Homily from the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas).

The one who has gratitude has enough.

At the moment we get to stand before the Lord face to face, what will the automatic and overwhelming response be? Will it be a word of love? Of contrition? Or will it be two words that summarize everything that could be said to the God who has used everything to get us ready to stand before Him?

John 1:1-18

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Homily from the Fourth Sunday of Advent.

I'm not going to fear what I don't know, I am going to trust who I do know.

We can wait in excitement and joy...we can also wait in fear. We fear the dark and might fear death for the same reason: the unknown. We can fear the unknown in the afterlife and we can fear the unknown of our own inner life. God's mercy leads us to a place of trust.

Luke 1:39-45

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Homily from the Third Sunday of Advent.

How can we see the Lord face to face til we have faces?

We tell ourselves so many stories. Some of these stories are true and some of them are not. One challenge we have is to tell true stories...about ourselves and about the Lord. In order to be able to see the Lord face to face, we will need to know ourselves and some before God as our true selves.

Luke 3:10-18

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Homily from the Second Sunday of Advent.

God will bring the work He has begun to completion.

We can do so many things in the Christian life that are important. But if we miss the most important aspect of following Christ, our lives will be incomplete. We are called to love...and yet we do not have it in us to be able to love the way we need to. Thankfully, God meets us in our need and our lack and supplies us with all we need.

Luke 3:1-6

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Homily from the First Sunday of Advent.

We are made to see the Lord face to face...but are we ready for that?

Advent is a time to prepare to see the Lord face to face. We are preparing to have the ability to stand before the Lord. But we often find ourselves reluctant to be seen because we are afflicted and affected by shame. How do we move forward and allow the Lord to deal with our shame?

Luke 21:25-28, 34-36

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Homily from the Solemnity of Christ the King.

The Mass is the fuel for our life in the world...and our life in the world is an extension of the Mass.

The words, "The Lord be with you" are meant to prepare us for great things...dangerous things. When we hear them at the end of Mass, they prepare us to bring what we've done at the altar out to the world.

John 18:33b-37

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Homily from the Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time.

At Mass, you are not in the bleachers. You are on the field. You are in the game.

We are kingdom priests. But do we know what we are saying? Do we know what we are praying?

Mark 13:24-32

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Homily from the Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time.

It is truly right and just...worship sets us free.

Does God need our worship? He does not. But we do. Worship sets us free from slavery and opens us up to love.

Mark 12:38-44

Homily from the Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Worship is not about what we get, but about what we can give.

When it comes to Mass, we often complain that we "don't get anything out of it". Is that what Mass is about? Is that what love is about? Or is love (and worship) about what we can give?

Mark 12:28-34

Homily from the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

The heart of worship is sacrifice.

We know that the sacrifice of Jesus once-for-all is the moment that saves us. It is possible to be present to this moment and offer that one sacrifice now.

Mark 10:46-52