Homily from the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Holy moments are ordinary moments reconsidered.

An ordinary life is not an obstacle to a holy life. In fact, every extraordinary life is made up of ordinary moments that we choose to make into holy moments.

Mark 1:14-20

Homily from the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time.

God has a claim on your life...and God has a call for your life.

We can often be hesitant to make decisions in life. Not only because we do not want to make the wrong decision, but also because we want to make the best decision. But the point of life is not merely to optimize our happiness. We experience a new freedom and meaning when we realize that our lives are not our own...and we live to respond to God's call.

John 1:35-42

Homily from the Epiphany of the Lord.

We give God our best, our heart, and what He has asked for.

As we know, the heart of religion is worship. But we need to put our hearts into worship. We give God our best, our heart, and what God has asked for. Not because He needs anything, but because it is right and just.

Matthew 2:1-12

Homily from the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph

The Holy Family was holy, but not without struggles.

Jesus entered into this broken world by entering into the reality that all of us have experienced: family life. He did not insulate Himself from the harsh realities of life by embracing a life of wealth. Rather, all He had was borrowed.

Luke

Homily from the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas).

The reality is that God is not a professional. He is an amateur.

There are many things in life where we merely like the "idea" of that thing. The reality is another story, because the reality makes demands on us. Christmas is a reminder that we not only cannot love the "idea" of God, but that He does not merely love the idea of us.

John 1:1-18

Homily from the Fourth Sunday of Advent.

Whatever You ask of me, the answer is yes.

One of the more challenging reminders of this series is that God is the point of all of this. He is not only the Main Character, but this is also His Story. Nonetheless, we have been given a role; we have been created and redeemed in order to play our part.

Luke 1:26-38

Homily from the Third Sunday of Advent.

We won't be able to rejoice, pray, or give thanks always unless we rejoice, pray, and give thanks now.

Main Character syndrome can lead us to believe that we are in control. But there are many circumstances that are out of our control. We can often only control how we respond to our circumstances. As Christians, we choose to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances.

John 1:6-8, 19-28

Homily from the Second Sunday of Advent.

Perfectionism can move us from caring to quitting.

Spiritual perfectionism can lead people who care about the Faith and who love God to a place of harshness and hurry so much that they just want to give up. But the Gospel reminds us that God is gentle and patient.

Mark 1:1-8

Homily from the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Mary was preserved from sin by the merits of her Son's life, death, and resurrection.

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is a testament to God's goodness. He gives what we need for the mission to which we have been called. And He calls all of us to enter into deeper relationship with the Family of God by cultivating a relationship with Mary, the Mother of God.

Luke 1:26-38

Homily from the First Sunday of Advent.

You are God. I am not.

When we encounter the true and living God, there is only one response...it involves six little words, but makes a world of difference.

Mark 13:33-37