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The One Less Traveled

08. January 2012 · Write a comment · Categories: Homilies

The Epiphany of the Lord (Mt 2:1-12)

For many of us—we men especially—asking for directions is often a difficult task, primarily because it might appear to be a sign of weakness to have to seek the assistance of others, or heaven forbid, a recognition that we are completely lost with absolutely no idea where we are or how we got here. If only we had a map tucked away inside our head that could guide us everywhere we wished to go. Life would be so much more enjoyable if only it weren’t so unpredictable.

What’s In A Name?

01. January 2012 · Write a comment · Categories: Homilies

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (Lk 2:16-21)

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Juliet Capulet asks this question in William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. For many cultures a name carries great importance; it is a measure of what a person will be in the future. Joseph and Mary named their child Jesus because that was the name given to them by the angel. It is a name that signifies his identity and his mission; in Hebrew, it literally means “The Lord Saves” or “He Who saves the People”. Isaiah predicted that the child would be born of a virgin and would be called Emmanuel which means “God with us.”

The Light of the World

25. December 2011 · Write a comment · Categories: Homilies

let there be light, let there be life, let there be love

A blessed Christmas to everyone! What a wonderful, glorious, sacred time of the year this is. God loves us and we know He loves us because He sent his only Son, Jesus, into our world to bring light to a world cloaked in darkness.

Be the Light

11. December 2011 · Write a comment · Categories: Homilies

Third Sunday in Advent (Jn 1:6-8, 19-28)

On the first day of creation God said “Let there be light,” and there was light. And in two weeks we will hear “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone. You have brought them abundant joy…”

A Quiet Stillness

03. December 2011 · Write a comment · Categories: Homilies

Second Sunday in Advent (Mk 1:1-8)

The Advent Season is once again upon us but just exactly what is Advent? We often hear it described with words such as yearning, waiting, hoping, longing, and preparing, but yearning, waiting, hoping, longing, and preparing for what?

We are the Body of Christ

20. November 2011 · Write a comment · Categories: Homilies

Solemnity of our Lord Jesus Christ the King (Mt 25:31-46)

St. Martin of Tours was a Bishop in the fourth century. Born to a senior officer in the Roman army, he was required to join the army at the age of fifteen. One day, while he was serving in the army, as he was approaching the gates of the city of Amiens he met a barely clothed man begging for alms in the freezing cold. He immediately stopped and impulsively cut his military cloak in half and shared it with the beggar. That night Martin dreamed of Jesus wearing the half-cloak he had given away and he heard Jesus say to the angels: “Here is Martin, the Roman soldier who is not baptized; he gave it me.” Martin’s disciple and biographer Sulpicius Severus states that as a consequence of this vision Martin “flew to be baptized.”

The You God Created You to Be

12. November 2011 · Write a comment · Categories: Homilies

33rd Sunday in Ordinary TIme (Mt 25:14-30)

The Jewish-American author and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Elie Wiesel wrote in his book Souls on Ice that “When we meet our Creator at the end of our life, we won’t be asked, ‘How well did you use the talents I gave you to love and serve my people on earth?’ Rather, we’ll be asked: ‘How well did you use your talents to become you—the you I created you to be?’”
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Knowledge is Brain Food, Wisdom is Soul Food

05. November 2011 · Write a comment · Categories: Homilies

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Mt 25:1-13)

Eliezer ben Hurcanus was a first and second century rabbi who was known to tell his disciples to, “Repent one day before your death.” And when asked, “How will we know when that day is?” he would reply, “All the more reason to repent today, lest you die tomorrow.” More »

Death Cannot Separate Us

02. November 2011 · Write a comment · Categories: Homilies

Commemoration of All Souls (Jn 6:37-40)

Within the soul of every human being God has instilled the desire for eternal life and happiness. While death claims each of us at the appointed time, God gives us something which death cannot touch–his own divine life and sustaining power.

Don’t Worry, Be Happy

01. November 2011 · Write a comment · Categories: Homilies

Solemnity of All Saints (Mt 5:1-12a)

Today we celebrate All Saints Day, a day for honoring the countless men and women who have lived a life of virtue and holiness and now reside in the presence of our Lord and Savior in heaven. While we generally relegate notions of sainthood and holiness to those honored dead we should remember that all the saints exercised their lives of sanctity and devotion to God while living here on earth. In honoring those who have died we must not ignore or forget those saints who are living among us today.