Homily for the Solemnity of the Holy Family
December 31, 2023
Saint Patrick Cathedral
Fort Worth, Texas
Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14
Psalm 105:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9
Hebrews 11:8, 11-12, 17-19
Luke 2:22-40
Today on the Solemnity of the Holy Family we listen to the Gospel of Saint Luke who tells us the story of what is pondered in the fourth joyful Mystery of the Rosary: the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. The story that is conveyed in today’s Gospel is rich for reflection, especially on this Solemnity. Yet, I wish to invite us to focus upon the words of the prophet Simeon spoken especially to the Blessed Virgin Mary: “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted — and you yourself a sword will pierce — so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
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Homily for the Memorial of Saint Thomas Becket, Bishop and Martyr
December 29, 2023
Montserrat Jesuit Retreat House
Lake Dallas, Texas
2 Timothy 2:8-13; 3:10-12
Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
Matthew 16:24-27
“For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life my sake will save it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?”
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Homily for the Feast of Saint Stephen, First Martyr
December 26, 2023
Saint Patrick Cathedral
Fort Worth, Texas
Acts 6:8-10, 7:54-59
Psalm 31:3cd-4, 6 and 8ab, 16bc and 17
Matthew 10:17-22
“Yesterday, the Lord was born on earth, that Stephen might be born in Heaven.” This phrase is part of the celebration of the liturgy of the Ambrosian Rite of the Mass. It answers very clearly the question that we might have as to why we seem to jump so far ahead in a jarring way from the sweet image of the Infant in the Manger with Mary and Joseph, and the angels and shepherds, to the jarringly violent murder of Stephen.
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Homily for Midnight Mass
December 25, 2023
Saint Patrick Cathedral
Fort Worth, Texas
Isaiah 9:1-6
Psalm 96: 1-2, 2-3, 11-12, 13
Titus 2:11-14
Luke 2:1-14
We heard in our second reading the words of Saint Paul written to Titus, “The grace of God has appeared, saving all and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age, as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of our great God and savior Jesus Christ.”
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Homily for the Fourth Sunday of Advent
December 24, 2023
Saint Patrick Cathedral
Fort Worth, Texas
2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a-16
Psalm 89:2-3 4-5, 27, 29
Romans 16:25-27
Luke 1:26-38
The background to the first reading today is that King David has conquered his enemies and earned a reputation as a clever and courageous warrior. He was enjoying a rest in his comfortable palace when he suddenly realized that the Ark of the Covenant was housed in a simple tent. He intended to correct that situation and announced his plan to the prophet Nathan not to live more simply but to treat the Ark of the Covenant in the opulent style to which David had become accustomed. The prophet Nathan initially approved his intentions, but after discerning a revelation from God, he withdrew his approval.
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Homily for the Third Sunday of Advent
December 17, 2023
Saint Patrick Cathedral
Fort Worth, Texas
Isaiah 61:1-2A, 10-11
(Resp) Luke 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54
First Thessalonians 5:16-24
John 1:6-8, 19-28
On this Third Sunday of Advent called Gaudete Sunday, the prayers and readings of the Church’s Liturgy invite us to embrace the virtue of Hope, the Holy Spirit’s gift of the Fear of the Lord, and the Fruit of the Holy Spirit known as Joy. The word “Gaudete” is a command to rejoice. The word is taken from today’s reading from Saint Paul’s Epistle in which he commands the Thessalonians to rejoice always. We enter ever more deeply into the mystery of Advent when we remember that Saint Paul wrote these words while he was suffering imprisonment in a dark jail for witnessing to the light of the Truth of Christ. Saint Paul reveals to us that the joy we experience is beyond a sense of happiness confined by the terms of this world. Saint Paul continues to testify to the Eternal Light within the darkness of imprisonment. He testifies freely in both word and example while he is powerless to change his situation.
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Homily for the Second Saturday of Advent
St. John Paul II Shepherds Guild
December 16, 2023
Saint Patrick Cathedral
Fort Worth, Texas
Sirach 48:1-4, 9-11
Psalm 80:2ac and 3b, 15-16, 18-19
Matthew 17:9a, 10-13
“Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.” “O Shepherd of Israel, hearken, From your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth. Rouse your power.” We have just prayed these words from Psalm 80 seeking the Lord’s pastoral guidance and direction for us to pay attention, for us to turn our face towards Him, to see Him and to save us from all that distracts us from Him, the only path to our salvation.
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Homily for the First Sunday of Advent
December 3, 2023
Saint Patrick Cathedral
Fort Worth, Texas
Isaiah 63:16b-17,19b; 64:2-7
Psalm 80
First Corinthians 1:3-9
Mark 13:33-37
The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday with ashes placed on our foreheads with the admonition to each of us to “turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.” The season of Advent begins, not with our initiative in turning away from sin, but rather with our attention directed to watching for God’s turning toward us “to come and to save us.” Advent is about our paying attention to God’s initiative and our being alert to His grace offered to us in seeking to save and to redeem us.
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