Homilies from the National Shrine

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040826.cfm Father Mark Baron, MIC, begins by explaining how the Easter Octave reveals not only the truth of the Resurrection, but the importance of a personal encounter with the Risen Christ. He contrasts St. Mary Magdalene encountering Christ in the garden and the disciples encountering Christ on the road to Emmaus, showing two...

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040726.cfm Father Chris Alar, MIC, reflects on the profound significance of the Easter Octave, which culminates in Divine Mercy Sunday. This eighth day offers a unique grace to cleanse us completely, like newborns, removing not only sin but all temporal punishment. Reflecting on the Resurrection, Fr. Chris emphasizes St. Mary Mag...

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040626.cfm Father Matthew Tomeny, MIC, delivers a powerful message centered on Christ's Resurrection as the cornerstone of the Christian faith. He begins by contrasting the tombs of history's most consequential figures — such as Karl Marx in England, Friedrich Nietzsche in Germany, Muhammad in Saudi Arabia, and Buddha in China —...

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040526.cfm Easter Sunday is the culmination of salvation history, yet the liturgical celebration extends beyond a single day. As Fr. Chris Alar, MIC, explains, the Easter Octave is not merely a week of celebration but a single liturgical day lasting eight days. While many believe the feast ends on Sunday, the Church teaches that...

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040326.cfm The shift from the shouts of "Hosanna" on Palm Sunday to the cries of "Crucify him" just days later reveals the fickle nature of the human heart and our desperate need for God's mercy. As Fr. Chris Alar, MIC, explains, we have now entered the Easter Triduum, the most holy days of the liturgical year. While Lent technic...

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040226-Supper.cfm Holy Thursday marks the beginning of the Triduum, the holiest days of the liturgical year. As Fr. Mark Baron, MIC, explains, this night invites us to enter the mystery of the Upper Room where Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist and the priesthood. It is a time when the Church pauses to reflect on the gift of sel...

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040126.cfm We often imagine Judas Iscariot as a monster from the start, a man whose heart was black with evil from the moment he joined the Twelve. But the Gospel of John reveals a far more terrifying truth: Judas was indistinguishable from the other disciples until the very end. As Fr. Chris Alar, MIC, explains, the betrayal was...

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/033126.cfm The Gospel of John presents a unique and haunting scene at the Last Supper. Unlike the Synoptic Gospels, which focus on the institution of the Eucharist, John zooms in on the tragic figure of Judas Iscariot. As Fr. Chris Alar, MIC, explains, the seating arrangement at that fateful meal was likely U-shaped, placing Juda...

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/033026.cfm Holy Week is not merely a historical commemoration; it is a sacred invitation to enter the deepest regions of intimacy with Jesus and Mary. As Fr. Daniel Klimek, PhD, powerfully reminds us, this is the week when Jesus gives Himself for the life of the world in total vulnerability. It is the week He institutes the Holy...

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032926.cfm Holy Week begins with a profound paradox that challenges our human understanding of power. On this day, the Church invites us to embrace two names for the same reality: Palm Sunday and Passion Sunday. At first glance, these seem contradictory. One speaks of victory, of a King entering Jerusalem on a donkey, welcomed by...

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032826.cfm Jesus no longer walked about in public, hiding behind the veil because the people of God were not spiritually seeing Him. They were still viewing reality with worldly, materialistic eyes. The chief priests and Pharisees feared that if everyone proclaimed Jesus King, the Romans would crush their nation and take away the...

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032726.cfm In the past two days, the Gospels have revealed the core reason Jesus was nailed on the Cross: our sins. Historically, this unfolded through the conflict between Jesus and the Jewish leaders, particularly the Pharisees and scribes. Yesterday, Jesus declared, "I am," connecting Himself to God’s self-revelation to Moses...

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032626.cfm "You will be my people, and I will be your God." This powerful declaration echoes down through the ages, defining the particular source  of God's renewed and redeemed relationship with humanity. It is a covenant of fidelity and everlasting love that the Lord enters into with each of us personally through the grace to h...

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032526.cfm Death appears to be the ultimate end for many, yet Jesus reveals a deeper truth that transforms our entire perspective on mortality. In the Gospel of John, we witness the raising of Lazarus, a powerful sign that death is not final for those who believe. Jesus declares Himself as the resurrection and the life, promising...

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032426.cfm Why does the Church cover the crucifix with a veil during Passiontide, just as we draw closer to Good Friday? It seems almost backward. Shouldn’t we be looking more at the Cross, not less? But in her wisdom, the Church teaches us to long for what we so often take for granted. By covering the crucifix, we begin to feel...

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032326.cfm Father David Gunter, MIC, explains that throughout salvation history, the pattern of spiritual combat remains remarkably consistent. The Book of Daniel addresses the difficulties of being a faithful Jew during the Babylonian exile, containing apocalyptic literature that arises when God's holy people suffer severe relig...

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032226.cfm Death appears to be the ultimate end for many, yet Jesus reveals a deeper truth that transforms our entire perspective on mortality. In the Gospel of John, we witness the raising of Lazarus, a powerful sign that death is not final for those who believe. Jesus declares Himself as the resurrection and the life, promising...

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032126.cfm As we journey through Lent toward Holy Week, the Gospel presents a decisive question to every heart: What do you think of Jesus Christ? The guards sent to arrest Him returned empty-handed, mesmerized by His words. Their testimony remains striking: Never before has anyone spoken like this man. This truth divides humanit...

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032026.cfm In the Gospel of John, Jesus goes up to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles in secret. The Jews were already plotting to kill Him, yet His hour had not yet come. This is the profound truth of this passage: Human plans cannot override divine timing. Father Mark Baron, MIC, reflects on this mystery, exploring the Feas...

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031926.cfm Happy St. Joseph's Day! Five years ago marked a historic milestone — the Church's first year ever dedicated to St. Joseph. This is no accident. Though St. Joseph was humbly hidden, he played the most significant role after the Blessed Virgin Mary in assisting Christ's plan of redemption. After Mary, he remains the most...

The Father Is Still at Work The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031826.cfm In the Gospel of John, Jesus makes a startling declaration: "My Father is at work until now, so I am at work." To the Jewish authorities, this was blasphemy. They understood exactly what He was claiming — equality with God. Yet this is the heart of the Christian faith: Jesus is not merely a...

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031726.cfm In life, we rely on signs to navigate our world. They tell us where we are, how far we must travel, and which direction to take. Without them, we are lost. God, too, uses signs of a different sort to guide us, some written, some unwritten, revealing His presence and power in ways that transcend the ordinary. Saint Patr...

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031526.cfm In the Gospel, Jesus performs the miraculous sign of healing a man born blind, revealing His divine power through supernatural manifestations. Yet even as He demonstrates His identity as God Himself, some Pharisees question His authority, trapped in spiritual blindness despite the divine presence before them. This spir...

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031426.cfm Father Anthony Gramlich, MIC, teaches that the Lenten journey begins with prayer, the foundation for all spiritual growth. Prayer is conversation with God, opening the heart to the Lord. Even five seconds to make the Sign of the Cross and offer thanks is sufficient. Time is the greatest gift God gives, and there is no...

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031326.cfm Father Chris Alar, MIC, explains that the Ten Commandments form the moral foundation of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, rooted in natural law written on every human heart. The first three commandments shed light on how we should be loving God, while the remaining seven explain loving neighbor. Jesus summarized this d...