Have you thought sermons were boring? Think again as Fr. Joel unpacks the word of God for today’s audience. Fresh, local, and live takes on the Gospel for our world. A new homily every Sunday.
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CESAREA PHILIPPI - At a press conference in northern Palestine, Jesus of Nazareth revealed the blueprints of a brand new building project. Everyone was shocked when Jesus told them the name of the Apostle who would be the foundation.
A pilgrimage is a journey to a holy place. Twenty years ago I walked the Camino for the first time. That led to many walking pilgrimages here in the states. Pilgrimages can teach us so much. May Jesus be the food for your journey. ¡Buen Camino!
f we rely on ourselves and to avoid anguish, distress, persecution, famine... we will bear rotten fruit. If we trust in God, then he will bring us through all the terrible things and we will bear great fruit... and conquer overwhelmingly!
Good seed and bad weeds are growing side-by-side; why does the Master not seem to care? He is waiting for the fruits to appear. If we don't weed our hearts, we will bear bad fruit. And we will face the fire at harvest time.
God's word is powerful; it can bear much fruit. But you won't be able to receive it if your heart is full of wounds and weed. God has put a lot of care into you... is he seeing any fruit? Cultivate a heart that is ready to receive and grow God's word.
God sees us and he rewards hospitality. God welcomes us so that we will welcome him so that he can prepare our hearts so welcome others. God sees, God knows, and God understands. And he will give you what you most deeply desire.
God sees everything. We always have his attention, because he never stops loving us. Even if mom didn't see, even if dad wasn't there for us, God sees everything and he is there for us. The Lord sees you and he understands.
Christians believe that we, like the Israelites, are the chosen people. But we also believe that we have been given authority and a responsibility to bring the love and truth of Jesus Christ to all peoples.
The Church believes that every human child is a gift from God. We start with receiving the gift and then we grow into the role of the Giver. When we find our Home in the Trinity, then we are able to make an ever more perfect gift of ourselves.
The Holy Spirit wants to set us on fire so that each of us can burn with the love of God. God's one desire is to bring us into communion with him. So why do we keep standing outside the fire?
One day at Faith Formation we played a game, "Pin the flame on the Apostle." The Spirit comes to teach us that we are not orphans. We don't need to protect ourselves, provide for ourselves, or guide ourselves because we have the Holy Spirit.
Each rock that makes up St. Hyacinth Church is a unique shape, size, and color. Every stone is special! In a similar way, each and every person has a special vocation. To live it well, you have to avoid one dangerous trap.
Love is a choice to engage the world with a particular stance or attitude. Through Baptism, I learn to lay down my life for others. All the secondary vocations are calls to particular ways of self-giving love after the model of the Good Shepherd.
Do you want to see the risen Jesus? Then follow these three steps from today's Gospel: 1) Be really honest with Jesus. 2) Receive what Jesus wants to say to you. 3) Invite Jesus deeper into your life.
Trials expose our weaknesses and they prove and purify us. The Risen Jesus brought great peace, strength, and unity to the early Christian community. The same Risen Jesus stands in our midst and offers us peace when we are ready to receive it.
I think most of us want to get to the end of our life and look back and say, "That was worth it!" Easter reveals Jesus's secret for success: We are God's children, and doing our Father's will will lead to the most successful life possible.
Each one of us is a gift, hand-made by God and given to the world. But the world often does not receive us as a gift. Even though the world rejects Jesus, he knows that his gift is safe in the Father's hands.
The Paschal Lamb was a sacrifice and a sacred meal. It's blood saved the Israelites from the Angel of Death. It died for them, so that they could live. Before you consume this meal, ask yourself: "Am I willing to give in the same measure?"
Donkeys are marked with a cross. If we follow Jesus and accept his kingship, then our lives will also be marked with the cross. Jesus believes God will be with him, he will have the strength to accomplish God's will, and it will be worth it.
"Lord, if you had been here my brother, sister, parent, child... would not have died!" Jesus cries with them. Then he brings his friend back to life. Are you prepared for your funeral? Are you prepared for your Friend to raise you from the dead?
Evangelization is not about convincing people that we are right. It's about helping people we love discover how thirsty they are, and then showing them where to find the spring of life-giving water.
On the way into the desert, the nation of Israel stops for a mountain-top experience. Jesus gives his three closest disciples a mountain-top experience. When did Jesus become real for you? Save your mountain-top moments and keep going back to them.
We do not conquer sin and death by figuring out the techniques that Jesus used. Instead, we conquer sin and death by joining Jesus in HIS victory over sin and death. Guard your mind, words, and actions this Lent, because your identity is at stake.
Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta were half-hearted Catholics. Then an angel appeared to them to prepare them for Mary's visit. She told them they needed to pray and do penance for the conversion of sinners. They began to pray, and give alms.
The rules are good, but following them is not enough. Our hearts must be transformed. Let us say YES to the Holy Spirit and his truth and goodness. Let us say NO to the little lies we believe and even the small ways we don't fully love.
