From the 9:30am Mass on Sunday, December 10, 2023 at The National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica in Royal Oak, on the Second Sunday of Advent, Year B.

Main Point: Preparation for the Lord's Coming

1. We Participate in Our Own Salvation
   • Both ... and: God saves, and we are called to participate in our salvation
2. Example: Confession
   • Three Offenses:
     1. God
     2. Man
     3. Nature
3. Fix a Pothole
   • Homework: Pray, "Lord, I have lots of potholes in my life. Which one would You like me to work on this Advent?"

Conclusion: Preparing a welcoming place for the Lord

• "Prepare the way for the Lord!"
• Prepare a "highway for the Lord!
• May the Christ child have a warm, inviting home in our hearts to lay His head on Christmas Day

From the 7:30am Mass on Sunday, December 3, 2023, at the National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica, the First Sunday of Advent, Year B.

Intro:

• Happy New Year!
• It is Advent

Body:

1. Why do we need Jesus?
   1. The Infinite Offense
   2. Captured
      • (this point is taken from Fr. John Riccardo's excellent book, Rescued)
2. Do we still need Jesus?
   • If we don't think we do, we are "suffering from delusions of adequacy"

Conclusion: Hope

• Isaiah tells us: "Yet, O Lord, you are our father; we are the clay and you the potter: we are all the work of your hands."
• Throughout Advent, we will work on letting the Father--the potter--work on us, and make us into the beautiful persons He has created us to be

From the 7:30am Mass at The National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica on Sunday, November 26, 2023, on the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Year A.

My three points:

1. Working with Others
2. Working with Ourselves
3. Christ, King of the Universe
   • Jesus is the King of the Universe... but He is not yet fully reigning. We participate with the Lord and His mission when we bring everything under His Lordship.

Homework:

• Pray about making a New Year's resolution: What can I do to bring something / someone under the Lordship of Jesus?
  • Two Focuses:
    1. Others
       • The Corporal Works of Mercy
    2. Ourselves
       • Inviting Jesus into a specific area, a particular "mess," in our lives

From the 6:00pm Mass on Sunday, November 19, 2023 at the National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica, the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A.

Introduction:

• Where are your fruits? Show me your children!

Body:

1. The Nature of God:
   • God gives Life, the devil gives death and sterility
2. Figruative Birth-Control:
   • Contracepting the Holy Spirit
3. Literal Birth-Control:
   • Contracepting life

Conclusion:

• To those who bury the Master's talents: "Throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grindind of teeth" (Matthew 25:30).
• To those who fully place the Master's talents in the Lord's service: "Well done, my good and faithful servant.... Come, share your master's joy" (Matthew 25:21).

Resources:

• The Roger Daltrey quote is taken from his autobiography Thanks A Lot Mr Kibblewhite, p. 110.
• The Kimberly Hahn quote is taken from the book Rome Sweet Home: Our Journey to Catholicism, by Scott & Kimberly Hahn, pp. 35-36.

From the 9:30am Mass on Sunday, November 12, 2023 at The National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica on the 32nd Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year A.

Introduction:

• Our Sunday readings become more and more apocalyptic as we approach the end of the liturgical year.

Body:

1. To be Known:
   • Our Lord tells the foolish virgins: "Amen, I say to you, I do not know you."
     • Being known
     • Presence
2. Encounter:
   • Confession
   • Mass
   • Prayer
3. The End Times?

Conclusion:

• Jesus would love to get to know you. Put yourself in that position: Confession, Mass, Prayer

From the 11:30am "High Mass" at The National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica in Royal Oak on Sunday, November 5, 2023, the Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A.

Breakdown of the homily:

Introduction:

• Re-introduce self, talk about being the Archbishop's priest-secretary

Body:

1. Baptized as Priest, Prophet, and King
2. The Priesthood
3. Stories from my Priesthood

Conclusion:

• Recruitment Call

From the 7:30am Mass at the National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica, on Sunday, October 29, 2023, the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A.

• The Danger of Self-Assurance/Self-Reliance
• St. Paul and the Thessalonians
• Homework: How has Jesus made a difference in my life? Where are my sins, my pitfalls, and what has Jesus done?

From the 7:30am Mass on Sunday, October 15, 2023 at the National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica in Royal Oak, the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A.

The three parts of the homily:

1. The Encounter
2. The Genius of Pope Francis: Creating a Culture of Encounter
3. Encountering / Engaging God

Conclusion: The Secret / Hope = Jesus!

From the 7:30am Mass on Sunday, October 8, 2023, the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A, at The National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica.

My three points:

1. Can we take Correction?
2. Love = Unconditional
3. God is Love

Conclusion: "...given to a people that will produce its fruit"

From the 7:30am Mass on Sunday, October 1, 2023, the Feast Day of the Little Flower (St. Therese of the Child Jesus), at The National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica.

My three points:

1. St. Therese of the Child Jesus
2. Power, the Currency of the Devil
3. Mystery

Conclusion: Some practical ideas to becoming more childlike