This weekend our Deacon is preaching, so I will not have a homily of my own to record. If you miss my voice enough, go into the archives and listen to one of my previous homilies! Have a Blessed Easter season and you’ll hear from me next week, which is our First Holy Communion weekend.
Rise: Spiritually and Physically
Happy Easter!!!
Paying a Visit
Palm Sunday
We are entering into the holiest week of the year as we join Jesus for his final days of earthly life: partaking with his disciples at the Last Supper, grieving with his followers as he is led to the cross and crucified, waiting in silence as he lies in the grave, and then rejoicing with the whole world as he rises from the dead! I know this is a busy time – lots of preparation for Easter and family and travels…but in the midst of this week, take some time to join the Father in “paying a visit”, if you will, to the grave of Jesus, so that come Easter Sunday you can experience in a new and deeper way the unbelievable power of the resurrection!
No Homily This Weekend
This weekend I will be travelling to Green Bay to receive my 4th Degree Exemplification in the Knights of Columbus. Please say a prayer in thanksgiving for all Knights and the great work that they do on behalf of our God and our Church.
Why Should I Let You Into Heaven?
4th Sunday of Lent
A Catholic university professor once asked a group of his students how they would respond if they were to die that very night, appear before God, and be asked the question, “Why should I let you into heaven?” All the answers had one thing in common: they were all wrong. The answers revolved around the things we do for God. But the Good News of the Gospel is that it’s all about what God has done for us! Jesus Christ came to this earth to carry the weight of our sins, to suffer and die for us, so that we could enjoy eternal life with Him! Any good that we do…it’s because of what God first did for us!
Thirsty for Souls
3rd Sunday of Lent
In the Gospel today, as Jesus encounters the Samaritan woman at the well, He proves how God is not slowed down in the slightest by our unworthiness or mistakes or sinfulness: God still thirsts for this woman’s faith and trust. Even though she is in what we’d call today an “irregular marital situation” (married 5 times and currently living with a man who’s not her husband) Jesus still offers to her the Holy Spirit. Jesus thirsts for each and every one of us, too – God thirsts for souls! Will you give Him a drink of yours?
Taking a Compliment
2nd Sunday of Lent
In the Transfiguration, Peter, James and John glimpse for a moment Jesus as He truly is, in His radiant glory as God. The voice of the Father proclaims “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” and Jesus takes the compliment, allowing it to strengthen Him for his coming suffering and death in Jerusalem. By our baptism, we are made radiant as God’s children as well, and the Father says to us, “You are my beloved child, with you I am well pleased!” Those words are meant to strengthen us for the struggles in life, not to be pushed out by all the excuses we come up with. Do you know how to take the compliment?
Talk: Science and Faith
What if I told you there is no scientific discovery that can disrupt our faith? What if I told you that the Catholic Church LOVES science? What if I told you that most of what you’ve heard about science and faith is extremely misinformed? Join me for this 1 hour presentation and prepare to have your mind blown!
A Tale of 2 Men
1st Sunday of Lent
Our readings today present us the with tale of 2 men: The 1st man – Adam – and the New Adam – Jesus Christ. Both are tempted by the serpent. The Old Adam falls and turns away from the Father; the New Adam stands strong in faithfulness to His Father. This Lent is a journey into the desert with Jesus. It will be a time of testing and temptation for us just as it was for Him. In the face of the temptations to come, will we be like the Old Adam, or the New Adam?
Seek First the Kingdom of God
8th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jesus tells us in our Gospel this week not to be anxious about food, clothing, or tomorrow. There are so many things in life that we worry about…is it really that easy to just stop worrying? We worry when we feel alone, but Jesus challenges us this Sunday to “seek first the kingdom of God.” We are made, as humans, for deep, rich relationships. When we seek a deep and rich relationship with God first (and then seek to honor the other relationships in our lives next), then all these things that used to cause us worry just won’t worry us anymore.
This Lent, don’t just give up chocolate or sweets, add something to your life in these amazing 40 days to bring you closer in your relationship with Jesus.
A resource you may find helpful: BestLentEver.com