4th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Zephaniah 2:3, 3:12-13 Psalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 Matthew 5:1-12a January 29, 2017 The prophet Zephaniah wrote in the 7th century B.C.  This is shortly before Jerusalem falls to the Babylonian Empire.  He speaks of how Israel did not listen to God’s voice or draw near …

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A Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Life

The title I have given this article, “A Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Life” is not my own line.  It is the name given to this day by our United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Yesterday was January 22nd, the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion.  Normally on …

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3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Isaiah 8:23-9:3 Psalm 27:104, 13-14 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17 Matthew 4:12-23 January 22, 2017 Paul had helped start the Christian community at Corinth.  Now, he has heard about division and immorality going on there so he writes this letter to them to help them address the situation. Today’s …

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2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily

2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Isaiah 49:3, 5-6 Psalm 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10 1 Corinthians 1:1-3 John 1:29-34 January 15, 2017 Our first reading today is part of what are known as four “Suffering Servant Oracles” in the Book of Isaiah.  These oracles speak of the role of the servant of the …

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Epiphany – Homily – The Gift of Jesus

The Epiphany of the Lord Isaiah 60;1-6 Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13 Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 Matthew 5:1-12 January 8, 2017 Today we hear what we consider as the last piece of the Christmas story.  Here come the magi.  We don’t know much about them about them except that they come some distance from the East, …

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The Re-Evangelization of America

Today (January 5th) is the Memorial of St. John Neumann.  He was born in Bohemia in 1811.  He came to the United States and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of New York in 1836.  At that time, the diocese reached as far as Buffalo.  In his first assignment, Neumann was sent to the …

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Honoring Mary, Mother of God at Christmas – Homily

Mary, the Holy Mother of God Numbers 6:22-27 Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8 Galatians 4:4-7 Luke 2:16-21 January 1, 2017 One week ago we celebrated Christmas day but our Christmas season continues until next week.  Today marks the eighth day of Christmas and on eighth day, we celebrate Mary in her role as Mother of …

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