Homily for the Monday of the Fourth Week of Advent

Imagine for a moment when God Himself, the Creator of the universe, the Lord of Lord, the King of Kings, enters into the body of Mary to dwell there and take flesh of her flesh and bone of her bones. God didn't force her to do it, he didn't force her to conceive. He wanted her "yes". 

Maybe in your own life God acts the same way. He wants to do mighty things through us but he needs our "yes" to do his will. Notice how our lady knew what the will of God was. It didn't make sense or match the direction that her life was going in, but she still said "yes". Many times in our life what God wants for us may not match our plans but sometimes he just need our yes without showing all the in between, and then he would give us the grace every step of the way to live out that yes.

Today, as we enter closer to Christmas, surrender your will to the will of God, because that's where true peace and fulfillment lie. You don't have to have it all figured out. Keep saying yes and let God work a miracle in your life.

Homily for the Fourth Sunday of Advent

Although Joseph was not the biological father of Jesus, he was a true father to Jesus. When Jesus was found in the temple, Mary said to Jesus, “Your father and I have been looking for you.” (Luke 2:48). We can imagine the love and affection between Joseph and Jesus, and between Joseph and Mary. We can imagine Joseph’s pain at the poor circumstances of Jesus’ birth. We can imagine the pain that he must have suffered when Simeon told Mary that Jesus would be a sign that would be opposed and that a sword would pierce Mary’s soul (Luke 2:34-35). We can imagine the pain Joseph suffered when he had to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt for safety to preserve their lives.

What gave Joseph the strength to endure all the trials his vocation brought him? It was obviously his life of prayer that gave him the strength to be obedient to God’s call to him. He was a just man, a man of honor as our Gospel today tells us. He had to have been a man of deep faith to fulfill his high calling. Even though St. Joseph was a man of no words, he was still this powerful figure. He was a powerful figure of the church, of spousal love, and the protector of children and family. He had to make preparations for the first Christmas, to submit to God’s plan in faith. As we prepare for Christmas we can turn to Joseph asking his help so that we can prepare our hearts in faith to be worthy mangers to receive Jesus.

Readings from December 19, 2021

Micah 5:1-4a

Psalms 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19

Hebrews 10:5-10

Luke 1:39-45

Homily for the Friday of the Third Week of Advent

Today, let us remember our lineage, because the actions they see in us, is what they will see in Christians. What they see in us is what they will see in the church. Let us live the Beatitudes. Let us live those corporal works of mercy. So, whenever people see us, they can say “oh” that’s a daughter or son of the heavenly father because your actions and the love you show will radiate to those you meet. 

Homily for Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent (Baccalaureate Mass)

You may be wondering: what has God called me to do, who has he called me to be with, or what am I going to do with the rest of my life? But, God has created you for a certain purpose. He says, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." God is so in love with us that he just wants you to say "yes" to him. He knows your gifts and your talents and he wants you to go out and use those gifts and talents for his Glory. As you embark on a new journey in life, use your gifts, talents, and abilities to point others to Him because life is a vapor... we are here today and we are gone tomorrow. Today and everyday, let your life be a testament of your faith that leads others to God.

Homily for the Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent

St. John of the Cross's life can be summed as the Bible scripture from Mark 8:34, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me." When a rift arose among the Carmelites St. John was actually imprisoned and suffered in terrible conditions: a cell barely large enough for him to lie down. But, it was in these horrid conditions where he came to know the cross acutely - to experience the dying of Jesus - as he sat month after month in his dark, damp, narrow cell with only his God. In the darkness of the dungeon, John's spirit came into the Light. Just like St. John of the Cross, we have to be willing to carry our own cross if we want to experience the Resurrection. We have to forge a way through the darkness if we want to walk in the light.

Homily for the Monday of the Third Week of Advent

"Those whose hearts are pure, are temples of the Holy Spirit." St. Lucy, vowed at an early age, to live her live in service of Christ. This meant that Lucy was not interested in marrying, especially to the man her family had chosen as a spouse. When St. Agatha appeared to Lucy in a dream and confirmed that her mother's illness would be cured, this experience helped her convince her mother that she was only destined for only one spouse: Christ. St. Lucy was a martyr for her faith who gave up her goods to the poor and reverence for her became so widespread that she made it into the Roman canon. Like the early Christians, we are pressured in all sorts of was to worship other things such as materialism and consumerism. Today, may we draw upon the inspiration of St. Lucy in these times.

Homily for the Third Sunday Advent

Hebrews 12:1-3 is a wake up call to see our life as a race and to run it with passion and zeal and energy and discipline. The author of Hebrews wants us to test ourselves to see if we are running or coasting. Now, running can be hard work. The race can be long. The journey can be difficult. The road can be treacherous. But, when we think about what Jesus was going through in his great suffering on the cross for us, he saw us. He dug deep down inside and said "I love You" and I will lay down my life and endure every bodily pain and affliction imaginable because I love you just that much. His love for us is just that deep.

So how can we finish this race successfully? Today, don't focus on the miles ahead of you, just focus on right now. Even though we may hit those miles where we will cramp up in life, there will be things in our life that pull on us to keep us moving, like our team of friends. So, hold on to those friends, because they are the people that will help work that cramp out of your life no matter good times or bad. They will be there no matter what happens to keep you going just like God. God is going to give you the grace to endure whatever it is that you are going through. We can endure it with passion, heart, and with the joy that He gives to us.

Readings from December 12, 2021

Zephaniah 3:14-18a

Isaiah 12:2-3, 4, 5-6

Philippians 4:4-7

Luke 3:10-18

Homily for the Thursday of the Second Week of Advent

Juan Diego, a wise and venerable Indian, a tiller of the soil, the Virgin Mary's messenger and an early evangelizer, helped shepherd thousands into Christianity. The Virgin Mary appeared to Juan Diego in 1531. Mary asked Juan to request that the local bishop build a church on that site. The bishop, in disbelief, asked for a heavenly sign. She appeared to Juan Diego on the top of the hill, which was covered with beautiful flowers blooming out of season. Arranging the cut flowers on his cloak, known as a tilma, Mary sent him on his way to the bishop. When Juan unfolded his tilma before the bishop, the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared on it.

Mary’s appearance also put an end to the ritual of human sacrifice. We pray for Mary’s help today to bring an end to the human sacrifice of God’s children through abortion and to convert non-believers. 

Readings from December 9, 2021

Isaiah 41:13-20

Psalms 145:1 and 9, 10-11, 12-13

Matthew 11:11-15

Homily for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

People often have a hard time understanding why Catholics pray to Mary or make "such a big deal" about Mary. But that's not the case, at al! Yes, it’s true that Mary is given a great deal of honor in Catholicism, but, believe it or not, everything we say and do in relation to the Blessed Virgin Mary has far more to do with Jesus than it does Mary.

The truth is, If we want to be more like Jesus, we have to love and honor his mother, Mary. When we honor Mary, we are just honoring the work of God in her. In celebrating her life of holiness, we are really just celebrating the God who has done such wonderful things in her.

When we look to Mary, what we should see is the saving power of her Son. When we seek to imitate Mary, what we are imitating is her fidelity and commitment to Jesus. And when we pray to Mary, what we are seeking is the help and support to love Jesus more faithfully and trust in God more fully. Do not be afraid to draw close to Mary, she will lead you to Jesus.

Readings from December 8, 2021

Genesis 3:9-15, 20

Psalms 98:1, 2-3, 3-4

Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12

Luke 1:26-38

Homily for the Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent

God isn't waiting for you to come to Him. Just like the heart of the Shepherd who will leave the 99 sheep to go and find the lost one, so too, will God. He is so in love with you that he is willing to take the initiative and go after you wherever you are. He's not waiting for you to return to the flock on your own, even if you might. God is already chasing you with His love and grace, and he won't stop until he finds you and rescues you.