Playlist: Late Spring 2021

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

Most people who call themselves Catholic do not believe one of the most central and most powerful teaching in the Church. Is it because they lack hearing? Do they lack the opportunity to know about this teaching? Do they lack faith? Or is something else missing?

Mass Readings from June 6, 2021:
Exodus 24:3-8
Psalm 116:12-13, 15-18
Hebrews 9:11-15
Mark 14:12-16, 22-26

Homily from The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity.

What we are is shaped and revealed by what we choose. Who we are is established by relationships.

Mass Readings from May 30, 2021:
Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40
Psalm 33:4-6, 9, 18-19, 20, 22
Romans 8:14-17
Matthew 28:16-20

Homily from Pentecost Sunday.

At Pentecost, the disciples received the Holy Spirit and the subsequent gifts of the Holy Spirit. These gifts glorify the Father and have changed the world. If we were given these gifts, we could also glorify the Father and change the world…but would we?

Mass Readings from May 23, 2021:
Acts 2:1-11
Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34
1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13
John 20:19-23

Homily from the Mass of the Ascension of the Lord.

Jesus doesn’t call us to simply be “nice people.” Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit so that we can be more than we are now…so that we can do more than we can do now. Jesus sends His Holy Spirit so that we can have the strength to be the kind of people who bear witness to Him and His love in this world. He gives His Spirit so that people can be saved and God can be glorified.

Mass Readings from May 16, 2021:
Acts 1:1-11
Psalm 47:2-3, 6-9
Ephesians 1:17-23
Mark 16:15-20

Homily from the Sixth Sunday of Easter.

We can choose joy only insofar as we can choose the source of our joy. Joy comes as a consequence; it is a fruit. And the depth and permanence of our joy is only going to be as deep and long lasting as what we place our confidence in. Only when we surrender to the love of God can we have a joy that is deeper and more permanent than any amount of suffering that comes from life.

Mass Readings from May 9, 2021:
Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48
Psalm 98:1-4
1 John 4:7-10
John 15:9-17

Homily from the Fifth Sunday of Easter.

We find ourselves always moving and never done. We have so many options that we experience decision paralysis and subsequent decision dissatisfaction. But we are made for a full life. A full life is only possible when we intentionally limit ourselves by making the decision to love this person or to root ourselves in this place. Ultimately, unless we truly decide to remain in Christ, we will never experience the life we have been made for.

Mass Readings from May 2, 2021:
Acts 9:26-31
Psalm 22:26-28, 30, 31-32
1 John 3:18-24
John 15:1-8

Homily from the Fourth Sunday of Easter.

To be included is an incredible gift. To be inclusive is powerful. It means more than being “welcome”, it means being radically open and desperately fighting to bring people in. The Church is as inclusive as God’s love. And yet, Jesus is also exclusive in His claim. Jesus has made an exclusive claim about Himself. And if this is true, Jesus has an exclusive claim on us.

Mass Readings from April 25, 2021:
Acts 4:8-12
Psalm 118:1, 8-9, 21-23, 26, 28, 29
1 John 3:1-2
John 10:11-18

Homily from the Third Sunday of Easter.

It is possible to encounter God and go back to the same life. It is possible to live as if the miracle had never happened. It is possible to say “I believe” and not be a witness. But it is also possible to not see a miracle and still bear witness to Christ by how we live, what we choose, and what we love.

Mass Readings from April 18, 2021:
Acts 3:13-15, 17-19
Psalm 4:2, 4, 7-9
1 John 2:1-5
Luke 24:35-48

Homily from the Sunday of Divine Mercy.

Virtually everyone has scars. And every scar has a story. Scars are reminders of our past…they are reminders that won’t go away. And Jesus has kept His wounds in order to help us to never forget His story.

Mass Readings from April 11, 2021:
Acts 4:32-35
Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24
1 John 5:1-6
John 20:19-31