Pastoral Messages on Pastoral Readings (Page 2)

Homilies

Easter Sunday 4.5.26

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. …

Palm Sunday 3.29.26

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. …

5th Sunday of Lent 3.22.26

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. …

4th Sunday of Lent 3.15.26

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. …

3rd Sunday of Lent 3.8.26

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. …

1st Sunday of Lent 2.22.26

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. …

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2.8.26

Sunday’s Readings: Isaiah 58:7-10; Psalm 112:4-5, 6-7, 8-9; 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; Matthew 5:13-16

…from your Pastor’s Desk – Following Jesus – In the Gospels of the last four Sundays we have been following the story of Jesus’ early career. He went to be baptized. Then he moved to Capernaum from Galilee when John the Baptist was killed, and there he chose his apostles (who somehow knew him as the one to follow). Last Sunday we heard part of his “inaugural address,” the beatitudes. …

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2.1.26

Sunday’s Readings: Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13; Psalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31; Matthew 5:1-12a

…from your Pastor’s Desk – Seek The Lord – At the very beginning of this day’s readings, we are told to seek the Lord. And then, gratefully, we are told how to do that. Both readings, the psalm and the Gospel, all come together to give a definition of how to seek the Lord. We seek the Lord by seeking justice and righteousness, by seeking peace, by seeking humility. This we know. This we have heard every year when the Gospel is about the ‘Beatitudes’. …