Why Is It Hard to Forgive?

As Christians we are called to be people of forgiveness.  Every time we pray the Lord’s Prayer we say, “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”  We acknowledge our need to be forgiven and we pledge to offer the same to others. Yet we find forgiving others (and ourselves) can …

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4th Sunday of Lent, Year B – Homily

4th Sunday of Lent, Year B 2 Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-23 Psalm 137:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6 (6ab) Ephesians 2:4-10 John 3:14-21 March 11, 2018 Our first reading today comes from the Second Book of Chronicles.  We don’t hear a lot from the first or second book of Chronicles in our regular lectionary cycle.  So, they may …

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Freedom and The Prodigal Son

The gospel reading for Mass this morning (3/3/18 – Saturday of the Second Week of Lent) is the story of the prodigal son from Luke’s Gospel.  There are three people in this story, all with the freedom to choose how they live their life. First is the younger son.  He chooses to take his share …

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The Parkland Shooting and the 1st Sunday of Lent, Year B – Homily

1st Sunday of Lent, Year B Genesis 9:8-15 Psalm 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9 (10) 1 Peter 3:18-22 Mark 1:12-15 February 18, 2018 Our readings today begin by taking us back to the time of Noah.  The world had given into sin.  Noah and his family were the last of the faithful.  Because of so much sin, …

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24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Sirach 27:30-28:7 Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12 Romans 14:7-9 Matthew 18:21-35 Jesus came to offer us “forgiveness” but forgiveness wasn’t “new” with Jesus. We see it in what Sirach writes, “Forgive you neighbor’s injustice.”  He speaks of “wrath and anger” as “hateful things yet the sinner hugs them …

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23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Ezekiel 33:7-9 Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 Romans 13:8-10 Matthew 18:15-20 Today Jesus gives us guidance on how to respond if someone against us.  It begins, as it should to avoid making a mountain out of a mole hill, by speaking with the person one-on-one.  We need to realize …

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The Sacrament of Reconciliation

Today we have our Advent Penance Service that includes First Penance for some of our children.  Below I share my homily with you to encourage you to think about what the Sacrament of Reconciliation means.  You will find a link to further resources at the end. Colossians 1:12-13 Psalm 51 (sung) Luke 15:1-7 December 10, …

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24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C – Homily

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14 Psalm 51:3-4, 12-13, 17, 19 1 Timothy 1:12-17 Luke 15:1-32 Some of you may be old enough to remember the days when people went to confession at least monthly if not weekly.  It didn’t matter if you were conscious of mortal sin.  You must have …

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4th Sunday of Lent, Year C – Homily

4th Sunday of Lent, Year C Joshua 5:9a, 10-12 Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 March 6, 2016 Today’s story of the prodigal son is a familiar story to most and a favorite to many.  What makes it a favorite? The younger son rejects his father (that’s not the favorable part) …

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Do You Let Jesus Forgive You?

Here is my homily for today. 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B Isaiah 43:18-19, 21-22, 24b-25 2 Corinthians 1:18-22 Mark 2:1-12 February 19, 2012 Isaiah is speaking in the first reading to the people who have been held in exile for 50 years in Babylon.  Israel had once a great nation.  It was God …

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