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Father Miller‘s Sunday and Holy Day Homilies from Saint Dorothy‘s Catholic Church
Episodes
Sunday Feb 27, 2022
Sunday Feb 27, 2022
If God went out of His way to allow His Mother to appear in this miraculous manner, perform miracles, and say these words to us, obviously, it's very important that we listen. So if you've never before heard the words of our Lady of Fatima, just listen attentively today.
The reason She came was to warn us - to warn the world - that war was coming. That great destruction and death would come if we did not repent of our sins. That Jesus was no longer able to hold back His hand of punishment because of the sins of the world.
So the message that you'll hear is from that context. And you know what happened, right? World War I, World War II, and the rest of the wars since then. Clearly, we didn't repent well enough and a lot of bad things happened during this last century. ....
As I read to you the words of our Lady of Fatima, I want you to keep in mind a comparison. Think of the world now - 2022 - and how the world must have been in 1917. I think most of us would say that sin is far more rampant in the world now than it was then. ...
If our Lady said these words to the world over 100 years ago, how much more important are they for us today?
The Blessed Mother said to the children, quote:
"I am the Lady of the Rosary. I have come to warn the faithful to amend their lives and ask for pardon for their sins. They must not offend our Lord anymore, for He is already too grievously offended by the sins of men. People must say the Rosary. Let them continue saying it every day. Pray. Pray a great deal and make many sacrifices, for many souls go to hell because they have no one to make sacrifices and pray for them. To save them, God wishes to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart. If you will do what I tell you, many souls will be saved and there will be peace. Sacrifice yourselves for sinners. and say often, especially when you make some sacrifice, 'Oh my Jesus, this is for love of you, for the conversion of sinners and in reparation for the offenses committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary'."
"The sins of the world are very great. If men only knew what eternity is, they would do everything in their power to change their lives. Fly from riches and luxury. Love poverty and silence. Have charity even for bad people. More souls go to hell for sins of the flesh than for any other reason. Certain fashions will be introduced that will offend out Lord very much. woe to women lacking in modesty."
Sister Lucia quotes from and remarks regarding the Blessed Mother:
"The Mother of God wants more virgin souls bound by the vow of chastity. "
"Confession is a sacrament of mercy. We must confess with joy and trust."
"Many marriages are not of God and do not please our Lord."
"Our Lady can no longer uphold the arm of Her Divine Son which will strike the world. If people amend their lives, our Lord will even now save the world.. If they do not, punishment will come."
"People must renounce sin and not persist in it. It is essential to repent greatly."
"Tell everybody that God gives graces through the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Tell them to ask graces from Her and that the Heart of Jesus wishes to be venerated together with the Immaculate Heart of Mary."
"Ask them to plead for peace from the Immaculate Heart of Mary for the Lord has confided the peace of the world to her."
There are some beautiful prayers that were given by our Lady of Fatima that some of us still use to this day. I recommend you do your best to implement them in your life.
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Oh my God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love You. I ask pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love You.
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Oh Most Holy Trinity, I adore You. My God, my God, I love You in the Most Blessed Sacrament.
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Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore Thee profoundly. I offer Thee the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges, and indifferences by which He is offended.
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By the infinite merits of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg the conversion of poor sinners.
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Oh my Jesus, forgive us our sins. Save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy.
Sir 27:4-7; Ps 92:2-3, 13-16; 1 Cor 15:54-58; Lk 6:39-45
For more information and to support the Fatima Tour for Peace and the Pilgrim Virgin Statue, please visit: www.fatimatourforpeace.com
You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 21:32
Sunday Feb 20, 2022
Sunday Feb 20, 2022
What happens when a Catholic has a spouse that does not want to follow Church teaching in the area of contraception or family planning? ... Are they complicit in that sin if they don't refuse intimacy with their spouse? What do you do? Do you have to remain chaste? And there is no Church teaching on this. The Catholic Church teaches her priests moral theology ... and leaves it up to them to work out some of these more complex moral questions. There's not necessarily one hard and fast rule, priests may differ in their opinion.
However, one of the things that the Lord has brought to my attention when I've been praying and meditating on this question is the Eucharist.
When I was in seminary, they made sure all of us seminarians knew this one important law of the Church: every practicing, baptized Catholic has a right to Holy Communion. They have a right to the Body of Christ. I as a priest, cannot refuse it to them for just any reason. Even if I were to privately know that a person was in grave mortal sin, I still cannot refuse them Holy Communion. That's Church law. ... But all of us in class that day were concerned. What if I know they are in mortal sin? What if I've even told them not to come up to Holy Communion but they present themselves anyway? Am I not therefore complicit in this sacrilege, in this offense against the Body of the Lord, in giving them Holy Communion? The Church definitively says: no.
The reason that we cannot refuse someone who we know at least privately (public sin is another matter) in mortal is because Jesus does not want that person's sins to be made known. To protect the sinners from guilt or shame of anyone finding out that they are a sinner, Jesus is willing to suffer this abuse of His most Holy Body for a sinner who is unrepentant in their sin and still approaches Him for Holy Communion. Our Lord would rather suffer this abuse personally, then shame that person publicly. That is a profound act of humility by our Lord. ... That is the love of Christ for each one of us. And it's quite beautiful.
And this kept coming to me as I prayed about the situation of a Catholic spouse and a spouse who is not in line with the Church's teaching.
Just as the priest is not complicit in any sin in giving the Body - the Body of the Lord - in this loving, intimate, and spiritual way, so too a spouse (is not complicit) who at least has made their position clear - having talked with their spouse about their belief in the Church's teachings and what they want to do. You can't necessarily deny your spouse what we call their "marital rights" even if their actions may be contrary to the Church's teachings.
Now, I do think there's one moral caveat: this is where the act of contraception is an abortifaciaent. That doesn't mean it will cause an abortion but it may. Like the pill. The pill is an abortifacient. That's different. If your spouse is using the pill, I'm sorry, you have to be chaste. Your spouse may conceive and the pill will probably cause an abortion. That's murder, that's a whole different category.
But outside of that, just taking into consideration the Church's teachings on the gift of the Body of Christ to the people of God who have a right to it - unworthy as they may be - I think that same truth would apply to this question. ...
The language of "rights" is very specific. If someone has a "right" to something - or someone - then someone else has an obligation to fulfill it. All rights come with obligations...
The Church's teaching on the rights of husbands and wives toward each other is quite clear. Every wife has a right to the body of her husband, and every husband has a right to the body of his wife, which means: the other has an obligation to provide that. You formed these rights as a covenant when you stood before God in His Church and you vowed yourself as a gift to your beloved. In essence you said: I now belong to you, till death do us part. Your spouse hopefully said the same. In that marital exchange, that bonding covenant, your spouse now owns you.
So the only reason you could ever deny your spouse their rights to you is for a very serious reason.
1 Sm 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23; Ps 103:1-4, 8, 10, 12-13; 1 Cor 15:45-49; Lk 6:27-38
You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 22:33
Sunday Feb 13, 2022
Sunday Feb 13, 2022
When you go against the laws of God, and play games with God, you pay a terrible, terrible price. ... So we should listen to the Word of God. God instituted the marital relationship and it was a beautiful, beautiful relationship that He instituted. That they join together, the two become one flesh, with the same heartbeat, they reaffirm their marriage vows. God puts great joy in the act of love for married couples. The marriage embrace. It's a very sacred event. John Paul II, the great saint, likened that embrace to something like the Trinity's inner life.
Then Blessed Trinity is a mystery. That great mystery is: that the Father generates the Son in love. And the Son returns that love to the Father. And from that love proceeds the Holy Spirit. So actually the third person of the Trinity is the Love of the Father and the Son.
Wow! That's how the marital union is an icon of the inner life of the Blessed Trinity. That's how sacred it is.
Saint Paul likens the union of husband and wife to the union of Jesus and His Church. An inseparable union. That's how holy it is.
How could we do anything in the married life to desecrate that?
But that's what contraception does. It puts a barrier, separating the unitive from the procreative element in the marriage union. The love-making and the life-giving God wants always to be together, never separated. ...
If you don't follow God's design, you're in for deep trouble, and that's where we are today.
For more information on Father McCaffrey and his ministry through NFP Outreach
visit www.nfpoutreach.org. If you were unable to donate to his mission during the Mass, please use the link to our Missions appeals and note that you'd like your donation to benefit Fr McCaffrey and his work. Please keep him in your prayers.
visit www.nfpoutreach.org. If you were unable to donate to his mission during the Mass, please use the link to our Missions appeals and note that you'd like your donation to benefit Fr McCaffrey and his work. Please keep him in your prayers.
Jer 17:5-8; Ps 1:1-4,6; 1 Cor 15: 12, 16-20; Lk 6:17, 20-26
You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 20:40.
Sunday Feb 06, 2022
Sunday Feb 06, 2022
God's will covers all things. So nothing can happen to us that is "accidental." It's ordained or controlled or governed by God in one way or another, so clearly when I read this quote from Saint Dorothy, while preparing a homily on Saint Dorothy, that was providence!
It's not just the good things in our life like that which God arranges, but it's especially the bad things. Saint Claude says: "Let us never then attribute our losses, our disappointments, our afflictions, our humiliations to the devil or to men, but to God as their real source." This is where he quotes Saint Dorothy: "'To act otherwise,' says Saint Dorothy, 'would be the same as a dog who vents his anger on the stone instead of putting the blame on the hand that threw it at him.'"
So Dorothy is saying when that stone hits you and hurts you, don't blame the stone. God is the one Who threw it.
Saint Claude continues, "So let us be careful not to say so-and-so is the cause of my misfortune. Your misfortunes are the work, not of this or that person, but of God. What should give you reassurance is that God - the sovereign good - is guided in all His actions by His most profound wisdom for holy and supernatural purposes."
They're teaching us that all of the bad things that happen in our lives, whether individually or collectively, were sent to us by the Hand of God. ...
Saint Dorothy is trying to teach us that we act like an ignorant dog when we blame anyone but God for the bad things that happen to us.
But it's not really a matter of "blaming" God because He didn't do anything wrong. He is all Good. All that He does is good, whether you understand it or not. ...
God has a right to our thanks and praise. Even when He sends us suffering. Because it's always for our good. It's that kind of humility that we can learn from Saint Dorothy, not only by the words that she spoke, but also by her example. Here she is, this young holy woman that has dedicated herself to Jesus in love. Because of the society in which she lived, she was threatened with death if she did not deny Christ.
She joyfully went to her death. She had no anxiety or fear. And she had no anger towards any of the ones who God used to kill her. In fact, she was grateful to them. They helped her to get to heaven sooner.
The only way we can truly have that kind of faith is if we believe that God is in control of all things.
Is 6:1-2a, 3-8; Ps 138:1-5, 7-8; 1Cor 15:1-11; Lk 5:1-11
The book Father mentions during the homily is Trustful Surrender to the Divine Providence: the Secret of Peace and Happiness by St. Claude de la Colombiere
You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 24:15.
Sunday Jan 30, 2022
Sunday Jan 30, 2022
We know the attributes Jesus would have looked for in a man to be the husband of Mary, and His own foster father. They're fairly obvious. Jesus would have chosen a man who was just like His Heavenly Father. If this man is going to be His earthly model of fatherhood, this earthly father would have to be a perfect image (as least in so far as that's possible) of the Heavenly Father....
We know that Mary was immaculately conceived, which kept her free from all stain of sin. But Joseph was not immaculately conceived. It's believed that the great grace bestowed upon him very early in life, kept him from any personal sin. We believe Joseph, during his entire life, didn't even commit a venial sin. Now, he was still conceived in sin, he still had original sin like the rest of us, he was still tempted. But God gave him great graces, so he never committed a personal sin.
One of the frustrations about trying to get to know Saint Joseph better is that we don't have a single thing written down in the Scriptures that he ever spoke. Not a word. We have a couple of his actions. The Gospels describe a few things that he did which showed he was a very holy and faithful Jewish man. But not a single word of Saint Joseph's.
This has been a frustration of the Saints for two thousand years. I mean, imagine! Think about this! This man has to be the model of all earthly men, second only to Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Wouldn't you want to hear some of the things he must have had to say throughout his life? Imagine the lessons he must have imparted to Jesus as Jesus was being raised. Those are probably wise and holy lessons. Why aren't they written down?
It's always been a frustration that this great Saint - the greatest Saint of the Church, second only to the Blessed Mother - doesn't have a single word written down that came from his lips.
Recently, I've been thinking about this a lot. And something occurred to me I had never considered before. I think I've figured out why Joseph is so silent in the Scriptures...
Jer 1:4-5, 17-19; Ps 71:1-6, 15,17; 1 Cor 12:31--13:13; Lk 4:21-30
You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 17:09
Sunday Jan 23, 2022
Sunday Jan 23, 2022
If we are the body of Christ, then our job is to proclaim the Word from the wood of the cross. Because that's what the body does. Primarily, in this moment, whenever we suffer as Christians, as members of the Body of Christ, we are on that wooden cross - that wooden podium - proclaiming the Word of God to all who will see.
Our job is difficult because we have to do it the way Jesus did it. We're not our own body, we're His body. So when we suffer, we suffer patiently. Like He did. Lovingly. Doing it for the forgiveness of sins. ...
If you can make the connection between your suffering as a member of the Body, and Christ's particular suffering - if you can make that connection in the moment - what you'll find is you'll be able to receive the grace that is already present to you through the Holy Spirit, to suffer more like Christ. And if you do that, just like Ezra in the Old Testament and Jesus on the Cross, you will proclaim the law: both aspects - you break the law, justice demands punishment. But, the law of love means I will suffer for others' sins.
Does that mean you're only the Body of Christ when you're suffering? No, Jesus lived many years, and He was only on the Cross during the last moments of His life on earth. But you are the Body of Christ always. Which means you have to find your place in the body in whatever life you choose to live. Whatever vocation you embrace.
We know there are three primary vocations: the married life, the holy priesthood, and religious life - the consecrated life of men and women to Christ.
Father continues with a beautiful reflection on what part each vocation
can play in the Body of Christ on earth.
can play in the Body of Christ on earth.
I want you young men and women to seriously consider a vocation to the consecrated religious life. Saint Paul tells us in the Gospels that he invites all Christians to discern the religious life. I will tell you, in this day and age, it is an easier vocation. ... You'll suffer. Our Lord will challenge you to grow in holiness and intercede for others, if you become a religious and serve Him in this way.
But you'll be more conformed to the heart of Christ and you'll experience the very piercings that He did while on the Cross. It's beautiful.
So discern it. Pray about it. Look into different religious orders. The key is prayer.
As long as you are praying every day, He will guide you to His will, whatever it may be. You can't hear the Lord if you're not praying. Parents, teach your children to pray.
Neh 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10; Ps 19:8-10, 15; 1 Cor 12:12-30; Lk 1:1-4, 4:14-21
You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 29:16.
Sunday Jan 16, 2022
Sunday Jan 16, 2022
With absolute trust in her Son, she just tells us - and anyone, even the disciples listening, whoever serves - "Do whatever Jesus tells you."
Do whatever He tells you.
She's so trusting, He can't refuse her anything.
We have Jesus performing this miracle at the request of His mother for this couple. And the significance is profound on so many levels. You see, what Mary didn't know, was that by performing this miracle, Jesus was more speedily going to His crucifixion and death.
Mary couldn't have known this. She just sees a need and asks her Son to resolve it. She has no idea that her Son, performing this miracle, will suffer sooner.
And He does it anyway.
So often, we make requests of other people, and we don't realize what it will cost them. Only they can see it. It shows such a profound humility and charity in those situations.
Our Lord is willing to do this no matter the cost. For this couple. For His Mother.
Of course the imagery is beautiful. He turns water into wine at the very moment He's speaking about the "hour" in which He will turn wine into His Blood.
At the beginning of His ministry, He's prefiguring the end.
Is 62:1-5; Ps 96:1-3, 7-10; 1 Cor 12:4-11; Jn 1:1-11 2
You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 18:31
Wednesday Jan 12, 2022
Wednesday Jan 12, 2022
Father Matlak from St. Basil Ukrainian Greek Catholic Mission and St Thomas Aquinas is our visiting priest this evening.
You are the key to heaven for those who are living in darkness,
and who need the light of divine grace.
and who need the light of divine grace.
This is the imagery of the readings which were chosen by Bishop Jugis for all the parishes tonight as we open the 50th Anniversary year.
The liturgy is a pilgrimage. A pilgrimage out of the darkness of the world into the light, led by the priest who is also on pilgrimage.
Remember what your identity is, remember that you are called from the darkness into the light, remember that you're called to lead other people into the same.
What will nourish you on the pilgrimage? Well, the opening prayer of the Mass, which again was chosen by Bishop Jugis, talked about two things: the Word and the Eucharist. So read your Bibles Catholics, and stay close to the Eucharist. In other words, be like Mary who had the Word in her - the Word made flesh. So may the Eucharist which you are about to receive make you more and more like Mary: the Word alive in you and the Gospel.
If you do those two things, and everything else I said today, you will become a Saint. It's as easy as that. But it's also as difficult as that.
You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 10:00
Sunday Jan 09, 2022
Sunday Jan 09, 2022
It's always from above that our Lord speaks, and our Lord comes. Why, throughout the entirety of the Scriptures and our Christian tradition do we use this imagery that Heaven is above us? Is that just metaphor? A nice imagery to help us draw closer to God?
It's an important question and one that I've given a lot of thought. I've come to the realization that Heaven is, in fact, actually above us.
Now, I don't mean the sky where the clouds are and the rain comes from, but I do mean physically above us. And I think I can prove it to you.
Not only from all of the examples that are given throughout Scripture and Tradition where if a Saint, Blessed Mother, our Lord descends, it's always from above. They always descend. So set all that aside, which I think is enough proof, but I want to tell you a story most of you might not know about Our Lady of Fatima. After the last visitation, when She was being assumed once more into Heaven, The children explained that as She was being taken up into Heaven, suddenly, the sky was torn open. Through this hole, they could see the night sky, and the stars shining. She went right through that hole and it closed up behind Her. ....
We as Christians know: the edge of the universe is the border of Creation. It's that limit in which Creation exists, outside of which is .... every where else. The only other place we know of beyond the universe, is Heaven. God's domain. Outside of space and time.
So it would make sense that when Jesus ascended into heaven, or assumed the Blessed Mother into Heaven, or when She comes again in some type of apparition, they always come from outside the universe.
It's beautiful that our Lord works according to the laws of the universe that He created. God in His divinity is everywhere. But when His Son comes in bodily form, or when the Blessed Mother comes in bodily form, they pass through the physical universe to get here. And they ascend once again in the same manner.
As believers, we see no contradiction whatsoever between what we believe as Catholics according to our faith, and what science teaches.
Is 42:1-4, 6-7; Ps 29:1-4, 9-10; Acts 10:34-38; Lk 3:15-16, 21-22
You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 23:34
Sunday Jan 02, 2022
Sunday Jan 02, 2022
(The O. Henry story "The Gift of the Magi" ) reveals to us what we all desire in our relationships. We desire people to love us that much. And we would like to be able to love others that much.
Now Jesus, He wants you. He wants you to give yourself to Him. So how do you do that? You all know it's the same message we preach throughout the year: You cannot love the God you do not see, if you do not love those you can see. Jesus says, "You want to love Me? Love your neighbor."
Your closest neighbors are always your family. Spouses. Children. Parents. Those are your closest neighbors, and they're always the hardest to love because they are the closest. Which is why that's the test of love for Christ.
That's the sacrifice He wants from you. What are you willing to give up for Him to them?
It's important that we remember why we are sacrificing for family members. It's not because they deserve it. Most of the time, they don't. It's because Christ deserves it.
You know, Christ would deserve your sacrifice even if He had never died on the cross. The beauty of it is, He sacrificed Himself for us first. He loved us perfectly. He loved us to the end. And He wants us to love each other in that same way.
So that's the test throughout the year: to make this gift of yourself to Christ through sacrifice to those within your own family. You do that, and you will prove your love for Christ.
Father reminds us that at the conclusion of Mass he will offer a blessing to married couples and closes his homily with a brief and beautiful reminder on how spousal love and sacrifice are the models for children which teaches them how to love.
"During this commemoration of your vows, remember what you promised,
what you offered to God out of love for your spouse.
what you offered to God out of love for your spouse.
And be willing to fulfill that promise each and every day. "
Is 60:1-6; Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13: Eph 3:2-3a; Mt 2:1-12
You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our Youtube channel. Homily begins at 26:23
Saturday Jan 01, 2022
Saturday Jan 01, 2022
It's interesting to note that in the entire Bible, both Old and New Testament, never once is anyone ever called a "Daughter of God." It doesn't exist in the language of the Bible. It actually doesn't exist in the entire history of the Church, did you know that? No one has ever been called - according to official Church teaching or the Scriptures - a "Daughter of God." Do you know why?
Because God doesn't have any daughters. Not a single one. Not even the Blessed Mother is a daughter of God. The only language ever used is the generic, gender-neutral "children," or "Sons of God."
Each one of us is in fact only a son of God. And why is this?
It makes perfect sense if you understand the theology: we are only sons of God because God only has one Son.
And if you want to be part of God's family, you have to be conformed to that Son. In fact you have to become one body with that Son.
That's what the Church is. She is at one and the same time the Bride of Christ and the Son of God. If you know anything about the Bride of Christ, you know the Bride is human, not divine. In regards to her divinity she is a son - the Son. God has no other children. We become divine by grace because we are made members of that Body. And that Body is the body of the Son of God.
We are sons in the Son. Men and women alike.
And we are bride of Christ. Men and women alike.
It's really fascinating when you think about it. The mystical theology of Jesus Christ.
We see in the Blessed Virgin in a unique and special way, both of these roles fulfilled perfectly.
She is clearly the Bride - the one who gives birth to the Son in the world.
She is also the perfect disciple of that Son to whom she gave birth. The perfect follower of the Lord. Conformed to Jesus in a way unlike any one of us, she is the model for all Christian perfection.
As we celebrate her divine motherhood today, we need to reflect upon the fact that each of us in a spiritual sense, is called to be divine mothers of God. How do we do that? The same way that she did it, except spiritually, not physically. Christ must be conceived within each one of us.
Nm 6:22-27; Gal 4:4-7; Lk 2:16-21
You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 16:47
Sunday Dec 26, 2021
Sunday Dec 26, 2021
Whenever we hear any readings - from Old Testament or New - on how to live a holy family life, it's always based, in essence, on Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. They are the perfect model.
There's really not a lot said in Scripture about them. But the few things that are said, if you take time to pray and meditate on them, are revealing.
Saint Paul, whenever he gives us a teaching on the proper relationships between husbands and wives; between fathers and mothers and children, it's always based on what he learned from the Holy Family.
This model he gives to us in our second reading is a very basic one which he repeats several times throughout his letters.
Wives, be subordinate to your husbands, as is proper in the Lord. Sub-ordinate. Under the ordination or authority of.
Husbands, love your wives. And avoid any bitterness toward them. Men, we need to be reminded of this, it can be a weakness of ours.
He says to children: Obey your parents in everything. Everything. Not some things. Every thing. For it is pleasing to the Lord.
Then one more recommendation for us fathers; do not provoke your children so they may not become discouraged.
This is probably the simplest expression that Paul has ever given for his recommendations for each relationship in every family.
This teaching is based upon the example we've received from the Holy Family itself. ... In this second reading, before Paul tells us how we should relate to and love one another, he gives us this advice:
Ans children of Christ, as disciples of the Lord, we are to "put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bearing with one another and forgiving one another if you have any grievance" against them. Because the Lord has forgiven you.
If you can't love your family the way Christ loves you, then it really doesn't matter that you try to love others. Of course it's a good thing to strive for, but the real test of virtue and discipleship is how you behave at home.
If you can't truly love your husband, your wife, your children, your parents, then you're not loving yet.
Sir 3:2-6, 12-14; Ps 128:1-5; Col 3:12-21; Lk 2:41-52
You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our Youtube channel. Homily begins at 25:55
Friday Dec 24, 2021
Friday Dec 24, 2021
What makes these men and women stand out is that they bore the Christ.
This is a very important message for each one of us, because, in the end, when somebody looks back on your life, will they remember you? Will you have done anything significant in your life to stand out in history? Whatever you can do - write a book, skydive, whatever it is - do you think in ten thousand years anybody is going to care? In ten million years?
You see, human beings are immortal. Not our bodies, but our souls. A human soul will live forever.
And the only hope we have of being remembered is our association with Jesus Christ. Just like these men and women of the Gospel today. That's what makes them stand out.
Now, God is not asking us to be a part of the incarnation of Christ in the same way. But these are Jesus' great-great-grandparents. They're family.
And if we don't belong to Christ's family, then what is our life worth?
That's precisely why the gift of Baptism is so sacred - it makes us a member of the household of God. We become one with Christ. We become a member of His body. And His Bride, the Church, becomes our Mother.
We are the descendants of Jesus Christ. We are His children, born of a spotless Bride. And that's what makes our lives important.
Our relationship with Jesus Christ needs to be the most important thing in our lives. ... We have to keep in mind that throughout the day - not just on Christmas, but each day - as the sun rises in the morning, we should reflect on the rising of Christ, the coming of our Lord, the light in the darkness. We need to keep Him at the focus of our minds and hearts, each day.
Is 62:1-5; Ps 89:4-5, 16-17, 27, 29; Acts 13:16-17, 22-25; Mt 1:1-25
You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 24:40
Sunday Dec 19, 2021
Sunday Dec 19, 2021
God can at times make His painfully clear to you, miraculously clear, and you can still doubt. Or say no. Or think you can. ...
Anytime we know the will of God, we should always say the words of the Blessed Virgin: Let it be done to me according to Your Word.
What about when you don't have a miraculous vision of an angel telling you what God wants? It can be challenging and difficult at times to know exactly what He's asking of you.
But there are times in our life when we can know the will of God with absolute certainty. Not because we want to do it, but because it's the only option we have. Those situations in which God simply does not give you a choice: This is what you have to do whether you like it or not. The Saints tell us that in those instances, God is making His will absolutely clear.
Think for a moment about the Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph getting ready for the miraculous birth of Jesus. All the preparations they made in anticipation of His birth. And then suddenly, there's a summons by Emporer Caesar, some pagan in a distant land who rules over you, saying: Guess what? I want you to go to the town of your tribe and be registered in a census.
She was nine months pregnant. I seriously doubt our Lady had prepared for this. And yet, they didn't have a choice. They traveled to Bethlehem, thinking, "Well, He can't be born at home, at least we'll find a good inn or house with a spare room, that would be appropriate."
We all know the story. They go from inn to inn, house to house and are constantly turned away. Again, this wasn't a plan that the Blessed Mother had. This wasn't what Joseph wanted for Mary and Jesus.
Door after door is closed to them until they are offered a space in a barn. Even if you're not the Mother of God, do you really want to give birth in a barn?
I can tell you, Mary had no plans to do this. And Joseph, who was given this great responsibility may have been tempted to think, "I failed you Lord."
But of course, Mary and Joseph had perfect faith. They knew they had done their best, done everything in their power to prepare for the birth of the Messiah. But because of things outside their control, things they could not effect, they had to accept the situation as it was. I have no doubt that both of them believed - yet not understanding why - that this was exactly what God wanted. He wanted His only Son to be born in a stable and laid in a manger.
In the moment, that probably didn't make sense to Mary and Joseph. But it was clearly the will of God.
In our own lives there are many things we can't control, circumstances outside our power. If we like how it goes, no big deal. But most of the time we struggle with the will of God in these situations because we don't like it, we don't want it to be His will - it wasn't our plan, our design.
A book I would recommend to you is The Abandonment to Divine Providence by De Caussade. In it he tries to teach us this lesson: as long as you are striving to follow Christ and live within His sacraments, then anything that happens to you, especially if it's outside your control, is the will of God. Your job is to learn to submit to that will. To echo the Blessed Mother and say; Let it be done to me according to Your Word.
During this week before Christmas, meditate on the Blessed Mother, and on Saint Joseph and how all of their plans for Christmas did not go as they had hoped. But they did go exactly how God wanted.
Mi 5:1-4a; Ps 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19; Heb 10:5-10; Lk 1:39-45
You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 20:00
Sunday Dec 12, 2021
Sunday Dec 12, 2021
To help guide us in our reflection about the Church's call to rejoice, it would be important to talk about the first person to officially rejoice at Christ's coming into the world.
We're going to set the Blessed Mother aside as we know she had joy, but the first person recorded in the Scriptures to rejoice at Chris's coming and to express that joy was John the Baptist in his mother's womb.
What did Elizabeth say when Mary came to her home and greeted her? "At the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy.... Blessed are you who believed the angel's words."
So John in fact was the first - appropriately so - to rejoice at the coming of Christ. It makes sense because the prophecy the angel Gabriel gave to Zechariah about the miraculous conception of his son John, was that John would "herald the coming of the Lord." A "herald" is the one to precede the king or Lord, and let everyone know he's coming. John did this even from the womb. The moment the Blessed Mother entered into Elizabeth's presence and greeted her, John was immediately filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit - our Lord, in the womb of His Mother, consecrates John in the womb of his mother - and John rejoices.
Elizabeth says, "How should this happen to me, that the Mother of my Lord should come to me?"
Now I want you to think about this for a moment. We can understand how John would rejoice. He was filled with the Holy Spirit by this miraculous gift, and it's his mission, his calling. ... He can't see Jesus, and yet he knows, spiritually speaking, His presence.
But how does Elizabeth know? ... What enabled her to recognize through the Holy Spirit that Mary had to have been pregnant with the Christ?
Rejoice at the presence of Christ in your life, and with His grace,
be forgiven of and turn from sin.
be forgiven of and turn from sin.
Zep 3:14-18a; (Ps) Is 12:2-6; Phil 4:4-7; Lk 3:10-18
You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 20:02
Wednesday Dec 08, 2021
Wednesday Dec 08, 2021
When we look at Scripture more deeply, do we find any language in the Word of God that can convince us of Mary's immaculate conception, of her complete sinlessness? That is why we have this Gospel reading today.
Compare this Gospel account where we hear the angel Gabriel speaking to Mary, and earlier on in this chapter where you hear the same angel speaking to Zechariah. If you ever read these two dialogues side by side, they're almost identical. ... He tells both of them that there's going to be a miraculous birth, it's going to be a boy, ... he describes the type of life and ministry these two men will have. Once he describes this birth, each one of the two - Zechariah and Mary - ask Gabriel a question.
Zechariah says, "How could this possibly happen?" ... What does Gabriel respond? Basically: "How dare you question me? I stand before the throne of God. I came to give you this good message and you doubt me? You will be mute until this child is born." Then Gabriel leaves.... Zechariah was punished because he doubted in his heart....
Mary says, "How can this happen since I have no relations with a man?"
So, Zechariah says, "We're old, and she's barren, how is it going to happen?" Mary says, "I'm a virgin, how is this going to happen?"
Does Gabriel get angered at Mary? Does he punish her as well? No. He answers her question. He totally submits and gives her exactly what she wanted: an understanding of this great mystery. Now, we know that the Blessed Mother would never have doubted the will of God spoken to her by the angel.
But I want you to think of from this standpoint: Who is this girl to Gabriel. Who is she?
She's his Queen. ...
Look at his submission to her. It's clearly a sign of her greatness.
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you know Her better. To help you love Her better. The Saints teach us that true devotion to the Blessed Mother is one of the signs of salvific grace in a soul.
Gn 3:9-15, 20; Eph 1:3-6, 11-12; Lk 1:26-38
You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 23:20
Sunday Dec 05, 2021
Sunday Dec 05, 2021
Abortion is merely a symptom of the use of contraception. If you don't deal with the root of the problem, there no way to actually stop the symptoms. ...
The Church document Humane Vitae was written officially clarifying the teaching of Christ on the use of artificial contraceptives ... as intrinsically evil. Meaning: the use of contraceptives in the marital act, is always gravely offensive to God. Meaning: that one can go to hell for a single act of doing it if they die unrepentant.
That's how serious is the Church's teaching against it.
Why?
The reason why the Church, and why Christ teach so clearly on this issue has nothing to do with any strange moral law. In fact, you can set morality aside. Let's just assume there is no heaven or hell. No God. No judgement on the soul. Let's just assume all that doesn't even exist.
Would it still be wrong to contracept?
Absolutely.
Why?
For one simple reason: it's unnatural. ...
Nature tells us what intimacy is for... The act of marital in intimacy is primarily for what? Procreation. I'm not saying there aren't other goods, but first and foremost it is purely for the sake of procreation. That's it. ...
In every species that has dual sexes that procreate in this way, that's why they do it. To make babies.
It is unnatural to use that act for any other purpose alone. ...
If you ever intentionally, or by action, reject that primary aspect of the marital act, you have perverted the act. Now that doesn't mean the other goods aren't present. Meaning, the pleasure that one gets, and the communal bonding that happens between a husband and a wife. That's all good stuff, and that's supposed to be there. But, the moment you remove the natural good from it, the other goods become distorted and perverted. ...
If each individual is so precious, so sacred in the world because they image God - then the act that brought them into the world is also sacred. It's not just an earthly act, it's a heavenly act. It is a holy act in which God is also involved. We know that God is involved in every procreative act - He's the only One that can make a soul.
The Church's teaching formally condemning these things as evil is primarily for the reason of protecting the sanctity of life itself. ...
If you really want to end the evils of abortion, the real thing we have to do is defend - not just live as Catholics, but defend - our Church's teaching on the evils of contraception. ...
But I warn you: you cannot claim to be Catholic and reject this teaching. By that very fact, you deny the faith. This is one of the essential teachings of the Church, so take this seriously. If you're struggling with this teaching or have not repented of it, don't go to Communion. Pray about it. Call me. Talk to me. Let's work on this together. Go to confession if you're able, and then return to the Sacraments.
The Church belongs to Christ. Not to you, and not to me. We're here because of our conformity to Christ. If you do not want to conform to Christ, then leave.
Bar 5:1-9; Ps 126:1-6; Phil 1:4-6, 8-11; Lk 3:1-6
You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 21:50
Sunday Nov 28, 2021
Sunday Nov 28, 2021
Beginnings are extremely important. For us as Catholics, we know that the liturgical year - which begins today - is not only about keeping us close to Jesus, but to prepare us for His second coming. When He comes in glory, whenever that may be, we'll be ready for Him. ...
He says that the day of His coming will "assault" everyone. I like that word. It will assault you. It's not going to come up nice and quiet... that was Jesus' first coming. The Fathers tell us He came first in silence, in humility, gently and quietly. When He comes again in glory, it will be in power, and that will be shocking for many. But we don't want to be shocked by that coming.
We need to get ourselves ready to face Him. We can do that by considering how we begin things.
We begin our prayer, our work, with the Sign of the Cross. But how often do you actually think about what it is you are doing? You see, if I'm beginning prayer with the Sign of the Cross and I'm not actually thinking about what it means and what I'm doing, then it's very likely I'm going to be as distracted during the prayer itself. If I didn't begin it well, it's no surprise I don't focus during the rest of it.
Something I want you to work on this Advent is when you make the Sign of the Cross really think about what you're doing and why you're doing it. And I'm going to tell you what you're supposed to be thinking....
These small things done well, done with love, can obtain great graces.
Father explains in depth the profound meaning in the Sign of the Cross,
and in our genuflection when we come into the presence of our Lord.
It's an education you might not have realized you needed.
It's an education you might not have realized you needed.
Jer 33:14-16; Ps 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14; 1Thes 3:12--4:2; Lk 21:25-28, 34-36
You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 20:24.
Thursday Nov 25, 2021
Thursday Nov 25, 2021
Where does the faith of Daniel, where does the faith of St Catherine of Alexandria come from? This absolute trust in God as Deliverer ...
She didn't know whether she was going to be killed by the King after he put her in prison, but she wasn't concerned. Whether God delivered her from that prison, or delivered her from the prison of death itself, she knew she would be delivered.
That's what our Lord is trying to communicate to His disciples, and to all of us, today. He's talking about the end of time, the end of the world, in which death is imminent. It's coming for all of us, you finally can't escape. And that may happen for us before the end of time, whenever we die, death comes for us.
He says to us: "Stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand." He's saying don't be afraid even in the face of certain death because I have redeemed you. ...
It's easy in times of peace to say, oh yes, I'll be brave even in those times of persecution. But we have to prepare ourselves for that, even mentally. It's easy to believe you're fearless until you are put into a situation that is truly terrifying. ...
So many of the saints saw martyrdom as a glory. They would imagine ways - how could I die for Jesus? How could I give my life for the Lord, not just for my glory, but for His.
We do this not by killing the enemy in battle, but by sacrificing ourselves in battle - in this spiritual battle. ...
We should have that same fearlessness. ... As adults we should consider this. We should take time, maybe not every day but regularly to consider: How might Christ ask me to die for him? So that, no matter the circumstance of our death, we can at least know we did everything on our part to be ready to love him till the end.
Dn 6:12-28; Lk 21:20-28
You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 12:10.
Sunday Nov 21, 2021
Sunday Nov 21, 2021
Read the Gospel of Luke 19:11-28.
Father refers to this parable extensively in the last half of his homily.
Father refers to this parable extensively in the last half of his homily.
By misunderstanding the definition of "meek" (power under control), we like to think Jesus is weak, lenient, that He's a pushover; that's our attitude. But that's very dangerous....
"I tell you, to everyone who has, more will be given.
But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
Now as for those enemies of mine who did not want me as their King,
bring them here and slay them before me."
But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
Now as for those enemies of mine who did not want me as their King,
bring them here and slay them before me."
This is a difficult teaching. Jesus is not either merciful or just. He is perfectly both. He veils His power in order to win us by love. But if that does not work, He will reveal His power and condemn us. Either way, we will submit to Him.
By love. Or by force. Because He is the King. All must submit. ...
Imagine that you square up against another Who is all mighty, and you refuse to humble yourself. That's a very imprudent move. ...
But is Jesus unfair in His judgement of His servants? Notice He says take that one gold coin from the one servant and give it to the other who has ten. And some of the people said, "Sir, he's already got ten." The Lord says, "Those who have will get more. Those who do not have, even what they have will be taken away." What is He talking about?
When our Lord speaks of gold, He is not referring to money. What is precious to Jesus?
Love. Self-sacrificial love.
When He gives that love - that gold - to each one of us who have been forgiven of our sins, He expects the investment He's made in us to also be be made in others. He expects us to take this precious gold of His love and then love in turn our brothers and sisters in Christ, our neighbor.
Father continues to unpack this parable for us.
As we head into the Advent season, please listen and meditate on his homily.
As we head into the Advent season, please listen and meditate on his homily.
Dn 7:13-14; Ps 93:1-2, 5; Rv 1:5-8; Jn 18:33b-37
You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 20:07