Shawn The Baptist - Sunday Scriptures

As Jesus goes into the desert to be tempted he encounters the same enemies that we face every day: the world, the flesh, and the devil.

Even with the normal crowds of half a million or more, the March for Life almost never gets much coverage from the left-leaning media. With a major snow storm predicted to hit DC right at the time of the March, this year's March was one of the smallest, only a couple hundred thousand (I know... not so small, right?), and thus got almost no coverage again. That is...until... until a bunch of buses...

When he asks us to do something we don't understand how to we respond? We've got to fill the jars all the way, just like the servants at Cana

Explore the meaning of epiphany and its relevance today. Discover how subtle signs can guide our paths like the magi.

The octave of Christmas is filled with more than just shepherds and angels. Many of the days are filled with bloodshed and martyrdom.

After the story of Christmas in St. Luke's gospel, perhaps the second best known story of Christmas is the story of "A Christmas Carol."

Like the time of John the Baptist, we too should live our life with urgency. The Messiah has come, but he's coming back. It could be any day.

Christmas means that God became concretely present in our world. So, we need to do some concrete things to get ready to welcome him today.

Advent is a reminder that that Jesus really is coming back and we need to be ready. are we truly making an effort to "run forth" to meet him.

Our readings today remind us of God's reign from before time began, throughout all time, and unto eternity. God always was and always will be. Today we honor Jesus with the earthly title of king. Yet we are reminded by the gospel that Jesus himself tells us that his true kingdom is not here in this world. We pray in the Our Father prayer for the coming of God's kingdom and that his will would be d...

In ancient Roman times when emperors acted like gods and believed too often in their own immortality, one of his servants was given the job to walk beside him in procession and whisper the words "memento mori," that is, "remember death." Today's readings and the entire month of November give us a change to remember death. How do we see death? Are we scared? Do we look forward to it? Perhaps most t...

Both the widow in our first reading and the widow in the gospel seem to have nothing. One has no food and is about to die and the other has only two small coins. Yet both of them are willing to give up even the little that they have. What amazing trust these women have in God! They have figured out the secret: God will not be outdone in generosity. In today's homily I share a couple stories from t...

Today's second reading from the Letter to the Hebrews uses language describing the priesthood of the Old Testament and the offering of animal sacrifices. God taught his people over the course of centuries that sin required sacrifice to make atonement. The priests of the Old Testament offered various sacrifices including animals in atonement for sins. The problem with these sacrifices was that the...

We don't like suffering. We often go to great lengths to avoid even the smallest suffering. Despite our attempts, suffering will eventually come, and normally with some frequency. The key is knowing what to do with suffering when it comes. Today's homily looks at the various sources of suffering and what our response should be to each of these. When we know the secret, suffering need not harm us a...

This has been an amazing week having the Holy Father here in the historic cities of our country. There are so many unforgettable memories that I will have of this visit. Today's homily ties some of my experiences together with the message in our readings today. I have heard so many people excited this week and emotionally moved by the Holy Father. The real question is, "Now what?" It is not enough...

We are called to go out and spread the good news. Yet it seems that so few baptized people really live out this mission. Today's readings give us hints at three specific obstacles that might get in the way.

Upon arriving in Assisi we were blessed to be able to celebrate Mass at the Basilica of St. Francis, right near the tomb of the saint. The readings of the day speak of the need for us to remove a "log" from our own eyes before we can see to remove a "splinter" from someone else's eye. I use this image to illustrate how St. Francis found that the comfort of Assisi and his worldly possessions seemed...

After spending the morning at the home of St. Padre Pio in San Giovanni Rotondo, we had Mass on Monte Sant'Angelo where the Archangel Michael appeared in the year 490. This homily speaks about our human desire to be in physical contact with God, to know that he is immanently present and not merely a distant spiritual reality. We encounter the presence of God in many ways, but especially in the sai...

Celebrate Memorial Day by honoring the heroes who deemed our country worth dying for. Remember and appreciate their sacrifices.

The wind and fire in today's gospel are meant to symbolize the power that all of the baptized have to go on mission sent by the Spirit.

Explore the necessity of salvation through Jesus as taught by St. Peter and the Church throughout history.

Jesus has been raised from the dead and death no longer has power over us. So why do we still live in fear?

Palm Sunday liturgy moves so quickly! Today's homily gives a brief overview of the events of this special week we call "Holy Week."

Today's celebration of the 5th Sunday of Lent comes between two great solemnities that fall during Lent: St. Joseph and the Annunciation

Hopefully, before we make a big decision we listen to advice from others. But who do we listen to? There are 3 places we should not listen.