Shawn The Baptist - Sunday Scriptures

Palm Sunday gives a snapshot of the important events we celebrate this week. Take time to follow Jesus this week and be ready for next week.

What prize are you running after in life? What are you grasping at? St. Paul gives us his answer in today's second reading.

When we realize that God has the ultimate plan for our happiness, the greatest moments in life might just be those that seem unplanned.

Charlton Heston, falling buildings, The University of Kansas, Moses, and a pile of manure. This homily has something for everyone.

Dealing with discouragement is one of the most important things we can learn in the Christian life. Today's readings give us some insights.

In today's gospel, Jesus encounters and angel, the devil, and is tested. We often forget the presence of the angels, both good and bad.

Watch your thoughts for they become words, watch your words for they become actions, watch your actions, for they become habits, watch your habits for they become your character, watch your character for it becomes your destiny. I couldn't remember where I first heard this quote, but it came to my mind as I read this weekend's readings about the connection between our thoughts and the words that c...

"Do you see that I am your friend? Can you see that you will always be my friend?" These are the words of Wind in His Hair to Dances with Wolves in the 1990 movie of that name. These two characters would have had reason to stay enemies. Yet, they manage to overcome the misunderstandings and false narratives that unnecessarily divide them, and instead grow to have a deep friendship. The gift of mer...

This homily was given on the occasion of the 14th anniversary of the death of Msgr. Luigi Giovanni Guissani, founder of the Communion and Liberation movement. Msgr. Guissani considered personal experience to play a key role in the life of faith. Tonight's homily considers the example of St. Peter, his personal encounter with Jesus, and the personal encounter each of us is called to have and share.

One of the blessings of living in Kansas is that we get all four seasons here. Spring and Fall always seem to be too short, and this winter seems to be giving us an inordinate amount of snowfall, but I've come to see the variety of weather in Kansas as a blessing. Sometimes things are best appreciated when there is contrast. Life is a lot like the weather, filled with ups and downs, and best appre...

I'm used to being asked questions about the faith. I like answering questions. But this last week, I got one that was totally unexpected. I was teaching a class for those who want to become Catholic. A Muslim man was there for the first time and he raised his hand and asked simply, "How did Jesus die?" I don't think I've ever been asked that question. We just assume that most everyone we meet has...

In the famous movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail, King Arthur and his knights come to an ominous confrontation at the Bridge of Death. In order to cross, they must each answer three questions. In today's homily, I focus on the first two: "What is your name?" and "What is your quest?" Put another way, these two questions are the most important questions you can ask in life: "What is your identit...

The Israelites are so moved listening to the words of the Bible today that they actually cry. What happens when you read the Bible?

Football fans can be crazy. Yet this is the kind of enthusiasm God is asking of us, because he is crazy about us. He's our biggest fan.

Few details are known about the mysterious magi who visit the Holy Family in Bethlehem, but today's homily finds three spiritual keys.

On this 8th day after Christmas, we celebrate the day when Jesus is officially given him name by his foster father, Joseph.

Freddie Mercury might not be a theologian, but his famous question points to the meaning of family and even the essence God himself.

Are you bored with the Christian life? Maybe you don't know the story. If you don't know the faith well, then even Christmas is boring.

John the Baptist leaps for joy in his mother's womb at the presence of God in the womb of Mary. May we all leap for joy to welcome Emmanuel.

If Jesus returned today, are you ready? If there are some things that you would change, well, maybe just go ahead and make those changes. In today's gospel, people come to John the Baptist asking what they need to do to be ready for the Messiah. The answer might surprise you. John doesn't ask the people to do anything crazy. He just tells them to do what they are supposed to be doing and do it a l...

Do you feel far from God? Is your relationship not quite right? This Advent, God offers a highway through the wilderness to come home.

On this last Sunday of the liturgical year, we often focus our attention on the end of time and the world to come. Without doubt, knowing where we are going and that this world is passing away has a big effect on how we live. However, today's gospel also gives us two key insights that directly effect our day to day life in a big way. Pilate asks Jesus, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Pilate is try...

In today's reading from the prophet Daniel, we hear, Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake; some shall live forever, others shall be an everlasting horror and disgrace. Do you ever think about living forever? We are so used to the idea of life after death, that the shock of this incredible truth often fails to affect us. Sure, one day we will die, and then there's life after...

Earlier this summer, I reported about a false accusation that was made against me. Although I denied the allegation, I chose to voluntarily step away from ministry while this was being investigated by local authorities. Today, Fr. Brian Schieber, the pastor of St. Michael the Archangel and Vicar for Clergy for the Archdiocese, announced that I had been cleared and am returning to ministry: The Lin...

The following homily was given to Boy Scouts gathered for Mass in the Chapel of the Twelve Apostles on the H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation in Osceola, Missouri. We don't like to wait. We want to see results of our efforts right now. In today's gospel, Jesus reminds us that the kingdom of God is not like this. Rather, it's like a farmer planting a tiny seed that grows slowly, "first the blade, then...