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Fourth Sunday of Lent (3/19/2023)

Write an expository homily for the Fourt Sunday of Lent, Laetare Sunday, using these scripture passages: 1 Samuel 16:1b 6-7,10-13a; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41 ; while cross-referencing the Fathers of the Church, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and the writings of recent popes throughout.  My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, as we gather together on this Laetare Sunday, the Fourth Sunday of Lent, we are reminded that even in the midst of our Lenten penance, we have reason to rejoice. The readings today invite us to look beyond appearances and to recognize the hidden beauty and goodness that lies within us and in others. In the first reading, we hear about the anointing of David as the new king of Israel. Samuel was sent by God to anoint the one who would replace Saul as king, and when he saw David, he initially thought he was too young and insignificant to be the chosen one. But God reminded Samuel that "man sees the appearance, but the Lord looks into the heart" ...

Third Sunday of Lent (3/12/2023)

Write an expository homily for the Third Sunday of Lent using these scripture passages: Ex 17:3-7;Rom 5:1-2,5-8;Jn 4:5-42 ; while cross-referencing the Fathers of the Church, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and the writings of recent popes throughout.  My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, as we gather together on this Third Sunday of Lent, we are reminded of the great love that God has for us. In our readings today, we hear about God's care and compassion for us, and we are called to turn towards Him with open hearts and minds. The first reading today from the Book of Exodus recounts the story of the Israelites wandering in the desert and complaining to Moses about their thirst. God then provided water for them from a rock. This story reveals God's care for His people, even when they doubt and complain. The Fathers of the Church, such as St. John Chrysostom, taught that this water from the rock was a prefiguration of the spiritual refreshment that Christ offers us thro...

Second Sunday of Lent (3/5/2023)

Write an expository homily for the Second Sunday of Lent using these scripture passages: Gn 12:14a; Ps 33:4-5,18-19,20,22; 2 Tm 1:8b-10; Mt 17:1-9; while cross-referencing the Fathers of the Church, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and the writings of recent popes throughout. Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, As we continue our Lenten journey, the readings for today's Mass invite us to reflect on the importance of faith and trust in God. We are reminded that God is always with us, guiding us on our journey and calling us to deeper faith. In the first reading, we hear about Abram (later known as Abraham) and how he had to trust in God's plan for his life. Abram was called by God to leave his homeland and go to a new land that God would show him. This was a daunting task, but Abram had faith in God and was willing to follow His plan. Similarly, in our own lives, we are called to have faith and trust in God's plan for us. This can be challenging, especially when we are...

First Sunday of Lent (2/26/23)

Write an expository homily for the First Sunday of Lent using these scripture passages: Genesis 2:7-9,3:1-7; Ps 51:3-4,5-6,12-13,14,17; Romans 5:12-19; and Mt 4:1-11; while cross-referencing the Fathers of the Church, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and the writings of recent popes throughout. My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we celebrate the First Sunday of Lent, a season of repentance and renewal. Our readings today remind us of the profound truth that we are created in God's image and likeness, and yet we have fallen into sin and separated ourselves from God. But through the grace of Christ, we can be reconciled to God and restored to our original state of holiness. Our first reading from Genesis tells us of the creation of Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, and their fall into sin. God created them in his own image and breathed into them the breath of life, but they were tempted by the serpent and chose to disobey God's command not to eat of the tree ...

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (2/19/23)

 2/19/2023 Write an expository homily for the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time using these scripture passages: Leviticus 19:1-2,17-18; Psalms 103:1-2,3-4,8,10, 12-13; 1 Corinthians 3:16-23; Matthew 5:38-48; while cross-referencing the Fathers of the Church, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and the writings of recent popes throughout. My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, In today's readings, we hear God calling us to a life of holiness and love. In the book of Leviticus, God instructs his people to be holy as he is holy. This commandment is reiterated in the Gospel of Matthew, where Jesus tells his followers to love their enemies and to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect. How can we follow these commandments in our daily lives? The answer lies in our relationship with God. As St. Paul reminds us in his letter to the Corinthians, we are temples of the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit of God dwells in us. Therefore, we must be careful how we build our lives. If we build ou...

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (2/12/23)

2/12/2023 Write an expository homily for the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time using these scripture passages: Sirach 15:15-20; Psalms 119:1-2.4-5.17-18.33-34; 1 Corinthians 2:6-10; Matthew 5:17-37; while cross-referencing the Fathers of the Church, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and the writings of recent popes throughout. Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Today's readings remind us of the importance of following God's commandments and living a life of holiness. In the first reading from Sirach, we are told that if we keep the commandments, our path will be like a shining light and our future will be like a peaceful day. This is because God's commandments lead us to a life of love and compassion, and bring us closer to God himself. In the Psalm, we are called to meditate on God's laws and to keep them in our hearts. The psalmist recognizes that God's laws are a source of joy and happiness, and that by keeping them, we can avoid the dangers of sin and temptati...

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (2/5/23)

2/5/23 Write an expository homily for the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time using these scripture passages: Isaiah 58:7-10; Psalms 112:4-5,6-7,8-9; 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; John 8:12; Mt 5:13-16; while cross-referencing the Fathers of the Church, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and the writings of recent popes throughout. Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, On this Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, we are invited to reflect on the importance of fasting, a spiritual discipline that has been practiced by the faithful for centuries. Our first reading from the book of Isaiah reminds us that true fasting is not simply about abstaining from food, but rather, it is about practicing justice and showing compassion to those in need. As St. Augustine writes, "Fasting is not only a denial of food, but also a denial of our own will. It is a means by which we conquer ourselves." In the Psalms, we hear a call to seek the Lord and to live in the light of his truth. This is echoed in the teaching...