Fr. David Hogan

Twenty Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

St. Paul in his letter to St. Timothy encourages him to "fan into flame" the gift given him, not to be ashamed of witnessing Christ, and to hold fast to sound teaching. As Catholics we ought not to agree more. 

Scripture Readings for October 5, 2025

Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4
Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9
2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14
Luke 17:5-10

Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The prophet Amos challenges us to see the suffering around us and respond. He goes on to imply further that indifference to others' suffering is a moral failure. Our Gospel presents the reality of Amos' preaching via the telling of the story of the rich man and Lazarus. Notice both the rich man and Lazarus' eternal destinies are reversed: the rich man had a name in society but now nameless in the afterlife. Lazarus who had no voice on earth now known by name in heaven.

Scripture Readings for September 28, 2025

Amos 6:1, 4-7
Psalm 146:7-10
1 Timothy 6:11-16
Luke 16:19-31

Twenty Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Having taken to prayer many of the recent incidents of violence in our country, it is painful to see how we as a country do not see one another. Rather, we see political sides, division, and contempt. Though there is much strife, we are never too far gone. Proof of this is found in our Gospel today regarding the unjust steward. May all the Souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.

Scripture Readings for September 21, 2025

Amos 8:4-7
Psalm 113:1-2, 4-8
1 Timothy 2:1-8

Luke 16:1-13

Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

“If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:25). These words of Jesus seem shocking and harsh. Instead, Jesus is using a literary device called hyperbole, that uses extreme exaggeration to create a strong impression or emphasize a point; it’s not meant to be taken literally but rather to evoke emotion and action in the listener’s mind. 

We know these words are hyperbole because we know the overwhelming content of the Gospel message: Love. You and I are called to love God and neighbor, but when forced to make a choice, a disciple knows the answer. It is a total way of life that demands commitment, suffering, and sacrifice.

Scripture Readings for September 7, 2025

Wisdom 9:13-18
Psalm 90:3-6, 12-14, and 17

Philemon 9-10, 12-17

Luke 14:25-33

Twenty First Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jerusalem is understood as a spiritual reference to pain, suffering, sorrow, and death. These are all realities people attempt to avoid at all costs. Jesus, having freely taken up His own cross, teaches us that power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, strive to enter through the narrow gate.

Scripture Readings August 24, 2025

Isaiah 66:18-21

Psalm 117:1, 2

Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13

Luke 13:22-30

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jesus assures his disciples the peace given to them will be diametrically opposed to the peace the world offers. How can Jesus be both the Prince of Peace who teaches his disciples to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them. While also in today's Gospel say that He has come to bring not peace but division? Is Jesus contradicting himself? Quite the contrary, Jesus came to pick a fight with the world, the flesh, and the devil.  Because He enters the arena first, He calls us to fight as well.

Scripture Readings for August 17, 2025

Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10

Psalm 40:2, 3, 4, 18

Hebrews 12:1-4

Luke 12:49-53

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

An order of Trappist monks whose members live among the Muslim population in northern Africa. As the country is plunged into civil war in the mid-1990s, the men of God must decide whether to stay among the impoverished residents who have been their neighbors, or flee the encroaching fundamentalist terrorists. The situation that unfolds, based on actual events, has tragic consequences (Source: Rotten Tomatoes). 

The disciples in today's Gospel ask Jesus to teach them how to pray. In so doing, Jesus gives them the perfect prayer: The Our Father. Romans 8:28 reminds us, "we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." 

Scripture Readings for July 27, 2025

Genesis 18:20-32
Psalm 138:1-3, 6-8
Colossians 2:12-14
Luke 11:1-13

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

With Jesus in her home, Martha is "anxious and worried" because she fails to see the "one thing" that all her busyness is ordered to: attending to the Lord Jesus Christ. At some point all the success and progress we have made in our lives will be passed on to future generations. Up until we arrive at this important moment, have we filled our life with many things or have we kept our eyes on the one thing that truly matters?

Scripture Readings for July 20, 2025

Genesis 18:1-10

Psalm 15:2-5
Colossians 1:24-28
Luke 10:38-42

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The movie Nefarious (2023) tells the story on the day of a man’s scheduled execution, a convicted serial killer gets a psychiatric evaluation during which he claims he is a demon, and further claims that before their time is over, the psychiatrist will commit three murders of his own. 

In our Gospel for today, the seventy-two disciples whom Jesus sends out to prepare the way were more than simply missionaries, they were commissioned exorcists. Meaning, Jesus gave them power over demons, devils, evil spirits, and fallen angels. 

Yet, there is something greater than casting out demons…“REJOICE YOUR NAMES ARE WRITTEN IN HEAVEN.” This is our supreme triumph and defeat over the evil one. The enemy has been defeated. Death can’t hold you down. Gona lift our voice in victory and make our praises loud.

Scripture Readings for July 6, 2025

Isaiah 66:10-14

Psalm 66:1-7, 16, 20

Galatians 6:14-18

Luke 10:1-12, 17-20 

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

The Miracle of Dunkirk refers to the large-scale evacuation of Allied soldiers from Dunkirk, France, during World War II. Trapped by German forces, over 338,000 British and Allied troops were rescued by a combined effort of the Royal Navy and civilian boats between May 26 and June 4, 1940. 

Sts. Peter and St. Paul went on a spiritual rescue mission across the Roman world by evangelizing with boldness. They suffered and died as witnesses to Christ’s truth, strengthening the Church through their letters, doctrine, and leadership. Sts. Peter and Paul continue to intercede for the Church as saints in heaven. May the Church continue to accept the invitation from Christ by going behind enemy lines to save those in need.

Scripture Readings for June 29, 2025

Acts 12:1-11
Psalm 34:2-9
2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18

Matthew 16:13-19