Homilies

Homilies Given at Mass and other Celebrations

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…AND GOD MADE MARRIAGE

How God Made Marriage and What it Means for Christians
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Homily – 27th Sunday of the Year (B)
Mark 10:2-12

Fr. Bill preaches on how Marriage is linked to Creation, what it means for us as Human Beings, and how We are Called to more fully embrace it as God Created it.

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CUTTING OFF THE GREAT MILLSTONE – Why Did Jesus Use Such Extreme Rhetoric

Sunday Homily
26th Sunday of the Year – B
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Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

Cut off your hand! Cast into the sea with a great millstone around your neck! Jesus uses extreme language in his teaching. Fr. Bill discusses what it all means, why Jesus uses such language, and how we as Christians can follow such extreme teaching (without resorting to dismemberment).

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HOW TO RESPECT AND RENEW CATHOLIC TRADITION

Homily
22nd Sunday of the Year – B

“Tradition” is a word that is tossed around a lot in Catholic circles. Jesus criticizes the Pharisees clinging to human tradition. Fr. Bill preaches about what Tradition, what it means for the Church, what its origins and aims are and how we can renew and restore meaningful Catholic traditions.

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ST. PATRICK OF IRELAND AND THE CONFIDENCE OF CHRISTIANS

Homily
5th Sunday of Lent / St. Patrick’s Day

John 12:20-33

The Second Half of the Gospel of John presents a Confident Jesus, determined to carry out His Father’s will. St. Patrick evangelized Ireland with the same zeal and surety in his message and mission. Fr. Bill ties the two together, including a prayer from among the earliest tradition of Christian evangelization as the Church begins the final days and weeks of the Season of Lent.

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TEMPTING THE TEMPTER

The Temptations of Jesus in the Desert
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Homily – First Sunday of Lent

Fr. Bill preaches on the Temptation of Jesus and how engaging fully in the practices, observances, penances and sacrifices during Lent actually invite temptation as part of the Spiritual Exercises of the season.

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FAITH, FAMILY & FREEDOM

Homily for HOLY FAMILY SUNDAY
Luke 2:22-40

The stability of any Society depends on the stability of the Family. Fr. Bill preaches on how the Holy Family of Joseph, Mary and Jesus symbolizes God’s entry and sanctification of the basic element of a free and stable society, the basic component of the Church, and ultimately, a basic symbol of God’s gift of Freedom.

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THE RETURN OF DAVID THE KING – JRR Tolkien and the Annunciation

“All that is gold does not glitter….”

Homily – 4th Sunday of Advent – B
Luke 1:26-38

J.R.R. Tolkien’s poem featured in “The Fellowship of the Ring” speaks strongly to the history of Israel, leading up the birth of Jesus and culminating in the Annunciation of Gabriel to the Virgin Mary. Fr. Bill preaches on the history of the Dynasty of King David and what the Angel Gabriel says about it when he announces the impending birth of Jesus.

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The “Other Messiah” – John the Baptist

Homily – 3rd Sunday of Advent

Many believed John the Baptist was the Messiah, until he pointed out Jesus as the one who was to come after him.

Fr. Bill preaches on the mysterious person of John the Baptist, who he may have been, what the Gospels tell of him, and how the Church came to understand his important role in relation to Jesus.

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PUTTING ADVENT BACK INTO CHRISTMAS

Homily – 2nd Sunday of Advent
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Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11

Christians declare “Put Christ Back Into Christmas”.
Fr. Bill preaches on how we can put ADVENT back into Christmas.