Reflections on the Sunday readings from the Catholic Lectionary for Mass. Includes homilies, sermons, and other thoughts.
When things are empty or we are empty we normally feel this as something bad. We want to fill the emptiness. But sometimes, empty is good.
Deus semper maior! God is always greater! No matter how great the suffering, God is always greater, even greater than death.
When the priests are not there and you can’t go to Mass, who will offer sacrifice? Who will speak for God and bring peace to the chaos?
What’s the most important thing you need right now? Hint… it’s more than toilet paper.
Why did Jesus take the apostles up Mt. Tabor in the gospel today? Hiking the mountains of Philmont Scout Ranch has given me some ideas.
In today’s gospel, Satan offers Jesus “all the kingdoms of the world” if he will worship him. Jesus won’t do it… but we often do.
It’s Lent. Time to give some stuff up… and add stuff. What do you need to change to get closer to God this Lent?
“Be holy!” …well that sounds hard. “You’re a temple!” …that just sounds silly. “Be perfect!” …that sounds impossible. Yet God tells us all three of these things this weekend. It’s …
We often water down the law of God today. Sure, there are the commandments, but no one really keeps all the commandments, do they? God is so merciful today (unlike …
“Share your bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the homeless; clothe the naked when you see them…” These words from the first reading should sound familiar. They are …
The following homily was given in the historical town of Emaus at the end of eleven days of pilgrimage through the Holy Land When Jesus was presented in the Temple …
The following homily was given in the church of Dominus Flevit on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, also near the church of St. Mary Magdalene. This location on the …
The key to real relationship is the willingness to be vulnerable. No one showed this more than Baby Jesus in Bethlehem.
In the opening of the letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul uses the word “to call” four times. Each one says something important for us today.
We don’t know much about the magi who visited Jesus in Bethlehem, but today’s homily looks at three things we can learn from them.
The Octave of Christmas marks the day Jesus was circumcised and officially received his name. Let’s resolve to use it well in the new year.
The Christmas manger scene is so peaceful and beautiful. But it didn’t stay that way, and neither will our lives.
In this “Very Kermit Christmas” homily, Fr. Shawn explains why Scrooge is the hero of Christmas and why we really all want to be him.
The Scriptures don’t record any word spoken by St. Joseph. But if we understand the gospel like a Jew, they tell us what we need to know.
Are you going through a dark time? This 3rd Sunday of Advent gives us the example of a rose candle to inspire us to keep going.
No one likes road construction. But we don’t like potholes either. Today, John the Baptist urges us to fix up our spiritual road.
Today we begin the season of Advent, the time of preparation for Christmas. Today’s readings give three essential things on which to focus.
This is the last Sunday of the year… but next week is the first. It’s the end, but also the beginning. The last Sunday of Ordinary Time each year is …
This week’s homily was given to the archdiocesan permanent diaconate aspirants and their families during their weekend of formation. Marriage and the end of the world… the classic combination. While …
When there is a job to be done, sometimes we ask for volunteers. “We need an usher… can anybody help?” What usually happens is the same people who volunteer for …
Today’s gospel parable seems like a classic case of the the “good guy” vs. “the bad guy.” Jesus definitely seems to set it up with the Pharisee as an example …
In the middle of the 17th century, the first Jesuits came to what is today the United States and Canada. This weekend marks the anniversary of the martyrdom of 8 …
“How long, O Lord?” This short cry of exasperation is one that is not only well known in Scripture, but well known in every day life as well. When the …
In today’s second reading, St. Paul is writing to St. Timothy, who he has left as bishop in charge of one of his new churches. Not unlike our own times, …
Our readings today call attention to several issues of false business practices. In short, we’re dealing with a bunch of greedy cheaters. In the first reading, the prophet Amos is …
“Why do bad things happen to good people?” Whenever there is some tragedy we often find ourselves questioning God, wondering “Where was God?” Where was God in the midst of …
The Washington Monument is one of the most recognizable structures in the world. At 555 feet in height, it was the tallest structure in the world until the construction of …