Category: HOMILIES

A THEORY OF DIVINE MERCY

This homily, delivered at St. Agnes Catholic Church, is based on John 8:1-11.

Today we are presented with what I consider one of the defining moments in the public ministry of our Lord. A woman caught in the act of adultery is dragged into the temple square to stand in shame and in full view of a blood-thirsty mob. She stands alone because her presumably equally culpable accomplice is conspicuously missing.

It’s a disturbingly familiar scene: To this day, such tragic injustice continues to be inflicted on women in different parts of the world. Unfortunately, while it takes two to tango, it only takes one when you want to condemn the dance–and it’s usually not the man you haul to the public stoning.

Tags adultery, John 8:1-11, mercy

HOMILIES

MY PROBLEM WITH THIS PARABLE

Post author By [email protected]
Post date March 6, 2016
27 Comments on MY PROBLEM WITH THIS PARABLE

Rembrandt's The Prodigal Son — Rembrandt’s The Prodigal Son

This homily is based on Luke 15:1-32.

Our Gospel reading today features what is arguably the best-known and best-loved of our Lord’s parables, The Parable of the Lost Son–more commonly known as the Prodigal Son.

We know the story: A wayward son prematurely asks his father for his share of the inheritance and spends it all in loose living. He predictably finds himself destitute and miserable, and just as predictably decides to go home in remorse. What is most unpredictable is that this good-for-nothing son is, much to his own surprise, greeted by his father’s embrace and is welcomed with a lavish homecoming party, complete with a roasted fattened calf.

Tags Luke 15:1-32, Prodigal Son

HOMILIES

A TEMPLATE FOR OUR TEMPTATIONS

Post author By [email protected]
Post date February 14, 2016
12 Comments on A TEMPLATE FOR OUR TEMPTATIONS

This homily, based on Luke 4:1-13, was delivered at St. Agnes Catholic Church.

We must concede: The devil is one shrewd creature. As we see in today’s Gospel, he is a true master at his craft, with great timing and equally great strategy. The devil knows exactly when to show up and understands exactly which carrot to dangle before our eyes. And he’s relentless, too–even when his target is no less than the Son of God.

Tags Luke 4:1-13, temptation of christ

HOMILIES

THE REAL ORIGINAL SIN (or WHAT ISAIAH, PETER, AND PAUL TEACH US)

Post author By [email protected]
Post date February 7, 2016
15 Comments on THE REAL ORIGINAL SIN (or WHAT ISAIAH, PETER, AND PAUL TEACH US)

This homily, preached at St. Agnes Catholic Church, is based on Matthew 4:19, Isaiah 6:1-8, and 1 Corinthians 15:1-11.

What’s wrong with Isaiah, Peter, and Paul?

All three are outstanding men of God: Isaiah is one of the major Old Testament prophets, Peter the head of the apostles, and Paul the greatest missionary of the Church. And yet in all our readings today, these three utter such unlikely lines, words that most of us wouldn’t expect to hear from such men.

Tags 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, gratitude, humility, Isaiah, Isaiah 6:1-8, Matthew 4:19, original sin, Paul, Peter

HOMILIES

LESSONS FROM A HOMECOMING (OR, HERE’S HOW YOU KILL YOUR FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE)

Post author By [email protected]
Post date January 31, 2016
13 Comments on LESSONS FROM A HOMECOMING (OR, HERE’S HOW YOU KILL YOUR FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE)

This homily, based on Luke 4:21-30 and 1 Corinthians 13:4-13, was delivered at St. Agnes Catholic Church.

Things went very wrong rather quickly at this homecoming. Jesus shows up one morning in his hometown, and he is greeted by a huge turnout in the synagogue: Family and friends have come to hear one of their own, now a minor celebrity in his own right. They are amazed at his wisdom, and they are all praises for this son of Nazareth.

All right, maybe for about five minutes. Then it begins.

Tags 1 Corinthians 13:4-13, faith, hope, love, Luke 4:21-30