Series: Pillar and Foundation

Is the Church optional—or has God, through Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition, revealed that both the Bible and the Church are essential foundations for knowing and following Christ?

  • 6/22/2025 Pillar and Foundation: Greatest Gift

    Homily from the Solemnity of Corpus Christi. Jesus did not say "Read this in memory of Me." He said "Do this in memory of Me." The greatest gift Jesus gave us is Himself in the Eucharist. And yet, even people who love Jesus very much can miss this gift without the guidance and teaching of [...]

  • 6/15/2025 Pillar and Foundation: Necessary Teacher

    Homily from the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. Even when the Bible seems clear, earnest Christians can get it wrong. We need a Church to tell us when we are wrong. The most important revelation of God is His own identity. From the beginning, Christians have needed more than the words of Sacred Scripture [...]

  • 6/8/2025 Pillar and Foundation: Infallible Teacher

    Homily from Pentecost Sunday. Without an infallible Teacher, an infallible Book is a worthless book. The Church is messy. But it is also holy. And has been given the ability and the authority of Jesus to teach. Even in the midst of the brokenness of the human element of the Church, the Church is still [...]

  • 6/1/2025 Pillar and Foundation: Canon of Scripture

    Homily from the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. Jesus didn't give us the Bible. He gave us the Church. And the Church gave us the Bible. All Christians believe in the 27 books of the New Testament. We all believe these books are the inspired Word of God based on the authority of [...]

  • 5/25/2025 Pillar and Foundation: Says Who?

    Homily from the Sixth Sunday of Easter. Do we rely on the Bible alone? The Church is not optional. When there is a question that is not covered explicitly in the Bible (and even when it is), where do we look for guidance? Mass Readings from May 25, 2025: Acts 15:1-2, 22-29; Psalm 67:2-3, 5, [...]