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Father Miller‘s Sunday and Holy Day Homilies from Saint Dorothy‘s Catholic Church
Episodes
Sunday Jan 29, 2023
Sunday Jan 29, 2023
You know the old saying: a picture is worth a thousand words. An image, a picture, is able to say so much . . . when this image is an image of Jesus Christ - a holy image of Jesus Christ, or the Stations of the Cross, or the Crucifix, the Word of God - in essence, it's like reading the Bible. It's like reading the Gospel stories. There's no greater mediation that you can do.
Having holy images and utilizing them is so important, so helpful in the Christian life. We can close our eyes and see that image in our mind. It brings us to a holy reflection on the love of Christ Jesus, on the suffering He went through to save us from sin. It can be very beneficial for you, for your children in your home. . . .
Having an image of Jesus is not breaking any commandment or teaching. In the Old Testament, God gave this law to His people: you are not to have graven images. Now, a "graven" image is an engraved or carved or sculpted image. A lot of Christians have thought that means you can't have any images, any pictures of anything. But if you look back through the history of the Jewish people, they had images of everything. If you went into the Temple , into the Hours of God, the walls were covered with images. Some of natural things: trees, animals, grass. Sun and stars and moon. And of angels. Gilded angels surrounding the immersion walls of the Temple. The images they were forbidden to have were images of God. . . . It's not just any image that's forbidden. It's an image of the Creator. . . .
We have this deep desire to have images of those whom we love because those images call to mind that love. They lead us to reflect upon the relationship. . . . The reason there are so many graven images in pagan religions is that humans want to know what God looks like. But our Lord told the Jews: you are not to create an image of Me. Obviously the Jews wanted to be able to see the face of god. That's even in the Beatitudes we read today: Blessed are the clean of heart for they shall see God.
We want to see Him. We want to be able to behold Him. It's a natural desire So why would God deny the Israelites this desire?
It's because he always intended to give them His image. Jesus Christ is the image of the Father. Jesus is the image of God. When we see Him, we see God. . . .
But the beautiful gift is that God is so much like us. He looks like us. He walks like us. He talks like us, because we are made in His image and likeness.
Zep 2:3, 3:12-13; Ps 146:6-10; 1 Cor 1:26-31; Mt 5:1-12a
You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 15:28
Sunday Jan 22, 2023
Sunday Jan 22, 2023
Father offers a follow-up to last week's homily on gossip.
Knowledge, truth. These are good for everyone. But data, facts, and information aren't for everyone. As parents, you know this inherently for your own children. You keep certain information away from them because it's not helpful. They're either too immature, or it's just not important. It doesn't mean that the things you know aren't true, just that they are not ready for it. That's perfectly justified.
But as adults, we think "Oh I'm mature enough." "I need to know what's going on out there."
Really?
How well do you handle the information that you have? Are you able to maintain the peace of Christ in your heart? Are you able to hear the voice of God and focus on Him despite the chaos and bad things in the world? If you can't do that, then you can't handle the information. You have to stop listening to it, reading it, hearing it. You have to remove it from your life. . . .
You don't need to worry about things outside of your control. This was a lesson the Lord taught me many years ago, to - in essence - shrink my world view.
I am only responsible for certain things in this world. Family. Some relationships with friends. Saint Dorothy's. Lincolnton. That's the sphere of my existence for the most part. . . . As long as I can keep my focus on these thing on which the Lord has asked me to work and minister and care, then I can handle it because I have the grace from Christ to handle it.
When I reach out to gain information for things outside my control, our Lord, more often than not, will not give me grace to handle it because He never wanted me to know about it.
This easy access to data is not helpful for us. Most of the time. I'm not saying it isn't a great tool. But as with all tools, it has to be used rightly.
There's a reason why we like filling our minds with the useless and often harmful information. It's because it's distracting and entertaining. Now, there's nothing wrong with good entertainment, we should rejoice when we are entertained. And there's nothing wrong necessarily with distractions, sometimes you need them. But I would say, upwards of 75-90% of what we're fed through the media, what we read and listen to and watch, is not helpful distraction. Is not holy entertainment.
The reason why we fill our minds with these things is because - in truth - we don't want to fill our minds with Christ. . . .
Now what does all this have to do with gossip? There's a direct relationship between what comes out of my mouth and what is in my head.
Is 8:23—9:3; Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14; 1 Cor 1:10-13, 17; Mt 4:12-23
You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 24:44
Sunday Jan 15, 2023
Sunday Jan 15, 2023
Now, the sin of gossip, typically falls under the eighth commandment: thou shalt not bear false witness. technically it has to do with lying, but any type of sin in regards to your speech.
What you might not know, is that the Saints and the Church Fathers tell us it also relates to the fifth commandment. Thou shalt not kill.
Gossip, slander, calumny, these things are a form of murder. Obviously it's not the body of the person that you're killing. It is their good name, their reputation. you are murdering three reputation, and they may never get it back again because of what you said.
So it's something to consider, how God will judge us for that sin. the Bible tells us very clearly, that every word spoken casually, without thought or consideration, will be brought before you in your judgement. Every word spoken without thought and intention - every one - will be judged. That's how seriously God takes this.
There's a simple reason why our Lord takes language. words, conversation so seriously. It's because God is the Logos. Jesus Christ, the second Person of the Blessed trinity, is literally the Word of God.
God is Word. And all human words are created and designed by God to reflect His Truth and His Glory. When they don't, it offends Him personally. That's why it's such a grave offense and can be a mortal sin. A damnable offense. . . .
The common mistake that all of us - either past or present - make is if you just need to blow off steam, you're doing it wrong. "I just need someone to vent to! Then I'll feel better and I'll be able to handle it." No, that's still gossip. It's still sinful, and God is offended. Do you think He's going to give you grace to deal with the problem when you're gossiping about it just so that you feel better? Talk to Him.
Does that mean you can't get advice when you have a problem? No, of course you can.
The question is how do you talk about your problems? We know we can't gossip. How do I talk about the issues in my life so that I can improve them? . . .
God does not want you to change the people in your lives. He wants you to love the people in your lives. He will change them.
For us, it is necessary to be silent for the sake of holiness.
Prayer of St Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen
Is 49:3, 5-6; Ps 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10; 1 Cor 1:1-3; Jn 1:29-34
You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 19:17
Sunday Jan 08, 2023
Sunday Jan 08, 2023
What lead these men to Christ? It was the star. It was the sign in the sky, that God had placed there, to direct them on their journey to Truth.
Each of us in our lives need some type of guiding star. Some sign - some person - to direct us to Christ. We were all lead to Christ by someone else. . . .
It is the Lord's plan that a mother and a father be the first people to bring their children to Him. In a sense, they are to be the shining star that points to the manger. "This is where you will find the newborn King. This is where you will find your salvation." That is the responsibility of every mother and father.
But sadly, because of sin, we don't always shine that brightly. We don't always point in the right direction. That's where repentance comes in, of course.
You have to consider brothers and sisters - those who are married with children - the Lord will judge you on how you pointed to Christ. How you lead your children to the Lord. On some level, if you're anything like me, that should worry you. . . .
Now, the most important way that a husband and a wife can reveal Christ, can point to Christ, is their love for one another. Not their love for their children.
Your relationship as husband and wife, your marriage, is a sacramental bond that is meant to reflect the love Christ for the Church. The Church has always called you a "domestic church". You're a little church. And the way you love each other reveals the Truth, reveals the Way, to your children. That's why you said those vows: I will love you I good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, till death do us part. Ultimately because of sin, your love for your spouse will require you to be crucified. That's what spousal love does. To be willing to lay down your life for your spouse, even when they want you dead. That's the perfect way in which you can model of the love of Jesus Christ. In fact, you can be an even more perfect model of Jesus Christ when you spouse doesn't like you. And you're patient with them. And you forgive. And you continue to love, and you're generous, and you serve.
That's when you shine all the brighter the love of Jesus Christ to your children. . . . that is what is required of us. To be conformed to Christ is to be conformed to Christ crucified.
So I thought it was a good idea, on this feast of the Epiphany, for our married couples to renew their wedding vows to remind yourself that you're to serve one another. You're to love one another as Christ loves us, His Bride, the Church.
Is 60:1-6; Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13: Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6; Mt 2:1-12
you may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 22:01
Sunday Jan 01, 2023
Sunday Jan 01, 2023
This dogma of our faith that Mary is not just the Mother of Christ, She is the Mother of God Himself, is necessary for belief in Jesus Christ. It is necessarily tied to the incarnation and birth of our Savior. We are required to believe it.
It was in the plan of the Father that the Logos, the Word, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, His eternally begotten Son, would take on human flesh to save us from our sin. He was sent, He took flesh of the womb of the Virgin Mary, and built Himself up a body.
In doing that, this Divine Person: the Logos, the Word of God, eternally begotten Son of the Father, became a real human man.
But He's not a human person.
This is a very important theological point. It's heresy to say that Jesus is a human person. No, He's a Divine Person. If He's a human person, then He's not actually God. He's not actually eternal. Not one with the Father and the Spirit. He can't be a human person.
He's got to be a Divine Person, with a Divine nature, and a human nature. That's what it means when we say He is the God Man.
This theology is essential for belief in Jesus Christ. It's precisely because He is fully God and fully man that He is the only one Who can save us from sin. As God, He's the only One who can save us. But He must be fully man, otherwise our human nature isn't saved.
It's one of the teachings of the Church: what is not assumed by the Son is not redeemed.
If He doesn't take on our nature - a true body and a true soul - then our bodies and souls are not redeemed by Him.
All of this theology, all of this doctrine, is tied up in the dogma as Mary the Mother of God.
You see, you can't give birth to a human body, without giving birth the the person who possesses that body. You are the mother of the person you gave birth to. Even though you only conceived and gave birth to their body. This is how Mary is the Mother of God. Because Jesus is a Divine person.
And though yes, being a created human, She conceived by Divine grace and gave birth to the human nature - not the Divine nature - She did in fact give birth to the Person who is Divine, who possesses that human nature.
Father offers us all this philosophy & theology early on a Sunday morning in order that we might know and understand our Lord better, thereby being able to draw closer to Him and love Him more.
These truths, these doctrines, these dogmas that have been handed down to us by the Church from Christ Himself, they matter more than anything else in the world. . . . Now the Church doesn't expect you to memorize all the philosophy and theology of it. But She does expect you to believe it. We are required to assent to all of these doctrines and these dogmas with faith.
Nm 6:22-27; Ps 67:2-3, 5-6, 8; Gal 4:4-7; Lk 2:16-21
You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 26:53
Sunday Dec 25, 2022
Sunday Dec 25, 2022
It's a special time of the year - we have high hopes. We get together with family and friends. We give and we receive gifts. It's supposed to be a time of great joy. That makes sense not only spiritually because Christ has come into the world, but because of this opportunity to be with family. To be with friends. To reconnect with one another.
But inevitably, when family gets together, tensions can begin to rise . . . if we're not as virtuous as the Saints, obviously not as virtuous as Jesus Christ, then in those moments of tension and strife, and difficulty, we're not going to behave virtuously.
That being the case - especially at this time of the year - I want you to keep one thing in mind. When you're with your family, tensions rise. Strains, stress, disrespect; whatever is happening to upset you, just remember: this season is not about you.
It's not about you. Don't make it personal.
It's about Jesus. That's why we're together, that's what we're celebrating. This is His birthday, not yours.
Remember that in those moments of tension and stress, frustration, and even resentment.
This celebration is about our Lord.
Merry Christmas!
Is 52:7-10; Heb 1:1-6; Jn 1:1-18 or 1:1-5, 9-14
You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 22:25
Sunday Dec 18, 2022
Sunday Dec 18, 2022
Joseph, after Mary, is probably the most significant Saint in the Church. That's why you see statues of Mary and Joseph in the sanctuary of Catholic Churches. This is the Holy Family. Without Joseph, this would not have happened. He had an essential role to play in the coming of the Christ.
It was his job to care for Jesus' Mother and to help raise Jesus as a Child. We don't often appreciate and love Joseph the way we should. He a Saint that we all need in our lives.
If you think about it logically, it makes perfect sense that God the Father, in choosing a foster father for His Son Jesus, would only choose the best. He would give that man very powerful graces so that he could become holy.
One of the things we know about our Lord is that He tests the Saints. He already knows their response, but He tests them to make sure that they are the right ones to do His will.
When we look at our Gospel today, we can see the test that God put him to, to see what kind of man he is. Is he the right man to be the foster father to My Son? Is he the right man to represent Me: Jesus' true Father? We know that he was, and is, because he was chosen.
How do we know that Joseph has a heart and a mind so close to God the Father that he would be chosen for this special role?
It's in our Gospel today. . . .
Why is God so pleased with this response? Because this is exactly what Jesus does. . . . An innocent man who was willing to protect the guilty from their own sins to save them.
Is 7:10-14; Ps 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6; Rom 1:1-7; Mt 1:18-24
You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 20:34
Sunday Dec 11, 2022
Sunday Dec 11, 2022
One of Mary's most beautiful titles is "the Dawn". Mary is the dawn. Every morning before you can see the sun, you begin to see some of its light. Mary is the dawn, but Christ is the day. Mary doesn't give light to the world, but She ushers in the sun. That is Her role, that's why She is preeminent.
She is the One that ushered the Son into the world not only two thousand years ago, but she continues to do that even into the present. Our Lord has chosen Her in this unique way to be the One that helps prepare the way for His rising.
In each of our lives, Jesus wants His Mother to get us ready for Him. . . . Like a good Mother, She wants to make sure we're ready for the Lord. For the Savior. . . . .
But She won't force Her maternity upon us. We have to invite her in. So, just look up to her. If you're in need, if you're suffering, if you're in despair, just look up to Mary because She's already looking down upon you with love. . . .
I have seen this in my own ministry. Our Lord and our Lady doing amazing things. Just to save a soul. But these were extraordinary circumstances. Imagine how much easier it will be for you and for me to be saved if we don't wait for miracles, and just turn to them. Trustingly.
Remember these words - because they're spoken to you:
Am I not with you? Am I not your Mother?
Do not be worried or anxious about anything. Do you not stand in My shadow? A
re you not enfolded in My mantle?
Do not be worried or anxious about anything. Do you not stand in My shadow? A
re you not enfolded in My mantle?
Is 35:1-6a, 10; Ps 146:6-10; Jas 5:7-10; Mt 11:2-11
You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 19:45
Thursday Dec 08, 2022
Thursday Dec 08, 2022
Normally, when a child is conceived in the womb, the body - the body formed by the parents - cries out to God for a soul. And God creates a soul and sends it, instills it, in that newly formed body. Since the body was created in original sin by the parents who have original sin, then the soul is also tainted by original sin.
This is not what happened with the Blessed Mother. Even though Her body called out for a soul - with original sin - that's not what He gave Her.
He gave Her an immaculate soul.
That gift of grace - that "fullness of grace" - that she received when Her soul was bestowed upon Her body, sanctified Her body and She was totally pure from this moment forward.
The Church has always believed this. The only reason it was dogmatized was to set all confusion aside. We've believed this since our earliest time, and one of the best ways to defend this teaching is in our Gospel today.
When the angel Gabriel - an archangel, a perfect messenger - was sent by God, we know that the words he used to speak to Her were obviously the Lord's. God told him what to say, he came down, and he said it. . . .
And he uses this statement "full of Grace" in place of Her name. He is naming Her by the word of God. He is saying not just that She posses fullness of grace, but that it is Hers by right. She is unique and singular. There is no one else like Her.
She is the only one who can be called by this name.
Full of Grace. . . .
Jesus' body - the Body that saves us from sin, the Body that we receive in Holy Communion - came from the body, the cells, of the Blessed Mother.
Gn 3:9-15, 20; Ps 98:1-4; Eph 1:3-6, 11-12; Lk1:26-38
You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 24:07
Sunday Dec 04, 2022
Sunday Dec 04, 2022
Only Christ and His Church can establish real peace where the lion lays down with the lamb. . . .
What did John call the Saducees and Pharisees? A "brood of vipers". He uses this prophetic language. "You're a bunch of vicious serpents." He tells them, "Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance."
It is clear that to join the Kingdom of Heaven and to find the peace that Christ wants you to have, you first have to repent. That is required. Without repentance, there is no forgiveness. Without forgiveness, there is no peace, and no share in Christ's Heavenly Kingdom. John was sent to prepare the people for repentance. "Repent of your sins, the Messiah is coming. He's going to give you a different kind of baptism. I'm just leading you to repentance, He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
We know that when we receive baptism by the hands of the Church, we are filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit. God literally dwells in us. It's this indwelling of God that allows us to change. To grow in virtue, and to be at peace with one another. It's the Holy Spirit that turns the lion into a lamb. The serpent into a child.
Once you've come to that grace, once you've been baptized, then you have to grow in those virtues. But you have all the grace necessary through freedom from sin and the light of the Holy Spirit; this spiritual, internal light to your mind.
You can now better understand the Truth precisely because the Holy Spirit enlightens your mind. . . .
Every human mind has the power to know the Truth. You have the power. God gave it to you, it's natural. But you cannot know the Truth unless a light illuminates it for you. If your mind is in darkness, then you are blind to Truth. The eyes were meant to see, that's why it's not an ideal to be blind. The mind was meant to know the Truth.
Without the light of the Holy Spirit, you cannot know truths outside of this world - you cannot know spiritual truths.
We are in darkness without the light of the Holy Spirit. If He is not dwelling in me, then that light is not illuminating the Truth. If I don't know the Truth then the Truth can't set me free, and I am a slave. A slave to my sinful and broken nature. A slave to the imperfections of that nature. . . .
You see, sin darkens the mind. It's one of the consequences of original sin. Our minds become darkened and can no longer perceive Truth. We're making the best decisions that we can while being spiritually blind. As Christians though, once we received the Holy Spirit, we can see clearly by His grace.
But what happens when I commit grave sin as a disciple of Christ? The Holy Spirit cannot abide in a soul in the state of mortal sin. He must leave it. If the Holy Spirit has left me because I'm in mortal sin, then I am in darkness again!
Now, I know what I need to do to receive the Holy Spirit again. I need to go to confession, repent of my sins, do my penance, and - as John the Baptist says - produce good fruit as evidence of my repentance. In other words, do my best to change. God doesn't expect perfection, He expects that I try.
But what is it like for a Christian, who had the Holy Spirit and the light of God, to lose that light and return to darkness when they fall into a mortal sin? I know most of you have experienced this. I certainly have.
It's important that we reflect upon this so that we better understand the temptations that happen when we are in grave sin.
Remember: your mind is now in darkness because the Holy Spirit is no longer illuminating you. However, that does not mean that you forget all the truth that you learned when you had the light.
You know you have to get back to confession. You know you have to say your prayers. You know you should not give up, you should get up and try again. You know all these things. You know God loves you.
But because you can't see it in your mind any longer, you begin to doubt.
Is 11:1-10; Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17Rom 15:4-9; Mt 3:1-12
You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 21:12
Sunday Nov 27, 2022
Sunday Nov 27, 2022
Since during this Advent season we reflect upon the coming of Christ and we prepare ourselves to celebrate His birth, I think it's a good time to be reminded of the way in which our God has chosen to bring new life into the world. Obviously when Christ came into the world, it was a totally supernatural event. The Blessed Mother conceived Him virginally. Even gave birth to Him virginally. So it was a miraculous birth, a miraculous conception in this regard.
Our Lord was very careful however, to preserve the structure if you will, by which this Child, the very Son of God, would be brought forth. It was in a natural family. He had a biological mother and a foster father.
We know as Christians that it is God's design that new life - new human life, those made in God's image and likeness - are brought forth into this world through a family.
The family is designed around the core of the father and mother, their relationship as husband and wife.
In the beginning, God made them male and female. And He said to them: be fruitful and multiply.
It is important to remember that the "image of God" as it resides in our human nature is not something that we individually posses as humans. We only posses it as a collective. What I mean by this, is that our God is a Trinity of Persons. He's a single God - a single being or entity, if you will, and yet He's three Persons. If you remove one of those Persons, you have no God.
Human beings made in His image and likeness were made in a similar way.
The "image" as it resides in our nature is not in me solely as a male, or you ladies solely as females.
It's actually in the family. . . .
When God first created human nature, He designed it unique and distinct: masculine and feminine, to be united in a holy union called matrimony. The first command He gave them: be fruitful and multiply. So the bringing forth of children completes the Trinitarian image.
In order to have a family, you need at least three people: a father, a mother, and at least one child.
This is the means by which our Lord has designed for us to participate with Him in creating human life. . . .
In the bond of marriage, there are three goods that each husband and each wife should pursue.
-
The good of the love of the other - the joy that it brings to have this person in your life,
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Your responsibility to help them get to heaven, which is clearly important to us, especially as Christians,
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and the bringing forth of new life into this world, new human beings.
Of these three goods, or "ends" of marriage, the first is not getting your spouse to heaven.
The primary end, or reason, of holy matrimony is to bring forth new life into the world. . .
Your marriages, your spousal unions, are an analogy of the true marriage of Jesus Christ and His Church. Your marriages participate and share in that glorious and sacred union. And they are only made sacred and sacramental by Christ's love for his Church.
Is 2:1-5; Ps 122: 1-2, 3-4, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9; Rom 13:11-14; Mt 24:37-44
You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 17:42
Sunday Nov 20, 2022
Sunday Nov 20, 2022
He comes in mercy. He comes in compassion to save us. But if we refuse His mercy and compassion, He will destroy us. And we deserve no better. Anyone who would refuse the forgiveness of God deserves eternal damnation. If in their pride and arrogance they do not recognize their need for a Savior, then they do not deserve one. Hell has been prepared for them and for the demons.
You can have the merciful, and gentle and loving King. Or the wrathful and judgmental one. Its your choice. You're here on a Sunday morning, so obviously, you prefer the first, as most of us do.
Now Christ's Kingship works on three levels, or three types. Let's call them Universal, Particular, and General.
The Universal Kingship of Christ is the fact that He is literally the King of everything, even the stars obey Him. Every demon, every angel, every human, every ant. All matter in the universe is subject to His will. In the end He will judge all things.
There is also a Particular Kingship. The Kingship that we hear about in the Scriptures and from the Saints, that He wants to be King of your heart. . . . He wants an intimate relationship with each one of you. How many subjects in the Kingdom get to have a personal relationship with their King? That's what our Lord wants. That's how loving and intimate He wants to be with each one of us.
Now, the General Kingship of Christ is understood by all those who share in His kingship. Many share in the Kingship of Christ. In fact, all do in varying ways. Every single baptized individual participates, shares in His Kingship. They are in fact, kings. But what are they kings of?
Each one of us who is baptized into His life, who share in His Kingship, are kings over ourselves.
When Christ says "I set you free", what He means is: I set you free to govern yourself. To rule over your own body and soul. To determine in which direction you will head. Whom you will serve. How you will live.
Until He set you free you weren't a king, you were a slave. You were a slave to your own bodily natures, with no hope of growth in virtue or holiness. He wants to set us free. He wants us to be self-directed, self-ruled individuals.
This is why we struggle with Him in the spiritual life. We Christians have a problem with God.
And the problem is this: we want to be holy, He wants us to be holy, but we want Him to make us holy. To kind of force us into holiness. How often do you get frustrated: "Lord, if you would just make me do the right thing, everybody would be happier! You'd be happier, my spouse would be happier, my children would be happier." We do this constantly, and we don't realize what we're asking. We're asking Him to enslave us. And He would never do that.
He offers you the very same dignity that He possesses as King.
He will help you learn to rule over your nature, to control your desires and to make good choices. He will help you learn to do that by His grace, His teachings, His Sacraments. But He will not do it for you. You are meant to be a King.
2 Sm 5:1-3; Ps 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5; Col 1:12-20; Lk 23:35-43
You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 22:15
Sunday Nov 13, 2022
Sunday Nov 13, 2022
It is through perseverance that we secure our lives. Perseverance.
Perseverance is the ability to suffer patiently as long as it takes until you reach your goal. The goal of course for us is salvation, Heaven. Being faithful to Christ, persevering to the end, regardless of the pain and suffering we have to endure . . . if we do that, then Jesus says we will secure our salvation, our lives.
Though many people would like to think that the end is near, it's important to remember this final point. The Lord says that before these things happen you will be "persecuted because of My Name". In this country that hasn't officially started - yet. And I say "yet". It's just a matter of time. . . .
And what is our response when these things do happen? Simply put, we are to be faithful to Christ no matter the cost. No matter the cost. To your own life, the life of your spouse, the lives of your children.
Our fidelity to the Lord must be unyielding. . . .
But our job is not to change culture and society. Anybody who tells you that does not understand what Jesus teaches. Our job is to follow Christ. If we follow Christ, that will change culture and society. Our responsibility is to persevere in the faith regardless of the cost. . . .
Throughout our day, when we cannot keep a quiet and contemplative mind, (when we can't "work without being busybodies" as Saint Paul says in the second reading) we can't focus on God. If we're not focused on the Lord, when challenges come, we fall back on our bad habits, on our weaknesses and our sins. A mind that cannot remain focused throughout the day cannot hold on to the grace of Christ in those difficult moments.
The only way to keep your mind quiet, is to practice silence. Not just silence by closing your lips and not speaking. That's part of it. But spending time each day intentionally in silence. When was the last time you got into the car and drove somewhere and did not turn on the radio? Especially if you were alone.
What is it about silence that we resist? It's because it's uncomfortable. And why is it uncomfortable? When someone begins to practice silence in their life - turning off the radio, the computer, the TV; just sitting quietly - the first thing that happens is: they're left alone with their own thoughts. And most of our thoughts are not very good. They're sinful and tempting. Egotistical and self-centered. Regardless, all those thoughts do is bring up our sinfulness and weaknesses. There's actually a reason for this.
Our Lord wants those things to come up when you're silent and you reflect. The main reason is that in your silence you begin to see those things about you that keep you separated from God.
He wants those things removed from your life so He can draw closer to you. So that you can draw closer to Him. . . .
Persevere through the silence.
Mal 3:19-20a; Ps 98:5-6, 7-8, 9; 2 Thes 3:7-12; Lk 21:5-19
Due to technical difficulties, we were unable to stream this morning's Mass. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Sunday Nov 06, 2022
Sunday Nov 06, 2022
You've got seven brothers in the first story, seven brothers in the second story. And one woman in each. At the end of all the stories, everybody dies.
In the first story, the seven brothers and their mother die because they're murdered. They're murdered for the law, tortured by the king. In the second story, the seven brothers and the wife die, we aren't told how. . . . but the reason they all married the same woman was because of God's command.
The first reading, the law was against eating pork. Second reading: the law to marry your dead brother's wife to raise up children for him.
Why seven men, brothers in particular, and one woman? . . .
Seven is a biblical number. It's what we call a "divine number", it has theological meaning. Seven is the number of Creation. God took seven days to create the universe and everything in it. . . . these seven brothers in each account represent Creation. All of God's creation. And notice they are all related. Everything in creation is created and related in that sense.
In both instances, these seven brothers who represent Creation, are all about following God's commands, God's laws. In fact, they are willing to die to do it. So Creation should always be submissive, obedient to the commands, the teachings, the laws of God. . . . Throughout our life, whether we die of natural causes, or whether we are threatened and tortured to death, we are not to break the laws of God. Even to the point of death.
But what does the woman represent? She's the eighth important person in each story. The number eight represents theologically, not only the resurrection, but ever-lasting life: Heaven. So the woman in both stories symbolizes Heaven. How?
In the Old Testament, eight did not represent Heaven, it's only in the New Testament that we learn this. . . . Sunday, technically the first day of the week in the Old Testament calendar, was always understood by the Fathers of the Church as the "eighth day" of the week. Why?
The number seven represents Creation. When Jesus rises from the dead (on Sunday), that is a new creation. Something has changed on this new day. The old creation understood death, it's a natural part of existence, sadly because of sin. In the seven days of normal creation, death is a normal part of that. When Jesus rises from the dead, He changes everything. So that Sunday - the first day of the week - has become a totally new day. If you add that new day to the seven days of Creation, you get eight. Which is why the Fathers always realized that eight is the number that symbolizes resurrection and heavenly glory.
We have the seven brothers of Creation, all following the law of God. And the woman who symbolizes eternal life, resurrection from the dead.
All of them end up dying in the end. But. According to both stories, all are testified as having received heavenly glory because of their fidelity to the laws of God. . . .
2 Mc 7:1-2, 9-14; Ps 17:1, 5-6, 8, 15; 2 Thes 2:16--3:5; Lk 20:27-38
You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 15:45
Tuesday Nov 01, 2022
Tuesday Nov 01, 2022
If you don't love God first, then you can't have God, because He's the first good. . . .
The Saints have learned to seek all goods in the right order, and God above all others. Which is why when they die and go to Heaven, they get to look at the "goodest" thing ever, for all eternity. The get to bask for all eternity in the greatest desire of their hearts. . . .
We were designed by God to seek these things out so that in seeking them we might find... Him, Who is the greatest of all goods.
The Saints did that. It's why they're in Heaven sharing in that beautiful good. And it's our job too, to imitate their example and to follow them to receive that same reward.
That's why the Church gives us the Beatitudes on this Feast Day today. The Beatitudes are the pre-requisite for sainthood. It's the checklist if you want to be a saint in this life and/or in the next, this is what you need to strive for.
When our Lord says "blessed" are these people who are: poor in spirit, who mourn, who are meek, who hunger and thirst for righteousness, who are merciful, who are pure of heart, who are peacemakers, and who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness . . . . When He says that these men and women are "blessed" He is saying "They are given My Glory. They get to see My Face, and have nothing but peace and joy forever in eternity."
But when we look more deeply into these pre-requisites, there's a lot of suffering required of the Saints. . . .
You can't simply choose one of these Beatitudes and say, yeah, I'll just do that one. But the rest, nah. Not my cup of tea.
Our Lord is describing Himself in the Beatitudes. He is telling us Who He is, how He thinks, how He acts. He's telling us if we want to be blessed like Him, if we want to be united to Him in holiness in this life and in the next, this is what we're supposed to do.
Rv 7:2-4, 9-14; Ps 24:1bc-4b, 5-6; 1 Jn 3:1-3; Mt 5:1-12a
You may watch the Mass in its entirety on out YouTube channel. Homily begins at 21:26
Sunday Oct 30, 2022
Sunday Oct 30, 2022
Why is penance so essential to the forgiveness of our sins? If Jesus Christ paid the price for our sins, why do you and I, when we confess, have to pay at least some price? Because that's what penance is. The mode by which - at least in a small way - we seek to make up for our sin. Obviously our penances are not sufficient to make up for our sin. Only the Cross of Jesus can do that. But He still expects us to contribute. To do some type of act of sacrifice or penance. The simple reason is: out of justice, there are consequences to sin. . . .
As human beings, the "ripple effects" that we cause when we sin are twofold. There is the spiritual effect, and the material, or physical, effect. You and I are complex creatures. We're not animals and we're not angels. Angels are pure spirit, animals are pure matter. As humans, we're matter and spirit. So when I do something that has a moral quality to it, it effects both matter and spirit.
Jesus pays the price for the spirit. He fixes the problem we have with God when we sin. That's what His Cross makes up for, which is why He can forgive us. But He does not pay the price for the matter, for the natural order of things. That's one of the things He requires us to participate in - the natural consequences of sin. He takes care of the supernatural stuff - that's why we're forgiven by God. We have the responsibility to help take care of the natural stuff.
One of the ways we do that is through our penances. Now, the penances we receive in confession don't really make up for much. So it's not like the Lord is necessarily asking us to do the whole thing.
The Saints teach us that our Lord, in His infinite wisdom and justice, gives us the penance we need throughout our lives to make up for our past sins. These are the daily crosses that come to us.
And if we go to confession, repent of our sins, do our little penance, and suffer patiently the crosses that come to us throughout each day, then we're saved. There's no worry. . . .
In our Gospel today, Zacchaeus is going to confession. It's one of the first examples ever of anyone going to confession to Jesus. When he has this encounter with Jesus, he's repenting of his sins. And he's willing to do penance! What does he say? "Lord, half of all my possessions I will give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone I will pay it back four times over." I think that's a very good penance.
But it's not his penance that enables Jesus to forgive him, it's Jesus' penance for him - the Cross. Yet, he's still required to some act of penance himself. This is why the Lord says, "Salvation has come to your home." You were humble. You have admitted to your sins and repented. You are willing to do penance.
How could the Lord refuse forgiveness to anyone like that? He can't! He won't. . . . .
The problem that we have is that we resist these penances.Or we don't freely take them upon ourselves as Zacchaeus does. . . .
But the Lord will give you the penances that you need. Every little cross, every little suffering - and the big, of course - that comes to you each day is our Lord's gift to you. . . .
Our Lord is a just God. He's infinitely merciful, but He's also infinitely just. He has for each one of us a certain requirement of penance that we're going to have to complete in our lives in order to go straight to Heaven when we die. Now if we don't get that penance done before we die, that's what purgatory is. It's one of the reasons there's a purgatory. I've got to finish up, pay back the small debt that I still owe the Lord.
If I have suffered my daily crosses patiently, then when I die - by His grace and the sacraments of the Church - I'm good. I'll go straight to Heaven.
Father goes on to explain the grace of the Apostolic Blessing. Don't miss it.
Wis 11:22—12:2; Ps 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13, 14; 2Thes 1:11—2:2; Lk 19:1-10
We had technical issues Sunday which prevented the live streaming of the Mass.
We apologize for being unable to post a link here.
We apologize for being unable to post a link here.
Sunday Oct 23, 2022
Sunday Oct 23, 2022
What we say when we pray, and what we do with our bodies when we pray reflects our beliefs. . . .
Throughout the Mass there are different rituals that we practice with our bodies, different postures that we have to express different things. . . .
Why do we kneel during the consecration and yet are forbidden from kneeling during the Our Father? Again, it's because of what the position of my body expresses in those moments.
I'm kneeling out of humility because of the miracle that is happening, for the God Who is coming to me. But when I pray the Our Father, I am praying - according to the Church's teachings - in the person of Jesus Christ. Since the Church is His Body and the Our Father is His prayer, when we pray as a body, we stand. Because a Son stands in the presence His Father. When we pray in the words of the Son, we stand, to represent our shared sonship in Christ.
What we do with our bodies expresses what we believe in our minds and hearts.
Lex orandi. Lex credendi. Lex vivendi. Which means: As we pray (both with our words and bodies), so we believe. And as we believe, so we live.
Why was it always the tradition of the Church that if you were not going to receive communion, you would not even approach? The simple reason is because that's the most humble thing you could do. To stay back. If you're not ready or able - for whatever reason - to approach the Holy of Holies, then why approach at all? Isn't that somewhat presumptuous?
I believe our Gospel reading today is the reason why the early Christian would not approach (if they were not prepared). . . .
You've got this sinner, this tax collector, who knows how offensive his sins are to God. He does not presume to approach. He stays back. Not only does he not approach, but he won't even look up to heaven. He looks down, he's probably on his knees, and hew prays this prayer: "Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner."
Jesus tells us that because of his humility, his prayer is heard, and he is forgiven. . . .
In our first reading from Sirach, we're told that "the prayer of the lowly is heard." It "pierces the clouds" like an arrow. A humble, a lowly person when they pray - even if they're a sinner - that prayer is heard by God and answered.
But the words you use when you pray are not enough. Even your body - what you do in your motions, your posture is important because it reflects what you really believe in your heart.
So if you, like this tax collector, like this sinner, are unworthy to receive the Lord, should you be approaching? Should you be "taking up your position" to receive communion? Of course not.
Our Lord doesn't want you to be singled out. He wants you to express - by your words and actions - the humility, the sorrow and the regret, that is needed. . . .
Anyone who receives communion at any Mass is not receiving because of their own righteousness, but purely because our Lord in His mercy has forgiven their sins. You see, it's our Lord Who washed you clean. It's our Lord Who made you worthy. You have no credit of your own. So when you do come forward, worthily, to receive His grace, all you can do is thank God.
This is not a rule. It's just a recommendation I am making for you because this is the ancient practice of Christians.
Sir 35:12-14, 16-18; Ps 34:2-3, 17-18, 19, 23; 2Tm 4:6-8, 16-18; Lk 18:9-14
You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 17:04
Sunday Oct 16, 2022
Sunday Oct 16, 2022
That's why intercessory prayer is so essential. Moses, the leader of the people was interceding for them to God in his prayer so they could win the battle they were fighting. And it worked.
Notice, though, the prayer had to be continuous. Now that seems a little unfair of God, right? We get tired. Humans are finite creatures. We don't have infinite energy.
The beauty of this first reading is that it shows us just because you have to "pray without ceasing" doesn't mean you have to do it alone.
Moses had his deacons. The two men who assisted him in his prayer when he was not strong enough to do it by himself. Even Jesus Christ had Simon of Cyrene help Him carry His cross when it got too heavy.
By God's design, the command to "pray without ceasing" - which is necessary - cannot be done by an individual. This is intentional. God created us this way on purpose. Both the need to pray ceaselessly to succeed, and the fact that we're finite and can't do it alone. That means we have to do it together as a community of people. We need each other to support one another in prayer.
The highest prayer is always the prayer of the leader. Our leader is Jesus Christ. . . . When the priest stands up here and prays the prayers of the Mass, he is praying in the person of Jesus Christ.
The beauty of the Mass and the raised hands of the priest is that - with the Catholic Church spread throughout the world - in Catholic Churches throughout the world, in every town and village, in every country and nation, there is a Mass being celebrated and a priest's hands being raised at every moment of every day. That is the continuous prayer of the Church. Literally non-stop, the Body of Christ has hands lifted up to God the Father in supplication.
How can we lose? How can we lose the battle, whatever the battle may be? . . .
Do you believe in the prayer of the Church? Do you believe in the prayer of the Mass? That this is the prayer of Jesus Christ Himself. That's the faith that our Lord is asking of each one of us.
When you're going through your daily spiritual battles, whatever they may be, all you have to do is close your eyes and think: Somewhere, a priest has his hands raised. And the Mass is being offered. For me.
Father follows this stirring homily with some "particulars".
Specifically about who raises or extends their hands during the Mass.
Specifically about who raises or extends their hands during the Mass.
And who does not, and why.
Ex 17:8-13; Ps 121:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8; 2 Tm 3:14—4:2; Lk 18:1-8
You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 21:00
Sunday Oct 09, 2022
Sunday Oct 09, 2022
In our lives - 99% of the time - this is how God will give you grace. This is how God will answer the prayers that you are lifting up to Him. Whatever you're asking. Whether it's a healing. A conversion. Virtue. Whatever it is that you're asking, God will give you that grace through your ordinary lives. Your ordinary vocations, and the humble obedience and fulfillment of those responsibilities.
Like Naaman, we can sometimes be tempted to think, "OK, I gotta pray a thousand rosaries to get this intention from God." Or "I have to go into the church and prostrate myself on the floor, and beat myself ten times a day for a year". Maybe God just wants a rosary. Just give Him one rosary. You don't have to overdo it.
Notice how He continually supports the laws of Israel.
Do you follow the laws of the Church? Do you keep asking Him for grace but disregarding the teachings and rules of His Church?
So often we ask God for special graces. I often ask people: Well, when was the last time you went to confession?
Maybe God has already given the grace. It's just there in confession waiting for you.
A lot of times you cry out to God for some type of enlightenment. "Lord, show me what I need to do. Lord, direct me!" And He never seems to answer. When was the last time you asked someone for advice? Maybe God has already given the answer to them. You just have to be humble enough to ask this person. It's ordinary.
Even the Eucharist, if you think about it, the Eucharist, the greatest miracle that Christ has given to us; His real Presence, His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, is given to us in the most ordinary way possible. Food. Something we do three times a day. What's more ordinary than that? . . .
God prefers the ordinary way.
But it takes a degree of humility to submit to that. Because it might not be what we prefer.
Humble, ordinary obedience to laws. To rules. To institutions. That will be the means by which God will answer your prayers.
If there is a grace for which you are praying that is very great, it may take more than the "ordinary things" to obtain. But you don't have to worry about figuring that out.
If God realizes that to give you this grace, a greater sacrifice must be offered, He will give you the sacrifice. He will do that, you don't have to go and find it. There's really no need to take on extra penances. Just do the ordinary penances you're supposed to be doing.
And if you're crying out to God for the conversion of some loved one who is far from Him, that's a huge grace. So it may require a large cross. Know that, if God sees it is necessary, He will give you those crosses that you need. You don't have to go looking for them. They will come to you.
Your job is to humbly submit to them. Not to resist. . . .
Christ chose to be weak for us. He chose that. And He wants us to be willing to submit to weakness as well. Because in that submission, in that obedience to His will, we find true humility.
Our Lord cannot refuse the request of one who asks with humility.
Just be humble. Submit in obedience to the ordinary requirements of society. Of the Church. Of your family. Offer your prayers to God asking for that which you want and need. Expect that through these ordinary means, He will answer your prayer.
Yes, it's nice when we get that flashy miracle. But I'm telling you: miracles happen to you all the time.
2 Kgs 5:14-17; Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9; 2 Tm 2:8-13; Lk 17:11-19
You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 21:11
Sunday Oct 02, 2022
Sunday Oct 02, 2022
Our difficulty with faith is not so much not having it, as it is with other things getting in the way. Remember when Jesus says we are like the ground that needs to receive the seed of Truth, of the Gospel Truth, that He wants to plant in our minds and hearts. But there’s a problem with the ground.
There are rocks in it. Seeds can’t grow well in rocky soil.
Maybe there are weeds or other plants in the way.
To make the ground fertile, you have to till it, pull up the weeds, get rid of the rocks.
In our own minds and hearts, there is so much junk in the way that it’s killing the faith that is trying to grow day by day.
“I want to believe. But….”
All of those “buts”. How do I get rid of that?
First and foremost, you must avoid those things in your life that constantly lead you to doubt your faith in God.
The news is a great one. …You need to stop watching the news. It’s not helping you.
“But I need to know what’s going on in the world.”
Really? Really? You need to know what’s going on in the world? Why? What good does it do you? How does it help you in any way except fill your mind with worrisome things which you can do nothing about?
I constantly fill my mind with things that are totally out of my scope, beyond my ability to influence. And then I expect God to give me peace about them!
But wait, I have an intellect. I have a mind. Shouldn’t I know as much as I can?
The only answer to that is to go back to Genesis when the Lord created Adam and Eve. Remember, original sin is that they ate of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. That was the original sin that tainted us all. Our desire to have knowledge, not just of good, but also of evil.
Our problem is that we know too much evil. Not only by personal sin which needs to be confessed and removed, but also by filling our minds with all of the evil things people do in the world.
What has to change in me that I can become more like God? That I’m not tossed about, as Saint Paul says, by the winds of this world? Emotionally. Intellectually. That I hold fast to the faith. That I’m grounded in it. Planted in it.
I need to ask the Lord to remove from my mind all of the evil that I have learned over these years. So that, in the end, there’s nothing but Truth.
And yes, by removing this, part of my knowledge base shrinks. It becomes small, and pure, and simple like that of a child. That’s why Jesus tells us we need to become like children.
Children are far more easily at peace with the circumstances in their life, even when they’re suffering, precisely because they don’t know as much as adults do. Our Lord says we need to be like that.
All of that knowledge that doesn’t help you maintain faith and peace? It needs to go.
How do I become detached from the things that fill my mind and negatively impact my faith? So that I too can have the faith of a child, the faith the size of a mustard seed. And have the peace and joy of spirit that will come along with that purity.
Hb 1:2-3; 2:2-4; Ps 113:1-2, 4-6, 7-8; 2 Tm 1:6-8, 13-14; Lk 17:5-10:2
You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 20:07