Category: Homilies

“Do you believe,” Jesus asks Martha in today’s gospel, “I am the resurrection and the life.”  Fr Greg notes that even through her grief over her brother’s death, Martha answers that she does believe.  Jesus raised Lazarus that day. Jesus will raise us – and all whom we love – if we, like Martha, can place our faith in him.

Today’s Readings

As he drew near the camp, he saw the calf and the dancing. With that, Moses’ wrath flared up, so that he threw the tablets [made by God] down and broke them on the base of the mountain.
EX 32:15-24, 30-34

Jesus told [Martha], “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live… Do you believe this? ”She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God.”
JN 11:19-27

Jesus points out that the God is always willing to help us on our journey to him in today’s gospel.  We have only to ask, seek and knock and we will find our way to the kingdom. The journey, Fr Charlie points out, is not unlike Dorothy’s reaching out for help as she traveled the yellow brick road in theWizard of Oz.

Today’s Readings

The LORD said: “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great, and their sin so grave, that I must go down and see whether or not their actions fully correspond to the cry against them that comes to me. I mean to find out.”
GN 18:20-32

Even when you were dead in transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he brought you to life along with him, having forgiven us all our transgressions.
COL 2:12-14

“I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
LK 11:1-13

Fr Charlie points out that we no longer need to cast a golden calf to create a false god.  Almost anything or anyone around us will do. While worshipping false gods seems to help for a while, it is only the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – the God of Jesus – who can truly help us. It is in his image and likeness  we are made – and no other.

Today’s Readings

“I, the LORD, am your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery. You shall not have other gods besides me. You shall not carve idols for yourselves… You shall not bow down before them or worship them.”
EX 20:1-17

“The seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.”
MT 13:18-23

The important question for James and John in today’s gospel is not where they will be seated but whether they can “drink” of “the chalice” that Jesus drinks.  Fr Peter notes that it’s a question we must answer as well.  Along with James and John we, too, are called to carry the dying and the rising of Jesus in our bodies.

Today’s Readings

[We are] always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body.
2 COR 4:7-15

“Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?”
MT 20:20-28

The Israelites grumble against Moses and Aaron – and God – in today’s first reading fearing that they were going to die of famine in the desert. Instead of grumbling like the Israelites about what we don’t have and can’t control, Fr Charlie suggests we try being grateful for what do have and can control and do what we can, with God’s help, to change the situation.

Today’s Readings

Here in the desert the whole assembly of the children of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron…. “Would that we had died at the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt, as we sat by our fleshpots and ate our fill of bread! But you had to lead us into this desert to make the whole community die of famine!”
EX 16:1-5, 9-15

Such large crowds gathered around [Jesus] that he got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd stood along the shore. And he spoke to them at length in parables. 
MT 13:1-9

The LORD creates a path through the sea allowing the Israelites to escape Pharaoh’s army in today’s first reading. Jesus includes all who do the will of the Father in his family in the gospel – even if our own blood relatives disown us. No matter how desperate our situation is, God creates other possibilities. God can make a way even out of no way.

Today’s Readings

The LORD swept the sea with a strong east wind throughout the night and so turned it into dry land. When the water was thus divided, the children of Israel marched into the midst of the sea on dry land, with the water like a wall to their right and to their left.
EX 14:21—15:1

“Whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
MT 12:46-50

You can almost hear Mary Magdalene’s heart breaking in today’s gospel as she asks the “gardener” if he has taken the body of her beloved Lord. The scene reminds Fr Paul of the lament from Ecce Cor Meum (“Behold My Heart”) – composed by Paul McCartney as a eulogy to his wife Linda. With Mary Magdalene, Paul McCartney and countless others, our hearts, instead of breaking, can be filled with hope.  For in rising, Jesus defeated death – for us all.

Today’s Readings

Have you seen him whom my heart loves?
SGS 3:1-4B

“Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.”
JN 20:1-2, 11-18

Are we are we more like Martha or Mary in today’s gospel?  Fr Paul points out that we really need to be like them both.  There are times in our lives when, like Martha, we have to accomplish things. There are also times when we need to pause, like Mary, so that we can discover who we are and what our lives are all about.

Today’s Readings

The LORD appeared to Abraham by the terebinth of Mamre, as he sat in the entrance of his tent, while the day was growing hot. Looking up, Abraham saw three men standing nearby. 
GN 18:1-10A

It is Christ in you, the hope for glory. It is he whom we proclaim,
COL 1:24-28

“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”
LK 10:38-42

Jesus reminds us in today’s gospel that it’s mercy that God desires, not the sacrifice of a burnt offering or a scape-goat. While Jesus redeems us from the eternal consequences of our sins, Fr Charlie points out, we still retain responsibility for them – and for making right what can be made right.

Today’s Readings

“Seeing the blood [of the lamb], I will pass over you; thus, when I strike the land of Egypt, no destructive blow will come upon you.”
EX 11:10—12:14

“If you knew what this meant, I desire mercy, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned these innocent men.”
MT 12:1-8

In today’s gospel, Jesus invites us to come to him when we feel burdened.  Fr Ted points out, from a recent experience, that whatever we’re doing can be overwhelming when we try to do it alone.  But, when we do whatever we’re doing with Jesus, anything is possible. 

Today’s Readings

“This is what you shall tell the children of Israel: I AM sent me to you.”
EX 3:13-20

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me.”
MT 11:28-30