Mar Abraham Church Sunday Homilies

English Homily - Second Sunday of Christmas . . . On the Second Sunday of Christmas, we reflect on the passing of time and the opportunity to give thanks and be more faithful in the upcoming year. We celebrate the presentation of Jesus in the temple, where Simeon speaks of Jesus being set for the fall and rising of many. We are reminded that our judgment of ourselves is based on our reaction to Je...

This year’s Christmas Homily in English! . . . The Feast of the Birth of Our Lord is a time of fascination and wonder, especially for children. As we grow older, we chase that feeling of childlike amazement and nostalgia. However, the true satisfaction lies in the glory and wonder of Christmas, which is the birth of Jesus Christ. God, who has no limits, put limits upon himself to break us free fro...

English Homily - 3rd Sunday of Subara *** The repetition of the Gospel message in the church is not to repeat something, but to make a memorial and present it as if it is heard for the first time. It helps us believe that God is working all things for our good, helps us know that God exists and is a loving Father, and reminds us of the forgiveness and restoration offered through Jesus Christ. The...

English Homily - Second Sunday of Subara The Gospel speaks of the angel's announcement to the Blessed Virgin Mary, emphasizing the Holy Spirit overshadowing her. The concept of shadow is explored, highlighting its association with protection and retreat. Mary's acceptance of God's will led her to be under the shadow and protection of God. The example of St. Peter is used to illustrate the contrast...

Homily Fourth Sunday of the Church *** During the Christmas season, people put a lot of effort into decorating their homes on the outside, but often overlook the interior decoration of their souls. Jesus challenges the Pharisees' limited understanding of the Messiah and emphasizes that he is not just the son of David, but the Son of God. Similarly, we sometimes only seek Jesus as a solution to...

When designing a church, attention is given to small but crucial details to maintain its sacred nature. Churches are devoid of clocks to emphasize focus on eternal worship. The design prioritizes communal worship and reverence, with spaces for kneeling in prayer. Lack of reverence in churches can be attributed to ignorance. Jesus displayed anger at the misuse of the Temple, which was meant for wor...

2nd Sunday of Moses The homily emphasizes God's individual attention and love for each person, regardless of their status or the magnitude of their needs. Drawing from the Gospel story of Jesus healing a woman in a crowd and the life of Pope Saint John Paul II, the homily underscores that God's attention, love, and care for each person is constant and unwavering, even amidst billions of people. Go...

The homily discusses the idea of the end of the world and the second coming of Christ. It emphasizes that the Bible should be interpreted in its entire context and that no one can know the exact timing of these events. The focus is on being always ready and living a righteous life. We are reminded to not presuming one's own salvation and but at the same time not despairing of others, as God's merc...

Homily for the 7th Sunday of Elijah / 5th of the Cross *** Becoming like children is not only a prerequisite for entering the kingdom of heaven but also the way to be the greatest in the kingdom. Children's trust in their parents, their ability to forgive, and their innocence towards evil are qualities that make them suitable for heaven. As adults, we should learn from children and turn away f...

In this homily, we remember the story of how the disciples failed to expel the demon from the young man which highlights misplaced faith. We often misplace our faith in ourselves and in things other than God. Jesus reminds us how we can move mountains with faith the size of a mustard seed placed in the God of the Universe.

The homily discusses the significance of the beatitudes as a moral code taught by Jesus. It suggests that the biggest problem in the world and the church is the failure to embody these virtues. The beatitudes are seen as a reflection of Jesus himself and the solution to the world's issues lies in individuals striving to live according to them.

Third Sunday of Elijah The parable of the wheat and weeds teaches us not to be quick with judgments and to leave judgment to God. We cannot judge the whole person based on partial knowledge. Instead, we should focus on love and mercy, as God does. We should be patient with others and allow them the opportunity to bear fruit.

In this Gospel, Jesus speaks about the parable of the Sower and identifies four categories of people. He explains that God is endlessly throwing seeds in our life, but we often bring weak soil that does not allow the word of God to take deep roots in our lives. We should strive to be good soil that can bear good fruits in us.

The story of Zacchaeus teaches us about the danger of entitlement and the importance of seeing our gifts as privileges, not rights. Salvation is a gift, not something we are owed, and we must respond with responsibility and gratitude. The fruit of this response is joy and salvation.

In this reflection on the Gospel of the Seventh Sunday of Summer, the importance of placing hope in God is emphasized through two parables told by Jesus. The danger of placing hope in oneself is highlighted, and the need for humility and dependence on God is emphasized. The cure for this thinking is found in recognizing one's own sinfulness and asking for God's mercy. Only then can hope be properl...

The Gospel of the Sixth Sunday of Summer tells the story of ten lepers who were healed by Jesus, but only one returned to give thanks. The message is that we should not be transactional in our relationships with others and with God. We should be aware of our need for God and always give thanks to Him.

In this Liturgical Season of Summer, the church invites us to meditate on repentance. Today's Gospel teaches us that sin is not just limited to what we do, but also what we fail to do. The sin of the rich man was not that he was rich, but that he never noticed Lazarus. We must be ready to listen to the Scriptures and answer the call to do what we are supposed to do.

Feast of the Transfiguration celebrates the moment when Jesus reveals his divinity to Peter, James, and John on Mount Tabor. While Peter wants to stay and extend the moment, Jesus reminds him that glory comes with suffering and commitment. The path to glory is not on pause on top of the mountain, but through the suffering and pain of our daily life. We are reminded that we are destined for glory t...

English Homily: Third Sunday of Summer In the Gospel, Jesus heals a man who was blind from birth and the man gives testimony to the miracle. The man defends Jesus by saying that God does not listen to sinners and that Jesus must be from God. The purpose of prayer is not to manipulate God, but to conform to His will and change ourselves. Prayer changes us to become worshipers of God and do His will...

In the liturgical season of summer, the church invites us to meditate on repentance and the story of mankind falling into sin. The gospel reminds us that if our satisfaction is not in honoring God's commands and being close to Him in His Church, we will always be tired, lonely, and restless. The homily encourages us to understand that we are all guilty of seeking rest in the wrong places and to no...

Homily First Sunday of Summer (Nosardil) In this homily, the Deadly Sin of Pride is explored, with an emphasis on how it can manifest in different ways in each person. The parable of taking the lowest seat at a marriage feast is used as a warning against exalting oneself and thinking that one deserves heaven. The homily offers three ways to combat pride: acknowledging one's own pride, escaping...

In this homily, we discuss how familiarity can make our love grow cold for God. So in responding to Jesus call to enter the narrow gate, we aim to become familiar with Jesus through a deep fascination of Him. Seventh Sunday of the Apostles - Fr. Peter Patros

English Homily for the Memorial of St Thomas the Apostle - Fr. Peter Patros On the Memorial of Saint Thomas the Apostle, we reflect on his hesitation to believe in the resurrection of Christ and how it represents the wounds of those who have been let down. It took someone who was wounded to heal him, and the healing comes from a relationship with the resurrected and wounded Christ who comes to us...

Homily Fr. Peter Patros for the 5th Sunday of the Apostles Jesus teaches the Christian practice of surrendering to God, who wants to pour out blessings upon us. We often fight God by trying to control our lives, but we must surrender our needs, enemies, and worries to Him. With surrender, we have our lives in the hands of a loving God who knows what we need before we ask.

English Homily for the 4th Sunday of the Apostles - Fr. Peter Patros On Father's Day, we celebrate and remember all fathers who sacrifice to lead their families, both physical and spiritual fathers. The father is the head of the family, providing assurance, safety, and dignity. However, fathers can be blinded, and we need to be better for our families and children. We must pray and support fat...