Cut It Down - Homily for March 24

Readings for Sunday, March 24 / 3rd Sunday of Lent:  Exodus 3:1-8, 13-15  |  Psalm 103  |  1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12  |  Luke 13:1-9

The readings this weekend both encourage and challenge us - God is with us, but He wants to see fruit from our lives.

Homily for November 4

Readings for Sunday, November 4 / 31st Sunday of Ordinary Time: Deuteronomy 6:2-6  |  Psalm 18  |    Hebrews 7:23-28  |  Mark 12:28-34

Christ tells us to love the Lord with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. What does that really mean? And how do we do it?

Responding to the Scandals - Homily for August 19

Readings for Sunday, August 19 / 20th Sunday of Ordinary Time: Proverbs 9:1-6  |  Psalm 34  |  Ephesians 5:15-20  |  John 6:51-58

Statement from Bishop Emeritus Robert Muench and my reflections on the scandals in the Church in America today.

Stirring Up Faith - Homily for June 24

Readings for Sunday, June 24 / Nativity of St. John the Baptist: Isaiah 49:1-6  |  Psalm 139  |  Acts 13:22-26  |  Luke 1:57-66, 80

The birth of John the Baptist brings his father Zechariah from doubt to faith. In his public ministry, John called the Israelites to repentance and deeper faith. He continues to do the same for us today. 

How Do We Receive Him? - Homily for May 27

Readings for Sunday, May 27 / Trinity Sunday:  Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40  |  Psalm 33  |  Romans 8:14-17  |  Matthew 28:16-20

There are three basic ways to receive Christ into the home of our soul: as a visitor, as a renter, or as the owner. How do you receive Him? 

Easter: The Spirit and the Fruit - Homily for May 20

Readings for Sunday, May 20 / Pentecost: Acts 2:1-11  |  Psalm 104  |  Galatians 5:16-25  |  John 20:19-23

The Spirit dwells in us and seeks to produce fruits within the soil of our soul. Are they there?

Easter: Pruning Needed (Homily for April 29)

Readings for Sunday, April 29 / 5th Sunday of Easter: Acts 9:26-31  |  Psalm 22  |  1 John 3:18-24  |  John 15:1-8

The Lord calls us to be people of integrity - to walk the walk and talk the talk, as they say. When we fail to do that is shows that there is some pruning that needs to happen in our heart. What joy it is to know that the Father is the vinedresser who knows exactly how to help us become fruitful.

Easter: The Sin and the Savior - Homily for April 8

Readings for Sunday, April 8 / Divine Mercy Sunday: Acts 4:32-35  |  Psalm 118  |  1 John 5:1-6  |  John 20:19-31

The key to salvation is accepting the message of Mercy: turn from sin and live the Life of Grace.

Commit (Outlining St. Ann's Program for Lent) - Homily for February 4

Readings for Sunday, February 4 / 5th Sunday of Ordinary Time: Job 7:1-4, 6-7  |  Psalm 147  |  1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23  |  Mark 1:29-39

Feeling hopeless? Look closer. This homily also discusses the parish plans for Lent this year.

Do We Respect Life? - Homily for January 21

Readings for Sunday, January 21 / 3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time: Jonah 3:1-5, 10  |  Psalm 25  |  1 Corinthians 7:29-31  |  Mark 1:14-20

When Jonah received the call to preach repentance to the people of Nineveh, he refused because 'they' weren't worthy of it. How easy it can be to draw lines between ourselves and others, or even subtly to rank a person or group of people as better or worse than others. In those places where we fail to value the life of every person before, the Lord calls to us: repent!

What are you looking for? - Homily for January 14

Ottavio Vannini's painting of John the Baptist
telling Andrew 'Behold, the Lamb of God'

Readings for Sunday, January 14 / 2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time: 1 Samuel 3:3-10, 19  |  Psalm 40  |  1 Corinthians 6:13-15, 17-20  |  John 1:35-42

As we begin again the quiet journey with Jesus in the 'green' time of the liturgical year, we are called to learn the voice of the Lord and follow the Lord that we might be able to understand the cry of our hearts when Jesus speaks to us: 'What are you looking for?'

Christmas: Diligently Seeking - Homily for January 7

Readings for Sunday, January 7 / Epiphany of the Lord: Isaiah 60:1-6  |  Psalm 72  |  Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6  |  Matthew 2:1-12

Today we imitate the Magi in seeking after the Lord, rejoicing when we find Him, and walking away changed from the encounter. 

The Importance of Oil - Homily for November 12

Readings for Sunday, November 12 / 32nd Sunday of Ordinary Time: Wisdom 6:12-16  |  Psalm 63  | 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18  |  Matthew 25:1-13

The Lord clearly reminds us this weekend that we must have oil to be prepared for His coming and the oil is the life of faith and the celebration of the Sacraments. Don't be caught off guard without a full tank!

Holy Mass: The Dismissal - Homily for October 15

Readings for Sunday, October 15 / 28th Sunday of Ordinary Time:  Isaiah 25:6-10  |  Psalm 23  |  Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20  |  Matthew 22:1-14

The final part of the Mass is the Dismissal, but it is by no means the least important. Even the few short words spoken for us have a particularly powerful element to them. 

Holy Mass: It is Right and Just - Homily for September 10

Readings for Sunday, September 10 / 23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time: Ezekiel 33:7-9  |  Psalm 95  |  Romans 13:8-10  |  Matthew 18:15-20

This week the Lord reminds us that gathering to pray in community is powerful. We are not Christians who content ourselves with a 'Me & Jesus' approach to the faith. Rather, we are members of the Body of Christ and when we gather together the Lord fills us with His grace and then sends us out to do the same for others. 

Holy Mass: The Offertory - Homily for September 3

Readings for Sunday, September 3rd / 22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time: Jeremiah 20:7-9  |  Psalm 63  |  Romans 12:1-2  |  Matthew 16:21-27

During the Offertory we are called to offer much more than money, bread, and wine. We are called to offer entire selves to become a living sacrifice that can be used in the hands of Our Blessed Lord. May God grant us the grace deny ourselves and follow Him. 

Papal Intention for July 2017

Papal Intention for July 2017

Pope's Prayer Intention - That our brothers and sisters who have strayed from the faith, through our prayer and witness to the Gospel, may rediscover the merciful closeness of the Lord and the beauty of the Christian life.

Prayer for the Pope

V. Let us pray for Francis, our Pope.

R. May the Lord preserve him, give him life, 

and make him blessed upon the earth, 

and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies.

Our Father... Hail Mary...

O God, Shepherd and Ruler of all Thy faithful people, look mercifully upon Thy servant Francis, whom Thou hast chosen as shepherd to preside over Thy Church. Grant him, we beseech Thee, that by his word and example, he may edify those over whom he hath charge, so that together with the flock committed to him, may he attain everlasting life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lent: Lost Time and Good Fruits - Homily for April 9

Readings for Sunday, April 9 / Palm Sunday: Matthew 21:1-11  |  Isaiah 50:4-7  |  Psalm 22  |  Philippians 2:6-11  |  Matthew 26:14-27:66

How has your Lent gone? If it has been less than you desired, don't be discouraged! Our Lord can bring forth good fruit from lost time and wasted grace. Let's begin again!

Lent: The Blind Leading Those With Sight (Homily for March 26)

'Healing of a Blind Man' by Brian Jekel

Readings for Sunday, March 26 / 4th Sunday of Lent: 1 Samuel 16:1, 6-7, 10-13  |  Psalm 23  | Ephesians 5:8-14  |  John 9:1-41

The Lord loves to use physical signs to convey truth about spiritual realities all through the Scriptures. And He still does it today: the Seven Sacraments.

Lent: The Unexpected - Homily for March 19

The rock at Horeb said to have provided the water

Readings for Sunday, March 19 / 3rd Sunday of Lent: Exodus 17:3-7  |  Psalm 95  |  Romans 5:1-2, 5-8  |  John 4:5-42

God does unexpected things. You should too.