Life on the Chrism Trail

Month: January 2025

Homily for the Second Sunday of Ordinary Time

Homily for the Second Sunday of Ordinary Time

Mass for the Preservation of Peace and Justice, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration

January 18, 2025
Saint Joseph Catholic Church
Arlington, Texas

Isaiah 62:1-5
Psalm 96:1-2, 2-3, 7-8, 9-10
I Corinthians 12:4-11
John 2:1-11

The wedding at Cana in Galilee probably involved a friend or relative of Mary and Jesus since they were invited. Either the details of this event were not well planned, or perhaps there were unexpected guests. In any event, it doesn’t surprise us to find out that Mary was the kind of person who paid attention to details, who thought of others with compassion, and who wanted to prevent embarrassing situations, especially the type of embarrassment of not having enough wine at a wedding that culturally would have harmed this couple, their children, and their children’s children for generations.

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Homily for the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

Homily for the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

January 12, 2025
Saint Patrick Cathedral
Fort Worth, Texas

Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11
Psalm 104:1b-2, 3-4, 24-25, 27-28, 29-30
Titus 2:11-14, 3:4-7
Luke 3:15-16, 21-22

As Catholics we believe that the Sacrament of Baptism washes away all sin including the stain of original sin inherited from our first parents in the Garden of Eden. If Jesus was God, why was He baptized? This has always been a perplexing question frequently asked in catechism class. If John’s baptism was one of repentance, this seems to imply falsely that Jesus was a sinner. In fact, John the Baptist tries to prevent Jesus’ being baptized, but Jesus insists. Instead, the Baptism of Jesus is an essential part of His work of the Redemption of each human person. Jesus enters into solidarity with all men and women; He becomes one with each of us to share all the aspects of our lives. He even takes upon Himself the condition of our sinfulness, even though He Himself never sinned.

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