Fr. David Hogan

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time When John the Baptist called out, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." It is a revelation of who Jesus is. Reflecting more on this title of Christ, we are invited to consider who we are and what is our own mission. As we receive Christ in the Holy Eucharist, we encounter the living God further strengthening us for the work that lies ahead a...

The Epiphany of the Lord The magi, having been filled with joy, dangerous wonder, and obedience, followed the star which ultimately led to the site of our Lord's birth. Throughout this exciting and dangerous adventure, when challenged by God, the magi chose surrender and trust. The magi's journey from beginning to end ought to help shape our spiritual lives in being attuned toward God and His plan...

Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph The simple truth is every family is imperfect. Jesus did not come into an ideal and wealthy household from a human standard standpoint, but into a real family with challenges. Jesus grew up learning, obeying, and depending upon Mary and Joseph. Mary trusted God even when she did not fully understand. Joseph quietly protected, provided, and obeyed...

The Nativity of the Lord  Merry Christmas!  Christmas is not just remembering an event that took place over 2,000 years ago. Nor is attending Christmas Mass, simply a tradition, an obligation or family pressure. Christmas is an opportunity for people to encounter the living God in a new way. For Christians, their baptism is their first Christmas. Through the words and actions of the priest or deac...

Fourth Sunday in Advent The fourth and final Sunday of Advent stands close to Christmas. Today’s Gospel centers on St. Joseph, a man faced with an unexpected pregnancy . His response teaches us how God asks us to choose trust over fear, mercy over judgement, and always life, even when the future feels uncertain. Scripture Readings for Sunday December 21, 2025 Isaiah 7:10-14 Psalm 24:1-6 Romans 1:1...

Second Sunday in Advent Advent is certainly a season of waiting and trusting on the Lord, but it is also a reminder that God keeps His promises when we cannot see how.  Advent trust means: Trusting God’s timing—He comes when the moment is right.  Trusting God’s method—He comes humbly, quietly, often unnoticed. Trusting God’s promise—Christ will come again in glory. The opposite of trust is not dou...

First Sunday in Advent The season of advent opens with hope. Not fear but hope that God is coming to save His people. Hope is not passive optimism; but invites total conversion, a new way of thinking, seeing, and living the life of grace.  Spiritual sleep, on the other hand, is associated with set routines void of one's heart being fully engaged, faith void of intrinsically motivated desire for Go...

The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe Jesus was one of the most misunderstood figures in history. From the beginning of his life, through the grace of the virgin birth until His death, many people, including his own followers found it difficult in understanding his mission and purpose.  Everyday we choose which king we will serve: the false kings of power, pride, ego, and co...

Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Luke's Gospel account outlines Jesus description of how the end of the world will come about. Jesus' sobering words offers readers the opportunity to see two differing world views, the world created by man and the world created by God via the story of creation.  Jesus makes it clear we will be martyr's before we become saints. A martyr by definition is a witnes...

The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls) Eschatology is the study of the last four things: death, judgement, heaven, and hell. All Souls Day reminds us of our communion with the dead, those who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith. As we pray, "Eternal rest grant unto them, Oh Lord," we also entrust ourselves to His Mercy. Now and at the hour of our own death. Script...

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Prayer is the oxygen we need to spiritually live. It is our primary connection with God. In today's Gospel we read about two individuals who enter the temple to pray with different postures of this fundamental reality: the pharisee and the tax collector.  The pharisee left the temple self-justified leading to further self-guilt and self-hatred. Whereas, the tax co...

Twenty Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time All three of the Sunday Mass readings have the theme of perseverance. Moses persisting in the fight against the Amalek's, St. Paul in encouraging St. Timothy to remain faithful in teaching and witness both when it's convenient and inconvenient, and the persistent widow in asking for a judgement from an unjust judge. We need to hear them over and over again. Why...

Twenty Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time St. Paul in his letter to St. Timothy encourages him to "fan into flame" the gift given him, not to be ashamed of witnessing Christ, and to hold fast to sound teaching. As Catholics we ought not to agree more.  Scripture Readings for October 5, 2025 Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4 Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14 Luke 17:5-10

Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time The prophet Amos challenges us to see the suffering around us and respond. He goes on to imply further that indifference to others' suffering is a moral failure. Our Gospel presents the reality of Amos' preaching via the telling of the story of the rich man and Lazarus. Notice both the rich man and Lazarus' eternal destinies are reversed: the rich man had a nam...

Twenty Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Having taken to prayer many of the recent incidents of violence in our country, it is painful to see how we as a country do not see one another. Rather, we see political sides, division, and contempt. Though there is much strife, we are never too far gone. Proof of this is found in our Gospel today regarding the unjust steward. May all the Souls of the faithful...

Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:25). These words of Jesus seem shocking and harsh. Instead, Jesus is using a literary device called hyperbole, that uses extreme exaggeration to create a strong impression or emphasize a point; it’s not...

Twenty First Sunday in Ordinary Time Jerusalem is understood as a spiritual reference to pain, suffering, sorrow, and death. These are all realities people attempt to avoid at all costs. Jesus, having freely taken up His own cross, teaches us that power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, strive to enter through the narrow gate. Scripture Readings August 24, 2025 Isaiah 66:18-21 Psalm 117:1, 2...

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Jesus assures his disciples the peace given to them will be diametrically opposed to the peace the world offers. How can Jesus be both the Prince of Peace who teaches his disciples to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them. While also in today's Gospel say that He has come to bring not peace but division? Is Jesus contradicting himself? Quite the...

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time An order of Trappist monks whose members live among the Muslim population in northern Africa. As the country is plunged into civil war in the mid-1990s, the men of God must decide whether to stay among the impoverished residents who have been their neighbors, or flee the encroaching fundamentalist terrorists. The situation that unfolds, based on actual events, h...

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time With Jesus in her home, Martha is "anxious and worried" because she fails to see the "one thing" that all her busyness is ordered to: attending to the Lord Jesus Christ. At some point all the success and progress we have made in our lives will be passed on to future generations. Up until we arrive at this important moment, have we filled our life with many things...

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time The movie Nefarious (2023) tells the story on the day of a man’s scheduled execution, a convicted serial killer gets a psychiatric evaluation during which he claims he is a demon, and further claims that before their time is over, the psychiatrist will commit three murders of his own.  In our Gospel for today, the seventy-two disciples whom Jesus sends out to pre...

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles The Miracle of Dunkirk refers to the large-scale evacuation of Allied soldiers from Dunkirk, France, during World War II. Trapped by German forces, over 338,000 British and Allied troops were rescued by a combined effort of the Royal Navy and civilian boats between May 26 and June 4, 1940.  Sts. Peter and St. Paul went on a spiritual rescue mission acro...

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ The phrase Body of Christ was a deliberate chose of words for both the Eucharist and the Church. The Second Vatican Council calls the Church the people of God. The people of God are connected spiritually and invisibly to Christ through the gift of the Eucharist. May there be greater bonds of unity and peace as we recognize the gift of God in...

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity There is a essential link between God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) and humanity. St Paul outlines in our second reading today this necessary connection through the language of golden chains. Though there is much to say and can be said about the Most Holy Trinity, one of its greatest attributes is unity. Scripture Reading for June 15, 2025 Proverbs 8:22-31 P...

Ascension of the Lord There can be a temptation to think Jesus' ascension into heaven was his way of distancing himself physically and spiritually from humanity. Instead, Jesus reminds his disciples that he must go otherwise the Paraclete (Holy Spirit) will not come. Our Catholic Christian faith is rooted in the hope of both the Resurrection and the Ascension of the Lord. May the ascended Lord ren...