Mar Abraham Church Sunday Homilies

English Homily - Fourth Sunday of Summer . . . The Fourth Sunday of Summer emphasizes repentance and inner transformation. A study showed that lying increases the need to engage in good behavior to alleviate guilt. Jesus teaches that true purity comes from within, not from external rituals or appearances. Our actions and words reflect the state of our hearts, and we must focus on inner renewal thr...

English Homily Third Sunday of Summer . . . The story from the Gospel highlights a lack of compassion and empathy towards a man blind from birth, with people focusing on blame rather than healing. The disciples and Pharisees are more concerned with fault and punishment than the man's newfound sight. The homily draws a parallel to medical terminology, emphasizing that diagnosis identifies problems...

Homily Second Sunday of Summer . . . The homily discusses the Parable of the Prodigal Son, suggesting it could also be titled the Parable of the Loving Father, emphasizing the father's love and forgiveness. It contrasts the younger son's physical and emotional distance from his father with the older son's emotional distance despite physical proximity. The father's readiness to welcome both sons ba...

English Homily: Seventh Sunday of the Apostles . . . Jesus teaches that the path to heaven is not guaranteed by mere association with him or by being in his presence. It requires striving, represented by the metaphor of entering through a narrow door. This striving involves being steadfast, immovable, and abounding in the work of the Lord. The journey may involve struggle and may not always be rec...

English Homily: Seventh Sunday of the Apostles . . . Jesus teaches that the path to heaven is not guaranteed by mere association with him or by being in his presence. It requires striving, represented by the metaphor of entering through a narrow door. This striving involves being steadfast, immovable, and abounding in the work of the Lord. The journey may involve struggle and may not always be rec...

English Homily - 6th Sunday of the Apostles . . . The Sabbath, or the Lord's Day, is a day established by God for rest and worship. The Gospel reading tells of a woman with an infirmity healed by Jesus on the Sabbath, demonstrating the connection between rest, worship, and healing. This day is a time to dedicate to God, to rest from burdens and work, and to seek healing. It's important to remember...

English Homily - Fifth Sunday of the Apostles . . . On Father's Day, we honor all fathers, spiritual fathers, and father figures, including those who have passed away. Fathers often serve as a source of security and stability, but their worth should not be tied to material success or possessions. Instead, their value lies in their character and their role in their families. Children and wives are...

English Homily: Fourth Sunday of the Apostles…Jesus' beatitudes in the Gospel of Luke present a roadmap to blessedness, identifying poverty, hunger, and weeping as paths to joy. These seemingly negative states can lead to inheriting the kingdom of God, satisfaction, and rejoicing. This is possible because Jesus himself experienced these states and was emptied so that we might be filled. The path t...

The Gospel's Third Sunday of the Apostles discusses the conflict of love and the importance of understanding and responding to the needs of others. It emphasizes the necessity of active service, as shown in the parable of the Good Samaritan, and the importance of attentive listening, as demonstrated by Mary. The reflection encourages us to question whether our expressions of love truly meet the ne...

The homily discusses the challenges faced by the apostles and priests, likening them to the criticisms faced by Jesus and John the Baptist. It emphasizes the importance of pleasing God rather than people, and cautions against judging others based on limited encounters. The homily also underscores the idea that while individuals are replaceable, they are entrusted by God with specific roles and gra...

Homily Feast of Pentecost | 1st Sunday of the Apostles . . . The Feast of Pentecost, celebrated 50 days after the Resurrection of Christ, marks the fulfillment of God's promise of sending the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Holy Trinity, to the Church. The Holy Spirit, often overlooked, is the Giver of Life and the entity that unites the Church. The Holy Spirit is given to us at Baptism and c...

Homily for the First Sunday after the Ascension *** The homily celebrates mothers and their irreplaceable role in nurturing and caring for their children. It emphasizes the distinct but complementary roles of men and women, and likens the church to a mother, nurturing and guiding its followers. The homily encourages husbands to be present and supportive, children to reassure their mothers of their...

English Homily for the Fifth Sunday of the Resurrection . . . The homily emphasizes the importance of perseverance and faith, drawing parallels from the disciples' experience of failure and the call to return to their faith. Despite their expertise in fishing, the disciples faced failure, much like Saul who, despite his righteousness, was wrong. The sermon encourages us to listen to Jesus' suggest...

English Homily - Fourth Sunday of the Resurrection . . . Jesus tells his disciples that he will leave them, a revelation that guarantees sorrow but also promises his return and an everlasting joy that cannot be taken away. This joy can only be experienced when Jesus' promise is believed and accepted, transforming sorrow into peace. We call upon the prayers of St George and Mar Abraham/Oraha to...

Healing the Wounds of Doubt in Thomas . . . English Homily for New Sunday & Divine Mercy Sunday . . . On the first Sunday after the Resurrection, the focus is on Thomas, known as the Doubter, who struggled to believe in Jesus' resurrection. Despite being seen as problematic, hardheaded, and demanding, Thomas' doubt stems from his past experiences and yearning for concrete proof. Jesus, instead of...

Passion Friday Homily - 2024 . . . The Christian Faith, while familiar to many, can sometimes become estranged due to various life circumstances. However, the belief is that Jesus, despite being unrecognized and rejected by the world he created, chose to become a stranger to reconnect with those who feel estranged. This act is seen as an invitation to re-familiarize and reconnect with the faith, r...

English Homily - Feast of the Resurrection of Our Lord . . . The Feast of the Resurrection sermon emphasizes the significance of Jesus' resurrection, not just his death, as the cornerstone of Christian faith. It encourages believers to live a different life, one that acknowledges and is transformed by the risen Lord. It calls for leaving behind the "living graves" of hopelessness, despair, unforgi...

6th Sunday of Lent *** This homily discusses the role of Jesus as the Good Shepherd, drawing parallels with the responsibilities of a real-life shepherd. It emphasizes the importance of staying within the flock, the Church, to avoid sin and death, and to find healing and purpose. The document also highlights the significance of self-examination and confession, viewing them as opportunities for Chr...

Homily Fifth Sunday of Lent *** This Homily discusses Jesus' impending condemnation and the differing opinions about him. It emphasizes the importance of not only believing in Jesus but also following his teachings. The core of the Lenten season is seeking God's help in overcoming unbelief and learning to follow Him. The letter from Paul calls for stepping out of the darkness, living in peace, and...

Homily Third Sunday of Lent *** The use of bells in mass serves to refocus our attention during pivotal moments, such as during the words of institution and the Epiclesis. The bells also ring when the priest drinks the blood of Christ, symbolizing Jesus' cup of suffering. This cup of suffering is a reminder that every Christian's journey involves different forms of suffering, whether it's a single...

Homily Second Sunday of Lent *** In this reflection on the Second Sunday of Lent, Jesus warns about false prophets and emphasizes the importance of obedience to enter the kingdom. Obedience to God's words and commands is the key to transformation and being recognized by Jesus. We either are conformed or transformed.

First Sunday of Lent *** Temptation is a concept that we become aware of as we grow older. Sin is not something we know as children, but as we recognize the struggle between good and evil, we can become desensitized to sin. St. Paul warns against becoming callous to sin and losing the sense of its wrongness. Temptation is not meant to make us sin, but to enable us to conquer sin and emerge stronge...

Homily Fifth Sunday of the Epiphany *** This homily discusses the significance of John 3:16 in Christianity, the story of Nicodemus, and the concept of belief in Jesus. It explores the challenges and doubts faced by Nicodemus and emphasizes the need for a radical change through cooperation with God's grace. The document encourages readers to identify and overcome obstacles that hinder their commit...

English Homily 4th Sunday of Epiphany *** St. John the Beloved Apostle joins Jesus and Mary at a wedding in Cana. Mary informs Jesus that the wine has run out, and Jesus responds by saying, "What is that to me and you?" This is not meant as disrespect, but rather to signify Mary's role as the Mother of the New Humanity. Jesus clarifies that his hour has not yet come, referring to the beginning of...

Feast of the Epiphany celebrates the Baptism of our Lord and reflects on the significance of baptism in our lives as Christians. It symbolizes the death and resurrection of Jesus and calls us to constantly die to ourselves and live out our baptism in our daily lives. It reminds us that the moments of struggle and feeling out of breath are allowed by God to make us greater saints. By renewing our b...