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Father Miller‘s Sunday and Holy Day Homilies from Saint Dorothy‘s Catholic Church
Episodes
Sunday Mar 05, 2023
Sunday Mar 05, 2023
One of the things (Pope Benedict) clearly explains in Spirit of the Liturgy is why he thinks God wants, at least for a while in the history of the Church, two different rituals to be celebrated in one rite of the Church. One r-i-t-e of the Church.
You see, the definition of a "rite" within the Catholic Church is a "way of celebrating the liturgy". So different rites are ways of celebrating the Mass. There's the Coptic rite, Ukranian rite... it's all the same Mass. The same Last Supper of the Catholic Church. But they're different rites.
We are the Roman rite. That's what we are. We're Roman Catholics.
Every rite should have a singular celebration of the Mass. It is illogical for any singular rite to have multiple celebrations. That doesn't make any sense! Those (different celebrations) would be separate rites. Ultimately, Roman Catholics can't have two rites in the Church.
Benedict XVI explains this in Spirit of the Liturgy. Why would God be allowing this right now in history? It's confusing.
Look what it's doing to the Body of Christ in the Roman rite. It's causing disunity and disagreements. . . .
Why would this be the will of God? To have two rites (within the Roman church) at least for a time.
It's because of the abuses and bad implementation of the Novus Ordo after the Second Vatican Council. There was nothing wrong with the Council, it was how its teachings were applied which was not always good. . . .
Pope Benedict XVI explains in his book that the reason the Holy Spirit is allowing both of these celebrations to go on in the Church - at least temporarily even though it is causing division - is because the Extraordinary form needs to "rub off" and correct the errors in the ordinary form. Meaning: the ordinary form has to pick back up the good habits that were lost after the Second Vatican Council.
Pope Benedict XVI clearly says that's why only for a time are we supposed to have these two forms. But it's supposed to end. (The Extraordinary form) is supposed to be abrogated from the Roman rite because we are Roman rite Catholics and there should be only one rite of the Mass. Not two.
Theologically, the last three popes are in agreement. And that has to be the will of God, there's no doubt about it.
Why is it happening at this time and in this way? Many of my brother priests and laypeople to whom I speak on this topic are struggling so much. To lose the ability to celebrate and experience the Extraordinary form, is a cross to them because they love it so much. It's like losing a loved one. It's like experiencing a type of death.
Why would God be asking this of them at this time? Why is this the will of God for them and for the rest of the Church?
Gn 12:1-4a; Ps 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22; 2 Tm 1:8b-10; Mt 17:1-9
Due to technical issues, we were unable to stream this Sunday's Mass. We apologize.
Sunday Feb 26, 2023
Sunday Feb 26, 2023
Lent is not a preparation for Easter.
It's a preparation for Good Friday, the death of our Lord.
When our Lord fasted forty days and forty nights in the desert, He was preparing for his inevitable death. And we - rightly following His example - we prepare for our own deaths by fasting forty days and forty nights each year. But since we don't know when our death will come, it's not enough to do that just once a year and then we don't have to think about death till next Lent.
No. Every day. Memento mori. Remember death.
Another Latin phrase: Carpe diem. Seize the day. Take advantage of today.
Often, in a secular word, that phrase is used to mean "Live it up!" "Get what you want." "Do whatever you want."
That's not the reason for the phrase. The reason to carpe diem is because today is the only day you know you have. Take advantage of today, and from our perspective, that means: Get ready for death! I may die tomorrow morning before I wake up. Am I ready for death before I go to sleep this night?
Father explains how memento mori can help us maintain our Lenten sacrifices.
Gn 2:7-9; 3:1-7; Ps 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 17; Rom 5:12-19; Mt 4:1-11
You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 19:35
Sunday Feb 19, 2023
Sunday Feb 19, 2023
Visiting Priest: Fr Philip Mackenzie, Food for the Poor
Being Christ for the other person means bringing love to the other person. The love is of course, serving others. A call to perfection, that's what it is. That your body is really a temple of the Holy Spirit. . . .
The Lord is saying, let the Spirit of the law exist - not adhering to the law in its strictest sense. Because, out of the Ten Commandments, it is said the Hebrews made over 360 different laws. So people were walking on pins and needles.
The Lord, in His moment, said no. If you keep those two commands, you'll have kept all. And what are they?
To love the Lord your God with all your mind, your heart, your soul, your strength, your entire being. And to love who? Your neighbor, as we love ourselves. And who is our neighbor? Not the person next door, really. Your neighbor is anyone we meet, as He is saying in the Scriptures today. And in loving the neighbor, sometimes, there's an enemy among. But love the enemy the same way. Pray for those who hate you and persecute you.
If you have kept these two commands, then you'll have kept all the commands. . . .
And the last commandment before He left: Love each other as I have loved you.
A very pointed charge. His love is a selfless love, giving His entire Being for justice and right. And then, there comes peace.
And so it is my dear friends in Christ that this morning I am here, speaking on behalf of Food for the Poor.
"Love, wonderful love. The love of Christ for me.
Love, wonderful love. So rich, so full, so free.
Wide, wide as the ocean,
deep, deep as the sea,
high, high as the heavens above
is His love for you and me."
Lv 19:1-2, 17-18; Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13; 1 Cor 3:16-23; Mt 5:38-48
You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 20:17
Sunday Feb 12, 2023
Sunday Feb 12, 2023
Jesus is speaking here about our final judgement. He's saying we have to get ready before we die. If we don't "settle our debt" before we go to our judgement - "the court" - we're in trouble.
So how do we settle the debt? How do we take care of these issues, these sins, which offend God, while still here in this life?
Jesus gives us the answer. He's not trying to trick or deceive us, or make the Christian life impossible. He is setting for us a very high goal: perfect love. But He knows most of us aren't going to make it. Does that mean there's no hope? No. There's hope. That's why He came. That's why He died for us, so He could still offer us hope.
In our first reading, a beautiful reading from the book of Sirach, we are told that each of us has two choices: one leads to life, the other, death.
The path to life is obeying all of God's commandments. If you do that, you'll be saved. Don't worry. That's Life.
But if you break His commandments, that's Death. You're damned, it's over. But most of us fall into that second category. Does that mean that most will not go to heaven?
Apart from Christ? Yes. Apart from Jesus Christ, no one goes to Heaven.
But with Him, even if I'm not able to perfectly follow the commandments, the Old Testament Law, let alone the New Testament law, I still have hope. And the hope is this:
He says, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar. Go first and be reconciled with your brother and then come and offer your gift.
The Fathers of the Church tell us Jesus is explaining to us that in order to approach the altar of God (as Catholics we know what that means) to present our gift - which is our self, that's what God wants from us, a gift of self - before we present ourselves before God, He says we need to reconcile with anyone - any "brother" - who has something against us. This refers not only to people in this life, earthly relationships and issues that you currently have, but more importantly, it refers to Jesus Christ Himself, who is our Brother.
Through baptism, we are united in the Body of Christ and Jesus call us "family". His brothers. His friends.
When we sin, we offend Him. As our God. As our Lord. And as our Brother.
He's the one we have to reconcile with before we approach the altar. He's basically saying: go to Confession.
We call Confession "reconciliation" because you are reconciling with your Brother, Jesus. He'll forgive you of your sins. Then when you come to the altar to offer your gift, it will be accepted by God.
If you refuse to do this, that's when He says: I will take you to court.
I want you to pay attention to this change of language.
In the first part of this statement, Jesus says that you have a problem with your brother, or your brother has a problem with you. So you need to go and reconcile with him. But if you don't reconcile with your brother, then he's not your brother anymore.
What does Jesus call him? Your "opponent".
If you refuse to humble yourself and reconcile with someone, you're not family anymore. You're not friends. You're not brothers. You're opponents.
God is saying if you don't reconcile with me, I am your opponent. . . .
Our Lord is offering you two options. What Sirach says: one of life and one of death.
"I can be your Brother. Or I can be your Opponent. You choose."
It is our choice.
Sir 15:15-20; Ps 119:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34; 1 Cor 2:6-10; Mt 5:17-37
You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 23:53
Monday Feb 06, 2023
Monday Feb 06, 2023
What was it? What enabled Dorothy to be so willing, at such a young age, to not only consecrate herself to Christ in chastity, but also to freely throw away her life for her love for our Lord.
You see, our culture (and this is not new by the way, it happens generation after generation) has this basic heresy, this idea, that the only real things are what your senses can perceive. Touch. Taste. Smell. Hear. See. Only the physical things, only the world around you that you can touch and measure and evaluate, only that is real.
Of course we know better, it's a great error on their part. But it's a very common mistake. . . .
The only thing that would allow any human, at least on a purely human level, to be willing to give up the natural goods of this life is if they truly believe that there is something greater than anything in this physical world. That even their physical lives are not worth the reward that they will get for remaining faithful to Christ and sacrificing themselves for Him and for the Gospel.
But to have that kind of belief, to have that kind of conviction, is not an easy thing to come by. This is why, as Catholics, the Church requires us to do so many ritual things. Jesus Himself is the One Who gave us the seven Sacraments. All of our rituals are based out of that structure, that design, that theology, that philosophy. . . . There's a reason for the habit, for the action we perform. It's because we believe that this is really Jesus. This poorly tasting cracker is really the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ our Lord. And we have good reason to believe it. That's what informs our choice to genuflect for example. Those little actions and rituals that we as Catholics perform throughout our day - the little things the Church asks of us - are constantly trying to reinforce the fact that what we believe is real. It's not imagined. It's not just a nice idea. . . .
I find that I'm happier following the teachings of the Catholic Church - as difficult as they may be at times. But I'm happier with this than with anything the world has ever offered me. . . .
We know this intuitively. It's written on our hearts. Our patroness Saint Dorothy saw this so clearly. She realized: There is nothing in this world I want more than our Lord.
I encourage you on this day to reflect on her willingness to suffer and die. To sacrifice all for the Lord. What things are you holding onto in this life? What things would you not let go of for Jesus?
What would you be willing to sacrifice for our Lord? . . . It's hard enough to endure when God takes something from us. But how many of us are willing to give it up freely?
If there is something that you still inappropriately hold on to in this life, give it to Saint Dorothy. She will give it to the Blessed Mother, who will give it to Jesus. Then even if God never takes it from you while you're in this world, at least it won't have a grip on your heart. Your heart will open up, and there will be more room for the Lord to become the most important thing. So that if, God willing, He ever calls you to imitate the example of martyrs, you'd be ready and willing to do so.
1Cor 6:13c-15a, 17-20; Ps 31:3cd-4, 6, 8ab, 16bc, 17; 1Heb 9:2-3, 11-14; Jn 12:24-26
You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 27:00
Sunday Feb 05, 2023
Sunday Feb 05, 2023
In this passage from Isiah, we're told that not only are there certain things we have to do, there are certain things we have to remove to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world! Oppression. False accusations. Malicious speech.
You know, about a month ago I preached about gossip and it's come up several times because people keep bringing it up to me. It was one of those homilies that stirred up a lot of concern and conversation.
Notice for a moment: false accusations and malicious speech. You have to remove that from your life to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Why?
Because if you go around trying to do good, and yet you gossip and slander, then all of those virtuous deeds that you may do become useless and meaningless.
The Bible says if you gossip and slander then your praise of God is worthless, and your prayers cannot be heard. You're using the same tongue to call on God and praise His Name that you are using to tear other people down.
The gift of speech is one of the greatest natural gifts bestowed upon us after life itself. We can do something that God can do - in fact, what God is. God is the Word. He's given us this power to speak word ourselves. This ability - to speak words, to communicate ideas, truth - has to reflect the Truth. The Word.
Anytime I use this gift in a way that is contrary to God - God's own goodness, nature, glory - I pervert the gift of speech.
This is something we have to master.
You cannot be the salt of the earth and the light of the world without doing that. Why do you think the world is tasteless and in darkness?
So how do we master ourselves? The solution is not quick, but it is simple. Practice silence. . . .
If you can't quiet your mind, you'll never be able to quiet your lips.
Even if it's just for a few minutes, stop by the church and spend the time quietly with our Lord asking Him to teach you how to quiet your own mind. To practice the virtue of silence.
Is 58: 7-10; Ps 112:4-9; 1 Cor 2:1-5; Mt 5:13-16
Homily begins at 22:22
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.
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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