Weekly Homilies at St. Joseph Parish

Jesus is respectful of authority and gives them what is their due. But whatever bears the image of God belongs to Him.

What we give to God is far different than what we give to "Caesar". We are to give our entire being to God.

Gospel: Matthew 22:15-21

#catholic #catholicchurch #Caesar #God #materialwealth #heavenlywealth #authority #imageofgod #politics #identity

Jesus, the promised Messiah, tries to call the chief priests and elders out of the darkness in today's Gospel. The words of the prophets that they clung to, they were blinded to as well, unable to recognize the Christ before them.

In Isaiah, we hear how the veil will be destroyed, that no longer is God's presence reserved to one's place, but the Lord is always present before us and within us. Then, on the Mount of Calvary, Jesus sacrificed Himself, and the veil was torn in the Holy of Holies in Jerusalem.

What is it that we need to enter the wedding feast of the Lamb?

Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14

#Jesus #Messiah #Christ #Isaiah #Veil #HolyofHolies #Presence #WeddingFeast #Lamb #Catholic #CatholicChurch

To be wise and intelligent means to have maturity and understanding, but to be childlike is to not be pretentious and to just be ourself.

St. Francis of Assisi, who died 800 years ago, had childlike faith. St. Francis was given the gift to live in poverty and not be attached to earthly possessions. He knew his weaknesses and humbly accepted them.

How do we live out this childlike faith in Jesus like St. Francis? By listening to what the Lord is calling us to do, despite what others think of us.

Gospel: Matthew 11:25-30

#catholic #stfrancis #stfrancisofassisi #childlikefaith #faith #GodsPlan #Vocation

Adam and Eve were created in the image and likeness of God, but they did not humble themselves to allow the Lord God to give them the graces they needed to grow in deeper relationship and union with Him.

Rather, they grasped at things beyond their reach, taking divinity on for themselves on their own terms. "I want to have all the good things, but I want to have them my way."

Jesus came in as the new Adam to restore that order and that good relationship between our heavenly Father and us. Jesus teaches us to humbly submit to our heavenly Father, allowing his grace to work in our hearts and his law to govern our lives so we may flourish in love.

Gospel: Matthew 21:28-32

#catholic #God #Jesus #Divinity #goodthings #myway #Adam #humble #submit #grace

In today's Gospel, Christ uses the parable to describe who He is: Generous. He is talking about his Kingdom here on Earth.

One church father likened the hours mentioned in the parable to the stages of the faithful, while some have been practicing since birth and some come to know Jesus on their deathbeds.

His wage is the same, no matter when you come to Him.

Gospel: Matthew 20:1-16a

#catholic #laborers #faithful #eternallife #kingdom #parable #generous

This week, our Gospel readings begin to switch as we near the end of the liturgical year, with themes of the end of time and the return of the King.

We hear that it's only through God's own limitlessness that mercy pours into us. But then, once we receive it, what do we do to our brothers, to those who harm us? We can't take that grudge into heaven.

Gospel: Matthew 18:21-35

#catholic #mercy #endoftime #returnoftheking #God #heaven #compassion

Fraternal correction is difficult for most of us. It is easy for us to slide into defensiveness, but the correction must come from a place of love, not punishment or retribution. Let us ask our Father to be open to correcting others and to receive correction out of love.

Gospel: Matthew 18:15-20

#catholic #fraternal #correction #love #gospel

In this weekend's homily, we are entering the Spiderverse as we talk about one of the most challenging things Jesus says in the Gospels.

Jesus never said, if you wish to be His disciple, kick back and relax.

Instead, He says, "Take up your cross and follow me." He promises suffering, not leisure. But He hasn't abandoned us in the midst of our suffering; He also promises to be right there with us.

Gospel: Matthew 16:21-27

#Spiderverse #SpiderMan #SpiderManBrandNewDay #PeterParker #BrandNewDay #Marvel #Jesus #Gospel #Cross #Suffering #Acceptance #Catholic

Authority is not dominion or power; it is loving service and sacrifice.

Jesus gave His authority to Peter and his successors. The Pope is a sign of unity for the 1.3 billion Catholics throughout the world.

Jesus wants each and every one of us to be given that sacrificial care, just as He gave to his disciples as the Shepherd.

Gospel: Matthew 16:13-20

#authority #service #sacrifice #catholic #Peter #Pope

As Catholic Christians, we are witnesses to the grace of metanoia: spiritual conversion. This is a grace given in the heart of every person.

The question is: Do you work with that grace, or do you push it away?

As we hear in the readings and Gospel today, whether Jew or Gentile, this grace is in each of us, and we are all called to the love of Jesus.

Gospel: Matthew 15:21-28

#metanoia #conversion #God #Jesus #grace #love #hearts