Evangelical Disciple

Homily from the Solemnity of Pentecost. Jesus tells us we have to prove our love for him by following his commands, which is difficult. He promises to send an Advocate, the Holy Spirit, to assist us. We need the Holy Spirit and the good news is that we've already received this Spirit in our Baptism. As fallen sinners, we also need a renewal of those graces received at Baptism, so we must ask for this renewal.

Homily from the Solemnity of the Ascension. We go to sporting events, various entertainment events, restaurants, and we expect them to be prepared for us when we arrive. Jesus is sending his Holy Spirit to us - the Holy Spirit is coming to us, and He expects us to be prepared when He arrives. Are we preparing?

In this sermon, I share a vision the Lord shared with me in prayer. Mary was seated next to me as my defense attorney. Great material for your next time of prayer!

Homily from the 6th Sunday in Easter. Jesus says the Holy Spirit will teach us everything and remind us of all Jesus did and said. Jesus revealed Heaven coming to us and the Spirit's task is to remind us of such events, or make us more aware of these grace-filled moments.

Jesus is calling all the nations into His Church - will you be filled with Joy and the Holy Spirit and let this happen?

Homily from the 5th Sunday in Easter. Judas betrays Jesus and Jesus responds, "Now is the Son of Man glorified..." This betrayal leads to Jesus' Passion and Death, which lead to his Resurrection. If he had gone around the Cross, he could not have risen from the grave. We are the same way. We have to embrace our Cross because it is through the Cross that we will be glorified by God.

God alone is to be glorified! ...and He is to be glorified in YOU!

Homily from the 4th Sunday of Easter. Jesus says, "My sheep hear my voice; I know them and they follow me." Do we hear his voice? Do we listen for his voice? We can look at ordinary sheep and see how they prepare themselves to hear the voice of their shepherd.

Homily from the 3rd Sunday of Easter. Two scenes from the lives of the disciples of Jesus. In on scene, they are doing something everyone can do: fishing. In the other scene, they are doing something on Christians would do: preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The difference is dramatic. Heaven is filled with those who spent their time on earth doing those things which only Christians would do. They did these things because Jesus, the Lamb who was slain, is worthy of all of it.

Jesus wants to give us peace. Sometimes, directly from His Heart. Other times, mediated through others. And definitely in the Sacraments He gave us.

Homily from the 2nd Sunday of Easter. Jesus breathed on his Apostles after appearing to them. This breath filled them with new life, with his own life. From there they were given the same mission as Jesus himself and they carried out that mission. We must receive new life from Jesus through the Sacraments, through prayer, through the Scriptures...and then carry out the mission Jesus gives us.

Homily from Easter Sunday. No one knew Jesus better than St. Peter (besides Mary, Jesus' mother). Jesus told Peter what was going to happen to him. Peter knew the Old Testament prophecies about the Suffering Servant. And still, he went home "amazed at what had happened" when he saw the empty tomb. We need to allow ourselves to be caught in amazement when considering the Paschal Mystery.

Homily from Palm Sunday. Jesus came as the King and acted differently than anyone expected, which led to his crucifixion...which led to our salvation. Our King is one who is willing to sacrifice even his own life so that we may live. Cry out to him, "Hosanna!"

The Adulterous Woman in the Gospel shouldn't actually be known by us as the Adulterous Woman, but rather, the Forgiven Woman... the Woman-Mercifully-Treated. If we saw her for what she is, not for what she has done, we could begin to see others like that, and ourselves as well. This sermon is meant to minister to your heart and encourage you. I sure hope it does!

Homily from the 5th Sunday of Lent. Receiving the mercy of Jesus is an incredible gift, a gift so incredible that it makes a person feel as though in a dream. This is how powerful life can be for one in a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Homily from the 4th Sunday of Lent. The Israelites finally got to eat good food when they entered the Promised Land. The Prodigal Son couldn't wait to eat the food of his father when he returned from living a life of dissipation. We, too, should build up a hunger for the Food of God, the Eucharist.

Homily from the 3rd Sunday in Lent. St. Paul calls the Corinthians to learn from the example of the Israelites. Even though ALL of them received abundant graces from the Lord, MOST were not found to be pleasing to him and so were not granted entrance into the Promised Land. In the same way, the Corinthians have been given an abundance of grace in Jesus Christ, yet many of them are living in two worlds: the world of Christianity and the world of paganism. This cannot be so. Neither can it be so for us. We must put aside our double life and living completely for the Gospel.

Homily from the 2nd Sunday of Lent. Jesus is a perfect model as one living in the world without being so attached to worldly things that he is unwilling to part with them. His focus on Heaven leads to his complete detachment from the pleasures of the world. We, too, must keep our focus on Heaven.

A great message for you to be encouraged that your Heavenly Father has prepared a seat for you, and to help you focus your energy, mind and thoughts on it!

Jesus went into the desert. He prayed, fasted, and had already giving alms. When the devil came to Him, Jesus defeated him. Jesus invites us to the same method of obtaining victory. Pray. Fast. Give Alms.