We are Human 'Beings', not Human 'Doings'. My friends, you were not created simply to do things. You were created, first and foremost, to BE someone. You were created to be someone who loves the truth, who loves goodness, who loves beauty.

Brothers and sisters, the theme I want to drive at in this homily is this -- "How to make things rightly ordered in our lives". There are so many good things we can do as Catholics and as human beings. But we need to get the order right. And I think this beautiful story in our Gospel today, when Jesus visits the home of Martha and her sister Mary, teaches us the secret.

A holy monk name Thomas Merton sums all this up in one simple phrase that I just love. He said, “The secret to life is discerning the difference between what is urgent, and what is important.” The evil one will try to convince you that all the things the world throws at you is urgent. Reject that. The things that are important are what really matter. The Holy Spirit will help you discern that, listen to him.

Lectionary Readings:

Gn 18:1-10a

Ps 15:2-3, 3-4, 5

Col 1:24-28

Lk 10:38-42

Today we hear the beloved parable Jesus told called “The Good Samaritan.” I think every one of us knows how it goes. We call someone who does a good deed a Good Samaritan, the parable is that familiar. Many hospitals and health care facilities are called "Good Samaritan". I love hearing modern day Good Samaritan stories, don’t you? I’m sure you all have heard many. And I bet many of you have been a part of these stories in some form as well.

You know this parable, you know the most common reflections on it. Today I would like to present to you another way of looking at this parable, maybe one that you have never heard before. And yet is backed up by the parable itself. Let’s put ourselves in the shoes of the poor man who was beaten, robbed, and left to die. How was his life and faith transformed?

Lectionary Readings:

Dt 30:10-1

Ps 69:14, 17, 30-31, 33-34, 36, 37

Col 1:15-20

Lk 10:25-37

King George III ruled England during the time of the American Revolution. And here is what he recorded in his diary for July 4, 1776: “Nothing of significance happened on this day.” Now that’s an understatement right?!

In contrast, here is what John Adams wrote to his beloved Abigail: “This day will be the most memorable epic in the history of America. I am apt to believe it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God.”

There is a word that we love to say, a word that we treasure in America, especially on Independence Day. And that word is Freedom. Freedom is not something that can merely be created by government institutions. Our Constitution, our Bill of Rights, our Republic is amazing, and they are tremendous gifts. But the Founding Fathers of our country understood that freedom could not be created simply by that. To be a free country demands that the people of that nation have a certain kind of character. They must be men and women who live virtuous, disciplined lives.

My friends, there are no shortcuts to true freedom and no shortcuts to salvation. Discipleship in Jesus Christ comes at a cost. Let's talk about this on the week we celebrate the birth of our great country. And let us never forget that freedom is NOT the ability to do whatever you want. No, true freedom is the ability to do what is right...the ability to do what is good.

Lectionary Readings:

Is 66:10-14

Ps 66:1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16, 20

Gal 6:14-18

Lk 10:1-12, 17-20

Have you heard of the social media slang term "FOMO"? It means "Fear Of Missing Out." I’d like you to apply that acronym to your spiritual life. What I hope is that you have a healthy fear of missing the call of Christ. Today's readings are all about discipleship, which means to be a follower. In our Gospel, Jesus makes some very strong demands. He says things we don't normally say in day to day life. In fact, it sounds like he makes unreasonable demands. Three people have dramatic encounters with Our Lord in this Gospel reading, which can help us to better understand what Christianity truly looks like, and what the cost of discipleship entails. Let's unpack it...

Lectionary Readings:

1 Kgs 19:16b, 19-21

Ps 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11

Gal 5:1, 13-18

Lk 9:51-62

Homily from the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ by Msgr. J Anthony McDaid. June 23, 2019 at St. Mary Catholic Church, Aspen, CO.

If you really understand what the Eucharist is my friends, if you understand the meaning in Scripture, and what Jesus does in the Eucharist…you will never leave the Catholic Church. It is THE most powerful thing on earth. It is the reason I’m a priest. It’s the reason the Church exists.

The Mass is not just something we do as Catholics. It’s not just an obligation. The Mass is the greatest gift God has given the world. And the Church gives us today this incredible Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ as a wake-up call. To help us remember that Jesus didn’t just give us the Mass as a way to worship him. Jesus, in the Eucharist, gives us himself. He gives us his heart of hearts.

Lectionary Readings:

Gn 14:18-20

Ps 110:1, 2, 3, 4

1 Cor 11:23-26

Lk 9:11b-17

Homily from the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity by Fr. John Hilton at St. Mary Catholic Church in Aspen, CO on June 16th 2019.

The doctrine of the Holy Trinity is the greatest mystery and dogma of our Christian faith. It is the source of all the other mysteries of faith, the light that enlightens them. Our belief that God is a Triune God; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is something that every Christian accepts. It's one of those baselines. You cannot truly be a Christian if you do not believe in the Trinity. And here's an interesting thing to realize my friends, the only reason the dogma of the Trinity exists today, is because the Catholic Church defined it roughly 400 years AFTER Jesus ascended into heaven. The history and theology behind it is fascinating, and that's what I want to share with you in this homily. Also, it's Father's Day, and I have a special message for all fathers out there about the incredible impact the practice of your faith has on your children.

Lectionary Readings:

Prv 8:22-31

Ps 8:4-5, 6-7, 8-9

Rom 5:1-5

Jn 16:12-15

Homily from Pentecost by Fr. John Hilton at St. Mary Catholic Church, June 9, 2019.

Every year we conclude the Easter season on this powerful Solemnity...Pentecost! This solemnity is so important for understanding our faith, which originates from the Jewish roots of our Catholic Christian faith. If you really want to know why we are Catholic, brothers and sisters, then understand Pentecost. That's my goal in this homily...

Lectionary Readings:

Acts 2:1-11

Ps 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34

1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13

Jn 20:19-23