Lent: A Journey of Grace, Not Just Sacrifice The Church reflects, in today’s readings, . . .. . . on the traditional Lenten practice of giving up things and making commitments to God but suggests shifting the focus. Rather than centering on personal sacrifices, it encourages believers to reflect on God’s promises of mercy, compassion, and love. By …

The Spiritual Meaning of Lent: Lenten Conference #1 Psalm 95 and Psalm 51: The Foundations of Lent’s Spiritual JourneyDuring each Friday of the Lenten Season, there will be a Lenten Devotional Conference.This is the first week within this series. Each conference will appear singularly on the Website, SoundCloud, Facebook and iPod platforms. All con…

Seeking God’s Will: The Foundation of Lasting RelationshipsThe readings explore the themes of friendship, commitment, and obedience to God’s will.The Homily begins with a discussion on the nature of true friendship, emphasizing that genuine friendship requires discernment, testing, and trust. The Homily contrasts shallow acquaintanceship with deep,…

Walking in Wisdom: Preparing for Lent with Sirach As the Catholic Church approaches the Lenten season;we stand at the threshold of a sacred time—a time to reflect on the profound mystery of our salvation and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Lent calls us to renew our baptismal promises and deepen our spiritual journey. But why is this reflection so e…

The Mystery of Belonging: Receiving the Kingdom as a Child The readings today explore the profound mystery . . .. . . behind Jesus’ invitation for children to come to Him. We all have heard the story of Jesus holding a child. But do we really understand the meaning behind the mystery?The Essence of Being a ChildIt emphasizes that the essence of bei…

The Chair of St. Peter: A Seat of Authority and Faith The Church emphasizes the significance of the Chair of St. Peter, . . .. . . on this Feast Day, which symbolizes the authority and witness of the Apostle Peter and his successors. It explores the meaning of a chair as a place of rest, stability, and authority, linking it to the role of Peter as …

The Strength of Restraint: Lessons from David and Jesus The Homily reflects on a challenging Gospel passage that urges . . .. . . believers to transcend the natural human desire for revenge and vindication. Using the Old Testament story of David sparing King Saul’s life as an example, the Homily highlights the importance of choosing mercy over reta…

The Tower of Babel and the Danger of Self-GlorificationSt. Augustine’s definition of sin is self-centeredness . . .. . . when a person turns inward instead of toward God. Using the metaphor of a bronze helmet with a mirror, the saint illustrates how sin causes individuals to focus only on themselves, unable to see beyond their own image. This idea …

Who Do You Say That I Am? A Call to Deep Discipleship For hundreds and hundreds of years in the Catholic tradition, . . .. . . well before the image of the rainbow was co-opted for other agendas less connected to the gospel of the Lord, the rainbow set in the sky as a sign of the covenant has long been held to be a symbol of Our Lady. It is not unc…

The Beauty of Waiting: God’s Plan Unfolds in Time The Homily today emphasizes the importance of patience . . .. . . in growing our faith and waiting on God’s timing rather than our own. Using the story of Noah from Genesis, it highlights how he waited patiently before leaving the ark. We’ll hear the significance and the lessons for us within the Ho…

The Gift of Hearing: A Path to Faith and Proclamation There is a special prayer of blessing at the baptism of children, . . .. . . spoken immediately after pouring water on the child. In this prayer, the priest or deacon invokes the Lord who made the deaf hear and the mute speak, asking that He touch the child’s ears to receive His word and their m…

Mercy Rising in the East: The Promise of Salvation In the entrance antiphon for today’s Mass, . . .. . . we hear that the Virgin Mary is blessed because from her arose the Son of Justice, Christ our God. This image—Christ, our Savior, rising from the Virgin Mary to bring light to the world—is deeply significant in light of today’s readings.At the e…

Turning Hearts to God: The Key to Eternal LifeToday’s readings guide us to seek something that never ends—eternal and everlasting blessings.In the first reading from the book of Jeremiah, we encounter two types of people: those who are cursed and those who are blessed. Jeremiah warns, “Cursed is the one who trusts in human beings.” This prompts us …

The Sower’s Hope: A Reflection on God’s Patience God’s Hope in You and MeGod has hope in you. God has hope in me. And in His infinite mercy, He grants us time.There is a well-known saying: Keep the Word of God, and the Word of God will keep you. This wisdom reminds us of the importance of holding onto God’s truth, for it has the power to sustain an…

The Mustard Seed of Faith: How Small Actions Shape Our Spiritual Journey The readings we hear today—from the Letter to the Hebrews and the Gospel of Mark—share a common theme: . . .. . . they were written during times of Christian persecution. The first reading describes the hardships faced by early believers: some were killed, others imprisoned, a…

Faith Beyond Sight: Trusting God in the Unseen Today’s readings present us with a fundamental question: What kind of faith do we have?Renowned theologian Roger Haidt describes faith as a universal human experience. He argues that everyone possesses faith in some form. For example, when you leave your home to come here, you have faith that you will …

When God Enters His Temple: The Mystery of the Presentation A Light Revealed: The Feast of the Presentation We begin with candles—simple yet profound. By doing something so unusual, the Church signals that today’s feast is anything but ordinary. The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, also known as Candlemas, begins with the lighting of candles,…

From Law to Grace: The Conversion That Changed Christianity The Conversion of St. Paul: A Remarkable TransformationToday, we celebrate the conversion of St. Paul. Before becoming one of Christianity’s most influential figures, Paul was known as Saul. He was born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, to Jewish parents who were slaves to Roman citizens. Howe…

Jesus, Melchizedek, and the Priesthood of All Believers Today’s homily reflects on Jesus as the eternal priest, . . .. . . drawing a parallel to Melchizedek, a mysterious biblical figure who blessed Abraham and had no known lineage. The comparison highlights Jesus’ divine origin. The homily then shares a personal anecdote from the early days of his…

Faith in the Face of Violence: The Message of the Holy InnocentsThe Feast of the Holy Innocents: A Call to Faith and CompassionThe Church gives us the Feast of the Holy Innocents as a reminder that the birth of Jesus Christ—the coming of God to dwell among us—will be met with resistance. From the very beginning, his presence is opposed, and his pat…

Receiving and Sharing God’s Love: The Secret of St. John the Evangelist The Witness of Love: Learning from St. John the EvangelistYesterday, as we honored the Feast of St. Stephen, we reflected on his life and martyrdom. The word “martyr” means to witness—offering a total and unwavering testimony of faith.Today, we celebrate another profound witnes…

He Must Increase: St. John the Baptist’s Lessons in Spiritual Humility The first reading comes from the First Letter of St. John, ending with a powerful reminder:“Do not make yourselves idols.” This message speaks to the human tendency to create idols—objects, ideas, or even people—that we elevate to the status of a god. An idol is something we des…

Devotion to Mary: Levels of Consecration For those that are considering making an act of Consecration to Our Lady, there are normally several questions.What exactly is Consecration vs. Total Consecration? How do the various forms of Consecration relate to each other?In this audio, the Levels of Consecration are described as degrees or steps. Total …

The Root of Jesse and the Bloom of Christ: An Advent MeditationThe entrance antiphon for today’s Mass reflects a powerful image.“A shoot shall sprout from the root of Jesse.” Sometimes translated as “from the stump of Jesse,” this image resonates deeply when we pause to consider its implications. A stump represents what remains after a tree has bee…

Mary, Elizabeth, and the Spirit of Advent Encounter As we approach the final days of the Advent season, . . .. . . our readings and prayers guide us to focus more intently on the events and circumstances leading up to the birth of Christ. By the time we reach the last day of Advent, we metaphorically find ourselves standing on the threshold of His …

God’s Call to Each of Us This Christmas As Christmas draws near, we find ourselves immersed in the exchange of greetings.These greetings come in many forms—gifts, cards, words, and heartfelt messages. Yet, they hold a deeper significance beyond their outward expressions.Giving Inspired by GodWhen a gift is given, it can transcend its material value…

From Darkness to Dawn: The Mystery of Grace Unfolding: Reflections on St. John of the Cross When this weary world approached the shadows of night, . . .. . . the ancient hymn reminds us, the Lord came—not in regal splendor or majestic power, but as a humble child born to Mary, the pure and gentle mother. The saint we honor today, John of the Cross,…

God’s Unfailing Love: Transforming Burdens into BlessingsCasting Our Burdens Upon the LordAs the Gospel reminds us, Jesus invites us to come to Him, for He is humble and gentle in heart. This message resonates deeply, as all of us face difficult moments in life. We carry various burdens—some stemming from responsibilities, others from personal stru…

Hearkening to God’s Music: A Christian’s Dance Dancing is an art that beautifully combines movement and music.At its core, dancing involves two essential elements: the steps we take and the music that inspires them. To dance well, one must first pay close attention to the rhythm, beat, and melody of the music. The steps should flow in harmony with …

The Immaculate Conception: Rooted in Faith, Fulfilled in GraceToday, we celebrate the profound mystery of the Immaculate Conception of our Blessed Lady.Although formally proclaimed as doctrine less than 200 years ago, its roots run deep in the ancient traditions of Christian faith and practice. This belief flows naturally from what we profess about…

St. Nicholas: A Legacy of Faith and GenerositySt. Nicholas, the revered Bishop of Myra in Asia Minor, . . .. . . played a significant role in the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. This pivotal council resolved the Christological question of the divine nature of Jesus Christ and His relationship to God the Father. It affirmed that Jesus is both ful…

Called to Compassion: Sharing Christ’s Message Through DeedsIn the last several days’ readings, we hear about the prophecies . . .. . . which foretell that the blind will see, the mute will speak, the crippled will walk, and the deaf will hear. These miracles have been the focus of this week’s readings, and in the Gospel, we see Jesus fulfilling th…

St. Andrew the Apostle: First Called and the Lessons He Gives to the ChurchThe first Sunday of Advent marks the beginning of the Advent Season, . . .. . . a sacred time of preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of the Lord. While it’s common to think that Advent begins by simply counting back four Sundays from December 25th, the Church fol…

By Perseverance, We Secure Our Lives: A Christian Journey By your perseverance, you will secure your life.What is the ultimate goal of Christian life? Is it happiness? Perhaps happiness is a consequence, but it is not the goal! Is it eternal life? Again, while it may be a result, it is not the primary goal! Is it to love others? Yes, that may be a …

Preparing for Jesus’ Arrival: Reflecting on the Advent Season We extend our heartfelt wishes . . .. . . for a blessed and joyful new liturgical year to everyone. This new beginning calls us to renew ourselves in how we live and grow closer to God. As we step into this liturgical year, we begin with the season of Advent—a time rich with meaning.Adve…

Jesus’ Call to Vigilance: What Does “Stay Awake” Really Mean?Today’s Gospel recounts the parable of ten virgins . . .. . . waiting for the bridegroom’s return, each with lamps in hand. Five brought extra oil, preparing for the unknown length of the wait, while the other five did not. All ten eventually fell asleep.One striking irony in this story i…

The Presentation of Our LadyToday we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lady in the Temple, . . .. . . a celebration with a unique and somewhat debated history in the Roman Church calendar. Following the Second Vatican Council’s revisions, questions arose about whether to retain this feast. While it had modest significance in the Wester…

The God of the Living: Lessons from Jesus and the Sadducees: Preparing Now for Eternal Life We’ve all heard the phrase, . . .. . . “Life is too short; you better enjoy it.” We often use it as a reminder to embrace the fleeting moments of life—whether by traveling, tasting new foods, or seeking out experiences because, as the saying goes, “you won’t…

Discovering the Transformative Love of God In all circumstances, give thanks to the Lord.This timeless truth is exemplified in the story of a little boy who once asked a priest, “Am I going to meet God one day?” The priest confidently replied, “For sure, God will meet you one day.”A few years later, the boy was diagnosed with cancer, and doctors in…

What Jesus’ Parable Teaches About Faithful DevotionIn Luke 17, Jesus teaches His disciples about forgiveness.When Peter asks how many times, they should forgive those who offend them, Jesus provides an answer that challenges their understanding. In response, the disciples say, “Lord, increase our faith,” recognizing that forgiveness is a deeply dif…

Faith and the Second Coming of Christ Luke’s gospel, often referred to as the apocalyptic section, . . .. . . speaks about the future and the anticipated return of Jesus Christ. This second coming is eagerly awaited by those with faith, as faith is the first and essential requirement for this expectation. Such faith is nurtured through persistent p…

Jesus Tells Us: The One Who Loses His Life Will Save It! What Does He Really Mean?The Gospel that we have today is a continuation of what we read yesterday.Yesterday, the Pharisees came to Jesus and asked him, When is the kingdom of God going to come? That was the question. And Jesus said, The kingdom of God cannot be observed.You won’t see someone…

What Happens When Jesus Comes and Completes The Work of Salvation?Today’s scripture reminds us of a fundamental truth: the heart’s ultimate disposition should be to rely on God above all else—before trusting in anyone or anything.Jesus, turning to His disciples, begins by acknowledging the reality of tribulation and turmoil. It’s as if He’s saying,…

Eucharistic Revival Conference #5: Liturgy of the EucharistThis marks the final conference of the Eucharistic Revival series.In the previous session, we explored the Liturgy of the Word. Today, we transition to the Table of the Eucharist, and by the end of this conference, we’ll discuss the possible path forward. What potentially comes next? The an…

Jesus Advises Us on Preparing for Our True Citizenship in Heaven In the first reading, St. Paul delivers a powerful statement.He says, “Our citizenship is in heaven”. This profound assertion suggests that while we live in this world, our ultimate life belongs to heaven. Our existence here is a preparation for that true and eternal citizenship. This…

Jesus Tells Us What God Truly Desires In today’s Gospel, we hear the story of people placing their offerings into the treasury.Jesus takes His disciples, sits down, and observes the people making their contributions. Many offer substantial amounts. However, one widow steps forward and places two small coins—everything she possesses. We have all hea…

St. Paul Tells Us to Put on the Armor of God: Why and When Should We Do That? Just as St. Paul spoke directly to the early Christians; he addresses the profound inner and outer battles in living the Christian faith.It’s not merely a struggle to live a good life, though that is part of it; rather, it’s a struggle against forces and influences beyond…

Entering Through the Narrow Gate: Jesus Shows Us The Path to Salvation! Today’s gospel recounts a moment when someone approaches Jesus with an important question: “Will only a few be saved?”Jesus responds, urging, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate. Many will try, but only a few will be strong enough to succeed.” This gate, Jesus explains, is…

The Four Last Things – Death, Judgment, Heaven, and HellThe conference opens with the recitation of the Hail Mary.The closing words of this familiar prayer, “now and at the hour of our death,” provide a meaningful starting point for reflecting on The Four Last Things. In these simple words, we speak a profound truth: by praying for the hour of our …

Embracing Inclusive Love: Jesus’ Call to Selfless Giving Every good deed receives an award.But the question is, where does this reward come from? Blessed are we if we expect the reward to come from God! In the beginning of the Homily, we hear a story of a specific practice in a distant land. The practice is called “Secret” and is a very good illust…