Fr. Brian Soliven Sermons

In the Biblical world, names mean everything. In the first reading from Exodus that we hear this morning at Mass, the creator of the universe reveals his Divine Name, "I AM WHO AM". This cryptic response would have far reaching implications.   --- Help Spread the Good News --- Father Brian’s homilies are shared freely thanks to generous listeners like you. If his words have blessed you, consi...

Please pray for our parishioners who are leaving for a missionary trip to Peru today. Their task -- reveal who God is.  --- Help Spread the Good News --- Father Brian’s homilies are shared freely thanks to generous listeners like you. If his words have blessed you, consider supporting this volunteer effort. Every gift helps us continue recording and sharing the hope of Jesus—one homily at a t...

As part of our devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, every first Friday of the month, Eucharistic Adoration follows directly after the 8AM Mass.  Our Lord is exposed for prayer from morning all the way until the evening 7PM Spanish Mass. St. Mary’s becomes an oasis of profound prayer in the midst of a frantic world. The picture on the cover of the bulletin was from last Friday. As we began,...

It's hard for us Americans to imagine being persecuted for our religious faith. We live in a country with relative freedom. Regrettably, the same cannot be said in other parts of the world. The number one, most persecuted religion on earth is you. As shocking as this might be, we should not be surprised in the least. Jesus himself warns his followers in today's Gospel: "Behold, I am sending you li...

So often in our modern world, we like to reduce Christianity to being "nice". This version of soft religion risks nothing. It requires no conversion of life or death to my ego. It's a domesticated lion with no teeth, caged, and safe to pet at our leisure. However, the Christianity that St. Paul proclaimed is much more dangerous. In fact, he calls the message of Jesus Christ "dynamite".  --- H...

The phrase " Do not be afraid " occurs more any other in Sacred Scriptures. We hear it 365 times. One time for everyday of the year. The fearless trademark of the Christian rests on one simple fact revealed to us by Jesus himself. Once we allow this truth to penetrate our lives, we can stand against the fiercest of storms.  --- Help Spread the Good News --- Father Brian’s homilies are shared...

 La lectura del Evangelio de este domingo revela la verdad más profunda de quiénes somos realmente. En aquella ocasión Jesús exclamó: « Yo te alabo, Padre, Señor del Cielo y de la tierra, porque has mantenido ocultas estas cosas a los sabios y entendidos y las has revelado a la gente sencilla. Sí, Padre, pues así fue de tu agrado. Mi Padre ha puesto todas las cosas en mis manos. Nadie conoce...

When you're hated by others, you can immediately tell by how they look at you. Imagine the glaring eyes St. Matthew would have gotten from his fellow Jews sitting in the custom post. His countrymen would have seen him as a traitor, a cheater, and colluder with their worst enemy. It is here that Jesus suddenly arrives unexpectedly, as he so often does in the lives of sinners. With one gaze, one loo...

In the first reading today, Abraham ascends a mountain with his own beloved Son, Isaac. In a sheer, shocking act of obedience to God, he shows he is willing to sacrifice what he loves most. As the knife was about to strike, an angel suddenly stays his hand. Abraham passes the ultimate test. This act of trust will be the model for those who wishing to follow God.  --- Help Spread the Good News...

***Bonus song at the end of this homily from our Latin Mass choir*** When someone finally realizes the truth of how much they are loved by God, joy explodes. If God is willing to endure such lengths to bring us back into loving communion with him, it begs the question of our dignity.  The Father sends his son Jesus into the world to take on our frail human nature, be born into swaddling cloth...

By definition our "enemies" are shunned and sidelined. They offer few things of value to us. Yet, it's precisely an "enemy" who opens the door to something magnificent in today's gospel. A Roman centurion arrives on the scene who will utterly amaze and marvel our Lord. The words this "enemy" utters will even be repeated by billions in the future.   --- Help Spread the Good News --- Father Bri...

One of the deepest, hardwired instincts we all have is to feel accepted. We need a place to feel at home and be surrounded by people who care about us. Without community, without a sense of belonging, without family, the human soul shrivels up and whimpers away. From a biblical perspective, this desire to be loved should not surprise us in the least. We are created for relationships as the Book of...

Can you imagine a scenario that would compel you to abandon the Lord and stop practicing your faith? Most of us hope that our love would be strong enough. The saints we remember today held fast. In the face of the storm, they didn't even flinch.  --- Help Spread the Good News --- Father Brian’s homilies are shared freely thanks to generous listeners like you. If his words have blessed you, co...

"The one who is begotten by God conquers the world," we're told in the first reading (Cf. 1 John 5:4). How so? I want to be amazing, rich, and victorious. The saint we remember on this day, showed us the way.  --- Help Spread the Good News --- Father Brian’s homilies are shared freely thanks to generous listeners like you. If his words have blessed you, consider supporting this volunteer effo...

If someone stopped you on the street and asked you to describe God, how would you answer? It’s a great question to bring to your private prayer. It reveals how you relate to Him. If you see him as cold and distant, you will never talk to him on a daily basis. If you only pray when you need something, the goodness of God will be dependent upon whether or not he answered the prayers in the way y ou...

From the beginning of Christianity, Mary has held a place of prominence in the hearts of the followers of Jesus. As anyone who strives to be faithful knows, it's easier to stray from the faith than you think. We need all the help we can get. The Blessed Mother never abandoned Jesus; she walked with him all the to Calvary, never flinching. We ask for the same grace. --- Help Spread the Good News --...

On this great and glorious Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, God reveals how to respond to indifference. It's counterintuitive to our nature. Ever once of our being wants to retaliate. Jesus shows us another way.  --- Help Spread the Good News --- Father Brian’s homilies are shared freely thanks to generous listeners like you. If his words have blessed you, consider supporting this volu...

Jesus commands us to forgive those who hurt us the most. Yes that person. In some mysterious way, our entry into Heaven depends on it.  --- Help Spread the Good News --- Father Brian’s homilies are shared freely thanks to generous listeners like you. If his words have blessed you, consider supporting this volunteer effort. Every gift helps us continue recording and sharing the hope of Jesus—o...

Love gives us the superpower to peer beyond the mere superficial. Take the prime example of bride and groom on their wedding day. Notice how they look at one another. As stunning as the flowing dresses may be or dapperly the suits, the real drama takes place on their faces. Their eyes are locked on each other in immortal affection. The miniscule muscles around the mouth tremble loftily. The rest o...

Mother Teresa famously said, " I have found the paradox , that if  you love  until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more  love ." --- Help Spread the Good News --- Father Brian’s homilies are shared freely thanks to generous listeners like you. If his words have blessed you, consider supporting this volunteer effort. Every gift helps us continue recording and sharing the ho...

From God's vantage, death is actually bizarre and weird. Maybe that is why it hurts so much when our loved ones pass?  From the beginning it was not so. As we read in the Book of Genesis, God created us in his “image and likeness” (Cf. Genesis 1:27). He formed Adam from the dust of the earth and “breathed” life into him. Humanity was meant to live for eternity with God. Sadly, Adam and E...

Whatever vocation we embrace, marriage or celibacy, suffering will follow in some way. It's by design. We cannot escape it. However, with the eyes of faith, this suffering can be the catalyst for our holiness. Without pain, there can be no saints.  --- Help Spread the Good News --- Father Brian’s homilies are shared freely thanks to generous listeners like you. If his words have blessed you,...

The best part about God is how boring He is. He always uses the smallest, the least extravagant, and the underwhelming to accomplish his divine plans.  --- Help Spread the Good News --- Father Brian’s homilies are shared freely thanks to generous listeners like you. If his words have blessed you, consider supporting this volunteer effort. Every gift helps us continue recording and sharing the...

In the middle of America's Heartland, a monastery pierces the endless horizon of rolling hills and wheat fields. It's packed with young nuns who fill the air of their newly constructed chapel with harmonious ancient chants that evaporated the sense of time. In this quiet place of work and prayer, a miracle may be unfolding before our very eyes. Thousands upon thousands are now descending upon this...

Algo realmente sorprendente ha estado sucediendo en las últimas dos semanas. A pesar de que he sido sacerdote por más de diez años, gracias a Dios, nunca había visto algo así. Uno tras otro, casi como una línea de montaje sagrada, la gente viene a confesarse después de décadas de estar alejados de la Iglesia. Hijos e hijas de Dios vienen al confesionario pequeño, alfombrado y mal ventilado que ten...