November 2021 – Life on the Chrism Trail

Homily for Thanksgiving Day

November 25, 2021
St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Fort Worth, Texas

Sirach 50:22-24
Psalm 145:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9, 10-11
1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Luke 17:11-19

Amidst the violence and destruction of the American Civil War in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation establishing Thanksgiving Day as a national holiday. He wrote, “No human counsel hath devised nor any mortal hand worked out these great blessings. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.”

Homily for the First Sunday of Advent

November 28, 2021
Good Shepherd Catholic Church
Colleyville, Texas

Jeremiah 33:14-16
Psalm 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14
1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2
Luke 21:25-28, 34-36

Today we begin the season of Advent by hearing the words of Jesus that speak of the last things that are imminent signs before His second coming at the end of the world. “Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.” We begin with the end and end with the beginning in entering into the mystery of our redemption won by Christ who is the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end. In Advent, the second coming is considered first and the first coming is considered second.

Homily for the Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

November 7, 2021
St. Patrick Cathedral
Fort Worth, Texas

1 Kings 17:10-16
Psalm 146:7, 8-9, 9-10
Hebrews 9:24-28
Mark 12:38-44

This Sunday begins National Vocation Awareness Week, an annual week-long celebration of the Catholic Church in the United States dedicated to fostering vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and consecrated life through prayer and education. It is an opportunity for us to renew intentionally our prayers and support for those who are discerning one of these particular vocations. It is an opportunity for each of us to ask God for the grace to invite young men and women with leadership qualities to pray for fortitude to listen for God’s call and to respond with confidence to it by saying “yes.”