Fr. David Hogan

Sixth Sunday in Easter God is revealed in three stages throughout human history. First, God the Father is revealed in the Old Testament as above His creation. Next, God the Son is revealed in the New Testament by becoming human. Finally, the Holy Spirit is revealed through the Church within the heart of man. Knowing how important this relationship is with the creator of the heavens and the earth,...

Fifth Sunday of Easter Today's Gospel is one of Jesus' last earthly life discourses. He installs a new commandment: "Love one another as I have loved you. Love is an act of the will, demonstrating both one's care for another's wellbeing, while also reinforcing one's connection to Jesus as his disciples. Just because life is difficult does not mean we are not living life correctly. As our first rea...

Fourth Sunday in Easter Pope LIV's episcopal motto is "In Illo Uno Unum," which translates to "In the One, we are one". This motto, a Latin phrase taken from St. Augustine's teachings, emphasizes the unity of Christians in Christ.  The fact that we are not one brings scandal. Nonetheless, the pope serves as shepherd over the entire flock. May God bless our new holy father in uniting the world. Scr...

Third Sunday of Easter We are reminded from Acts of the Apostles that we must obey God rather than men. The more a person does so, conforming oneself to Him, friendship will grow from sentimental to self-sacrificing love. It's profound how much God loves His creation. Have you taken the time recently to reflect on this great gift?   Scripture Reading for May 4, 2025 Acts 5:27-32, 40-41 Psalm 30:2,...

Divine Mercy Sunday When did life begin to click for you? Learning and growth is a life long endeavor. God provides avenues of transformation if we are willing to be taught. In today's Gospel we reflect upon St. Thomas' pursuit of faith by encountering the resurrected Christ. Learn how to ask good questions and humbly receive the answers.  Scripture Readings for April 27, 2025 Acts 5:12-16 Psalm 1...

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time The life of St. John Vianney served as a priest in Ars, France for forty-one years. His life modeled after Christ was not just for parish priests, but for all Christians aspiring to lead a holy and virtuous life. One of the many ways he demonstrated Christ's love was by forgiving and loving his enemies. Let us ask for the intercession of St. John Vianney to do the s...

The Presentation of the Lord Today's celebration highlights Jesus' presentation in the Temple. Both Simeon and Anna have been preparing for this moment their entire lives. Simeon and Anna model a similar process, preparation, and purification we as people of faith go through our entire lives. Scripture Readings for February 2, 2025 Malachi 3:1-4 Hebrews 2:14-18 Psalm 24:7-10 Luke 2:22-40  

Third Sunday in Ordinary  Time Jesus is back home in the synagogue where he grew up. Many of the people there were those who knew Him, his father Joseph, and his mother Mary well. Why do the people of Nazareth and all of humanity have a hard time accepting Jesus? Because the God of the universe is closer than we want Him to be. “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to procla...

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time “Our culture has filled our heads but emptied our hearts, stuffed our wallets but starved our wonder. It has fed our thirst for facts but not for meaning or mystery. It produces "nice" people, not heroes.” (Peter Kreeft) Because people have been so intent on other things that they have given up on reflecting on the works of God and thereby praising the creator for Hi...

The Baptism of the Lord One of the most important moments in the life of a Christian is their baptism. Yet, for most people their baptism took place when they were weeks or months old with little to no personal recollection of the event. Gratefully, our parents knew better and acted on our behalf. Baptism can be seen strictly as a membership card to Church or rite of passage. Yet, baptism is more...

Feast of the Holy Family Being part of a family is wonderful but also complicated and messy at times. On the last Sunday of the calendar year, we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family. Today we offer our own families and all their members on the altar of God to ask for His blessing on them and obtain for them the guidance of the Holy Family.  Scripture Readings for December 29, 2024 Sirach 3:2-7,...

The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) The people who walked in darkness         have seen a great light;     upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom         a light has shone. (Is 9:1) May the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ bring glad tidings to you and your family this Christmas season!    

Fourth Sunday of Advent In today’s readings as in our daily lives, the presence of God is recognized in the little things. Does not each of us know how a small gesture of greeting can transform someone? Not a word from Mary is recorded in today’s Gospel but her gesture of familial love speaks volumes.  We have probably been busy with the hustle and bustle of the Christmas shopping season, placing...

Third Sunday in Advent St. Luke's account for this Sunday's Gospel is written at the beginning stages of Jesus' public ministry. St. Luke was an eyewitness to the life of Jesus, therefore he sets the stage for the one coming who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. Today we light the third advent candle symbolizing joy. Are we joyfully preparing for the one who is to come?   Scripture Readi...

2nd Sunday in Advent In our second reading, St. Paul is writing to the Philippians encouraging them that, he is "confident, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus." Biblical scholars would call God the "hound of heaven." We love God because God first loved us (1 John 4:19). Here is how Jesus acknowledged this truth, “You did not choose...

First Sunday of Advent The season of Advent is a time of waiting, properly understood as preparation. During the hustle and bustle of the holiday season it is normal to focus on menu planning, shopping for gifts, and writing Christmas cards. These are the usual ways to prepare for Christmas. One important part we left out though is found in today's Gospel. Jesus tells his disciples, “Be vigilant a...

Solemnity of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe The dialogue between Pilate and Jesus is quite intriguing: “Are you a king?” Both Pilate and Jesus are coming from two different understandings of kingship. Jesus responds, “Yes, I have a kingdom, but it is not of this world. Christ’s kingdom is derived from a greater power than intimidation and worldly influence. The kingdom of God is built upon wil...

Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time The movie Gladiator, directed by Ridley Scott, tells the story of a well respected general in the Roman Army, who sets out to exact vengeance against the corrupt emperor who murdered his family and sent him into slavery. Maximus fights for his freedom and those he has become friends with as fellow Gladiators.  The theme of this Sunday's readings are about battl...

Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time The famous expression, "We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak,” resonates well with all three readings this Sunday.  Shema Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. You shall love your neighbor as yours...

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus, teaches us in our Gospel for Sunday how to see with the eyes of faith. Yes, we may be able to see physically, but that does not mean we know where we are going spiritually. Through prayer and discernment, God equips you and I to seek Him out despite the most chaotic of environments.   Scripture Readings for October 27, 2024 Jeremiah 31:...

Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time This weekend the universal Church celebrates World Mission Sunday. This year, Pope Francis asked us to reflect on the theme, Go! and invite everyone to the banquet. We can find this message in the parable of the wedding feast, urging us to extend God's invitation of love and salvation to all. Before we are to engage in the worldwide mission of evangelization, t...

Twenty Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time The God of Israel wants his people to be fruitful and to multiply. In our modern times, the breakdown of marriage and family life comes from a tendency to define one's own life on one's own terms. This kind of philosophy represents the breaking apart of the biblical vision of God's intentions for mankind.  As Jesus referenced in the book of Genesis, "It's not...

Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Once again we are in the middle of a contentious election cycle, which presents challenges and opportunities to proclaim our Catholic faith. This year in Missouri we are voting on Amendment 3, a proposal to radically change out constitution. Jennifer Brinker, archdiocesan columnist wrote, "Amendment 3 would eliminate legal protections that currently safeguard t...

Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Modern technology along with advertising agencies invest time, research, and millions of dollars toward selling products that people may or may not actually need or buy! As a result, we get used to the sales pitch. If Jesus' "marketing campaign" began today he may not last long as he spoke about people eating his flesh and drinking his blood, rejection, sufferi...

Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time The song, How Can I Keep from Singing by Pauline T & Robert Lowry, speaks poetically about the song of hope we carry as human beings. A hope not just for a better tomorrow, but one in which the Lord is walking with us through the ups and downs of life. When the man in today's Gospel was blessed to receive his hearing and speech back, it is the gift of faith...