Homilies
Sunday’s Readings: Acts 2:14a, 36-41; Psalm 23: 1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6; 1 Peter 2:20b-25; John 10:1-10
…from your Pastor’s Desk – SHEPHERD SUNDAY – During Jesus’ time, shepherds protected their flocks with their own bodies. Many of the sheep pens were merely a wall of loosely connected rocks with a single entrance. At night the shepherds slept across the entrance so that their bodies became a protection for the sheep from their own straying or from marauders. …
Sunday’s Readings: Acts 2:14, 22-33; Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11; 1 Peter 1:17-21; Luke 24:13-35
…from your Pastor’s Desk – On The Road to …Santa Rosa * – This is a ‘Work of Fiction’ inspired by a writing of a favorite Jesuit, John Foley. A modern-day allegory based loosely on the Road to Emmaus Scripture Story …today’s Gospel. This ‘story’ takes place March 22, 2020’. Two days after the first ‘Lock-Down’. Remember what was happening then. …
Sunday’s Readings: Acts 2:42-47; Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24; 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31
…from your Pastor’s Desk – “Thinking Thomas” – No Doubt. – There is something to be said for doubt at times. It is a good thing to be able to doubt oneself, provided it doesn’t become an addiction that cripples us; to doubt one’s ideas, one’s principles, one’s work and to doubt much of what we hear. …
Sunday’s Readings: Acts 10:34a, 37-43; Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23; Colossians 3:1-4 OR 1 Corinthians 5:6b-8; John 20:1-9
…from your Pastor’s Desk – Happy Easter! A Happy Thought on a Happy Feast: – Have you ever considered that this is the only time when people, even strangers, give a spiritually based greeting? Merry Christmas is often replaced by ‘Happy Holidays’ and “Happy Thanksgiving’ has become a secular salutation, but so far “Happy Easter” stands firm in its acknowledgement of what we commemorate. Even though there is more widespread celebration at Christmas, we are truly an Easter People. …
Sunday’s Readings: PROCESSION: Matthew 21:1-11; MASS: Isaiah 50:4-7; Psalm 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24; Philippians 2:6-11; Matthew 26:14—27:66 OR 27:11-54
…from your Pastor’s Desk – Holy Week – This week we begin a time so Sacred to us Catholics that it is called ‘Holy Week.’ It is true that as far as individual celebrations go, Christmas seems to overshadow Easter, but Holy Week is more than just Easter Sunday. …
Sunday’s Readings: Ezekiel 37:12-14; Psalm 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8; Romans 8:8-11; John 11:1-45 OR 11:3-7, 17, 20-27, 33b-45
…from your Pastor’s Desk – Spring Cleaning – This Friday, March 20th, was the first day of spring. Perhaps it is time we all did a little ‘Spring Cleaning.’ So many of us have accumulated much more than we need. It bursts from our closets, overflows our shelves, and clutters our lives to the point we even rent storage areas. Lent might be a wonderful time to deliberately release ourselves from the many “things” we own by cleaning out our closets and simplifying our lives in a prayerful and intentional way. …
Sunday’s Readings: 1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a; Psalm 23: 1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41 OR 9:1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38
…from your Pastor’s Desk – Here we are, half-way through Lent 2026. And what a Lent it has been. If you are like most of us – you’ve already struggled with your Lenten Resolutions – perhaps you‘ve even flat out failed and fallen. Do not be discouraged – Christ Himself fell 3 times on His way to Calvary – but He got back up each time and so can you. Here are some special prayers to help you through this week. …
Sunday’s Readings: Exodus 17:3-7; Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9; Romans 5:1-2, 5-8; John 4:5-42 OR 4:5-15, 19b-26, 39a, 40-42
…from your Pastor’s Desk – The Gospel Reading tells the story of a woman who is worthless by the standards of Jewish society at that time. Jesus has sent His disciples off for food, and He is sitting at a well when she comes to draw water. There is every reason why He should not talk to her at all. …
Sunday’s Readings: Genesis 12:1-4a; Psalm 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22; 2 Timothy 1:8b-10; Matthew 17:1-9
…from your Pastor’s Desk – Transfiguration – This week we have the wonderful Gospel of the Transfiguration of Jesus. For one brief moment, Jesus’ disciples are allowed to see what lies ahead for all who follow His way. …
Sunday’s Readings: Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7; Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 17; Romans 5:12-19 OR 5:12, 17-19; Matthew 4:1-11
…from your Pastor’s Desk – “Where have all the Flowers gone?” – A few years ago, it used to be fashionable at this time of the year in certain circles to say to people “Have a happy Lent!” I still do it. But I hope it does not overshadow the penitential season of Lent or make it sound just like Easter season which really is the proper liturgical time for great rejoicing. …