just as He had fallen upon the apostles at Pentecost, reminded him of the Lord’s promise of the Spirit’s baptism.
Homily for the Fourth Sunday of Easter (Mother's Day 2022)
The truth and mercy proclaimed by the Lord Jesus on the cross gives us the freedom to hope and to imagine a society where every mother in need is accompanied, encouraged and supported so that they and their children may know the joy to be found in the communion of life. Let our personal freedom always be offered for the sake of others as Christ offered himself for us.
Readings for May 8, 2022
1st Reading: Acts 13:14, 43-52
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 100:1-2, 3, 5
2nd Reading: Revelation 7:9, 14b-17
Gospel: John 10:27-30
Thursday of the Third Week of Easter
“Earthly” food does not truly satisfy our hunger. We can’t start eating the bread of life until we stop ordering junk food. Every situation in life, every pain, every fear, every memory, every encounter with people will evoke a hunger pain. What is our response to that onslaught of hunger? Do we seek Jesus to give us earthly food, food which perishes, or do we believe that life comes from above, as a gift?
Readings for May 6, 2022
First Reading: Acts 8:26-40
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 66:8-9, 16-17, 20
Gospel: John 6:44-51
Wednesday of the Third Week of Easter (Baccalaureate Mass)
"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God." - Isaiah 41:10
Seniors, as you face life beyond this campus community, the biggest challenge you now face amazingly is not what you are going to do next, as important as that is, but more deeply, how you are going to live your life. How will your discipleship affect the way you live, and listen, and actively support others? How will you serve others honestly and selflessly? How will you stand up for justice, human rights, and care for our common home, the earth? How will you reflect peace and reconciliation in society and become a blessing for others through your presence and compassion?
As you leave the campus, remember that it is not what you've done here, but who you become out in the world and how you exercise your Christian responsibilities in the future towards your neighbor and the world. United with Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit, may your future actions serve our world. May Jesus walk with you in all that is to come, and may the Holy Spirit bless you with wisdom and generosity.
Homily for the Memorial of Saint Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Jesus supplies Himself as the primary resource for our journey. The walk towards eternal life, among other things, requires that we discern our God-given individual gifts and use them in deep gratitude. If we humbly do so, we will easily recognize the works of God as the result of our belief.
Homily for the Third Sunday of Easter
Peter had denied Jesus three times. Jesus never brought that up because Peter was forgiven. That was the past. What is more important was for Peter to profess publicly his love for Jesus. So Jesus asked him three times: “Do you love me?” Peter answered: “Yes, I love you.” To each response Jesus confirmed Peter’s role as the Shepherd of his people. Then Jesus tells him that his love and service will lead him eventually to lay down his life for the Lord.
Jesus, today, asks us the same questions. “Do you love me?” Even though we have sinned and turned away from God, Jesus asks us to profess our love and faith in him publicly. Hopefully, our response is similar to Peter’s. Hopefully, our response will prepare us to live our lives in such a way as to bear witness to Jesus’ love and life in us.
Readings for May 01, 2022
1st Reading: Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11-12, 13
2nd Reading: Revelation 5:11-14
Gospel: John 21:1-19 or 21:1-14
Homily for the Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena, Virgin and Doctor of the Church
To love the church is to long for her renewal. On the Feast Day of Saint Catherine of Siena, her entire life we can affirm, is marked by love for the Church.
Homily for the Memorial of Saint Louis Mary de Montfort, priest
St. Louis Marie de Montfort was a French priest who is remembered for his love for the Blessed Mother, and for being the author of the classic book True Devotion to Mary. Within that great work is a prayer where St. Louis writes to Mary: “Totus tuus ego sum et omnia mea tua sunt”—“I am totally yours and all that I have is yours.” With these words, St. Louis not only expresses his love for Mary but his desire to belong completely to God like her and with her. Louis believed that this Marian spirituality of “Totus tuus . . . totally yours” is “the most perfect of all devotions” because “it conforms, unites, and consecrates us most perfectly to Jesus Christ”
Homily for the Wednesday of the Second Week of Easter
Satan has access to the domain of darkness, but he can only occupy those areas where mankind, through sin, has allowed him. What's in the dark, we must bring to the light.
Homily for the Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter
In today's reading there was no such thing as rich or poor in the community. Each one’s aim was to ensure that the needs (not necessarily the wants) of the others were met rather than each one looking only to their own. Their material sharing was simply an expression of the care which they felt for each other at a much deeper level. Today, reflect on your own attitudes to material goods: how we acquire them, how we use them, to what extent we share our material blessings with those in genuine need and not just out of our surplus. This is something we need to reflect on as individuals, as families, and in our parish community...
Homily for the Friday in the Octave of Easter
Whether our lives are easy, hard, or somewhere in between, He is with us. Whether our faith feels strong, shaken, or somewhere in between, He never fails or forsakes us. God fills us when we are empty, when we are hungry, when we are in need. The empty tomb experience of the disciples points to us that we become witnesses of the Risen One because God filled us with His Spirit of Joy, Peace, and Love.
Homily for the Thursday in the Octave of Easter
As anyone would be, the apostles were “startled and frightened” when Jesus appeared out of nowhere – and Jesus said “peace be with you” to calm their fears.
Homily for the Wednesday in the Octave of Easter
At the heart of the Emmaus story is an urging towards a deeper faith: to recognize and discern, not just to see. Like Cleopas and companion we need to open our eyes to what is before us.
Homily for the Holy Saturday At the Easter Vigil in the Holy Night of Easter
Holy Saturday - Our church lies in darkness and waiting. The light of Christ has gone out of the world and darkness will have covered the earth. A match will be struck in the darkness and the Easter fires will be lit outside of the church, representing Christ’s return from the tomb. Jesus Christ is the light that dispels the darkness of our world.
It is a beautiful thing that Jesus Christ not only died for the forgiveness of our lives, but he also did his best to shatter our fear of death. It isn’t so much what we say in life that matters, but what we actually do. Jesus knew that his words would only go so far in helping us to believe in him. He rose from the dead to physically prove to all of us, that there really is life after death. We were also created for eternal life.
Jesus Christ broke through the barriers of our doubts and our fear of death, when he was raised from the dead on Easter morning. The stone that sealed the tomb of our Lord was merely a door through which He passed into eternal life. Death is but a door that we too shall pass through. There really is no such thing as death. Death does not the final say. Jesus Christ does. This is why He is the Light of the World, the Light of the entire human race. And this is our Easter joy!
Readings for April 16, 2022
Click here to view Holy Saturday Readings
Homily fo Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion
It is finished...
We are used to seeing this sacrifice on the Cross. We ponder this sacrifice every time we look at the crucifix. But it is important to note that our over-familiarity with the Cross can tempt us to lose sight of the sacrifice. It’s easy for us to miss what Jesus actually did for us. He accomplished the act that saves us and He is now offering it to us. Let this completed act of Divine Mercy penetrate your soul. He desires to say that His sacrifice has “finished” its work in your soul.
Understanding Jesus’ sacrificial love will enable us to love as He did. It will enable us to love those who have hurt us and those who persecute us. His love is total. It is generous beyond description.
Homily for Holy Thursday - Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Towards the end, Jesus stated, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” As His sacrifice was looming, Jesus showed His disciples what it meant to be Christian. In these difficult times, we must continue to wash the feet of others and show the world what it means for the Word to become flesh.
Homily for the Wednesday of Holy Week
This gospel reminds us of the various conflicts, betrayal and deceit that we have experienced from time to time in our lives. Judas had everything he needed to be a great apostle. He had a magnanimous heart, which is why Jesus picked him. God never destines anyone for failure. So what happened to him? At some point he stopped working on his friendship with Jesus...
Homily for the Monday of Holy Week
In the Gospel today from John 12:3, it says, “And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” If you had walked in the door or stood outside near an open window, you would have smelled the wonderful fragrance of that expensive perfume. It was in Mary’s hair, so that everywhere she went, the fragrance went with her.
You ask, “What does it smell like?” It smells like the fruit of the Spirit: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Does your home smell like that? Do others sense from the fragrance of your life that you spend much time at Jesus’ feet, worshiping Him in selfless devotion? Do your relationships at church smell like the fragrance of Christ? Can people smell the fragrance of Christ on you?
Homily for Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion (7pm)
Palm Sunday recounts what Jesus has done for us. It is not then just some distant story, or something remote from us. It is about what God has done for us; it is about our salvation and our life. We are not just passive spectators, or onlookers, or listeners: all that we recall on Palm Sunday and/or during Holy Week and Easter. It is about what Jesus has done for usand does for us right now. This is such a welcome message as we continue to try and do our best in the strange and difficult situation that we face at the moment.
Readings for April 10, 2022
At the Procession with Palms - Gospel: Luke 19:28-40
1st Reading: Isaiah 50:4-7
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24
2nd Reading: Philippians 2:6-11
Gospel: Luke 22:14—23:56
Homily for Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion (10:30am)
Jesus invites us to go slowly into Holy Week and experience his last week with him. Today, walk with Jesus in his last week of life. Notice how Jesus is with us in all things that surround us... even the mess of our lives. Jesus, as we enter this week slowly with you. Help us to walk with you daily.
Readings for April 10, 2022
At the Procession with Palms - Gospel: Luke 19:28-40
1st Reading: Isaiah 50:4-7
Responsorial Psalms: Psalms 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24
2nd Reading: Philippians 2:6-11
Gospel: Luke 22:14—23:56
Homily for the Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Jesus’ challenge to raise the eyes of the heart and soul to a spiritual level is met with fierce opposition. In fact, his listeners want to stone him! Christ always challenges us to go higher. And he does this as a manifestation of his love. Today, ask yourself: "How do I respond to this challenge in my own life?"
Homily for the Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent
“If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”
The freedom promised by Christ to those who remain in his word is much deeper than the freedom offered by the world. Christ’s freedom is not simply political freedom. Neither is it the ability to choose whatever I want when I want, and how I want. The freedom of Christ’s disciple is spiritual, moral, and interior; it is the freedom for which every person longs in the depths of his heart. And only Christ gives this kind of freedom.
Homily for the Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent
As Christians, we are called to shine forth with the same life, joy, hope and love that Christ, the light of the world, brings to humanity. Through our words, and more so our actions, we become living testimonies to others of this beautiful kinship with the Father and His beloved Son. Amidst the brokenness around and within us, let us not forget to see and use this light to uplift the spirits of our brothers and sisters. As we glow with God’s love, let us help make others recognize that they too bear within them the power to shine forth.
Homily for the Fifth Sunday of Lent Year A Reading (7pm Mass)
Each of us has or will know the grief of Mary and Martha. Each of us will experience the death of a loved one. As a man like us, Jesus wept for Lazarus his friend. As eternal God, he raised Lazarus from the dead, and the raising of Lazarus ultimately shows the fullness of who Jesus in in his humanity and in his divinity. He shows deep compassion for Mary and Martha on the loss of their brother. And this grief touch his own heart and he weeps openly. He wants to do something. His prayer to his Father precedes the resuscitation of Lazarus. And when Lazarus comes from the tomb, Jesus commands those around to unbind him and set him free. He wanted Lazarus as he does us to have life and life to the fullest. This gospel story does point to the resurrection of Jesus but it points more to the person and the power of Jesus to bring life out of death.
Readings for April 3, 2022
1st Reading: Ezekiel 37:12-14
Responsorial Psalms: Psalm 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8
2nd Reading: Romans 8:8-11
Gospel: John 11:25a, 26
Homily for the Fifth Sunday of Lent Year C Reading (10:30am)
Jesus doesn't condemn anyone. We see this during the story of the adulterous woman. He doesn't condemn the scribes or the Pharisees. He doesn't even condemn the woman. What we do see however, is how He tries to bridge the gap that has been formed between everyone. He say's: "let the one of you who is without sin, be the one who cast the stone." The reality that can be taken from this scripture is that we are all in the same boat. There's not one person who is better than the other; we are all sinners. We are all in the same boat, and we all struggle with sin and fall short of the Glory of God. However, there is grace and mercy that is met everyday.
Readings for April 3, 2022
1st Reading: Isaiah 43:16-21
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6
2nd Reading: Philippians 3:8-14
Gospel Reading: John 8:1-11
Homily for the Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent
The guidelines are there so you won't go off the road. The Jesus road is open to you. It leads through the valley, but it brings us into the bright sunshine of Heaven on the other end.
Homily for the Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Nothing is impossible for Christ. He can heal the sick; he can also forgive their sins. All it takes is for this sick man to reveal his weakness – and he does so with detail, like a true confession: how he has attempted to enter the pool, how as he has tried, someone else has beaten him to it. The sick man’s admitting both his personal weakness and desire to plunge into the pool moves Jesus to compassion. This is the remedy to all of our illnesses: presenting ourselves to Christ as we truly are, with all of our weakness, and thus moving him to compassion.
Homily for the Fourth Sunday of Lent
Of the three characters in this parable, the focus seems to be on the undisciplined son, with whom we tend to identify -- and we like the story for its happy ending. We sometimes strain or break our relationship with God and being the recipients of the Father’s loving forgiveness is, indeed, very consoling. As for the other son, we have contradictory sentiments about his situation. On the one hand, as sinners who repent, we disapprove of his resenting the father’s generosity; on the other hand, because most of us tend to have a good image of ourselves, we sympathize with his lament that the father never threw a party for him.
Notice the father. We never actually put ourselves in his shoes. After all, the father in the story is seen extending His loving mercy to his son, a sinner. But there is a way in which we can also imitate the father.
The parable of the prodigal son can challenge us to reflect on whether or not we have gone out of our way to greet those who have offended us and whether or not we can accept them without rehashing all the alleged offenses of the past. In reality, every day is a day to forgive and welcome someone back into friendship and family – to imitate what the father in the story did and what God does for us all the time.
Readings for March 27, 2022
1st Reading: Joshua 5:9a, 10-12
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms: 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7
2nd Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Gospel Reading: Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
Homily for the Friday of the Third Week of Lent
Almost 40 years later, in a May 1982 letter to Pope John Paul II, Sister Lúcia gave an interpretation of the third secret. She wrote: “The third part of the secret refers to Our Lady’s words: ‘If not, [Russia] will spread her errors throughout the world, causing wars and persecutions of the Church. The good will be martyred; the Holy Father will have much to suffer; various nations will be annihilated.’ The third part of the secret is a symbolic revelation, referring to this part of the message, conditioned by whether we accept or not what the message itself asks of us: ‘If my requests are heeded, Russia will be converted, and there will be peace; if not, she will spread her errors throughout the world.’”
Homily for the Thursday of the Third Week of Lent
Continuing after the First Secret, this “second secret” is closely dependent on the first one, which has a primordial importance. Prediction of the end of WWI and a prediction of the beginning of WWII as well as a request to consecrate Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Homily for the Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent
During the apparitions of Fatima between May and October 1917, the Virgin Mary entrusted three child shepherds with three secrets. The first secret was a vision of hell that Mary showed to the children, full of lakes of fire with screaming souls in torment.
Homily for the Third Sunday of Lent
There, in the desert, Moses is called by name: ‘Moses, Moses’! He realized that he is needed. In the solitude, the vulnerability and powerlessness of desert-life, he is called. In spite of his earlier mistakes and sins, God calls him.
God sees the potential in Moses. God calls him in spite of his weaknesses. God does not always call the qualified. He qualifies those who are called. To those who say, ‘I am not worthy’, God says, ‘I will make you worthy’. Your weaknesses and your history will not stop God from using you. You need to say “Yes” and God will break you, form you, reform you, mould you and use you. You need to surrender yourself into God’s hands as clay in the potter’s hand. During this week of Lent, acknowledge your sins and your hideous past. Repent and accept a new call.
Readings for March 20, 2022
1st Reading: Exodus 3:1-8a, 13-15
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 103: 1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8, 11
2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12
Gospel Reading: Luke 13:1-9
Homily for the Thursday of the Second Week of Lent
Oftentimes, we let our lives dictate so much of what we have to do that we let so many opportunities pass. Where do you set your eyes? Today, ask yourself what am I sowing in my every daily life. Is it love, care, concern, peace, joy, and generosity or is it negativity, self-centeredness, greed, and criticism? We will eventually reap what we sow. Which seeds we will choose to sow in our lives today and tomorrow? Let us be mindful of our choices.
Homily for the Friday of the Second Week of Lent
Every one of us has been given a vineyard by God. Our families, our communities, our work, our church, our environment are all parts of our vineyard. We are given everything we need to make our vineyard flourish and God lets us manage the vineyard as we choose - but we do not own the vineyard. We will have to give up what it produces at the time of reckoning. What fruits will you produce and how are you using the gifts He gave you to help others?
Homily for the Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent
In the Gospel, Jesus is aware that the religious leaders are planning on condemning Him and that He will end up dying as a result of their actions. He is willing to go forward with this because He knows it is part of God's plan. When James and John agreed that they would drink from the same cup as Jesus, they also agreed that they would face suffering and opposition in order to continue Jesus’ ministry. Jesus explains to his disciples that, to get a position of honor in the God’s kingdom, they won’t be judged by the number of people serving them but instead on the number of people they served.
This applies to us in our everyday life. We are all called to serve and meet Jesus in those who we serve if we are to be fit for heaven. Not putting labels on each other but simply serving one another because they are beloved sons and daughters of God. Hopefully, our service flows simply from our desire to care for and help another. True service is not about power or acclaim. If our service or help to another flows from our love and our desire to help them, God also is there!
Homily for the First Sunday of Lent
The church has used the season of Lent as a time for Christian reflection and contemplation. Those same promises of comfort, power and privilege are offered to us every day. They can tempt us to stay put, instead of stepping out in faith to follow.
How was Jesus able to turn down bread when his stomach must have been churning with hunger? He relied on a more reliable promise from God. Jesus knew God would protect him and show him a better way. It requires endurance, persistence and commitment to follow God.
Maybe the challenge for us isn’t quickly to get to the place where “we arrive,” but to find ways consistently to pick the Way of God over the comforts offered by the world. When we can be honest with ourselves about the allure of these things, we can be more open to allowing God to free us from their hold. We can also move further into the ministry to which we have been called and for which we have been equipped to live out in the world, without worrying about the danger lurking.
We are invited to look at ourselves, our practices of faith and our communities, so that we can attend to God’s call in our lives. This may result in a shift of our perspective and possibly a letting go of things that no longer serve us in our commitment to follow Jesus. What might we find if we take a step out, in faith?
Readings from March 6, 2022:
1st Reading: Deuteronomy 26:4-10
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 91:1-2, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15
2nd Reading: Romans 10:8-13
Gospel: Luke 4:1-13
Homily for the Memorial of Saint Frances of Rome, religious
Not only do believers have faith on their side, but they have "witnesses" of God's Word. Angels, created by God according to the importance and necessity of each situation, therefore "accompany" and "surround" the Church, the Mystical Body of Christ. In this way the mission is complete, embracing the whole Christ, Head and Body. The Catechism of the Catholic Church proclaims that "from infancy to death human life is surrounded by their angels' watchful care and intercession. Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life. Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God".
Such protection will benefit those who respond to the Holy Spirit's direction and for those who willingly collaborate. In her liturgy, use your guardian angel and tell them who are you praying for. Always come to Mass with an intention. Give your intention to your guardian angel to bring to the altar, calling upon their protection and intercession.
Homily for the Tuesday of the First Week of Lent
"Prayer is a surge of the heart, it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy."
Prayer is simply a response to God's love. It can take many forms. But at its heart it is a chat, a conversation, a mutual listening, a comfortable relationship. It is not gabbling your way through a set formula, but it is a loving encounter, as when two good friends meet up and share with one another about things that matter to them both. Today, spend some time just by simply saying the Our Father, and let those words, those phrases, sink into your heart.
Homily for the Monday of the First Week of Lent
The final judgement is the end of human history and the beginning of the eternal state. There will come a time that the Messiah will gather all the people in the world and separate each of them from who will be rewarded in heaven and who will be tormented in hell. While living here on earth we should do our best to fulfill our mission to God and that is to be a good and loving brother or sister to our fellowmen.
As God’s children, He expects us to help everyone around us, especially the poor ones, because in our Lord’s eyes we may be rich or poor, but we are all equal. Our Lord also expects us to be humble and generous to everyone, even to people who did bad things to us. We should be patient, understanding, and learn how to forgive those kind of people. In the end all people will die and we should put in mind that what we are doing here on earth we should do it not just because we want to enter heaven, but because we are willing to do that for the people around us and for God.
Homily for the Friday after Ash Wednesday
Friday is one of the holy days in which we remember the passion of Christ in his sacrifice on the cross for his love for us, and we pay respect to him by praying, giving alms/sharing and fasting. The gospel talks about fasting where solemnity and mourning should be symbolized but when a joyous moment arises; it should not be accompanied by sorrow. Often times we forget to enjoy the essence of being a person; instead, we contemplate on our sins and failures which hold us back from reality making us forget to be happy and content with what we have. This Lenten season reminds us of the sorrowful passion of Jesus’ sacrifice and by fasting we remember his sufferings and pain he went through and his ascension to heaven would be a glorious and joyous celebration for all his creations on Earth. Today, ask these questions: Are we truly happy with what we have? Am I being true to my desires and faith? Am I who I think I am?
Homily for the Memorial of St. Katharine Drexel, virgin
St. Katharine Drexel (1858-1955) was a wealthy heiress from a prominent family in Philadelphia. From a young age she felt called to serve the spiritual and temporal needs of the underprivileged, particularly the African American and Native American communities. She learned the virtue of charity from her parents, who often opened their home to the poor.
She began by donating money, but quickly realized this would not bring the lasting change these communities desperately needed. During an audience with Pope Leo XIII she requested that a religious order be sent to manage the institutions she was funding. In response, the Pope suggested that she herself enter the religious life for this purpose.
St. Katharine then founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament for Indians and Colored People. From the age of 33 until her death in 1955, Katharine invested her personal fortune of 20 million dollars in this cause. She helped build the first missions school for Native Americans in Santa Fe, and founded Xavier University in New Orleans.
At the time of her death, more than 500 sisters of her order taught in over 60 schools which had been founded throughout the country. Katharine Drexel was canonized by Pope St. John Paul II in the year 2000, making her the second American-born saint.
Homily for Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday, a day of prayer and fasting, marks the beginning of Lent. It is a time for the renewal of our heart... a time to slow down and have a heart check. It is the best way to begin a season which calls us into self-examination as well as self-denial, into deeper contemplation about the mystery and grace of God's mercy, and towards more radical giving towards those most in need of comfort, sustenance, and hope.
This Lent, let us remember that the genuine sacrifices made out of poverty we feel in our life is more precious to God than anything we could give out of our abundance.
Homily for Tuesday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
The message that Peter states is of tremendous value. If we think we are poor, we are mistaken, for the message is precious, and our faith is better than gold, and the promises will never perish.
Since we have such a great reward, Peter exhorts us: “Set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming”. God has already shown us grace, but he has even more for us when Christ returns. We should set our sights on that, not the things of this world.
Homily for the Monday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
In the first reading, Peter is letting us know that in this world we will suffer, but ultimately, it is your faith that will get you through the suffering. Although we have not seen Jesus personally, but we love him and believe in him. This faith fills us “with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for we are receiving the end result of our faith, the salvation of our souls”. Our difficulties are not worth comparing with the indescribable joy that Christ is giving us.
Homily for the Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The gospel today tells us that we must assess our own self before we judge others. It is God who sees our heart and not anybody else. We may be good to others in our actions and in our words yet we hid our dark sides from the world. Only God knows what we as a person in and out. Before we focus on the faults of others, we must first focus on our own faults.
We must all cleanse ourselves first before we tell others about themselves. No matter how righteous we are in this life, we all have stains. It seems that in our world today, people have a tough time examining their own self.
Today, search God's will, and continue reading His Word. By following His words, it will guide us in our daily life which will lead us to search the better version of ourselves.
Readings from February 27, 2022:
1st Reading: Sirach 27:4-7
Responsorial: Psalms: 92:2-3, 13-14, 15-16
2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:54-58
Gospel: Luke 6:39-45
Homily for the Thursday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Some of the words and images Jesus uses in this Gospel are graphic, intimidating, and frightening. Jesus wants his disciples to understand that the choices they make every day of their lives will determine their future. Their choices will affect their happiness and peace in this world and their choices will determine what will happen after they die.
Today is a good day for us to stop and reflect on the choices we are making in our lives. Do my choices only involve what is good for me or am I concerned about the people in my life and in our world? My daily choices have an impact on the life I am living. My choices determine my peace, my happiness, and, to a degree, my physical and mental health. Despite knowing this, I don’t often think about the choices I make each day.
This evening, sit down and reflect on your day. What were the choices you made today? Did you attend to the needs of others or were you completely self-focused? What were the gifts you received today? Be thankful for these gifts. Then ask yourself: What do I want to do differently when the new day dawns? Each new day is a gift. Cherish this gift and the opportunity to begin again.
Homily for the Memorial of Saint Polycarp, Bishop and Martyr
“Following Jesus” sounds very romantic and holy. However, following Jesus may be a difficult journey at times. If you choose to wholeheartedly follow Jesus, most likely you also will experience rejection or perhaps even hate. Jesus clearly was countercultural in his society. Are you willing to follow Jesus rather than the “crowd?” Are you prepared to truly be countercultural in your beliefs and choices? Are you willing to deal with anger, rejection or alienation if you make choices to do what is truly loving and kind? Do you trust Jesus to walk with you, strengthen and grace you?
The “world” is not an easy place to live. Each day we have the opportunity to make a variety of choices. Today will you choose to follow the crowd and simply do what is expected of you? Or will you choose to follow Jesus and act as Jesus would act? Only you can choose. What will you do?
Homily for the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, Apostle
As the disciples were walking along, Jesus asked them: “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some believe that you are John the Baptist. Others believe you are Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”
Jesus was not satisfied with answers the disciples gave. He turned and looks at his disciples. Then he asked, “Who do you say that I am?” What do you think was going through their head? Do you think they were surprised? It’s not surprising that Simon was the one who answered this question. Peter looked directly at Jesus and said from the depths of his soul: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Today Jesus will ask each of us this question. He will look at you and say, “Who do you say that I am?” How we you respond to this question? Will you be silent for a time as we search our minds and hearts for the answer to Jesus’ question? Will you respond to Him from the depths of our hearts and proclaim that Jesus is Christ, the Son of the Living God?
Homily for the Monday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
We probably all know what it feels like to experience a time of spiritual renewal. There are times and seasons when we seem to see God more clearly and sense His presence more fully. While those times and seasons are sweet, it’s also true that there are times for most of us when we struggle to take God at His Word and to trust His plan for our lives.
In fact, oftentimes we should consider that our lack of faith and our fears come from a loss of seeing Jesus clearly. We need a greater view of Jesus. We need a greater view of who Jesus is and what he can do. God can bring difficulties into our lives so that we will need to trust him even more. We see this in the book of Job, allowing Job to suffer so that a greater faith would be developed in him.
What is it in our lives that we do not believe God can do anything about? What do we think God will not solve? What do we think God cannot handle? Where in our hearts have we said to the Lord, “If you can do anything?” Do not be self-sufficient. Do not rely on yourself. Let us pray for greater faith. Let us pray for the Lord to help our regular moments of unbelief. All things are possible for one who believes.
Homily for the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
The ultimate call from Jesus is: “Do unto others as you would have them do to you.” Today Jesus is calling us to examine ourselves and ask: Do I do unto others as I would like them to do unto me? I assume we likely have varying responses. “I try to live this way, however, there are some people who simply drive me crazy.” Or I might say: “I can do that with most people but there is one person who deeply wounded me, and I simply am unable to forgive that individual.”
These bluntly spoken words are difficult to hear. They may challenge us at the deepest level of our being. Most likely, each one of us has been wounded, betrayed or rejected at differing times in our lives. If this person was a friend, this wounding typically is amplified since we trusted this individual. However, each one of us also has wounded or betrayed individuals in our life. It is all part of our human condition.
Jesus doesn’t ask for miracles nor does he want “play” forgiveness. He continually invites us not only to free the individual who wounded us, but also to free ourselves from the pain, anger and hurt that binds us. Jesus is patient and yet persistent. He continually invites us and calls us to forgive. Perhaps today we can take one small step in this direction.
Readings from February 19, 2022:
1st Reading: 1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23
Responsorial: Psalms: 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13
2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:45-49
Gospel: Luke 6:27-38
Homily for the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
What makes you happy and blessed right now? There are many factors that would make you feel happy and blessed. For example, if you can afford to live a comfortable life and you are not suffering from any sickness you may be are happy already and you may think that you are blessed already.
But are you really happy and blessed because you have a comfortable life and you are not suffering from any sickness? You may say, “Yes” but in deeper retrospection this kind of life that you are having right now is not the be all and end all of life.
Because the be all and end all of life is to live it with God, even if you are not living a comfortable life and even if you are suffering from sickness for as long as you have God you are blessed. Why? Because God is Supreme in this world and God’s supremacy extends beyond this world.
Hence, you are blessed even, if you are poor, even if you are suffering, even if you got sick with covid-19 and even if you are weeping and hurting because God’s love, mercy and protection is with you.
Do you feel blessed by the Lord?
Readings from February 13, 2022:
1st Reading: Jeremiah 17:5-8
Responsorial: Psalms: 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6
2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:12, 16-20
Gospel: Luke 6:17, 20-26
Homily for the Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes
To have been embraced by the blessed Virgin as our mother in her moment of supreme grief leaves no doubt about the special worth that she places on suffering in our lives. Her apparitions and numerous miraculous healings at Lourdes show us not only the exceptional value that suffering has in God’s eyes, but also how our own eyes need to be cleansed in order to see its value—both in ourselves and in others.
Homily for the Memorial of Saint Scholastica, Virgin
The Syrophoenician woman’s response to Jesus was not one of despair and despondency. Rather, she agrees with Jesus about the state of her own unworthiness. But she recognizes that Jesus’s mercy is greater and deeper than her unworthiness. To receive Jesus requires us to own our own unworthiness.
Love conquers with persistent trust and faith and the Lord shows mercy to those who seek him. The fact that Jesus reached out to this woman in particular, fundamentally shows that Jesus comes for the broken, the sick, the outsider, and the sinner. He wants us to increase our faith in His saving help. This also shows that God’s love and mercy knows no bounds. Sometimes God keeps us waiting so as to deepen our faith. In the long run what He wants is always best for us. Today ask yourself: "What are my ways to deepen my relationship and faith to the Lord?
Homily for the Wednesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Imagine a world where there was no violence, racism, angry conversations, or abuse. Imagine a world where people treated people with dignity and respect. What would that world look like? St. Teresa of Calcutta became well know for speaking about "the five-finger Gospel" where she liked to count on her fingers in a way to remind herself and others of Jesus' words: You. Did. It. To. Me."
When we recognize Christ in those that we serve, the world becomes a different place, and God's grace can begin to be manifested. The importance of the words is brought out with emphasis: “As you did it to one of the least of these…you did it to me.” We will not be measured by vague intentions, positive thoughts, or sympathetic emotions; no, we will be measured by our actions and the character that is formed by those actions and gives rise to them.
God isn’t looking for the most successful or most popular person to serve – He is looking for the most willing. We all have gifts we can use to serve Him and serve others. We just need to be willing. Today, choose to love and see Christ in everyone you meet.
Homily for the Tuesday of Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Every Christian in the world wrestles with sin every single day of his or her life. Even the apostle Paul complained in Romans 7:15, “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate”. When we choose to sin it's like bringing a horse into a living room...it doesn't belong there. None of us is conformed to the image of Christ overnight. However, it is a process that won’t be complete until we trust God and walk with His Spirit. Today, try to keep the horse out of the living room and continue to trust and walk with God daily.
Homily for the Monday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
The longing and desire for healing moves people to rush and follow Jesus. They go to towns, valleys and marketplaces, begging that they might touch the fringe of his cloak.
How would you react if Jesus appeared to you today? Would you seek Him out and ask Him to heal you? What is the healing that you would ask for? Or would you be skeptical and watch Jesus from a safe distance? What is it that might keep you from approaching Jesus and asking Him for what you desire: fear, a sense of unworthiness, skepticism or shyness? No matter where you find yourself today, recognize a need for prayer and in the midst of your hardships, keep your eyes on Jesus and He will gift you with the grace you need for the day.
Homily for the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The gospel today offers rich possibilities for reflecting on how God calls ordinary people to discipleship and mission. Simon Peter and his fishing partners are simple fisherman, and they are simply doing what they did every day when Jesus comes along, enters into their normal mundane lives, and changes everything. Jesus encounters Simon as he is, even though he is acutely aware of his unworthiness.
How often do we resist Jesus' claim on our lives because what he is calling to do seems too crazy or too impractical? How often do we avoid putting out into the deep waters of following and bearing witness to Jesus because we are convinced that we will not see any results? What might it mean for us to go deep-sea fishing with Jesus - to trust and follow him outside our comfort zone, to let go of our certainties... to have our lives radically reoriented?
Jesus' mission doesn't wait until we think we are ready; we are called right now. We must trust that Jesus will keep working with us and through us. Today, trust God and realize that the catch is in God's hands, and that God's desire is for the nets to be bursting and boats full.
Readings from February 6, 2022:
1st Reading: Isaiah: 6:1-2a, 3-8
Responsorial: Psalms: 138:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 7-8
2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Gospel: Luke 5:1-11
Homily for the Friday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
King David is a man who genuinely loved God. But he carved out an area of his life that was never submitted to the authority of the Lord. He allowed sin to build a position of power in his life, and that led him to a place where he did things that, in the earlier years of his life, he would never have imagined himself doing.
However, David's prayer of thanksgiving reveals how David’s view of God grew instead of his ego. David could have thought, “I’m so great that even God gives me good gifts.” Instead, David’s heart is reflected in the prayer. Because of how God elevated his stature and his family, he praises God and tells God just how wonderful and mighty God is.
Today, no matter what you’re going through, pray as David did. When worry, doubt, or the uncertainty of the future start to untether us, use David’s way of prayer as a way to combat the enemy of fear. We can trust that our mighty God is still authoring our lives and will use His plans for our good!
Homily for the Memorial of Saint Blase, bishop and martyr
Today in the gospel, we see the disciples starting to get into the action of really getting their hands in the work. Jesus has given them the authority over any unclean spirits, he has paired them up, and now he is sending them out to do the work. The disciples, with their lack of food, money, and clothing are learning a new lesson - how to depend on and trust in Jesus with their every need. They are learning to listen to his word and to obey whatever he says. And that is the most important lesson anyone can learn in their life.
This is a lesson that can be difficult for us to learn as we follow Jesus. Very rarely are we in situations where we have to be 100% dependent on anyone else. Our lives are more often overfilled than underfilled, and we have mastered the art of independence. The call of the Gospel, however, is a call to dependence. It is a call to rely completely on our Savior. It is a call to let our Provider provide. It is a call to obedience and faithfulness to the one who has given his life so that we might live. This dependence on Jesus is a dependence that we all must learn as we draw closer to him and allow him to work in our lives. Without Christ, we would be completely lost. We are dependent on him for all things, and our relationship with him will only improve if we can realize that dependence.
Homily for the Memorial of Saint John Bosco
For many of us, there would not be a single day that passes by that we do not worry about big and even those little, unimportant things. So much so that if we do not worry, we would think it's almost inhuman.
When we connect this to what St. Paul instructs us in Philippians 4:6, we come to understand that Paul is talking about the peace that comes from the God who is never subject to anxiety because He is the sovereign, omnipotent Creator and Lord of the universe. Nothing takes Him by surprise or makes Him bite His nails, wondering how it will turn out. This is the peace that Jesus promised, “not as the world gives.” It is humanly not explainable. But, praise God, it is real, and every child of God has known it and has known that it comes from God alone, not from psychological insights.
Today, have no anxiety at all and know that in the joy of the Lord, our strength will come.
Homily for the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Do you ever find yourself discounting someone’s gifts or talents? Do you ever find yourself judging another person based upon where they live, who their family is, or their education? We don’t like it when someone judges us, right? However, oftentimes we tend to judge people before getting acquainted with them; it seems to be almost automatic at times. We know the pain of being judged or ignored because of who we are or what we do, yet we cause the same pain by being judgmental ourselves.
Some of the people in the temple dismissed Jesus simply because he was a lowly carpenter. Other individuals in the temple were enthralled by Jesus, his presence, and his teaching. Are you enthralled by Jesus or has Jesus become too familiar to you? Have you lost the thrill, the joy, and the wonder you experienced when Jesus first became real to you and he no longer was just a character in the Bible?
Today, sit in Jesus’ presence. Simply sit there quietly and in silence. Jesus is there with you. May your mind and heart be open and recognize his presence.
Readings from January 30, 2022:
1st Reading: Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19
Responsorial: Psalms 71:1-2, 3-4, 5-6,15-17
2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13
Gospel: Luke 4:21-30
Homily for the Memorial of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Priest and Doctor of the Church
Saint Thomas Aquinas wisdom and absolute devotion to truth are both necessary and encouraging in our attempts to better understand and live the Faith. To write and practice every day, facing daily struggles and sacrifices is what makes action effortless and, therein, repeatable. St. Thomas Aquinas is trying to convince us of this. If we can act rightly once, great. But to act rightly 1000 times is far more worthy of praise, for a lifetime of goodness is more to be desired than a single great moment. Saint Thomas Aquinas, pray for us!
Homily for the Third Week in Ordinary Time
In the homily today, Jesus uses the image of a lamp and light to describe who the disciples are to be to the world. They are to be light for the world. Jesus also calls each of us to be light in our world. Now take a moment and ask yourself, “How do I shed light in the world?” Most likely many of the ways we strive to do this may seem insignificant to us. However, small rays of sunshine still light up the world. Our world is in need of sunshine and hope. Today, share some sunshine with the people you encounter and to notice the ways in which others share sunshine with you.
Homily for the Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus
Paul installed St. Timothy as his representative at the Church of Ephesus. Titus has the distinction of being a close friend and disciple of Paul as well as a fellow missionary.
In Titus we get another glimpse of life in the early Church: great zeal in the apostolate, great communion in Christ, great friendship. Yet always there is the problem of human nature and the unglamorous details of daily life: the need for charity and patience in “quarrels with others, fears within myself,” as Paul says. Through it all, the love of Christ sustained them. At the end of the Letter to Titus, Paul says that when the temporary substitute comes, “hurry to me.”
Homily for the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle
St. Paul’s conversion teaches us that when Jesus come to us, He doesn’t come alone. He comes with His angels, saints, priests, and bishops. He comes with Mary, the sacraments, doctrine, and devotions. He comes with the Church because he and the Church are one. And when we go to the Lord we don’t go alone either. We go as members of a Church into whose mystical body we were baptized. Thus St. Paul heard from God Himself, and thus we believe today.
Homily for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
The grass was fine until it looked greener on the other side. How many times have you looked on social media or the internet and admired pictures or videos that make life look perfect? Oftentimes we don't know those pictures story or how long it took to make it look good. As humans, we tend to look at other people's life and assume that having a certain life like theirs would make ours better. We oftentimes think of the success that is portrayed and feel like it should be our life...and sometimes that leads to us getting mad when God's not in a rush to give us that same life. Why try to match what should be one of a kind? You're one of a kind, so enjoy the journey or season that you are in. God is in control and trust that He has you right where you need to be.
Readings from January 23, 2022:
1st Reading: Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10
Responsorial: Psalms 19:8, 9, 10, 15
2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:12-30
Gospel: Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21
Homily for the Tuesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
Jesus Christ is Lord of the Sabbath. We rest in him, not in our own works. His love binds us to himself, and he loves us for no other reason than that he wants to! He makes us new in himself, only because he loves us and has chosen freely not to be without us. Paul wrote, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! Today, in that place of refuge, in the security of God’s endless love for us, we are free to make him our priority. Therein lie the unshakable peace, joy, and fullness of life we so crave. Therein lies our true rest.
Homily for the Memorial of Saint Anthony, Abbot
Take up the shield of faith in every circumstance. If we drop it for any reason, we leave ourselves very vulnerable to the enemy’s attacks. The shield of faith comes from God alone, and we need to ask him to arm us with it to help protect ourselves from the devil. Today, having been inspired by St. Anthony, let us all therefore commit ourselves to the Lord anew with a renewed spirit and zeal. Let us all be ever more genuine Christians not just in appearances only, but even more importantly, in spirit and in all things. May God be with us always and may He empower us that we may walk with Him faithfully, and that we may find it in us to glorify His Name by our every words, actions and deeds.
Homily for the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Oftentimes, moments in your life seem amazing and you are loving every moment of it. The sacrifices are easy because you are so much in love with all of the many possibilities. However, what happens when years go by, and things get a little off track? You may become sad or angry and that greatly resembles those empty jars like the ones John refer to in the Gospel at the wedding of Cana. Stone jars, just like a heart that hardens with time due to disappointments and a lack of forgiveness.
Sometimes the obligations, the worries that love can bring, empties us like those jars. If the jars are not refilled with the wine of joy and forgiveness they become worthless; they are the mere semblance of what they were, like our withered and angry hearts. Today, ask yourself what am I going to bring to my life? Do I want to bring empty jars with worries and struggles, or do I want to bring new wine? How much wine is left in your jar? Is there some left or should you organize yourself for a miracle?
Readings from January 16, 2022
Isaiah 62:1-5
Psalms 96:1-2, 2-3, 7-8, 9-10
1 Corinthians 12:4-11
John 2:1-11
Homily for the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
The story about the wedding at Cana is important because it was the first miraculous sign that Jesus gave. It was the first time that Jesus revealed his glory when he walked this earth. It is also when the disciples began to believe in him. When he called them, they knew something was different about him, but this first miracle helped them to really see. Even though they would see much more later! Today, when you see miracles, healings, or answer prayer, take time to rest in your gratitude to God. Don’t get so caught up in “what happened” that you forget who made it happen.
Readings from January 16, 2022
Isaiah 62:1-5
Psalms 96:1-2, 2-3, 7-8, 9-10
1 Corinthians 12:4-11
John 2:1-11
Homily for the Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
What happens when we awaken to find ourselves in the nighttime of life? When life seems to get hard, or things happen that we never wanted to happen, it's difficult to keep the faith sometimes. In those times it seems as if there is only darkness and Jesus is nowhere to be seen. Some will assume he has forsaken them, so they will abandon their faith. They will give up on the Church and Jesus himself. So what do we do when Jesus sneaks off and we feel all alone just like Peter did?
We learn that this is not about Jesus escaping or getting away, but it’s about prayer; his and ours. It’s no longer about what is happening around us or to us but what is happening within us. Regardless of how dark it may seem, Jesus never leaves us. He may withdraw but that does not mean he is absent. His withdrawing is in reality an invitation for us to move to a new place, to the deserted place. He calls us out of the comfort of the house into the vulnerability of the wilderness. It is a deserted and desolate place; a place where there is only prayer. There, we are alone with the Alone.
Jesus doesn't let us sit in comfortability; oftentimes, He moves us to the uncomfortable. Our hearts either searches for the Lord diligently, or we go back to what we're used to doing. Today, let your hearts be as stretched as Peter's heart was in wanting to be with Jesus so you can encounter and receive Him.
Homily for the Tuesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Oftentimes we find that goodness is no longer normal. It tends to be like this extraordinary ability that is reserved to a few. However, goodness can be seen in our actions, but our heart also has to be pure. The goodness of Christ is to be demonstrated in our lives every day. Psalm 23:6 says, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
God calls us to be filled with goodness from the inside out, being holy in what we do and say because Christians should have a heart that seeks goodness. We are not to just do good works, because doing good works without a good heart is empty. Today, ask God to use you to grow in the fruit of goodness so we can live a fulfilling life full of righteous love.
Homily for Monday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
The first reading in the Book of Samuel tells us of a young woman named Hannah who was married to a man called Elkanah. They were very much in love; however, Hannah was infertile.
Hannah trusted God without doubt or concern. Hannah’s story teaches us that our faith in God allows Him to bless us. Her trust in God as she turned to Him, her deep desire for children and her faithfulness in bringing Samuel to God as promised are all evidences of God working in Hannah’s life.
Every person experiences circumstances that cause grief. Many times, we simply don’t understand why the desire of our hearts is not met. But in the life of Hannah we see that God knows our hearts, that everything has a purpose and that trust in Him is never misplaced.
Homily for the Friday after Epiphany
God is not sitting back watching you live your life, He's living your life with you. We don't have a God who sits idol and who is passive. God has already given us eternal life, grace, and salvation and wants to be actively involved in our process of daily conversion, and our process of coming back to Him. He desires to be present with us, moving with us in every step of the way. Today, ask yourself how has God been active in your life and in your heart. How does he continually give you the encouragement to keep you going? In asking and in times of doubt, remember His promises. Remember who He has always been. Even in doubt and uncertainty, if you keep going to Him, He will continually show Himself to be trustworthy.
Thursday after Epiphany Holy Communion Service Reflection
Luke 4:14-21 is the opening scene in the ministry of Jesus. It is Jesus’ manifesto for the work ahead. Jesus was filled with the power of the Holy Spirit as he returned to His native town of Nazareth. Jesus chooses to read from Isaiah 61:1-2 that refers to the Spirit of God, the same Spirit who brought him to Nazareth. After he reads all this, Jesus goes and sits down. Then he has a mic drop moment where he says, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
What would be some of the thoughts going through your mind at this point, if you were sitting beside Jesus and he said that? The issue is of Faith. Looking at the chances that this carpenter’s son, who was born in Nazareth, during their life time, and was the Messiah, might have seemed too unlikely. However, as we reflect on our vocation being “called to proclaim” the gospel, think about your own life. Having faith in Jesus is one of the core beliefs we all share. Do you find yourself shying away from opportunities to proclaim or share because of your own insecurities? Today, dig deep in your heart and try to find the things that can help strengthen your core beliefs so that you feel more sure of the gospel and more at liberty to share it with others.
Homily for the Memorial of Saint John Neumann, Bishop
Jesus calls us to be the light unto the world. Just as a small lamp can give light to a large room, each of us individually can be that beacon of light in our homes, workplaces, and communities. Matthew 5:16 says: "let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." So how do we continue to let our light shine?
No matter how dark life appears, Jesus wants to be the Light that lights the way through every challenge. Invite Christ into your life and that Light will be turned on. No matter how dark your life appears, with Jesus, life will begin to make sense. With the Light of the World in your life, you’ll be filled with hope and understanding.
Here’s more good news. When we do this, Jesus says we can be a light to others by pointing people who are in the dark to the light…the Light of Christ.
Homily for the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus
In the name of Jesus, the Church finds her whole good. It is the divine name which alone brings salvation “for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Jesus Himself shows us the saving power of His name, giving us this consoling certitude: “If you ask anything of the Father, He will give it to you in my name” (John 16:23).
Today, spend time saying the name Jesus. Oftentimes we complicate prayer, but the most perfect prayer is simply the name Jesus. No matter where you are: walking in your house, or walking in between clients... say the name of Jesus. If you're fighting the enemy speak the name of Jesus and the enemy has to stay on his knees. The Holy Name of Jesus can keep the demons at bay. Let us today, say the name of Jesus. That name, that holy name, spoken so many times on the lips of Our Lady and St. Joesph. Jesus, name above all names.
Homily for The Epiphany of the Lord
Where are you right now in your life? Are you a little like Herod, having a bit of anxiety of what the future hold so you begin to get nervous and try to control things in your life? Or are you like the Magi who let God guide them and lead them to where they needed to go? Sometimes in life, we have those tendencies where we freak out and try to control things when something is not going well or right in our lives, but we never know where life takes us, so live in the moment and know that where God has you in your life is where he wants you to be. Wait on the Lord and be of good courage. In this New Year, trust the Lord a little more. Stop fearing the future so much in your life and trust where the Lord has us, he's leading us.
Readings from January 2, 2022
Isaiah 60:1-6
Psalms 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13
Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6
Matthew 2:1-12
Homily for the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God
We can learn a lot from the Mother of God by taking on the same attitude of keeping and pondering all things since we may also have to endure great challenges in our life where our expectations may clash with reality. We have to put our joy of the Gospel to the test. Today and every day, let Mary teach you to learn, grow, and mature in faith from difficult situations, as it is the narrow path to achieve the goal, the Cross, without which there can be no ressurrection.
Readings from January 1, 2022
Numbers 6:22-27
Psalms 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8
Galatians 4:4-7
Luke 2:16-21
Homily for the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph is a model for all families. Being a Holy Family does not mean that everything was smooth for them. It was a family with many ups and downs just like our own family. However, what can we learn from the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph is, that in order to keep our families from falling apart, and also keep our families as sacred as God made them to be for creation, we need to encourage them daily to put faith in God through all considerations and actions. Faith in God is the master key to a happy home.
Today and every day, be obedient to God and to one another. Members of a family experience peace when they respect and obey each other. Disobedience is one of the vices that disintegrate families. A family that prays together, stays together. There is power in prayer. A prayerful Christian is a faithful Christian and a powerful Christian.
Readings from December 26, 2021
Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14
Psalms 128:1-2, 3, 4-5
Colossians 3:12-21 or 3:12-17
Luke 2:41-52
Homily for the Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas
We are made to love, we are not made to hate; it's not how we were created. God didn't create us in hatred, He created us in love. He didn't create us to be angry. He created us to be a gift to other people. He made us and created us in order to love and be loved in return. Tonight, think about our Blessed Mother and St. Joseph. The piercing of her heart. Ask the Blessed Mother where are the times in my life where you have suffered for me? What times in my life did your heart get pierced by the things I've done or gone through in my life. Today and every day, let us have remorse and pray to Our Lady for those areas of our life where we may have been led astray from the love Christ, so that we can love her and come to understand her heart in a deeper way.
Homily for the Feast of the Holy Innocents, Martyrs
On this feast day of the Holy Innocents, we recall the tragic massacre of children at the hands of King Herod. When King Herod heard of the infant born who would be King of the Jews, he was greatly disturbed, and began planning to oust him. He asked the Magi to visit this king and tell Herod where to find him, but, having been vested by an angel, the Magi did not report back. Not knowing where to find this infant, Herod then ordered that all boys under the age of two be slain. These are the lives we remember on the Feast of the Holy Innocents.
Homily for the Feast of Saint John, Apostle and evangelist
We are the disciples whom Jesus loved, that's the foundation. As John was able to grasp and believe that, that enabled him to do many great things. Imagine the things we could do and the relationship we could have if we truly believe that as imperfect as we are; we are a disciple that Jesus truly loved. Today, pray that the grace of seeing ourselves and seeing our identity as disciples of Jesus, may pierce our hearts.
Homily for Christmas Day Mass
Have you ever wondered why Jesus left His heavenly home and His eternal fellowship with God to take on human form as a baby and humbly live among man? Have you ever wondered why He just didn't appear on earth as a majestic king? Jesus came as a baby to magnify the humility of Christ. The humble emergence of baby Jesus gives us insight into the heart of God. He did not pick a wealthy couple of immeasurable means to care for His son. He did not pick a mighty man of power and influence or a famous and prominent woman to raise His son. Instead, God acknowledged the quiet and sincere faith of both Jospeh and Mary. He selected them for the wondrous honor of raising His son Jesus, an honor that was both costly and a blessing. But because of their humility, they too become special examples of God's grace.
Readings from December 25, 2021
Isaiah 62:11-12
Psalms 97:1,6, 11-12
Titus 3:4-7
Luke 2:15-20
Homily for the Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Advent
He says, knock and the door will be opened for us; all we have to do is ask. Today, ask our Lady to come into those areas of your life where you need that joy in this season so that you can encounter Jesus in a more profound way. Ask the blessed mother to come into your heart, come and bring your spouse, the Holy Spirit, into your heart so you can receive Him. Jesus can be born inside of you anew to refresh, renew, and restore because; He can bring hope where there is hopelessness.
Homily for the Monday of the Fourth Week of Advent
Imagine for a moment when God Himself, the Creator of the universe, the Lord of Lord, the King of Kings, enters into the body of Mary to dwell there and take flesh of her flesh and bone of her bones. God didn't force her to do it, he didn't force her to conceive. He wanted her "yes".
Maybe in your own life God acts the same way. He wants to do mighty things through us but he needs our "yes" to do his will. Notice how our lady knew what the will of God was. It didn't make sense or match the direction that her life was going in, but she still said "yes". Many times in our life what God wants for us may not match our plans but sometimes he just need our yes without showing all the in between, and then he would give us the grace every step of the way to live out that yes.
Today, as we enter closer to Christmas, surrender your will to the will of God, because that's where true peace and fulfillment lie. You don't have to have it all figured out. Keep saying yes and let God work a miracle in your life.
Homily for the Fourth Sunday of Advent
Although Joseph was not the biological father of Jesus, he was a true father to Jesus. When Jesus was found in the temple, Mary said to Jesus, “Your father and I have been looking for you.” (Luke 2:48). We can imagine the love and affection between Joseph and Jesus, and between Joseph and Mary. We can imagine Joseph’s pain at the poor circumstances of Jesus’ birth. We can imagine the pain that he must have suffered when Simeon told Mary that Jesus would be a sign that would be opposed and that a sword would pierce Mary’s soul (Luke 2:34-35). We can imagine the pain Joseph suffered when he had to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt for safety to preserve their lives.
What gave Joseph the strength to endure all the trials his vocation brought him? It was obviously his life of prayer that gave him the strength to be obedient to God’s call to him. He was a just man, a man of honor as our Gospel today tells us. He had to have been a man of deep faith to fulfill his high calling. Even though St. Joseph was a man of no words, he was still this powerful figure. He was a powerful figure of the church, of spousal love, and the protector of children and family. He had to make preparations for the first Christmas, to submit to God’s plan in faith. As we prepare for Christmas we can turn to Joseph asking his help so that we can prepare our hearts in faith to be worthy mangers to receive Jesus.
Readings from December 19, 2021
Micah 5:1-4a
Psalms 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19
Hebrews 10:5-10
Luke 1:39-45
Homily for the Friday of the Third Week of Advent
Today, let us remember our lineage, because the actions they see in us, is what they will see in Christians. What they see in us is what they will see in the church. Let us live the Beatitudes. Let us live those corporal works of mercy. So, whenever people see us, they can say “oh” that’s a daughter or son of the heavenly father because your actions and the love you show will radiate to those you meet.
Homily for Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent (Baccalaureate Mass)
You may be wondering: what has God called me to do, who has he called me to be with, or what am I going to do with the rest of my life? But, God has created you for a certain purpose. He says, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." God is so in love with us that he just wants you to say "yes" to him. He knows your gifts and your talents and he wants you to go out and use those gifts and talents for his Glory. As you embark on a new journey in life, use your gifts, talents, and abilities to point others to Him because life is a vapor... we are here today and we are gone tomorrow. Today and everyday, let your life be a testament of your faith that leads others to God.
Homily for the Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent
St. John of the Cross's life can be summed as the Bible scripture from Mark 8:34, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me." When a rift arose among the Carmelites St. John was actually imprisoned and suffered in terrible conditions: a cell barely large enough for him to lie down. But, it was in these horrid conditions where he came to know the cross acutely - to experience the dying of Jesus - as he sat month after month in his dark, damp, narrow cell with only his God. In the darkness of the dungeon, John's spirit came into the Light. Just like St. John of the Cross, we have to be willing to carry our own cross if we want to experience the Resurrection. We have to forge a way through the darkness if we want to walk in the light.
Homily for the Monday of the Third Week of Advent
"Those whose hearts are pure, are temples of the Holy Spirit." St. Lucy, vowed at an early age, to live her live in service of Christ. This meant that Lucy was not interested in marrying, especially to the man her family had chosen as a spouse. When St. Agatha appeared to Lucy in a dream and confirmed that her mother's illness would be cured, this experience helped her convince her mother that she was only destined for only one spouse: Christ. St. Lucy was a martyr for her faith who gave up her goods to the poor and reverence for her became so widespread that she made it into the Roman canon. Like the early Christians, we are pressured in all sorts of was to worship other things such as materialism and consumerism. Today, may we draw upon the inspiration of St. Lucy in these times.
Homily for the Third Sunday Advent
Hebrews 12:1-3 is a wake up call to see our life as a race and to run it with passion and zeal and energy and discipline. The author of Hebrews wants us to test ourselves to see if we are running or coasting. Now, running can be hard work. The race can be long. The journey can be difficult. The road can be treacherous. But, when we think about what Jesus was going through in his great suffering on the cross for us, he saw us. He dug deep down inside and said "I love You" and I will lay down my life and endure every bodily pain and affliction imaginable because I love you just that much. His love for us is just that deep.
So how can we finish this race successfully? Today, don't focus on the miles ahead of you, just focus on right now. Even though we may hit those miles where we will cramp up in life, there will be things in our life that pull on us to keep us moving, like our team of friends. So, hold on to those friends, because they are the people that will help work that cramp out of your life no matter good times or bad. They will be there no matter what happens to keep you going just like God. God is going to give you the grace to endure whatever it is that you are going through. We can endure it with passion, heart, and with the joy that He gives to us.
Readings from December 12, 2021
Zephaniah 3:14-18a
Isaiah 12:2-3, 4, 5-6
Philippians 4:4-7
Luke 3:10-18
Homily for the Thursday of the Second Week of Advent
Juan Diego, a wise and venerable Indian, a tiller of the soil, the Virgin Mary's messenger and an early evangelizer, helped shepherd thousands into Christianity. The Virgin Mary appeared to Juan Diego in 1531. Mary asked Juan to request that the local bishop build a church on that site. The bishop, in disbelief, asked for a heavenly sign. She appeared to Juan Diego on the top of the hill, which was covered with beautiful flowers blooming out of season. Arranging the cut flowers on his cloak, known as a tilma, Mary sent him on his way to the bishop. When Juan unfolded his tilma before the bishop, the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared on it.
Mary’s appearance also put an end to the ritual of human sacrifice. We pray for Mary’s help today to bring an end to the human sacrifice of God’s children through abortion and to convert non-believers.
Readings from December 9, 2021
Isaiah 41:13-20
Psalms 145:1 and 9, 10-11, 12-13
Matthew 11:11-15
Homily for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
People often have a hard time understanding why Catholics pray to Mary or make "such a big deal" about Mary. But that's not the case, at al! Yes, it’s true that Mary is given a great deal of honor in Catholicism, but, believe it or not, everything we say and do in relation to the Blessed Virgin Mary has far more to do with Jesus than it does Mary.
The truth is, If we want to be more like Jesus, we have to love and honor his mother, Mary. When we honor Mary, we are just honoring the work of God in her. In celebrating her life of holiness, we are really just celebrating the God who has done such wonderful things in her.
When we look to Mary, what we should see is the saving power of her Son. When we seek to imitate Mary, what we are imitating is her fidelity and commitment to Jesus. And when we pray to Mary, what we are seeking is the help and support to love Jesus more faithfully and trust in God more fully. Do not be afraid to draw close to Mary, she will lead you to Jesus.
Readings from December 8, 2021
Genesis 3:9-15, 20
Psalms 98:1, 2-3, 3-4
Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12
Luke 1:26-38
Homily for the Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent
God isn't waiting for you to come to Him. Just like the heart of the Shepherd who will leave the 99 sheep to go and find the lost one, so too, will God. He is so in love with you that he is willing to take the initiative and go after you wherever you are. He's not waiting for you to return to the flock on your own, even if you might. God is already chasing you with His love and grace, and he won't stop until he finds you and rescues you.
Homily for the Monday of the Second Week of Advent
When we care about a friend, we will do all that is within our power to help. If they have a need, they won't have to ask twice because we will be there for them ready to assist. The Gospel today in Luke 5:18-19 tells a beautiful story about friends bringing a friend in need to Jesus. The friends went through great lengths to bring their paralyzed friend to the Lord. We need to remember that man's greatest need is spiritual healing or forgiveness. The Lord gave this poor paralyzed man what he needed most... spiritual healing.
Are you willing to do whatever is necessary to bring your family, friends, and others to Jesus for forgiveness and healing? Don't stop praying and interceding for them. Keep lowering them down to Jesus, because eventually, no matter where they are, or how paralyzed their soul may be or unresponsive to God's grace, your faith will save them.
Homily for the Second Sunday of Advent
Let no earthly undertaking hinder us from setting out to meet Jesus or from allowing Jesus to come into our hearts. John the Baptist is inviting us to reflect on where in our life do we need to change in direction so that we could be facing towards the one and only thing that actually matters. The only thing that will actually satisfy. We need to ask ourselves, where in our life do we need to recommit and reorient ourselves because the reason why most of us struggle with sin is that it masquerades as something good.
During Advent, ask yourselves where am I running? Am I running towards something that is not going to satisfy me and will leave me longing for more, or will I reorient my entire life to him, so that in him, I will find the satisfaction and peace that my heart is searching for?
Readings from December 5, 2021:
Baruch 5:1-9
Psalms 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6
Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11
Luke 3:1-6
Homily for the 1st Thursday in Advent
Our lives are similar to a lump of clay. We are shaped by the decisions we make in life. While we live, we are wet clay on the spinning wheel of time. As long as it is still moist, the clay can be shaped and reshaped until it becomes a beautiful vessel. However, once it is placed in the fire, its shape is fixed permanently. So it is with each of us. Once we die and are standing before God, our fundamental shape, that is our choice “for” Him or “against” Him, is fixed forever. Today, let us truly embrace the invitation that he has placed before us and act upon his will. Let us be like St. Ignatius of Loyola and develop a habit of acting upon the will of God by embracing him.
Homily for the 1st Wednesday in Advent
We live in a world that is constantly filled with noise, but it is in the quiet and stillness that God speaks to us. Today, don't run away from listening to God because you are afraid of what he may say, instead, ask St. Joseph to cultivate silence in your heart so that you can be able to let God speak to you.
Homily for the 1st Tuesday in Advent
Jesus is calling us... but not when we are perfect, or when our "net is put together". He is calling us in the midst of our broken net, in the midst of our brokenness. He is calling us when our heart still needs mending. Today and everyday, let Jesus take care and fix your broken net.
Homily for the 1st Monday in Advent
"Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed." The centurion is also a reminder that “man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks in the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). Jesus is not as impressed with titles, degrees and achievements but instead is pleased by those who believe in Him. His acceptance of us is not based on religion, good character or good works because none of us are worthy. But, it’s our faithfulness that is pleasing to Him.
Homily for the First Sunday of Advent
Prepare the way of the Lord. As we prepare and begin the new liturgical year with the season of Advent, let us use this time to prepare for heaven and refocus on the real goal which is our heavenly reward. Today, pray that the Lord gives you strength to stand erect and face the tribulations of life. Let him guide you as you prepare your soul for the coming of His Son, who is the Prince of Peace...the Light of the World.
Readings from November 28th, 2021:
Jeremiah 33:14-16
Psalms 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14
1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2
Luke 21:25-28, 34-36
Homily for the 34th Monday in Ordinary Time
The story of St. Cecilia is not without beauty or merit. St. Cecilia, patron saint of musicians, spent her time preaching and in her lifetime was able to convert over four hundred people, most of whom were baptized by Pope Urban. Cecilia was later arrested and condemned to death. Cecilia was buried in the catacomb of St. Callistus, near Rome.
Homily for the 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Oftentimes the hardest thing we have to do in life is entrust our entire being, desire, and what we want to someone else. Saying, I will sacrifice what I want and will trust what God wants, and what his plan is, is greater than anything we could ever want or can imagine. Sometimes we have to let go of that fear and anxiety and let God have his way in our lives.
Readings from November 21st, 2021:
Deuteronomy 7:13-14
Psalms 93:1, 1-2, 5
Revelations 1:5-8
John 18:33b-37
Homily for the 33rd Thursday in Ordinary Time
The Feast of the Basilica celebrates the dedications of two of the four major basilicas of Rome, named for Saints Peter and Paul, the Vatican’s patron saints and symbols of the Church’s unity and its universality. Built-in 323 by emperor Constantine, the basilica was constructed over the tomb of Peter the Apostle, the first pope. After standing for more than 1,000 years, Pope Julius II ordered the building to be torn down due to structural concerns. The construction of the new church spanned more than 200 years before its completion. It was dedicated on Nov. 18, 1626.
Homily for the 33rd Wednesday Ordinary Time
Jesus called people to himself, and he called them to serve. And whether we’re called to serve in the capacity of an evangelist or a priest-teacher, or whether we’re called to a whole variety of forms of service within the body of Christ, we are all called to service. Today, be willing to use your gifts to serve others and put your egos aside by saying "it is a blessing to be a blessing to someone else."
Homily for the 33rd Tuesday in Ordinary Time
To be a follower of Jesus, He asks for 100% complete dedication and no turning back. Oftentimes, however, we still rebel and live in the chaos of the world instead of living in God's purpose. Today, let us let go of our ego and pick up our cross in our own lives so we can fully understand the love that God has for us when we embrace the sufferings of our own life.
Homily for 33rd Monday in Ordinary Time
In an ideal world, every choice is a fine one. Oftentimes, many people gradually drift away from the church because they try a few things that don't meet the needs of where they are. However, staying at the altar means staying close to the love of Jesus, and loving Jesus means coming close to the altar. Today, stay close to the altar, a sacred place, where God's love, truth, grace, and mercy can change a sinner into a saint, sorrow into joy, mourning into dancing, and ashes into beauty.
Homily for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Oftentimes we hear about “the coming” and “judgment” yet we do not internalize its real meaning. The gospel from Mark 13:24-32 tells us to do so. “Heaven and earth will die, but my words will not. Yet, about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. ” In these times, it is good to find something in our lives that won’t pass. Let us begin to prepare our souls to one day be joined with the Father in Heaven.
Readings from November 14th, 2021:
Deuteronomy 12:1-3
Psalms 16:5, 8, 9-10, 11
Hebrews 10:11-14, 18
Mark 13:24-32
Homily for the 32nd Friday in Ordinary Time
We know not the day nor the hour. Choose to reunite your spirit with the Spirit of the Most High, God. Willingly change your spiritual condition so that you will be prepared for eternity, whether it comes sooner or later in your days.
Homily for the 32nd Thursday in Ordinary Time
Oftentimes we feel like we have to fight our battles alone. However, on the Feast day of St. Martin of Tours, let us be a soldier like him and know that we do not have to fight the enemy alone. God will fight for us. The only thing you need to do is stay still. Being still means being willing to wait. It means we put our agenda aside and allow God to work on His perfect plan. Will it be easy? No. But while we’re waiting we can spend time in His presence learning more about Him.
Homily for the 32nd Wednesday in Ordinary Time
What is God calling me to? Whatever it is you choose, if it's marriage, priesthood, or a life offered to God through religious vows, all are ways of serving God. Some people also serve God in the single life. We can know what God is calling us to if we learn to listen to him. Today, let our Lady guide you to hear the voice of her Son and give you the courage to respond generously.
Homily for the 32nd Tuesday in Ordinary Time
St. Paul poses the question, "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, whom you have from God?" You are not your own because you were bought with a price...so glorify God in your body. Oftentimes it feels as though we're at war with our flesh but we must let the word of Christ dwell in us richly and roll out the red carpet and give it a grand reception because it will give us an amazing amount of spiritual wealth. Let Him dwell in you today.
Homily for the 32nd Monday in Ordinary Time
Oftentimes in our lives, we influence other people even when we do not realize it. Whether a classmate, parent, or friend, we can affect someone in a positive or negative way. Let us not lead others into sin and temptation but lead them into a community of love for Jesus.
Homily for the 31st Saturday in Ordinary Time
Do you trust God enough to give Him all that you have? Every one of us is in poverty. We are waiting on Earth for something better because this life is nothing compared to an eternity with God the Father. God doesn't need our worship or offerings, he wants our sacrifice because it shows we have chosen Him over our possessions. Learn the lesson of the widow who gave all she had. Have a heart that is willing to sacrifice out of poverty and gain the riches of eternity by not giving God the leftovers, but placing God above all else, and in first place.
Homily for the 31st Friday in Ordinary Time
What will you be asked at the end of your life? Each one of us is called to stewardship and to be a steward. We have been gifted the sacrament of baptism to fulfill the mission to proclaim the good news of God. How much love are you showing to your community, your family, and others? Let us challenge ourselves every day to be a lover and allow Christ to use us in the service of others.
Homily for the 31st Thursday in Ordinary Time
If they persist, then God wants to talk to you about it. How often do we hear the voice of God speaking to us but put off praying to Him or simply saying "Here I am Lord" just as Isaiah? God is so faithful to redeem us, restore us, and keep us following Him, but we must daily open our hearts and make room for Him.
Homily for the 31st Wednesday in Ordinary Time
There's things that we may be limiting God in, and with that we often put him in a little box. But let us be like St. Joseph who was detached from his own will, his own desires, and his own plans, to leave room for God to do amazing things in it. Let go of the things that are possessing your heart that is not of God, and let God be the one who fulfills it.
Homily for the 31st Tuesday in Ordinary Time
Grief is hard and grief is real. Oftentimes is comes and goes in waves, but it often shapes us from who were were to who we are now. However, through it all, God is faithful. Through him we know that death has no hold over us and death isn't the end.
Homily for the 31st Monday in Ordinary Time
The Saints remind us that they were ordinary people like us. They were men and women whom Jesus Christ made his own. They offer us hope and remind us of the destiny God has in store for those he loves. They remind us that this life is a preparation for eternal union with God in heaven. Let us pray daily that we find the courage to seek out that abundant life with the saints.
Homily for 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time | 7:00 PM
That guy's "all-in." How many times have we heard someone say that? When someone is "all-in" they're not afraid to get back up again and keep going. They don't let obstacles pull them down and keep them down. Our God is an all-in God, and He has called and empowered us to be all-in people...so what is stopping you from going all-in for Jesus?
Readings from October 31st, 2021:
Deuteronomy 6:2-6
Psalms 18:2-3, 3-4, 47, 51
Hebrews 7:23-28
Mark 12:28b-34
Homily for 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time | 10:30 AM
Loving God with all your heart...what does that look like? To love God with our whole being is like a daily exercise. We may not always wake up in the morning with our hearts inclined toward the Lord, but we can start the day by turning our hearts to our Lord Jesus.
When we let the veil be removed we can see the Lord, His beauty, His virtues, and how wonderful He is. Then He infuses more of what He is, including love, into us. In this way, our love for Him grows. As we enjoy God’s love, we’ll love Him in return more and more.
Readings from October 31st, 2021:
Deuteronomy 6:2-6
Psalms 18:2-3, 3-4, 47, 51
Hebrews 7:23-28
Mark 12:28b-34
Homily for the 30th Friday in Ordinary Time
Our sins are oftentimes an external manifestation of a much deeper problem. However, Jesus invites us to lay our burdens at the altar and give them to him. He wants us to not be ashamed of those sins and he wants us to let go and let Him heal us. Today, invite Jesus into your heart, not just part of your heart, but your whole heart.
Homily for the 30th Thursday in Ordinary Time
Saints Simon and Jude were members of the original twelve apostles. Both were known by other names during their lives. They not only share the same feast day, but they share the same tomb as well. Saint Simon was surnamed “the Zealot”. He was zealous for the honor of Christ and exact in all duties to the Christian life. Saint Jude was also known as “Jude Thaddeus.” Saint Jude is the patron saint of hopeless causes and desperate situations. People often pray to Jude when they feel that there is no one else to turn to. Because Jude had such great faith, we know that nothing is impossible for those who believe in the Lord.
Homily for the 30th Tuesday in Ordinary Time
Am I producing fruit, or am I dying? As followers of Christ, we must stay firmly connected to Him to remain spiritually productive. A branch draws strength, nourishment, and protection from the vine. If it is broken off, it quickly dies and becomes unfruitful. When we neglect our spiritual life, ignore the Word of God, skimp on prayer, we are like a branch broken off the vine. Our lives become fruitless. We need daily surrender, daily communication, and daily—sometimes hourly—repentance and connection with the Holy Spirit in order to fulfill our duty to grow the kingdom of God.
Homily for the 30th Monday in Ordinary Time.
The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. How many times have you heard that before? Oftentimes we have conflicts within ourselves and we're involved in the flesh. However, we must learn not to be debtors to the flesh and not give in to it because we are called to live according to the spirit.
Homily for the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
In the bible, blind Bartimaeus spent his days begging from the world to meet his needs, but it wasn’t until he encountered Jesus that his biggest needs were met. Oftentimes we beg for hope and validation and look for answers in all the wrong places or from other people. We find that these places and people can’t fix us because that was never their purpose. The story of Blind Bartimaeus reminds us that Jesus truly is the answer to our needs. He is the only one that can save us from our circumstances, from our choices, and set us on a new path.
Readings from October 24, 2021:
Jeremiah 31:7-9
Psalms 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6
Hebrews 5:1-6
Mark 10:46-52
Homily for the 29th Friday of Ordinary Time.
Whether it was his influence in the battle against Communism, his visits to over 100 countries, his prolific writings in the form of books, encyclicals, and letters (including the first Letter to Women), his devotion to the youth, or his forgiveness and compassion toward the man who shot him—John Paul II exhibited what it meant to trust in God and to not be afraid.
Homily for the 29th Thursday of Ordinary Time.
Oftentimes in our lives, we have to realize that Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment, and there is nothing more important to us than that relationship and eternal life in serving him. Are you willing to give up everything and follow him? Do you see that Jesus is the ultimate for you? Are you up for it?
Homily for the 29th Wednesday of Ordinary Time.
Oftentimes God calls us through other people. Maybe there was one person whose life with Jesus made you curious about who he was. Their own passion for him made you want to see for yourself. Philip found Nathanael and shared what he had discovered, and Nathanael, too, went to meet Jesus. What these stories teach us is to listen carefully to those who have a firm relationship with Jesus, because they may be able to lead us to a deeper relationship of our own.
Homily for the 29th Tuesday in Ordinary Time. Oftentimes in our lives, prayer can be tough. We may face many obstacles that make it difficult for us to pray through what we are going through, but prayer is an entrance into a battlefield and through prayer, we can overcome those obstacles. We must "gird our loins" and not let our fire be snuffed out by the enemy. Be like servants that are waiting for the master to return and do not let the enemy blow out the power of God within you.
Homily for the 29th Monday in Ordinary Time.
St. Luke, also known as St. Luke the Evangelist, born around the first century was not one of the 12 apostles but was one of the four evangelists. He spent time with the Apostles and the Blessed Mother to find out more about Jesus. He wrote the Gospel of Luke as well as the Acts of the Apostles and is mentioned in the letters of Paul as the latter’s “coworker” and as the “beloved physician.” St. Luke is said to have preached elsewhere throughout the Mediterranean, and possibly died as a martyr. Fittingly, the evangelist whose travels could have filled volumes, wrote just enough to proclaim the gospel and apostolic preaching to the world.
Homily for the 29th Sunday of Ordinary Time - 10:30 AM
Brothers James and John approached Jesus and said, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." Jesus' reply indicates that this would involve sharing in his suffering and baptism. "Are you willing to drink of the chalice of the suffering of which I am going to drink?"
Oftentimes in our lives, we want to experience all the glory without any pain. Are we willing to pick up our cross daily and walk with God? In order to be "great" in the kingdom of God, we must learn to be the "least" here on earth, serving all others and putting them ahead of one's own needs and desires.
Readings from October 17, 2021:
Isaiah 53:10-11
Psalms 33:4-5, 18-19, 22
Hebrews 4:15-16
Mark 10:35-45 or 10:42-45
Homily for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time
It is through being stretched, challenged, or cleaned that we are more able to receive what we need to grow. Often, the Lord pushes us into discomfort to help us receive the grace and be open to the changes we need to make in our lives.
Homily for the 28th Monday of Ordinary Time
When Jonah first received the call to Ninevah, he ran the other direction. In what ways are we running from God's call to use our gifts to fulfill His will in our lives.
Homily for the 28th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Ancient Jews viewed history as two time periods: The Current Age and The Age To Come. They were always looking forward to, and trying to be prepared for the coming of the Messiah. What do you need to do in your life and heart to be prepared to accept "the age to come" in your heart?
Readings from October 10, 2021:
Wisdom 7:7-11
Psalm 90
Hebrews 4:12-13
Mark 10:1 7-30
Homily for the 27th Friday of Ordinary Time
When we make assumptions without knowing all the facts, we usually get it wrong. This is what happens to the jewish people when Jesus was driving out demons. When we assume what God is doing without giving his our full trust, we fail to allow God's plan to truly unfold in our lives.
Homily for the 27th Thursday of Ordinary Time
At the Battle of Lapteno, Christian forces faced the Ottoman empire in a pivotal moment of the war. With a miraculous change of wind, the underdog forces of the Christian army triumphed over the turks. This triumph is attributed to Our Lady of the Rosary.
Homily for the 27th Wednesday of Ordinary Time
One of the obstacles to a deeper relationship with God can be self-forgiveness. Through the "Our Father", we are called to be with God and view him has a true Father.
Homily for the 27th Tuesday of Ordinary Time
A German immigrant who came to the United States in the mid 1800s, Blessed Seelos was a Redemptorist Priest who traveled to New Orleans to serves those suffering with Yellow Fever. Prophesying his own death, entered New Orleans in the midst of a pandemic to witness Christ's love to the people of the area.
Homily for the 27th Monday of Ordinary Time
God called St. Francis Assisi to rebuild His Church, just not in the way that Francis intended.. Let us ask God that we too may be open to following His will and not our own.
Homily for the 27th Sunday of Ordinary Time
When things get difficult, we tend to pull away God. We tend to pull away from the relationships that ultimately give us life and fill us up. True and authentic intimacy is what we are created for, and this kind of the relationship is the only thing that will fulfill out hearts.
Readings from October 3, 2021
Genesis 2:18-24
Psalm 128
Hebrews 2:9-11
Mark 10:2-6
Homily for the 26th Friday of Ordinary Time
St. Therese "paved the way" for us to follow Jesus through the Little Way. Those closest to the heart of the Father are those to have totally surrendered themselves to His holy will.
Homily for the 26th Thursday of Ordinary Time
St. Jerome's fierce passion for Scripture has benefited the Church for centuries. Let us invoke his intercession that we may have this same desire to grow in love of God's Word.
Homily for the 26th Tuesday of Ordinary Time
The spiritual life is a marathon, not a sprint. However, God is not the finish line. He is running right there with you.
Homily for the 26th Monday of Ordinary Time.
St. Vincent de Paul, a 17th century priest from France, dedicated his life to serving the poor and less fortunate. His impact is still felt today. What is your calling? What has your life been like, and how is the Lord calling you to glorify Him through it?
Homily for the 26th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Jesus calls us to cut off the “hand” and pluck out the “eye” in our life that causes us sin. He is telling us what is needed in order to change the direction of our lives. We are called to detach ourselves from the things getting in the way of heaven and make a u-turn when possible.
Readings from September 26th, 2021
Numbers 11:25-29
Psalm 19
James: 5:1-6
Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48
Homily for the 26th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Where we’re going affects the choices we make. Are we putting ourselves in situations that set us up for failure or success? Jesus calls us to cut off the “hand” and pluck out the “eye” in our life that causes us sin. What are the things in our lives that need to be cut out, and what are the ways that we can do little things with great love?
Readings from September 26th, 2021
Numbers 11:25-29
Psalm 19
James: 5:1-6
Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48
Homily for the 25th Thursday of Ordinary Time.
Who was your idol growing up? Michael Jordan? Drew Brees? For many seminarians and priests, its Padre Pio. However, Padre Pio isn't just for priests. He's praying for you, and wants you to grow closer to God.
Homily for the 25th Wednesday of Ordinary Time
In today's world, we can create whatever image we want on social media. We are called to throw off this "second tunic" and become who we truly are.
Homily for the Twenty-fifth Tuesday of Ordinary Time
Jesus called St. Matthew out of "the slum" of tax collecting. This call marks the beginning of his conversion, and serves as an invitation for us to "rise" out of ourselves.
Homily for the Twenty-fifth Monday in Ordinary Time
We do not take a lamp and place it under a bushel basket. But, which light is shining? Our actions speak for us, and reveal light. But which light are we revealing? The light of ourselves, or the light of Christ?
Homily for the Twenty-fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time
That which we do the least of those around us, we do for Jesus. And as He is hungry, naked, and in need of clothing, He calls us to serve Him and give of ourselves, just as he gave of Himself on the cross. His love conquered all things on Calvary, and His love manifests today through our actions and acts of charity. Let us allow our faith and hope in the Resurrection guide our choices, and may we choose to love.
Readings from September 19, 2021
Wisdom 2: 12, 17-20
Psalm 54
James 3:16-4:3
Mark 9:30-37
Homily for the Twenty-Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time
There are many defining moments of our lives, and many of them will forever stick in our memories. In the midst of Hurricane Ida, a defining moment for so many in our area, we have an opportunity to be Jesus to others.
Readings from September 12, 2021
Isaiah 50:5-9
Psalm 116
James 2:14-18
Mark 8:27-35
Homily for the Twenty-First Sunday of Ordinary Time.
The bridesmaids and groomsmen help prepare the bride and groom for the wedding and journey beyond. Today we are called to be ready for Christ, just as the virgins were ready for the Bridegroom. St. Monica's life is an excellent example of one lives as a bridesmaid for Jesus.
Homily for the Twenty-first Thursday of Ordinary Time
God looks at us and declares that we are "very good" Too often, we judge ourselves based on the opinions of other people instead of that which has be declared by our Creator.
Homily for the Twenty-first Tuesday in Ordinary Time
St. Bartholomew, praying under a fig tree, questions Jesus as the Messiah. Decades later, he gives his life as a martyr for Christ. Let us pray that we may live our lives with no duplicity, like Bartholomew.
Homily for the Twenty-first Monday of Ordinary Time
St. Paul lived the Gospel so fervently that communities had already heard of Paul before he arrived because of his witness. Are you living the Gospel that you are preaching?
Homily for the Twenty-first Sunday of Ordinary Time
Life is hard, and when we encounter those difficulties Christ invites us to embrace the Cross and stay with Him. Will you leave Him? Will you stay?
Readings from August 22, 2021
Joshua 24:1-2A, 15-17, 18B
Psalm 34
Ephesians 5:21-32
John 6:60-69
Homily for the Twenty-first Sunday of Ordinary Time
Many of the things Christ asks of us are hard. Sainthood is hard. Marriage is hard. Loving others is hard. But, Jesus offers us a pathway through his Body and Blood and calls us to trust in Him and embrace the Cross.
Readings from August 22, 2021
Joshua 24:1-2A, 15-17, 18B
Psalm 34
Ephesians 5:21-32
John 6:60-69
Homily from the Twentieth Thursday of Ordinary Time
No one has ever known the breadth, width, and height of God's love more than Mary. She reveals Jesus to us and proclaims his greatness. Just as Mary ponders the actions and life of Christ, let us turn away from the distractions of our world and keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and allow Him to be a light in our world.
Homily for the Twentieth Tuesday of Ordinary Time
"It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven"... Jesus calls us to simplify our lives and asks us to reflect on which possessions we try to drag with us. Whether physical, spiritual, or emotional, what attachments can we let go of that may be holding us back from heaven?
Homily for the Twentieth Monday of Ordinary Time
Through our lives, Jesus is constantly asking us to follow him in deeper ways. Today, the rich young man encounters Jesus and the call spiritual perfection through the Gospel.
Homily for the Twentieth Sunday of Ordinary Time
Your plans can make you happy, but God's plans are what make you happiest. Mary's plan's did not involve being the Mother of God. But, God's plan for her changed the entire world. As we celebrate Mary's triumphant Assumption into heaven body and soul, we entrust our all of our desires and plans to Jesus through her, knowing that God's plan for us will bring us the ultimate happiness.
Readings from August 15, 2021
Revelation 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab
Psalm 45
1 Corinthians 15:20-27
Luke 1:39-56
Readings for the Nineteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
1 Kings 19:4-8
Psalm 34
Ephesians 4:30-5:2
John 6:41-51
Readings for the 18th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15
Psalm 78
Ephesians 4:17, 20-24
John 6:24-35
Readings for the Seventeenth Sunday Ordinary Time
2 Kings 4:42-44
Psalm 145
Ephesians 4:1-6
John 6:1-15
Readings for the Sixteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
Jeremiah 23:1-6
Psalm 23
Ephesians 2:13-18
Mark 6:30-34
Readings for the Fifteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
Amos 7:12-15
Psalm 85
Ephesians 1: 3-14
Mark 6: 7-13
Readings for the Fourteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
Ez 2:2-5
Psalm 123
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
Mark 6:1-6A
Readings from the Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Wisdom 1:13-15, 2:23-34
Psalm 30
2 Corinthians 8:7,9,13-15
Mark 5:21-43
Readings for the 11th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Ezekiel 17:22-24
Psalm 92
2 Corinthians 5:6-10
Mark 4:26-34
Readings for the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord
Acts 1:1-11
Psalm 48
Eph 4: 1-7, 11-13
Mk 16:15-20
Readings for the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord
Acts 1:1-11
Psalm 48
Eph 4: 1-7, 11-13
Mk 16:15-20
Readings for the 6th Sunday of Easter
Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48
Psalm 98
1 John 4:7-10
John 15:9-17
Readings for the 6th Sunday of Easter
Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48
Psalm 98
1 John 4:7-10
John 15:9-17
Readings for Vigil Mass - Divine Mercy Sunday
Acts 4:32-35
Psalm 118
1 John 5:1-6
John 20:19-31
Readings for the 5th Sunday in Lent
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Psalm 51
Hebrews 5:7-9
John 12:20-33
Readings for the 5th Sunday in Lent
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Psalm 51
Hebrews 5:7-9
John 12:20-33
Readings for the 4th Sunday of Lent, Scrutiny
1 Samuel 16: 1b, 6-7, 10-13a
Psalm 23
Ephesians 5:8-14
John 9:1, 6-9, 13-17
Readings for the 3rd Sunday in Lent
Exodus 20:1-17
Psalm 19
1 Corinthians: 22-25
John 2:13-25
Readings for the 3rd Sunday in Lent
Exodus 20:1-17
Psalm 19
1 Corinthians: 22-25
John 2:13-25
Readings for the 2nd Sunday in Lent
Genesis 22:1-2, 9A, 10-13, 15-18
Psalm 116
Romans 8:31B-34
Mark 9:2-10
Readings for the 1st Sunday in Lent
Genesis 9:8-15
Psalm 25
1 Peter 3:18-22
Mark 1:12-15
Readings for the 1st Sunday in Lent
Genesis 9:8-15
Psalm 25
1 Peter 3:18-22
Mark 1:12-15
Readings for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46
Psalm 32
1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1
Mark 1:40-45
Readings for the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Job 7:1-4, 6-7
Psalm 147
1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23
Mark 1:29-39
Readings for the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Job 7:1-4, 6-7
Psalm 147
1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23
Mark 1:29-39
Readings for the 4th Sunday in Ordinary
Deuteronomy 18:15-20
Psalm 95
1 Corinthians 7:32-35
Mark 1:21-28
We were honored to have NSU Baseball Team at this Mass... so this homily has a baseball twist to it! Jesus shows us how to get "Home"... He begins by surrounding Himself with a Band of Brothers and then He begins to wage war of the devil!! This homily is about Jesus first exorcism and how He wants to have authority over the demons that we all fight in our lives!
Readings for the 3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time
Jonah 3:1-5,10
Psalm 25
Corinthians 7:29-31
Mark 1:14-20
Readings for the 3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time
Jonah 3:1-5,10
Psalm 25
Corinthians 7:29-31
Mark 1:14-20
Readings for the 2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time:
1 Samuel 3:3b-10, 19
Ps 40
Corinthians 6:12c-15a, 17-20
John 1:35-42
Readings for the 4th Sunday of Advent:
Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12,14a, 16
Psalm 89
Romans 16:25-27
Luke 1:26-38
Readings for the 3rd Sunday of Advent:
Isaiah 61: 1-2a, 10-11
Ps: Luke 1
Thessalonians 5:16-24
John 1:6-8, 19-28
Readings for the 1st Sunday of Advent:
Isaiah 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7
Psalm 80
Corinthians 1:3-9
Mark 13:33-37
Readings for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Proverbs 31:10-13,19-20,30-31
Psalm 128
1 Thessalonians 5:1-6
Matthew 25:12-30
Fr. Mitch sits down to Lee and Andre Cortez to discuss their marriage, St. Joseph, and doing the Consecration to St. Joseph together.
Solemnity of All Saints
Mass Readings from November 1, 2020:
Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14
Psalm 24
1 John 3:;1-3
Matthew 5:1-12a
30th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Mass Readings from October 25, 2020:
Exodus 22:20-26
Psalm 18
Thessalonians 1:5c-10
Matthew 22:34-40
29th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Mass Readings from October 18, 2020:
Isaiah 45:1, 4-6
Psalm 96
Thessalonians 1:1-5b
Matthew 22:15-21
28th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Mass Readings from October 11, 2020:
Isaiah 25:6-10
Psalm 23
Philippians 4:12-14,19-20
Matthew 22:1-14
27th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Mass Readings from October 4, 2020:
Isaiah 5:1-7
Psalm 80
Philippians 4:6-9
Matthew 21:33-43
25th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Mass Readings from September 27, 2020:
Ezekiel 18:25-28
Psalm 24
Philippians 2:1-11
Matthew 21:28
25th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Mass Readings from September 20, 2020:
Isaiah 5:6-9
Psalm 145
Philippians 1:20-24, 27
Matthew 20:1-16
23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time
If correcting our neighbor must be done, it must be done well or not at all.
Mass Readings from September 6, 2020:
Ezekiel 33:7-9
Psalm 95
Romans 13:8-10
Matthew 18:15-20
22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time
In Scripture, God gives and changes names for a reason. From Abraham, to Peter, to you, our name matters.
Mass Readings from August 30, 2020:
Jeremiah 20:7-9
Psalm 63
Romans 12:1-2
Matthew 16:21-27
Check out Fr Dan's first homily as a priest at St Thomas! He breaks open the Trinity and what it means for us!
A driving wind is "What is the Holy Spirit?". Tongues of fire are "What are the Holy Spirit?". But the question is "Who is the Holy Spirit?
How can we overcome the division present in so many areas of our lives? Only through the unity in the Holy Spirit that comes to us on Pentecost!
Check out our first LIVE What the Catholic episode! We talk about our confirmation saints, why God allows suffering, different types of sins, and the importance of confession! Send us your questions - we would love to talk about them!
Jesus was with the disciples as they walked to Emmaus - but they didn't see Him! Don't miss Jesus in your midst right now!
He is risen!! Let the joy of the risen Christ come into the darkness. See what He is doing!
What was Jesus doing on the last week of his life? Today he is hanging out with his best friend... Lazarus! This homily is all about FRIENDSHIP and how important it is for each of us to have a "Lazarus" or a "SAM" in your life!
During this pandemic, the image of the valley of the dry bones coming alive couldn’t be more applicable to where we stand right now. There is indeed a great joy that awaits us!
In the difficulties of our lives, in the moments of confusion or shame or anxiety, Jesus waits to encounter us there. Will we have the courage to approach?
Check out Fr Mitch's homily during the Reclaim Fatherhood retreat where he addresses words to men calling them to live out their identity as men and fathers!
The readings this week open up for us the mystery of temptation and how it works in our lives. What does the devil do? If we can know how he tempts and tricks us, we can know how to fight back, keeping ourselves in communion with the Father.
What does it mean to be perfect? Can we even be perfect? The Lord invites us to just that - to be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect! How can he do that?! Listen to find out what true perfection looks like and how we can allow the season of Lent to bring us to that sanctity that Jesus calls us to.
Jesus today invites us to be like salt and light. Salt and light can be good - but they can also be bad. Too much of a good thing is not a good thing! It's important to recognize how our lives impact both ourselves and others, and listen for the invitation of Jesus to be salt and light. How is the Lord inviting you, in your life, today, to be salt and light?
What do school uniforms or medical uniforms have in common with circumcisions? And why does Jesus get circumcised? What was the purpose and how does this affect us? .... I promise this is a Rated PG homily :-)
Check out Lance Mudd's testimony of how the Lord continued to call him and speak to him through his conversion! A beautiful story of the Lord's patience and faithfulness to us!
It's so important to pray with Scripture! In this homily, Fr Mitch shares his own experiences of how the Scriptures have spoken to him at different points in his life. He ends with a challenge - when you wake up in the morning, make you bed (because momma told you to!) and read Psalm 1. Note what stands out to you. Put the Bible on your bed, and go about your day. When you come to go to bed, take the Bible and read it again to see how God spoke to you throughout the day. Do that every day - God will speak!!
Today is Word of God Sunday! The purpose is to emphasize just how important it is to read Scripture in our daily prayer lives. That's how God speaks to us! Don't know how or what to do? Listen here to learn how!
"Behold the Lamb of God!" In the midst of life's struggles, anxieties, doubts, fears - that is our cry. Behold the Lamb of God who came to take all that away, who came to be with us in the midst of that. Every single one of us, without fail and without exception. How blessed are we who are called to that relationship!
Why did Jesus get baptized? We are baptized for the forgiveness of sins - but He didn’t have any! He was baptized for our sake, to open up the path of salvation to us and to show us our true identity as beloved sons and daughters of the Father!
We all have desires of our hearts - desires to be seen, known, and loved. The Lord desires to fulfill these desires and calls us to that relationship by seeking him, journeying to Him like the Magi. Only in that encounter do we find the fulfillment of all our desires!
Were the Wise Men "Kings"? Was King Herod crazy? And was there a cool prophecy about the "star" that would accompany the New Born King of Judea? Listen close to get the answers!
Why do we call Mary the "Mother" of God? I thought she was the mother of Jesus? This homily goes into why Catholics give her this title and honor.
Why did Jesus come? Why did Christmas have to happen? Jesus didn’t come to preach mercy, to heal, to tell stories. He came to fight, to battle, to rescue us from the worst tyranny imaginable. Christmas is an invasion of God into our darkness to bring us to true peace. Our response? Everything.
The Scriptures today present us with the stories of two kings – one who trusted and one who didn’t. As Christmas approaches, the Lord invites us to trust that His coming will truly fulfill and satisfy us.
Does John doubt who Jesus is? Why does Jesus answer questions in a strange way? And why doesn’t John just tell his disciples who Jesus is? Why the game? And who is the blind? The deaf? The mute? And the leper’s?
John the Baptist, imprisoned, suffering, trapped, sends his disciples to Jesus to ask him - are you really the one? Or did I make a mistake? John shows us what to do when we have these doubts, discouragements, questions. We ask, we ask Jesus, and we let Him speak to us through the Scriptures. Persevere in that, and the Lord will never lead us astray!
Advent is all about preparation, right? What are we preparing for? Are we even preparing? And how do we do that? Our Advent preparations aren't about making us "good enough" - it helps us to see that above all else, we need the Savior to come. We prepare to be broken so that Jesus can be born into our hearts anew.
Check out this homily all about the importance of adoration, the Eucharist, and Jesus' desire for each one of us!
Advent is a time of joyful expectation, excitement, and emotion. We see Jesus running to meet us, and we drop everything and take off as fast as we can to meet Him. Like that moment when you see a parent or friend after a long time, that excitement is what the Church wants to foster in us each Advent. What do I need to let go of so that I can run as fast as I can to meet Jesus?
Today we celebrate Christ the King, where we acknowledge Christ as the King of the universe, of all of creation, and also of our own lives. Christ desires to rule over every aspect of our life as king. But what is a king? What kind of king is Jesus? If we don't know what kind of king He is, we will never really be able to entrust ourselves to Him.
Sloth can creep in and sneakily take us off the path of the Lord. We just get a little lazy, drift off a little at a time, and before we know it, we've opened ourselves to something worse. How can we guard against it? Listen to find out!
The First Reading from Mass speaks of the heroic example of seven brothers and their mother standing up for the faith in the face of persecution. When we hear stories like that or of the great martyrs, we can ask ourselves, "would I be willing to die for the faith like that?" Perhaps a better question would be, "Am I willing to live for the faith right now?" We all have decision point moments where we have to decide - are we in, or are we out? What will our answer be?
Have you ever had a FRIED HONEYBUN?? What's a Vocation? And do YOU have a Vocation? As we prepare for Vocations Awareness Week, this homily will give a clear understanding of what a Vocation is and why we have them.
Drinking and drugs are common experiences and temptations of college life. In this episode, we take a step back and talk about morality, what makes things good and evil, and why we ought to act a certain way. We then move into the topics of drunkenness, underage drinking, drugs, and the virtue of sobriety as a whole. Special thanks to Luke Robicheaux, a graduate of Notre Dame Seminary with a concentration in moral theology, for joining us in the discussion! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to message us or reach out!
The Gospel today invites us to approach the Father with empty hands, with absolutely nothing. Relying not on ourselves, our own powers, or anything we do, but truly abandoning ourselves into the hands of God. It's a scary thing! But only by being broken down like the tax collector can we truly allow God to work through us in our own lives.
At our Homecoming Mass, we talk about St. John Paul II and the invitation he has for each one of us - Be not afraid! Open wide the doors of your heart to Jesus. He alone gives us true meaning, and he alone offers us the fulfillment our hearts long for. He is the redeemer of mankind!
Everyone has to make a BIG YES to something in their life... and that BIG YES will lead to a life time of little yesses. These little yesses are what brings life to our stories and allows us to face the various battles that we go through in life! To help us with those little yesses, we need friends and loved ones to help us hold our arms out, like Moses, in todays First Reading! We can't fight our battles alone... Who is on your left and your right helping you to hold up your arms in your daily battles?
The Lord invites us to persist in our faith, to be faithful to the daily "yes's" trusting that He will respond in His time and in His way. Only by persevering in that battle can we open ourselves to receive the gift that the Lord desires to offer each one of us.
Listen to all of the fascinating history and symbolism regarding the paintings, statues, etc of everything that is inside our beautiful Two Hearts Perpetual Adoration Chapel! You will hear about the incredible gift that we have been given!!
What do a ditch and a pile of dirt have in common? Both actually speak of how the Lord desires to come into our lives to cleanse us and to remain with us! Naaman shows us how we can seek the Lord - in humility, in obedience, and in openness. May we be a little bit more like Naaman!
Where did the Bible come from? Why do we have different versions? Why is it even important anyway? How do we read it and pray with it? We talk about all these questions and more with special guest Fr. Brice Higginbotham!
The apostles in the Gospel ask the Lord for more faith - "Increase our faith!" Jesus gives us the source of all faith in the gift of Himself in the Eucharist. In the Eucharist, the Lord is waiting for us, longing to be with us, because He is truly present there. If we want faith, if we want to know that God is present and acting in our lives, we have to be a people devoted to the Eucharist!
In this episode, Fr Mitch, Maegan, and Garrett talk about chastity, virtuous dating, and all kinds of topics related to that. We hope that this episode sheds some light on how you can pursue holiness in your relationships!
Recent study shows that almost 70% of PRACTICING Catholics do not believe that Jesus is truly present in the Holy Eucharist... they think it is only a symbol. This is a passionate homily about men and women who are WITNESSES of the reality of the Eucharist. Pope Paul VI says, "Modern man will listen to witnesses before he will listen to teachers."
This homily is all about Gettin' Ready for St. Thomas to open our Perpetual Adoration Chapel!! We are just a few weeks out and there is a lot to take care of... specifically getting people to sign up for Holy Hours... which would be the best part of their week as they get to spend an hour with Jesus!
In this episode of What the Catholic, we talk with special guest Elaine Beyer about all things apologetics - what it is, how to do it, is it worth doing? We also talk a bit about the Blessed Mother as an example of how to do apologetics well. We had a blast recording this and hope you enjoy listening! Leave us feedback, comments, or further questions on our social media pages or at colonelcatholics@gmail.com. God bless and Geaux Colonels!
Listen to this explanation of the symbolism of the image of St. Joseph that will be in the Two Hearts Perpetual Adoration Chapel @ St. Thomas!
The Father doesn't just take his time walking out to meet us. He RUNS out and TACKLES us with everything He has! That's how badly He desires to be with us and for us to return to Him. Let the Father tackle you!
On this episode of What the Catholic, we talk all about prayer. What is prayer? How do we do it? What do we do if we never feel like we are praying "well?" How long should I pray? Where? We tackle all these questions and more on this episode! Feel free to message us on social media or via email if you have other questions. Thanks for listening!!
The parables in the Gospel today reveal to us who God is and how He reacts to our sin. The Lord is tirelessly seeking after us, waiting to show us unmatched mercy, if only we repent and return to Him. "I will rise and go to my Father." How do we do that? What does that look like? Listen to find out!
Check out our first episode of What the Catholic! In this episode, we introduce the idea and talk about what the podcast will look like! Hope you enjoy!
What does Jesus mean when He says that if we want to be His disciples, then we have to HATE our father and mother and brother and sister and children and wife? This is very confusing.... I thought we had to honor our parent? And by the way, it's His Momma's birthday today.... why should we honor Mary?
The question Jesus proposes to us is simple - are we willing to let Him interrupt our life? Are we willing to renounce our own plans and designs to allow Him to lead us where He desires? If we can do that - we will be saints. But if we don't, then we never will be. Let Jesus interrupt you so that He can reveal Himself to you more fully!
Humility is the lesson of today's Scripture readings. What is it, why do we need it, and what does it mean for our lives?
To get to the narrow gate, we have to be strong enough to get there. That means we have to train ourselves, to discipline ourselves to make it. Yet more than that, it has to be directed toward knowing Jesus concretely on our lives. He desires to know us more than anything. How is he inviting you to respond to that?
God invites us to be disciplined so that we can conquer the trials of our lives with his grace. How is he inviting you to be disciplined?
Jesus came to set the world on fire - a blazing wildfire, consuming everything and purifying it to allow new life to grow. He wants to set your heart on fire! Will you let him?
In the Gospel we see a very different Jesus... He is talking about His desire to cast a fire on the earth and dividing families!! What's the deal? What are supposed to think about "this" kind of Jesus?
Today is the Feast of the Assumption, when Mary is taken up to heaven, body and soul. If you could create your own momma... what would she be like? Jesus had the chance to do this, and He didn't hold back!!
Fall in love, stay in love, and it will decide everything. Jesus extends the invitation to answer that question. Where are my deepest loves? Let our love for Jesus be the thing that decides everything.
Jesus offers us a challenge when it comes to prayer today. Why do I even need to pray? How am I supposed to do it? What about when God doesn't seem to answer? Today Jesus invites us to authentic prayer that focuses not on getting things but on getting to know Someone. Now the question remains - what am I going to do about it?
What's the lesson of Martha and Mary in our lives today? Martha asks a very pointed question to Jesus - Do you not care?? How can we know that the Lord really does care about what happens to us?
Come to me, ALL you who labor - Jesus doesn't call some, but rather everyone to relationship. No matter what we've done.
Today, we hear God's call to Moses through the burning bush. What is the Lord inviting you to?