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Honor Your Father and Mother "In today's first reading, Sirach gives some strong motives for honoring one's father and mother...'" (Holy Family Sunday, December 30, 2007)
No More Fear and Hiding "The singer Johnny Cash tells about spending Christmas of 1974 with the famous evangelist Billy Graham. At one point, Billy Graham said, 'Let's call Richard Nixon and wish him a Merry Christmas...'" (Christmas Homily, December 25, 2007)
Merry Christmas, Mary "It used to be that we Catholics placed great emphasis on Mary while our Protestant brothers and sisters tended to ignore her. That is changing - and sometimes Evangelical Christians remind us about Mary's important role..." (Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 23, 2007)
Do Not Complain "We have to protect our children from negativity regarding the Mass. We can start complaining about the music or the homily or - God forgive us - about fellow parishioners. In the process we miss the incredible gift Jesus wants to give us..." (Third Sunday of Advent, December 16, 2007)
Am I Not Your Mother? (Homily for Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, December 12, 2007)
That We Might Have Hope "Pope Benedict uses a striking example to illustrate the meaning of Christian hope. He tells about an African girl named Josephine Bahkita..." (Second Sunday of Advent, December 9, 2007)
Under Her Motherly Care: "One night Dominic was praying alone in the chapel of his monastery. He saw the heavens open with Christ in the center and the Blessed Virgin Mary next to him. As St. Dominic looked around, he began to weep bitterly...." (Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, December 8, 2007)
Homily for Anniversary Mass of Deputy Steve Cox (December 2, 2007)
Not in Promiscuity and Lust: "Crystalina tells about when she was a teenager, how she loved to attend parties. Sometimes the parties got out of hand and she would come home feeling sad, empty, used - even dirty..." (First Sunday of Advent, December 2, 2007)
Life & Death of a Thief: "It is appropriate that today we have the Gospel of the Good Thief. He illustrates that, with Jesus, it is never too late to make a new beginning..." (Christ the King Sunday, November 25, 2007)
The Power of Gratitude: "Something about the title intrigued me: A Complaint Free World? How is that possible? The book lays out a plan for people to stop complaining and start enjoying life..." (Thanksgiving Day Mass, November 22, 2007)
Night and Day We Worked: "St. Paul tells us that he worked 'night and day.' You and I might be tempted to say, 'Well, good for him.'..." (Thirty-Third Ordinary Sunday, November 18, 2007)
Put God First: "Once a lady asked a priest to help her with the family budget. It was an unusual request, especially since the priest (like your pastor) was not that good with finances..." (Thirty-Second Ordinary Sunday, November 11, 2007)
A Little Man With a Lot to Teach Us: "Zacchaeus did the only logical thing. He responded to generosity with generosity..." (Thirty-First Ordinary Sunday, November 4, 2007)
The Cry of the Poor: "We may even think that we are the winners in a Darwinian struggle for survival - and supremacy. That is all baloney..." (Thirtieth Ordinary Sunday, October 28, 2007)
The Manly Task of Intercession: "Regarding intercession we have to be honest. The battle is not going well. Many of us priests - and many other men- have let down our arms..." (Twenty-Ninth Ordinary Sunday, October 21, 2007)
Show Yourselves to the Priests (Twenty-Eighth Ordinary Sunday)
The Greatest Power (Twenty-Seventh Ordinary Sunday)
Why Was the Rich Man Condemned?: "The rich man had everything, but he did not have God. The poor man lacked everything, but he had God. Jesus makes it clear who was better off. When I go to Peru tonight, I want to bring not only your financial help..." (Twenty-Sixth Ordinary Sunday, September 30, 2007)
The Best of a Bad Situation: "The dishonest steward reminds us of something that is deep in our Catholic tradition. Back in the fourth century St. John Chrysostom said..." (Twenty-Fifth Ordinary Sunday, September 23, 2007)
Never Give Up: "During dark years Winston Churchill rallied the British nation - and free men everywhere - to stand against Nazi barbarism. It is said, however, that he gave his most famous speech not during World War II, but afterwards..." (Twenty-Fourth Ordinary Sunday, September 16, 2007)
Reinvent Yourself: "Recently I have been reading Reinventing Yourself by Steve Chandler. As in his other books, Chandler addresses an important issue: How to stop being a victim and start taking ownership of one's life...." (Twenty-Third Ordinary Sunday, September 9, 2007)
The Beauty of Humility: "It is a beautiful thing when a great man humbles himself. Sir James Simpson is an example of an eminent scientist who was also a humble Christian. There are other examples..." (Twenty-Second Ordinary Sunday, September 2, 2007)
Depart From Me: "Hell is a real place - and you or I could wind up there. That is the bad news. Now, I also have some good news..." (Twenty-First Ordinary Sunday, August 26, 2007)
Baptism of Anguish: "A college drop-out named Marcus Wayne Chenault entered their church and shot his wife. When asked why he did it, Chenault replied: 'Because she was a Christian and all Christians are my enemies.'" (Twentieth Ordinary Sunday, August 19, 2007)
Salvation and Damnation: "Perhaps you have heard that the Irish are famous for answering a question by asking another question..." (Nineteenth Ordinary Sunday, August 12, 2007)
Vanity of Vanities: "It used to be that the most popular gift for a girl graduating from high school was a car or a vacation. Today the most popular gift for a high school graduate is cosmetic surgery..." (Eighteenth Ordinary Sunday, August 5, 2007)
Why I Believe God Exists: "I believe in God because he answers prayers. If you wonder whether God really exists, try prayer..." (Seventeenth Ordinary Sunday, July 29, 2007)
Being in the Lord's Presence: "Pope Benedict is calling us to a more reverent celebration of the Mass. The examples of Abraham and Mary can help us achieve that goal..." (Sixteenth Ordinary Sunday, July 22, 2007)
The Good Pagan and The Good Samaritan: "In spite of not having an apparent belief in God, the good pagan seems more compassionate, fair and loving than those who engage in religious practices. He may even be aware of his superiority to religious folk: 'I don't need to go to church to do the right thing. Those church goers are a bunch of hypocrites...'" (Fifteenth Ordinary Sunday, July 15, 2007)
Stepping Out: "President Lincoln was an unpretentious and humble man. Some thought him a weak leader, but he was one of the greatest leaders this country has known. ..." (Fourteenth Ordinary Sunday, July 8, 2007)
True Freedom: "Many people consider that pornography is not that big of a deal. However, it can have terrible consequences. Let me give you an example..." (Thirteenth Ordinary Sunday, July 1, 2007)
Fearfully, Wonderfully Made: "The genome is like a vast string of unpunctuated letters--long enough to fill 13 sets of the Encyclopedia Britannica. Shakespeare said, 'What a piece of work is man!' Or as today's Psalm says: we are fearfully, wonderfully made..." (Nativity of St. John the Baptist, June 24, 2007)
Rejoice, You Just: "David thought he had gotten away with murder. He would soon learn differently..." (Eleventh Ordinary Sunday, June 17, 2007)
Our Daily Bread: "What the Pope Benedict says (in his book Jesus of Nazareth) very much ties in with today's Gospel..." (Body and Blood of Christ, June 10, 2007)
Hope Does Not Disappoint: "Those things are great and in some way they might be part of heaven, but this Sunday we learn what will actually make us happy..." (Trinity Sunday, June 3, 2007)
With You Always: "You may have seen the headlines which proclaimed that abstinence education does not work. According to some studies, abstinence education did little to help young people delay sexual activity until marriage..." (Pentecost Sunday, May 27, 2007)
Separation of Church and State: "In recent weeks a television pundit has been criticizing church leaders for speaking on various social issues. He accuses them of being 'hell-bent on ignoring the separation of church and state...'" (Ascension of The Lord, May 20, 2007)
The Father Will Love Him: "When the priest got near the hut, a man ran out, 'Padre, padrecito,' he exclaimed, 'I knew you would come.' Surprised, the priest asked how he knew that..." (Sixth Sunday of Easter, May 13, 2007)
They Appointed Elders: "In Greek the word for elder is 'presbyteros' - and it does not necessarily mean 'old man.' The presbyter could be some quite young like Timothy..." (Fifth Sunday of Easter, May 6, 2007)
The Time of Great Distress: "Our society seems to be more frazzled, less courteous. Archbishop Brunett told about the insulting, hateful letters he received after writing an op-ed defending traditional marriage..." (Fourth Sunday of Easter, April 29, 2007)
I Am Going Fishing: "Like St. Peter, Blessed Teresa was a person of action. There is an even deeper parallel. St. Peter kept at it, in spite of the cold, dark night. Since Mother Teresa's death, people have been amazed to learn that she faced a long, cold night..." (Third Sunday of Easter, April 22, 2007)
A Drop in the Ocean: "Angelica, that drop represents all your sins, all your imperfections and all your frailties. Throw it in the ocean..." (Second Sunday of Easter - Divine Mercy Sunday, April 15, 2007)
I Have Been Baptized: "A university professor named Dr. Phillip Cary told it in order to explain what Christians mean by justification - how the resurrection bring forgiveness of sins. The story begins with a tragedy..." (Easter Sunday, April 8, 2007)
He Took Our Suffering to Himself: "The fact that an artist can make a chocolate figure of Christ crucified - and give it the cute title My Sweet Jesus - shows how our society does not connect even with the human reality of Jesus' crucifixion..." (Good Friday, April 6, 2007)
The Passover Lamb Must Be Eaten: ""But, of course," thought Rosalind, "the Passover Lamb must be eaten." That insight led her to investigate the claims of Catholic Church about the Eucharist..." (Holy Thursday, April 5, 2007)
What Do We Have To Offer God?: "Tomorrow is the second anniversary of death of Pope John Paul II. Perhaps no man in the last century had more to offer God in terms of accomplishments..." (Passion (Palm) Sunday, April 1, 2007)
Neither Do I Condemn You: "Abortion, I am convinced, is the deepest wound in our society - and in our Church..." (Fifth Sunday of Lent, March 25, 2007)
Confession of Sins and New Creation: "People sometimes tell me they are worried they may not have made a good confession, that there was some sin they did not confess or did not confess properly. When that feeling overcomes us, it is good to remember the younger son..." (Fourth Sunday of Lent, March 18, 2007)
What is His Name?: "Jehovah Witnesses ask this question: 'Do you know the name of God?' That is not a bad question..." (Third Sunday of Lent, March 11, 2007)
Chosen: "As a help to understanding today�s reading, I ask you imagine this situation: A movie director is producing a great epic, like Gone with the Wind or Roots. Before him he has spread out pictures of young men..." (Second Sunday of Lent, March 4, 2007)
More Powerful than Satan: "Perhaps you saw on the news a study by researchers at the University of California San Francisco. It showed that sexual involvement of any kind can harm a teenager." (First Sunday of Lent, February 25, 2007)
Exercise of Holy Desire: "In his Tract on the First Letter of John he stated: 'The entire life of a good Christian is in fact an exercise of holy desire...'" (Ash Wednesday, February 21, 2007)
Two Ways to Avoid Judgment: "This method requires great effort, but it does work - sometimes even in extreme circumstances. An amazing example has emerged from the life of Ronald Reagan." (Seventh Ordinary Sunday, February 18, 2007)
Not Taught But Caught: "Middle-ranking civil servant, single, Catholic, 43, immaculate past, from the country, is looking for a good Catholic, pure girl who can cook well, tackle all household chores, with a talent for sewing and homemaking with a view to marriage as soon as possible. Fortune desirable but not a precondition." (Sixth Ordinary Sunday, February 11, 2007)
Before the Grandeur of God: "Once a young boy asked the pope: How can we know God exists, if we cannot see him?" (Fifth Ordinary Sunday, February 4, 2007)
We Are Doing It For Someone: "Well then," said Mother Teresa, "They are not missionaries. They are not proclaiming Christ. They are doing it for something, but we are doing it for Someone."(Fourth Ordinary Sunday, January 28, 2007)
If the Lord Gives a Burden: "I had a disturbing dream while I was in Peru..." (Third Ordinary Sunday, January 21, 2007)
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What is a Homily? (Four Purposes of the Catholic Homily)
EWTN Daily Scripture Readings and Homilies (Real Audio)
The Usual Homily (A Parody) "The important thing is to get in touch with yourself, get comfortable with and accept yourself just the way you are. When Jesus said to repent, he meant to stop all that negative thinking. As today's Gospel states..."
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