Hear to Heaven

Luke 4:24-30. Jesus said to the people in the synagogue at Nazareth: "Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the l...

Mark 9:2-10. Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, "Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tent...

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/124

A meditation on the Lord’s mercy.

Our Lord gives us an example and helps us overcome temptation.

A homily about the joys of baptism.

A short reflection on Lenten resolutions. Please excuse the fireplace crackling in the background. That’s what happens when I record from the rectory on a snow day.

Lent, a time for transformation.

Mark 1:40-45. A leper came to him and kneeling down begged him and said, "If you wish, you can make me clean." Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, "I do will it. Be made clean." The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. Then he said to him, "See that you tell no one anything, but go, show your...

Why we sing the Non-Nobis (Not to Us) and Te Deum (You are God). I misspoke in the talk that Te Deum meant “to you” it means “You are God”.

This week was the annual appeal in the Archdiocese of Washington. Here's a brief word to help you focus on what is most important at Mass. 

Homily, 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B.

Reading I Heb 10:32-39 Remember the days past when, after you had been enlightened,  you endured a great contest of suffering. At times you were publicly exposed to abuse and affliction;  at other times you associated yourselves with those so treated. You even joined in the sufferings of those in prison  and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property,  knowing that you...

For more information on the Gandalf Option, visit: https://thegathering.com/the-gandalf-option/

Daily Homily, Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle Lectionary: 519 Reading I Acts 22:3-16 Paul addressed the people in these words: “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city. At the feet of Gamaliel I was educated strictly in our ancestral law and was zealous for God, just as all of you are today. I persecuted this Way to death, binding both men and women and de...

Homily, Third Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year B Gospel Mk 1:14-20 After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, “Come...

Daily Homily, Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children Reading I Heb 8:6-13 Brothers and sisters: Now our high priest has obtained so much more excellent a ministry as he is mediator of a better covenant,  enacted on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless,  no place would have been sought for a second one. But he finds fault with them and says: Be...

Homily, Second Sunday in Ordinary Time.

LITANY OF TRUST From the belief that I have to earn Your love Deliver me, Jesus. From the fear that I am unlovable Deliver me, Jesus. From the false security that I have what it takes Deliver me, Jesus. From the fear that trusting You will leave me more destitute Deliver me, Jesus. From all suspicion of Your words and promises Deliver me, Jesus. From the rebellion against childlike dependency on Y...

Sunday homily for the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Mark 1:7-11 This is what John the Baptist proclaimed: "One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the holy Spirit." It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. On c...

https://dcpriest.org/news/the-palace-of-the-king

“Everyone who breathes, high and low, educated and ignorant, young and old, man and woman, has a mission, has a work. We are not sent into this world for nothing; we are not born at random; we are not here, that we may go to bed at night, and get up in the morning, toil for our bread, eat and drink, laugh and joke, sin when we have a mind, and reform when we are tired of sinning, rear a family and...

Luke 2:1-12. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage." When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired...

Luke 2:16-21 The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising G...

Begin again with our Lord this New Year.