Homily from the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord.

Jesus didn't give us the Bible. He gave us the Church. And the Church gave us the Bible.

All Christians believe in the 27 books of the New Testament. We all believe these books are the inspired Word of God based on the authority of the Church to recognize this truth and teach it. The same Church has the authority to declare the 46 books of the Old Testament as well.

John 17:20-26

Homily from the Sixth Sunday of Easter.

Do we rely on the Bible alone?

The Church is not optional. When there is a question that is not covered explicitly in the Bible (and even when it is), where do we look for guidance?

John 14:23-29

Homily from the Fifth Sunday of Easter.

Life is difficult. You don't have to move on alone.

In a difficult life and a difficult mission, Paul had someone with him who helped him continue to do the work he was called to do. Paul had someone who helped him move on.

John 13:31-33a, 34-35

Homily from the Fourth Sunday of Easter.

We get the behavior we are willing to tolerate.

There are times when we need to establish boundaries...even with the people we love. Even as Christians, we need to choose and clearly communicate what we are able to or willing to tolerate.

John 10:27-30

Homily from the Third Sunday of Easter

To be restored, we must revisit the place of ruin.

When we are called to move on, we may need to revisit the places in our lives that need healing in order to allow the Lord to change our future.

John 21:1-19

Homily from the Second Sunday of Easter, Sunday of Divine Mercy

Five words that can change your life.

Life is filled with change and uncertainty. But there is one thing that is stable and unchanging.

John 20:29

Homily from the The Resurrection of the Lord, The Mass of Easter Day

Get up and do what you can.

We know that darkness is real. And death is real. But darkness and death are not the end. There are some things that never die...Faith...Love...the Promise of eternal life.

John 20:1-9

Homily from Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion

This is not the end of the Story, but it had to happen for the Story to go on.

The Passion of Christ is not the end of the Story, but we must pause and reflect on it. It is the lens through which we see: What love looks like when it costs everything, what sin looks like when we can see the wounds, and what mercy looks like when it refuses to give up.

John 18:1—19:42

Homily from Holy Thursday, Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper

He loved them to the end.

One of the characteristics that marks modern man is that we find ourselves angry at God. In fact, we are so angry that we would be willing to hurt God if we could. Yet, God is invulnerable. He cannot be hurt. Still, God chose to step into this world and love us...while making Himself vulnerable.

John 13:1-15

Homily from Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion.

Thank God ahead of time.

We often put off joy and praise and peace. We are tempted to be preoccupied with wanting to be "there" or wanting to be "done" with whatever we are working on or whatever we are doing. Yet, as Catholics, we are called to be "here". We can best live "on the way" when we don't wait to thank God; when we thank God before we are "there". We can thank God right here.

Luke 22:14—23:56