All Saints Homilies

The story of Israel’s forty years wandering in the desert became a Rabbinic paradigm for the interpretation of the whole history of Israel, and carries over into the Desert Fathers of the Church. “Harden not your heart….as in the day of temptation in the wilderness” is a major motif. The story became an ascetical model for the early Christians, and is to this very day. Fr. Pat speaks to this topic...

The very fact that God designed the Bible for the purpose of penetrating the human conscience indicates an intentional affinity between the two. Preaching from Romans 2:10-16 and Matthew 4:18-23, Fr. Pat instructs us on man's conscience.

In the Bible, the designation “saint” is not restricted to those who are already in Glory. Rather, it designates all those who are in Christ, no matter how much their lives may need improvement. On the Feast of All Saints, Fr. Pat delves into this topic for our edification.

On the Feast of Pentecost, Fr. Pat compares events in the book of Genesis with the events in Acts 2.

On the Sunday of the Commemoration of the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council, Fr. Pat preaches from John 17 and Acts 20.

The story of Jesus healing the man born blind in John 9 provides the context for Fr. Pat's reflections on epistemology, anthropology, and history.

St. Paul warned the Ephesian elders in Acts 20 that fierce wolves would come to draw men away from the flock. Fr. Pat considers three of these wolves, that challenge us today just as they challenged the early Church.

In a sermon given on the Sunday of the Paralytic, Fr. Pat preaches on this healing told in John 5:1-15.

In this reflection, Fr. Pat considers what we have to learn from those in the Nativity story who look into the sky and ponder the moon and the stars.

Rather than discussing the main themes from the story of the Prodigal Son, Fr. Pat examines features of the story not related to its central core, but nonetheless significant.

Fr. Pat preaches from 2 Timothy 3:10-15.

Fr. Pat's homily on the Feast of the Presentation of our Lord and Savior in the Temple.

Fr. Pat discusses the meaning of moral realism, the radical mercy of God, and Christ and His Cross.

Fr. Pat's reflections on Luke 17:12-19, the cleansing of the ten lepers.

On the Sunday after the Theophany, Fr. Pat preaches from Matthew 4:12-17.

On the feast of Theophany, Fr. Pat looks at the juxtaposition of two texts from Matthew: the baptism of Jesus in Chapter 3, and Jesus’ sending the apostles out to baptize others in Chapter 28.

In this homily given on the Feast of the Holy Innocents, Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon reflects upon what makes us children of God.

What exactly is the Sunday of Orthodoxy? Is it recognition of an achievement, or is it more than that? Fr. Pat explores the meaning of icons and the Triumph of Orthodoxy. This homily was preached in 2008.

The metaphysics of Gnosticism represents a major threat to the Gospel, and is an enemy of the doctrine of the Incarnation. Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon offers reflections on this.

Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon preaches from Luke 18:35-43, the story of the blind beggar who receives his sight.

Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon discusses a Christian reading of the Hebrew Scriptures.

Paul’s letter to the Galatians is directly concerned with the meaning and the integrity of the Gospel. Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon offers three points on Paul's words spoken against the loss or distortion of the very essence of the Gospel.

Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon discusses three types of witness, with special focus on the witness we call “the faith once delivered to the saints.”

Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon reflects on the story of the Gadarene demoniac, who, according to Luke, originally was from the city, and having been healed, returned to the city to proclaim how much Jesus had done for him.

In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus teaches us about hearing the Word of God and and holding it fast in our hearts. Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon offers reflections on this topic.