Weekly Homilies at St. Joseph Parish

Return to the Scripture. This is what we learn today, about how important the Word of God is in our lives. It our guidebook to this life, something to return to for reference as often as we can. It is where God speaks to us, and it will never leave us or abandon us. Gospel: Matthew 4:12-23 #WordofGod #Scripture #Gospel #Bible #Catholic

"Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." Jesus is the perfect sacrifice, the unblemished Lamb that gave up His life for our sins and to open the gates of heaven for us. How are we reverent to the Holy Eucharist, who is Jesus re-presented for us? Gospel: John 1:29-34 #LambofGod #JesusChrist #Catholic #Sacrifice #HolyEucharist

Start with prayer. When we feel on fire for God, ready to do and give and volunteer, it can be easy for us to not take time to pause and pray. Before He began His public ministry, Jesus started with His Baptism. He didn't need to be baptized; He is the Son of God! However, He gave us this example, this purification, this starting point. Gospel: Matthew 3:13-17 #baptism #prayer #Jesus #Catholic #ch...

Who were the Magi, these "Three Wise Men" we hear in the Gospel today? Where did they visit Jesus, and why did they bring Him gifts? Through the Magi's example, we know that God came not just for the Israelites but for the whole world, all the nations. Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12 #epiphany #magi #wisemen #catholic #jesus #christmas

Today we see the faithfulness of marriage on full display through the Holy Family. Jesus in Himself is also an example of this faithfulness, fruitfulness, and "til death do you part". He gives us this example of marital love through His love for the Church. Gospel: Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 #holyfamily #catholic #jesus #mary #joseph #love #marriage #faithfulness #fruitfulness #sacredheart

[We apologize for the missing beginning of the podcast due to technical issues.] It shouldn't be that Christmas is another day, but that every day should be another Christmas. That is the reality that we live in as Christians: Jesus did not just come one day more than 2,000 years ago. He comes every single day to us here in the Most Blessed Sacrament. This should transform every part in our li...

[We apologize for the missing beginning of the podcast due to technical issues.] Why do we have joy in the Christmas season? Because of Jesus. It is Him for whom we have music, presents, cookies, and family gatherings. He came to us in very unassuming circumstances, in a barn and lying in a manager. He also comes to us in another unassuming way at every Mass, under the appearance of bread and wine...

[We apologize for the missing beginning of the podcast due to technical issues.] The readings today challenge us to open our minds and hearts to the will of God. We must stop making compromises with our sins, and allow God's grace and mercy to work within our hearts. Gospel: Matthew 1:18-24 #advent #isaiah #oldtestament #catholic #mercy #grace

Why are we rejoicing while still within the season of Advent? Because we are awaiting the coming of the Christ Child, who will be arriving soon. Let us find joy, no matter what is happening within our lives, through Jesus Christ. Gospel: Matthew 11:2-11 #gaudetesunday #catholic #advent #christmas #rejoice #joy

In today's Gospel, St. John the Baptist tells the followers that they must repent. This message wasn't just for the ancient people but for us in the here and now. We can't white-knuckle it through Advent to then say "Thank goodness it's Christmas" and let all the sacrifice go. Let us not grow weary of our penance, but heed St. John the Baptist when he says the Kingdom is...

There are two purposes for the season of Advent. Do you know them? We need to stay awake, for we do not know the day nor the hour. Gospel: Matthew 24:37-44 #Advent #JesusChrist #Catholic #StayAwake #HesComing

Christ is in charge of everything, and He has given authority to us, through the very nature of our baptism, to rule as kings. Through our baptism, we share in that kingship of Jesus Christ. Do we take a moment to appreciate that great gift He has given to us: authority over our own lives to be able to follow Him, to choose the good? Gospel: Luke 23:35-43 #christtheking #baptism #priest #prophet #...

Out of love for us and a desire to share His life with us, He opened the gates of heaven for all to have the hope of eternal life. One of the memorial acclamations is "We proclaim your death, O Lord, and profess your resurrection until You come again." We know that Christ is coming again. Why do we fear it? Gospel: Luke 21:5-19 #death #resurrection #gatesofheaven #eternallife #catholic #Jesus

The physical world plays a huge role to us. We need to touch, smell, hear, and taste in order to experience life. We are bodies and souls. This is why all seven sacraments have something physical about them: you feel the water rush over your head; you hear the words of absolution. You taste the Eucharist. St. Paul said we are the church, we are the living stones. And God resides here, in our physi...

Why are there souls in purgatory? Heaven is where God dwells and those who are saints are worshipping Him constantly. Here, there is no spot or stain of sin, no attachment to sin. Purgatory is given to those who die here on Earth and have lesser sins or an attachment to sin, and God purifies them. All who go to purgatory are assured of their eternal salvation. Gospel: John 6:37-40 #purgatory #puri...

Next week is National Vocations Awareness Week. Is God calling you to a specific vocation, whether it is the priesthood, religious life, or marriage? This week, Father St. Denis shares his vocation story and explores the questions: "God, why am I here? What have you created me for?" Gospel: Luke 18:9-14 #vocations #priesthood #religiouslife #God #Jesus #Catholic #life

We can often get distracted while praying, whether it's our mind wandering or an external distraction that takes us off course. But just like the widow in today's Gospel, we need to be persistent when it comes to our relationship with Jesus. It is a conversation with our Lord, and we must allow time and space for quiet and discernment. Gospel: Luke 18:1-8 #prayer #persistence #catholic #re...

Our baptism is our initiation into the Church and the faith, but it is not a once-and-done event. Just like the Samaritan leper in today's Gospel, do we return back to the Lord in thanksgiving for the many gifts we have been given? Do we come to Sunday Mass, or visit Jesus in Confession or Adoration? Today is a great day to live out the Faith. Gospel: Luke 17:11-19 #thanksgiving #faith #Mass #...

We get so absorbed in preparing for the future: 30, 40, 50 years down the road. We compare ourselves with others about our retirement plans and preparations for when we are old. When we become anxious about all the happenings in the world (war, famine, strife), we cling to earthly comforts to get us by. But we don't look far enough into the future, toward eternity, toward our Heavenly Father....

The world is a scary place: school shootings, violence, hatred, and more. What in the world is going on? It is through Christ's sufferings that we find redemption. He did not come to save us from our sufferings, but he came with compassion. How often do we cry out to God to end our sufferings, to take away our pain? But yet it still remains. What is God's answer? The cross. Gospel: John 3:...

If you are familiar with Middle Eastern culture, you are aware of the close-knit nature of families, which provide opportunities for safety, employment, and marriage prospects. In today's Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples that to follow him, they must give up their families, which can be a heavy cross. He is asking them to give up everything, which breaks the social norms. This hasn't chan...

Our dignity comes from Him and no one else. We try, each and every one of us, to prove our dignity over and over and over. But we don't need to prove the dignity that we have in Christ because it is God who gives it to us, not any one human being. All the saints understood that humility means depending upon God rather than ourselves. The saints lived in the Truth that they were sons and daught...

,This week we were joined by Father Agapitus Hector Businge from the Catholic Diocese of Hoima in Uganda. In addition to sharing insights in our weekly reading, he tells the congregation about St. Mary's Children and Women Specialized Hospital that offers specialized care to millions in need in Africa. "Indeed, when God comes to save us from all forms of oppressive forces, whether they are politic...

Whenever we only consider in our minds what we should do, we are just debating among ourselves. This is not discernment about where God desires us to be. We are called to think of what is above, not what's on Earth. But how quickly our feeble minds turn to what we can see, touch, taste, and feel, that instant gratification. Gospel: Luke 12:13-21 #richfool #prayer #God #catholic #christian #homily

Jesus taught us a new way to pray. We are no longer alone in our prayers, isolated. Now it is joined with that of Jesus through the Holy Spirit. And now we call God our Father, no longer orphans but the sons and daughters of the Lord. Gospel: Luke 11:1-13 #homily #Catholic #Abba #Father #prayers