Homily for the Easter Vigil
April 19, 2025
St. Patrick Cathedral
Fort Worth, Texas
Genesis 1:1-2:2
Psalm 33:4-5, 6-7, 12-13, 20 and 22
Exodus 14:15-15:1
Resp. Psalm-Exodus 15:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 17-18
Isaiah 55:1-11
Resp. Psalm-Isaiah 12:2-3, 4, 5-6
Romans 6:3-11
Alleluia with Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23
Luke 24:1-12
Since death entered the world through the disobedience of our first parents in the Garden of Eden, human beings have always struggled against death — seeking ways to prolong indefinitely duration of life if not completely cure death. An ancient Jewish legend tells the story that, in his final illness, Adam sent his son Seth together with Eve into the region that was formerly paradise to bring back the oil of mercy from the tree of life, so that he could be anointed with it and be healed. The myth continues that Seth and Eve went in search of the tree of life, and after an unsuccessful quest on their part, the Archangel Michael appeared to them and told them they would not obtain the oil of the tree of mercy and that Adam would have to die.
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Homily for Good Friday, Celebration of the Passion of the Lord
April 18, 2025
St. Patrick Cathedral
Fort Worth, Texas
Isaiah 52:13-53:12
Psalm 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25
Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9
John 18:1-19:42
Throughout the Gospel we see the Apostle Peter reluctant and resistant to accept the Cross of Jesus. When he makes his confession of faith in Jesus as the Christ and Son of God and is entrusted with the keys of heaven, he is immediately and sharply rebuked by Jesus for rejecting Jesus’ key revelation that He is to be rejected, suffer, and die.
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Homily for Holy Thursday, Mass of the Lord’s Supper
April 17, 2025
St. Patrick Cathedral
Fort Worth, Texas
Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14
Psalm 116:12-13, 15-18
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
John 13:1-15
One of the traps that frequently ensnare us as practicing Catholics is a misunderstanding that the focus of our religious life is to become a good person. The problem is that we begin to assess ourselves by comparison with other people instead of examining our conscience in light of the Commandments and in conversation with Christ. We soon accept the self-assessment that we are good enough because we have not committed the gravely evil actions we see in others portrayed in the sensationalism of contemporary media. We adapt a stance of false humility and soon become tepid in our love for Christ. He soon becomes a casual acquaintance.
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Homily for the Chrism Mass
April 15, 2025
St. Patrick Cathedral
Fort Worth, Texas
Isaiah 61:1-3, 6a,8-9
Psalm 89:21-22, 25, 27
Revelation 1:5-8
Luke 4:16-21
Bishop’s homily in English begins at paragraph 3.
Cuando los católicos fieles buscan ser ungidos en el sacramento de los enfermos, también están buscando al Ungido, el Cristo. Como sacerdotes y obispo, somos ungidos por la Unción de Jesucristo por el Espíritu Santo. Nuestra presencia a los fieles es sacramental siempre y nuestras obras de misericordia son acciones de Cristo el Buen Pastor. Su presencia como el Buen Pastor es entre nuestro ser verdadero, imbuye nuestras almas, y cuando pecamos contra el Dios y nuestro prójimo, hacemos escándalo.
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Homily for Palm Sunday
April 13, 2025
St. Patrick Cathedral
Fort Worth, Texas
Isaiah 50:4-7
Psalm 22
Philippians 2:6-11
Luke 22:14-23:56
Among the many lessons I learned from the dedicated ministry and vocation of the Franciscan sisters who taught me in grade school was how to prepare each night for death by making an act of perfect contrition. The sisters were clear that preparation for death was not just preparation for an event but was truly preparation to meet Jesus who loved each of us unconditionally as our friend by giving us the gift of life eternal through His death freely offered on the Cross. The sisters wisely instructed us that an “act of contrition is not a magic formula, it is an honest conversation with a friend — Jesus.” She added, “simply speak the name of Jesus in love to Him, with sadness for your sins, confidently say ‘My Jesus, have mercy.’” I have found that these four simple words are helpful for meditating on God’s love and mercy.
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Homily for the Fifth Sunday of Lent
April 6, 2025
University Catholic Center of University of Texas at Arlington
Arlington, Texas
Isaiah 43:16-21
Psalm 126:1-2,2-3, 4-5, 6
Philippians 3:8-14
John 8:1-11
Pope Francis in bringing to conclusion the extraordinary Jubilee year of Mercy in 2016 entitled his apostolic letter with that very phrase — Miseria et Misericordia — thus highlighting the interpretation that Saint Augustine gave to this seminal passage of the Scriptures. The Holy Father wrote: “It would be difficult to imagine a more beautiful or apt way of expressing the mystery of God’s love when it touches the sinner: ‘the two of them alone remained: mercy with misery.’ What great mercy and divine justice shine forth in this narrative!”
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2025 Mass of Reparation for Victims and Survivors of Abuse
Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent
April 5, 2025
St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church
Flower Mound, Texas
Jeremiah 11:18-20
Psalm 7:2-3, 9b-12
John 7:40-53
The first reading from Jeremiah speaks of corrupt religious and government leaders who hate the truth and collude in plots to destroy and kill the young Jeremiah who is upsetting the status quo by his speaking the truth in fidelity to God’s command. Jeremiah calls all to conversion from their dishonest ways. The plight of Jeremiah foreshadows the coming of Jesus as the Christ who will suffer rejection and death from His own people and the hands of their leadership.
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Life on the Chrism Trail 