Fr. Jim's Weekly Homily

Homily for Ash Wednesday 2025 (March 5, 2025) Total Time 10m4s 

Homily for the 8th Sunday of Ordinary Time (March 2, 2025) Total Time: 15m32s

Homily for the 7th Sunday of Ordinary Time (February 23, 2025) Total Time: 13m20s

**I made a mistake and said Corrie Ten Boom was from Belgium. Belgium is a separate country. She was from Holland and from the town of Haarlem in the Netherlands.** Here is the link to Wikipedia to learn more about her.

There are numerous videos on YouTube where she was giving talks or being interviewed. I was particularly moved by this one on the power of prayer.

On the way back from a trip to Italy with some friends, I watched the movie about her life called, "The Hiding Place". It was excellent!

Here is a 30 minutes video with her testimony. 

Homily for the 6th Sunday of Ordinary Time (February 15, 2025) Total Time: 11:17

Quotes in the homily from the Imitation of Christ: 


MY CHILD, I must be your supreme and last end, if you truly desire to be blessed. With this intention your affections, which are too often perversely inclined to self and to creatures, will be purified. For if you seek yourself in anything, you immediately fail interiorly and become dry of heart.

 Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, 1996), 115.

MY CHILD, I am the Lord Who gives strength in the day of trouble. Come to Me when all is not well with you. Your tardiness in turning to prayer is the greatest obstacle to heavenly consolation, for before you pray earnestly to Me you first seek many comforts and take pleasure in outward things. Thus, all things are of little profit to you until you realize that I am the one Who saves those who trust in Me, and that outside of Me there is no worth-while help, or any useful counsel or lasting remedy.

But now, after the tempest, take courage, grow strong once more in the light of My mercies; for I am near, says the Lord, to restore all things not only to the full but with abundance and above measure. Is anything difficult for Me? Or shall I be as one who promises and does not act? Where is your faith? Stand firm and persevere. Be a man of endurance and courage, and consolation will come to you in due time. Wait for Me; wait—and I will come to heal you.

 Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, 1996), 160.

Homily for the 5th Sunday of Ordinary Time (February 9, 2025) Total Time 9m36s

Homily For The Presentation of the Lord (February 2, 2025) Total Time: 12m4s

Reflection I shared from the devotional "Jesus Calling"

LEARN TO LAUGH at yourself more freely. Don’t take yourself or your circumstances so seriously. Relax and know that I am God with you. When you desire My will above all else, life becomes much less threatening. Stop trying to monitor My responsibilities—things that are beyond your control. Find freedom by accepting the boundaries of your domain. Laughter lightens your load and lifts your heart into heavenly places. Your laughter rises to heaven and blends with angelic melodies of praise. Just as parents delight in the laughter of their children, so I delight in hearing My children laugh. I rejoice when you trust Me enough to enjoy your life lightheartedly. Do not miss the Joy of My Presence by carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. Rather, take My yoke upon you and learn from Me. My yoke is comfortable and pleasant; My burden is light and easily borne. 

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. —PROVERBS 17:22 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. —PROVERBS 31:25 

“The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” —which means, “God with us.” —MATTHEW 1:23 T

Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest . . . for your souls. For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good—not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne. —MATTHEW 11:29–30 AMP

Young, Sarah. Jesus Calling, with Scripture References: Enjoying Peace in His Presence (A 365-Day Devotional) (Jesus Calling®) (p. 176). (Function). Kindle Edition. 

Homily for the 3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time (January 26, 2025) Total Time: 10m56

Homily for the 2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time (January 19, 2025) Total Time: 13m58s

Homily for the Baptism of the Lord (January 12, 2025) Total Time: 13m27s

Homily for Epiphany Sunday (January 5, 2025) Total Time 11::45)