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.

Becoming Heavenly - Homily for February 24

Readings for Sunday, February 24 / 7th Sunday of Ordinary Time:  1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23  |  Psalm 103  |  1 Corinthians 15:45-49  |  Luke 6:27-38

Within every baptized person's heart is a battle taking place between the Earthly and the Heavenly parts. Which one is winning in you?

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?

Homily for Sunday, October 28

Readings for Sunday, October 28 / 30th Sunday of Ordinary Time: Jeremiah 31:7-9  |  Psalm 126  |  Hebrews 5:1-6  |  Mark 10:46-52

Fall short though we may, the Lord is always patient with us and continues to invite us into his saving work.

Homily for Sunday, October 14

Readings for Sunday, October 14 / 28th Sunday of Ordinary Time: Wisdom 7:7-11 |  Psalm 90  |  Hebrews 4:12-13  |  Mark 10:17-30

Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? Have you asked this question for yourself?

John 6: Decisions, decisions. - Homily for August 26

Readings for Sunday, August 26 / 21st Sunday of Ordinary Time: Joshua 24:1-2, 15-18  |  Psalm 34  | Ephesians 5:21-32  |  John 6:60-69

This weekends' readings bring us to the conclusion of the Bread of Life discourse by Our Lord. The invitation is for us to make a decision, and the readings show us how.

John 6: The Starting Point - Homily for July 29

Readings for Sunday, July 29 / 17th Sunday of Ordinary Time: 2 Kings 4:42-44  |  Psalm 145  |  Ephesians 4:1-6  |  John 6:1-15

The longing of the human heart can be filled only by Christ. When we stop trying to fill it with other things, then we can finally begin the journey to the fulness of life we desire.

Food From the Father - Homily for July 22

Readings for Sunday, July 22 / 16th Sunday of Ordinary Time: Jeremiah 23:1-6  |  Psalm 23  |  Ephesians 2:13-18  |  Mark 6:30-34

This weekend we hear all about the food that the Father provides for us - and it's not cheeseburgers.

The Chosen - Homily for July 15

Readings for Sunday, July 15 / 15th Sunday of Ordinary Time: Amos 7:12-15  |  Psalm 85  |  Ephesians 1:3-14  |  Mark 6:7-13

God has chosen you. Rejoice in that fact. And then get to work doing the Lord's will for you as one of His chosen ones.

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: The Head and the Body - Homily for May 13

Readings for May 13 / Ascension of Our Lord:  Acts 1:1-11  |  Psalm 47  |  Ephesians 1:17-23  |  Mark 16:15-20

The feast of the Ascension of Our Lord tells us much about Christ the Head and about our mission as the Body. Let's get to work!

Easter: Really Listen (Homily for May 6)

Readings for Sunday, May 6 / 6th Sunday of Easter: Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48  |  Psalm 98  |  1 John 4:7-10  |  John 15:9-17

Today we hear much about the of God and loving one another. These messages from the Scriptures can become so familiar to us that they lose their power. Today the Lord invites us to really listen to them, as if for the first time.

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 Good Shepherd - Homily for April 22

Readings for Sunday, April 22 / 4th Sunday of Easter: Acts 4:8-12  |  Psalm 118  |  1 John 3:1-2  |  John 10:11-18

Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for us. Are we willing to lay ours down to follow Him? 

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.

Lent: The Hour Has Come - Homily for March 18

Readings for Sunday, March 18 / 5th Sunday of Lent: Jeremiah 31:31-34  |  Psalm 51  |  Hebrews 5:7-9  |  John 12:20-33

Throughout the first half of John's Gospel we hear Jesus refer to 'my hour' and that it had not yet come. Today, the Hour has finally come and the Lord longs for us to join Him in it. 

Go Show Yourself to the Priest - Homily for February 11

Readings for Sunday, February 11 / 6th Sunday of Ordinary Time: Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46  |  Psalm 32  |  1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1  |  Mark 1:40-45

Our contemporary world often tries to create a division between Jesus and Religion, as if Jesus was opposed to all religious affiliation. The Gospel today shows us quite a different story. 

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.

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?'