Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Is 6: 1-2a,3-8, 1 Cor 15:1-11, Luke 5:1-11 Dear Sisters and Brothers, Unworthy Ministers In a certain church there was a man in the choir who couldn’t sing very well. The choir director suggested that he should leave the choir. Others felt he should be given more time [...]
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Jer 1: 4-5, 17-19, 1 Cor 12: 31-13:13, Luke 4:21-30 Dear Sisters and Brothers, I think one of the reasons Jesus got into trouble in Nazareth was because he was so ordinary. His friends and neighbors could not conceive that he was any better than they were. St. [...]
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10, 1 Corinthians 12:12-30, Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21 Dear Sisters and Brothers, You have heard frequently of the Babylonian exile and how the Persians conquered the Babylonians fifty years later and allowed the Jews to return home. Many of the Jews in Babylon had become rather [...]
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Is 62:1-5, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, John 2:1-11 Dear Sisters and Brothers, Concern for Others is the Beginning of Miracles: St John in his gospel mentions Mary, the mother of Jesus two times: at the marriage feast at Cana, the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus and at [...]
Feast of the Baptism of the Lord Is 40: 1-5, 9-11, Titus 2: 11-14, 3: 4-7, Luke 3: 15-16, 21-22 Dear sisters and brothers, The Grace of Baptism Years ago, there was a conference in England to discuss the question, “What makes Christianity different from all the other religions of the world?” At [...]
The Epiphany of our Lord Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6, Matthew 2:1-12 Dear Sisters and Brothers, God has sent us His Son, Jesus Christ. The Son is given for all of us, not just for a chosen group—for all of us. So, we chant in the Christmas Season: Christ is born for us! [...]
The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph 1Sam 1: 20-22, 24-28, 1Jn 3: 1-2, 21-24, Lk 2: 41-52 Dear sisters and brothers, On this, the Sunday within the Octave of Christmas, we honor the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. In honoring them, we also honor all families, big or small. [...]
FOR CHRISTMAS VIGIL Isaiah 9:1-6, Titus 2: 11-14, Luke 1-14 HOMILY THEME: THE UNIVERSAL KING Dear sisters and brothers, We are here tonight to celebrate God’s love for humanity. For the light has finally shined from the end of the tunnel after many years of darkness of sin and hopelessness for humanity. Today, [...]
4th Sunday of Advent Mi 5:2-5a, Heb 10:5-10, Lk 1:39-45 Dear sisters and brothers, This year we have five days after the last Sunday of Advent in which to recall and meditate on what Christmas is all about. The Mass Readings this Sunday outline what is happening. From Bethlehem shall come forth [...]
Third Sunday of Advent Zephaniah 3:14-18a, Philippians 4:4-7, Luke 3:10-18 Dear sisters and brothers, How wonderful are the readings in this time of Advent! These readings speak to us of God’s love for us and God’s compassion and delight in His people. It can be very difficult to remain unmoved by the [...]