Sunday Homilies

The temptations Jesus experienced were every bit as real as those we experience.

Jesus calls us out of our self-imposed dwellings of worry.

"Be perfect."  This command is very easily misunderstood.  We need to consider a distinction between "perfect performance" and being a complete, well-rounded person.

Is law something imposed upon us, which we have to work around?  No, law is based on principles we find deep within ourselves.

Hear the homilist sigh as he ponders the current counterexample of "believing in oneself," the person who will make everything "great."  Ponder the real meaning of being salt for the earth and light for the world.

We consider why there was such controversy in 1517, and what Christians are called to do to attain unity.

Christians may seem to be a tiny "remnant" in our world.  Surely the Beatitudes, which open Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, do not quickly reveal the joy to be had by living them.

Saint Paul speaks of factions within Christianity as we read of the call of Jesus' first disciples.  

Baptism is not something you can do to yourself.  Even Jesus had to be in a passive state as his baptism was done to him.  Surrender is necessary for living the Christian life.

Two challenges today: "safe environment" and "racism."

Mary reflected upon many things in her heart.  We must follow her example of reflection upon the mysteries which we are living.

This Christmas reflection focuses on the now-famous "Lady with the Duck."

We are challenged today to adopt a nuanced understanding of the meaning of "prophecy."

The reality of John the Baptist challenges the glib contemporary adage that "perception is reality."

"The Peaceable Kingdom" always inspires us to imagine the reconciling of "natural" enemies.

We must give ourselves room to dream.

One of the strangest conversations imaginable comes from three men crucified together.  Christ the King rules from the instrument of his execution.

We are mortal.  We have no control over our dissolution.  We cast our lot with the Savior who reached out to us by taking mortality upon himself.

Does the promise of eternal life encourage us to suppose that the here and now does not matter?  No; for eternity is found in every passing moment.

The charming story of Zacchaeus assures us that conversion can come to our household as well.  

The homilist was away on October 9 and 16.  -- If we can offer the prayer "Be merciful to me, a sinner," and if we steel ourselves for the long haul of faithfulness, we will be properly oriented toward our God.

The homilist was not supposed to be here today: explanation is on audio.  We must struggle to see that an honest day's work contributes to the entire vision.

The rich man with Lazarus at his door: was he unaware of him?  The rich man convicts himself, demonstrating his acquaintance with this poor man.  We likewise know that Lazarus and his fellows are at our door.

Initiative: it is applied for evil and for good.  If we are dedicated to the Kingdom of God, we will exercise initiative on its behalf.

Toward the end of the Year of Mercy, we consider the golden calf, the fatted calf, butter calves, and Paul's self-description as not knowing what he was doing in his unbelief.