Homily from the Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Silence reveals our hearts and silence trains our hearts.

As we enter into the place of training, we realize that there are certain things that reveal the condition of our hearts...trial, tribulation, speech, and silence. But we need to consciously enter into these if we are going to know ourselves and be trained in the way of Christ.

Luke 6:39-45

Homily from the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Love those who deserve it. And those who don’t.

Jesus gives us a commandment that existed from the beginning: we are to love those who deserve it. This is justice. Jesus goes on to teach us and even greater love: mercy.

Luke 6:27-38

Homily from the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

We live in this life, but we live for the next life.

Jesus turns our fears and our hopes upside down...because through the Resurrection, Jesus has turned the world upside down.

Luke 6:17, 20-26

Homily from the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

There are two requirements: Be available and be willing to try.

There are times when the future is so uncertain and so unknown that we hesitate to move. But since we know that God is with us, He has a call on our lives, and His grace is active...we can take the next step without fear.

Luke 5:1-11

Homily from the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord.

Do what you know, where you are.

What is the Greatest Thing you will ever do? What if the Greatest Thing is not something you accomplish, but who you become?

Luke 2:22-40

Homily from the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time.

You've been given a great work, and must not come down.

Since you have been made on purpose, there are two ways to live: on purpose and off purpose. But if a person has been made to be great and set apart for a purpose, why would they ever choose to live off purpose? The common culprits are distraction, forgetting, comparison, and living a shadow mission.

Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21

Homily from the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Why be great?

A powerful goal in life is to be great. To be able to say, "I am good at this" regardless of comparison, but with an eye towards real excellence. At the same time, even when we have a goal and have a plan, we all need to be motivated by WHY.

John 2:1-11

Homily from the Baptism of the Lord.

You've been claimed at the lowest point.

The Baptism of the Lord is a mystery. The mystery of how Christ comes into contact with the water...and it does not change Him; He changes it. This is the pattern from this moment on: Christ comes into contact with us, claims us, and changes us.

Luke 3:15-16, 21-22

Homily from the Epiphany of the Lord.

There is something powerful about optimism.

Optimistic people are more likely to be risk takers and more likely to have a positive view of life. But optimistic people also have to have something stronger than mere "wishful thinking" to lean on when their own strength runs out.

Matthew 2:1-12

Homily from the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God.

When we know God's will, we must respond with "yes".

There are truly horrible and troubling things that can happen in each one of our lives. And yet, at every moment, we have the opportunity to respond in faith and love. Our response of trust can be summed up in one word: "Yes".

Luke 2:16-21