Homily from the Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Love the person in front of you.

It is easy to walk through life and feel invisible. Like you don't matter. Like you have nothing to offer. But when we are seen by Christ, all of that has the potential to change. And then we can begin to see that we are called to love the person in front of us who has nothing to offer.

Mark 7:31-37

Homily from the Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time.

It's the least you can do.

We are made to strive. We are made to pursue the ideal. But we also need to know what the minimum is. We also need to know: What is the least I can do? (And still give the Lord access to my heart!)

Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

Homily from the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

God can be glorified through our wounds, not merely in spite of them.

We all experience brokenness. We all experience God's love through a broken lens. And yet we do encounter them in this way.

Mark 6:1-6

Homily from the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas Mass).

At Christmas, in our lives, and in the Mass...God becomes small enough to ignore.

God is closer than we think. But the ways that He draws close to us is that He comes so close that we can miss Him and He becomes so small that we can ignore Him.

Matthew 1:1-25

Homily from the Fourth Sunday of Advent.

What is our response when God does reveal Himself?

We've been showing up and placing ourselves in God's Presence for the past 22 days. Sometimes we merely expect God to be silent and still. But what if God revealed Himself in a dramatic way? What would be our response?

Matthew 1:18-24

Homily from the Third Sunday of Advent.

Be patient with the Lord, the process, and yourself.

We often find it difficult to wait for things to come to us. During this season of Advent, we can also struggle with the feeling that "nothing is happening". During this time, we need to be reminded that God is closer than we think; He is in each moment and in each step...and remember to be patient.

Matthew 11:2-11

Homily from the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

God always gives what we need to accomplish His will.

Mary was preserved from all stain of original sin at the moment of her conception by the merits of her Son's future life, death, and resurrection.

Luke 1:26-38

Homily from the Second Sunday of Advent.

"One day" could become "Day One".

So often, there are things that we would like to do "one day". Sometimes those dreams pass us by and we lose nothing. But other times, we must take action otherwise "one day" becomes "never". As Christians, we either Begin or we Begin Again.

Homily from the First Sunday of Advent.

You are made for more than a secondhand relationship with God.

We have 29 days until Christmas. And so much can change in that time. If we are willing to commit to spending 29 minutes every day for the next 29 days...if we are willing to beg the Lord to reveal Himself to us...everything could be different in just 29 days.

Matthew 24:37-44

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Homily from the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.

What do you do when you encounter a God you cannot control?

We all have fears. Often, those fears lead us to either seize control or to cede control. But when we fear God and His call in our lives, we are called to choose trust over fear. We are called to choose obedience over control.

Luke 23:35-43

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Homily from the Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time.

We get what we've chosen.

The ending of a story reveals what kind of story it is. Regardless of how we start and how we proceed, we can choose to have a tragic story...or we can choose to have a love story. The determining factor is not the amount of sorrow or loss in our lives, but whether we choose God...or choose something other than God.

Luke 21:5-19

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Homily from the Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time.

The things one needs to die well are the same things one needs to live well.

As we walk through life, we will all walk into darkness and sufferng and pain. We can still walk in hope, courage, and perseverance. We can be the kind of people who can carry the fire into the darkness.

Luke 20:27-38

Homily from the Solemnity of All Saints.

Live so that this day will one day be your feast day.

The Feast of All Saints is the day when all of those who are in Heaven are remembered and we ask them to intercede for us. They are the great "cloud of witnesses" that surrounds us and cheers us on.

Matthew 5:1-12

Homily from the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

The Sacraments are God's presence and power...do we let them change us?

We continually come into contact with the living God in the Sacraments. But we often leave our encounter with the Sacraments the same as when we arrived. If we are open to what God wants, we are surrendering to His will.

Mark 5:21-43

Homily from the Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Zacchaeus knew that he was a bad man. What he didn't know was if he could be different.

Too many of us come to Jesus with the idea that He is willing to change us and change our lives. But what happens when we want Him to merely offer cosmetic changes and He wants to make structural changes?

Luke 19:1-10

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Homily from the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Nothing is so worthless as working hard on the wrong things.

We can all be so busy, but are we productive? Are we doing things right or are we doing the right things? When it comes to growing through the motions, we need to make sure that the right thing we do is present ourselves before God with humility and not self-reliance.

Luke 18:9-14

Homily from the Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

The only way to be able to pray in all seasons is to pray in all seasons.

Growing through the motions involves commitment, consistency, and companions. It means being willing to go through the motions no matter the season and no matter the circumstances. It is only by doing this that we can have full range of motion in our relationship with the Lord.

Luke 18:1-8

Homily from the Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Our Why is a Who.

We can know exactly what to do and how to do it. So much of our lives can be spent doing more and more, but never knowing exactly why. But if the reason behind our actions is Jesus, then we can truly be free to love every time we say "yes" to our Who.

Luke 17:11-19

Homily from the Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Duty is not the enemy.

So much of life is doing our duty. Doing what we are supposed to do. And yet, there are times when this means that we only “go through the motions”. There is a chance for us to do more however…we can choose to grow.

Luke 17:5-10

Homily from the Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Complacency is being satisfied with how things are and not being willing to change them.

We are insulated from discomfort in many ways. And our lives of comfort can lead to complacency. But encountering Christ can lead to compassion.

Luke 16:19-31

Homily from the Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

The connection between our values and our virtues.

We are nothing without the virtue of integrity. As one pastor noted, "If you have integrity, nothing else matters. And if you don't have integrity, nothing else matters." Integrity is the bridge between our desires and our decisions. Without integrity, our lives remain mere piles without purpose.

Luke 16:1-13

Homily from the Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Who you are now is who you are.

Joy is the abiding sense of well-being. It is a feeling, but it is also a choice. But we do not choose joy itself. We must choose the source of joy. Love is the source of joy.

Luke 15:1-32

Homily from the Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Loyalty is a force that conquers time.

The essence of a eulogy virtue is character. Not merely who people think you are, but who you actually are. A person of character does what they said they would do…despite changing feelings or circumstances. This is loyalty.

Luke 14:25-33

Homily from the Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less.

The Book of Sirach makes the claim that the humble person is loved more than a giver of gifts. But what does it mean to be humble? Does it mean what most of us automatically think of? Or does it mean something deeper...something freer? True humility gives a person the ability to pay attention.

Luke 14:1, 7-14

Homily from the Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Rebellion, Resentment, or Rejoicing.

We are called to surrender to God's will. But how do we surrender? Is it a matter of feeling or is it a matter of something else? Surrender is an active, dynamic thing. And it is the opposite of rebellion and resentment.

Mark 4:35-41

Homily from the Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time.

How are you fighting for Heaven?

Jesus makes it very clear that our call is to make our pursuit of Heaven exactly that: a pursuit. He is personal and practical when He tells us that each and every one of us must strive for Heaven.

Luke 13:22-30

Homily from the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Sometimes God gives the victory and sometimes God gives what we need to finish the race.

Every one of us is in the middle of the race of our lives. God has called us and brought us here, even when there is no victory in sight and even when victory is not possible. But God will always give whatever we need to finish the race.

Luke 12:49-53

Homily from the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

We sacrifice because we love and we love because we sacrifice.

The roots in our lives can be so beneficial. Family and friends, home and homeland. But roots can also become traps. Good things can become Ultimate Things. When we say "I need this" and are willing to sacrifice anything to get or to hold on to it, we become trapped. In this, God loosens the roots and calls us to walk by faith.

Luke 12:32-48

Homily from the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Time and Death make most of what we live for hevel.

We are preoccupied with "done", but we are simultaneously addicted to asking "then what?". The wisdom of Ecclesiastes notes that so much of what we live for is impermanent, passing, or meaningless. Yet Jesus reveals that there is a real meaning and a real hope.

Luke 12:13-21

Homily from the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

The Who determines the How.

The disciples did not merely want Jesus to help them have a "better spiritual life" or a deeper prayer life; they wanted to pray how He prayed. And Jesus taught them. He taught them that Who we pray to determines how we pray.

Luke 11:1-13

Homily from the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Feeling anxious, worried, or sorry for yourself is normal. It is also completely unhelpful.

We have a problem. And the problem is that we can do the right thing in the wrong way. We can choose to serve...while feeding our worry and self-pity. We can carry our cross...while feeling anxious and sorry for ourselves. Everything comes down to one question; it is not a matter of being tough, it is a matter of trust.

Luke 10:38-42

Homily from the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

I can know all I need to know and still not do all I need to do.

There are so many things that we know that we ought to do. There are even things that we know that we want to do. And yet...we just can't seem to act on what we know. How do we start? How do we become people who do what we know we ought to do?

Luke 10:25-37

Homily from the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

What else is there?

Many of us want to grow spiritually. But what does that really mean? What is it that we really want? What is the actual goal of life? Put in the words of Jesus, what should we truly rejoice in? Christ's answer is nothing less than having our names written in Heaven.

Luke 10:1-12, 17-20

Homily from the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Deliberate. Decisive. Definitive.

God continues to call. God calls us to follow Him, making it clear that being a disciple is challenging...that it costs something. Therefore, we need to weigh out our response, we need to avoid hesitation, and we need to choose to follow Jesus in such a way that it actually changes something in our lives.

Luke 9:51-62

Homily from The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.

This is everything.

The Body and Blood of Christ is one of the most underappreciated gifts God has ever given. In the Scriptures, God gives us His Word. In the Sacraments, God gives us His work. But in the Eucharist, God gives us Himself.

Luke 9:11-17

Homily from the Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Courage is the willingness to do God's will on your own accord.

We find ourselves in a place where we face uncertainty and difficulty. And yet, we are called to nonetheless move forward with courage. We walk by faith and not by sight. We choose to trust in God's Word more than our fears.

Mark 4:26-34

Homily from The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity.

It is not good for the person to be alone.

The Feast of the Most Holy Trinity reminds us of the innermost secret of God: He is Love. It also reveals the innermost secret of humans made in God's image and likeness: we are made for love.

John 16:12-15

Homily from Pentecost Sunday.

The greatest gift is to make yourself available.

The Holy Spirit, poured out on the apostles (and the entire Church) at Pentecost would have gone to waste without the most important reality: the disciples made themselves available to be used by God for the service of the people around them.

John 20:19-23

Homily from the Solemnity of the Ascension of our Lord.

What am I going to do with the gifts I've been given?

In the Ascension, Jesus completes the work of redemption. He has taken His once for all sacrifice, bound to time and place, and brought it before the Father. Because of this, we have access to all of God's graces in every time and every place.

Luke 24:46-53

Homily from the Sixth Sunday of Easter.

The great temptation to stay in our own "version" of the Church.

God has given us the gift of the Church. The Church is His Body...the Church is His Bride. And we cannot have Jesus without His Church.

John 14:23-29

Homily from the Fifth Sunday of Easter.

The best you on the worst day of your life.

There are a few things that we ought to never be surprised by. One of them is suffering. God does not abandon us in our suffering, he leads us through them.

Homily from the Fourth Sunday of Easter.

You are not abandoned. You are not alone. You are not afraid.

Our lives are marked by stress. Not only is stress unavoidable, it is necessary. The main question is: what is our response to stress?

John 10:27-30

Homily from the Third Sunday of Easter.

Use your potential.

Jesus called Peter to sacrifice his potential so that his life and his death might glorify God. You are I are called to pick our spot, to pour ourselves out in such a way that God would be known, loved, and glorified.

John 21:1-19

Homily from the Sunday of Divine Mercy.

Mercy is the love that we deserve the least when we need it the most.

The fact of the Resurrection of Jesus has introduced something new into this world of misery. The Cross and Resurrection introduced the possibility of mercy. Not only have we encountered the mercy of God, but we have been commissioned to be mercy in the midst of a world filled with misery.

John 20:19-31

Homily from the Mass of Easter Day.

What did he see?

John ran to the tomb and looked in. He saw and believed. What did he see?

John 20:1-9

Homily from Good Friday of the Lord's Passion.

The heart of envy.

The crown of thorns reveals the darkness of the human heart. This darkness is in each one of us in the form of envy.

John 18:1—19:42

Homily from the Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

God can even use a broken world to accomplish His will.

What is the point of life? Is it to be happy? To get what you want? Or is the point of life to become like God? And this world is specifically designed to help you become that kind of person.

Mark 3:20-35

Homily from the Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper.

All of Jesus’ words are summed up in one word.

On the cross, Jesus’ life ends with the same perspective He has had from the beginning: He trusts His Father.

John 13:1-15

Homily from Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion.

This one word connects and transforms the entire story.

There is a last word that does not merely disclose the Heart...it completes The Story.

Luke 22:14—23:56

Homily from the Fifth Sunday of Lent.

Some last words have the power to define a person's life.

From the Cross, Jesus utters His last words. He thirsts for us to allow Him to forgive us.

John 8:1-11