Advent Penance Service – Homily

Advent Penance Service 2018Colossians 1:12-13Psalm 51Luke 15:1-7December 15, 2018 We are here today to celebrate a Sacrament.  We begin with this Penance Service as a way to pray together before we celebrate the Sacrament individually.  Some call this sacrament Confession. Others call it Penance.  I like the name Sacrament of Reconciliation for that is its …

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2nd Sunday of Advent, Year B – Homily

2nd Sunday of Advent, Year C Baruch 5:1-9 Psalm 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6 (3) Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11 Luke 3:1-6 December 9, 2018 Our gospel starts with a list of names, names that I don’t really know how to pronounce.  This is not a random list of names.  Rather, it is a list of names that …

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1st Sunday of Advent, Year C – Homily

1st Sunday of Advent, Year C Jeremiah 33:14-16 Psalm 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14 (1b) 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2 Luke 21:25-28, 34-36 December 2, 2018 Today begins a new year, a new year in the church that is.  Jesus’ Incarnation that we celebrate at Christmas set in motion his public ministry of preaching, teaching, and doing miracles, …

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New Video Presentation – “Advent: Preparing for the Incarnation”

I just completed another presentation and put the video and handouts on my website at www.renewaloffaith.org/adventprep.  It’s something to reflect on as we start our season of Advent and prepare for the Incarnation.  This video is about 50 minutes.  The video will appear small on your screen.  If you double-click on it, it should go …

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4th Sunday of Advent, Homily – Year B

4th Sunday in Advent, Year B 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16 Psalm 89:2-3, 3-5, 27, 29 (2a) Romans 16:25-27 Luke 1:26-38 December 24, 2017 King David was a great king.  He is the king who built the kingdom of Israel but he knew he did it by God’s grace.  David had a great palace …

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3rd Sunday of Advent, Year B – Homily

3rd Sunday in Advent, Year B Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11 Responsorial – Luke 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54 (Isaiah 61:10b) 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 John 1:6-8, 19-28 December 17, 2017 As we have seen the last two weeks, our liturgical color for Advent is violent (we typically say purple).  As we celebrate this third Sunday of Advent our banners, …

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Second Sunday of Advent, Year B – Homily

2nd Sunday in Advent, Year B Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11 Psalm 85:9-10, 11-12, 13-14 2 Peter 3:8-14 Mark 1:1-8 December 10, 2017 We continue our Advent season this week.  You might remember that the word “Advent” means coming.  As such, I spoke last week of how our Church calls us to think about both the first …

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1st Sunday of Advent, Year B – Homily

1st Sunday in Advent, Year B Isaiah 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7 Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 Mark 13:33-37 December 3, 2017 Today begins a new year for us. As we look around, our banners and vestments have changed to violent symbolizes our season of Advent.  Why today? Everything about our liturgical year in our …

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4th Sunday in Advent, Year A – Homily

4th Sunday in Advent, Year A Isaiah 7:10-14 Psalm 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6 (7c, 10b) Romans 1:1-7 Matthew 1:18-24 December 18, 2016 Isaiah offers a sign to King Ahaz but the king refuses.  He tries to make his refusal look noble by saying, “I will not ask, I will not tempt the Lord!” but what is really …

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