Weekly Homilies at St. Joseph Parish

Christ is in charge of everything, and He has given authority to us, through the very nature of our baptism, to rule as kings. Through our baptism, we share in that kingship of Jesus Christ. Do we take a moment to appreciate that great gift He has given to us: authority over our own lives to be able to follow Him, to choose the good? Gospel: Luke 23:35-43 #christtheking #baptism #priest #prophet #...

Out of love for us and a desire to share His life with us, He opened the gates of heaven for all to have the hope of eternal life. One of the memorial acclamations is "We proclaim your death, O Lord, and profess your resurrection until You come again." We know that Christ is coming again. Why do we fear it? Gospel: Luke 21:5-19 #death #resurrection #gatesofheaven #eternallife #catholic #Jesus

The physical world plays a huge role to us. We need to touch, smell, hear, and taste in order to experience life. We are bodies and souls. This is why all seven sacraments have something physical about them: you feel the water rush over your head; you hear the words of absolution. You taste the Eucharist. St. Paul said we are the church, we are the living stones. And God resides here, in our physi...

Why are there souls in purgatory? Heaven is where God dwells and those who are saints are worshipping Him constantly. Here, there is no spot or stain of sin, no attachment to sin. Purgatory is given to those who die here on Earth and have lesser sins or an attachment to sin, and God purifies them. All who go to purgatory are assured of their eternal salvation. Gospel: John 6:37-40 #purgatory #puri...

Next week is National Vocations Awareness Week. Is God calling you to a specific vocation, whether it is the priesthood, religious life, or marriage? This week, Father St. Denis shares his vocation story and explores the questions: "God, why am I here? What have you created me for?" Gospel: Luke 18:9-14 #vocations #priesthood #religiouslife #God #Jesus #Catholic #life

We can often get distracted while praying, whether it's our mind wandering or an external distraction that takes us off course. But just like the widow in today's Gospel, we need to be persistent when it comes to our relationship with Jesus. It is a conversation with our Lord, and we must allow time and space for quiet and discernment. Gospel: Luke 18:1-8 #prayer #persistence #catholic #re...

Our baptism is our initiation into the Church and the faith, but it is not a once-and-done event. Just like the Samaritan leper in today's Gospel, do we return back to the Lord in thanksgiving for the many gifts we have been given? Do we come to Sunday Mass, or visit Jesus in Confession or Adoration? Today is a great day to live out the Faith. Gospel: Luke 17:11-19 #thanksgiving #faith #Mass #...

We get so absorbed in preparing for the future: 30, 40, 50 years down the road. We compare ourselves with others about our retirement plans and preparations for when we are old. When we become anxious about all the happenings in the world (war, famine, strife), we cling to earthly comforts to get us by. But we don't look far enough into the future, toward eternity, toward our Heavenly Father....

The world is a scary place: school shootings, violence, hatred, and more. What in the world is going on? It is through Christ's sufferings that we find redemption. He did not come to save us from our sufferings, but he came with compassion. How often do we cry out to God to end our sufferings, to take away our pain? But yet it still remains. What is God's answer? The cross. Gospel: John 3:...

If you are familiar with Middle Eastern culture, you are aware of the close-knit nature of families, which provide opportunities for safety, employment, and marriage prospects. In today's Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples that to follow him, they must give up their families, which can be a heavy cross. He is asking them to give up everything, which breaks the social norms. This hasn't chan...

Our dignity comes from Him and no one else. We try, each and every one of us, to prove our dignity over and over and over. But we don't need to prove the dignity that we have in Christ because it is God who gives it to us, not any one human being. All the saints understood that humility means depending upon God rather than ourselves. The saints lived in the Truth that they were sons and daught...

,This week we were joined by Father Agapitus Hector Businge from the Catholic Diocese of Hoima in Uganda. In addition to sharing insights in our weekly reading, he tells the congregation about St. Mary's Children and Women Specialized Hospital that offers specialized care to millions in need in Africa. "Indeed, when God comes to save us from all forms of oppressive forces, whether they are politic...

Whenever we only consider in our minds what we should do, we are just debating among ourselves. This is not discernment about where God desires us to be. We are called to think of what is above, not what's on Earth. But how quickly our feeble minds turn to what we can see, touch, taste, and feel, that instant gratification. Gospel: Luke 12:13-21 #richfool #prayer #God #catholic #christian #homily

Jesus taught us a new way to pray. We are no longer alone in our prayers, isolated. Now it is joined with that of Jesus through the Holy Spirit. And now we call God our Father, no longer orphans but the sons and daughters of the Lord. Gospel: Luke 11:1-13 #homily #Catholic #Abba #Father #prayers

For a Christian, the works of service and charity are never to be detached from listening to the Word of God. Yes, this is a part of our lives, who we are, but the reason why we serve is to imitate Christ, Who serves all humanity. How do we know how to serve if we do not sit at His feet and listen to Him? Gospel: Luke 10:38-42 #homily #Martha #Mary #Catholic #service #Christian #Christ

In this week's Gospel, we are faced with the answer of how to attain eternal life: Love the Lord with everything you are, AND love your neighbor as yourself. Why are these two tasks so hard to live out? It's even more difficult when we understand everyone is our neighbor, not just the ones we want to be. "Go and do likewise." Gospel: Luke 10:25-37 #goodsamaritan #jesus #neighbor...

We hear this week how Jesus sends out 72 disciples to prepare the Way of the Lord. Just like our brothers of long ago, we are tasked to prepare the way of the Lord for his Second Coming. God tasks us to proclaim His glory, His salvation, and it must be shared with all. Gospel: Luke 10:1-12, 17-20 #homily #mission #disciples #jesus #ordinarytime #catholic

It is the blood of the martyrs and the apostles that becomes the seeds of faith that blossoms into the Roman Catholic Church. It is thanks to their witness in taking the words from Jesus Christ himself and bringing them out into the world that you and I can be here today. If God can take a coward (St. Peter) and a murderer (St. Paul) and turn them into the greatest saints in the church, what amazi...

In today's gospel, we are challenged to examine our hearts and ask if we are ready to receive the Lord: Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. We need to come pure of heart. Christ first desires to heal the people before he feeds them, and that is just what he does in today's Gospel miracle. Jesus is here for our healing and our nourishment. Gospel: Luke 9:11b-17 #corpuschristi #catholic #Jesus #...

God is LOVE. We don't say God has love but that He IS love. We reflect the love of God, but our love is imperfect through sin. But God's love is complete. He can do nothing but love. And He loves us. Gospel: John 16:12-15 #love #God #perfection #catholicchurch #homily

We search for peace everywhere and wonder why we are unable to find peace. Yet still we use this vicious, never-ending search cycle, but forget to look toward God for our answer. But what were Jesus's first words after His resurrection? "Peace be with you." Go to Jesus to find the peace you are seeking. "Our hearts are restless until they rest in You." Gospel: John 20:19-23 #peace #homily #catholi...

How can I foster unity within the church and within my family? Unity doesn't mean the absence of conflict or glossing over differences. But let us be humble enough to listen to one another and lead each other to Christ. Gospel: John 17:20-26 #unity #church #catholic #Christ

Don't be scared, be prepared. This is what Jesus is telling his apostles in the Gospel today, as he prepares them to receive the Holy Spirit and to spread His Good News. We are not naive optimists, but we also aren't pessimists. As Catholics, we are realists, and we share the real saving power of God. Gospel: John 14:23-29 #prepare #jesus #apostles #catholic

What is the definition of love? It is willing the good of another. This means that love is a decision, not just a feeling. It also means that love requires sacrifice, and we have no greater example than Jesus dying on the cross for us. He told his apostles -- told us -- to love one another. Can you love your enemies? Gospel: John 13:31-33a, 34-35 #loveoneanother #jesus #love #sacrifice #catholic

Jesus says in the Scriptures that He is the good shepherd. He loves us and knows His flock. But do we belong? We may say yes because we are baptized. But do we truly know Him? Gospel: John 10:27-30 #goodshepherd #Jesus #flock #catholic