Advent

by

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.

by

PUTTING ADVENT BACK INTO CHRISTMAS

Homily – 2nd Sunday of Advent
—-
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.

by

CHRISTMAS IS A NATIONAL RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY

Fr. Bill returns to his podcast to talk about Christmas not only as a secular observance, but one in which even atheists give a nod to the birth of Jesus just by virtue of celebrating Christmas (however they do it).  Christmas is also a national reminder of our “First Freedom” as Americans — which is not the Freedom of Speech (at best, that is the Second Freedom).

by

ANNUNCIATIONS EVERYWHERE! – Mary Was Not the Only Recipient of an Angelic Message

Homily
4th Sunday of Advent – Year A
The Annunciation to Joseph

Fr. Bill preaches on the many annunciations found in the Bible, of which Mary’s, the most celebrated, is only one. He also talks about how annunciations are carried out today.

by

EUCHARISTIC RENEWAL in the SEASON OF ADVENT

Celebrating the Church’s New Year
Homily for the First Sunday of Advent – Year A
——-
Matthew 24:37-44

Advent marks the beginning of the New Year, 2023 for the Catholic Church. Fr. Bill preaches on the Eucharistic Renewal and New Year’s resolutions that can help our celebration of the Eucharist become fuller, more vibrant and more substantial as we await Christ’s Return in Glory.

by

BRINGING IN THE NEW YEAR – Advent 2022

Homily for the First Sunday of Advent (C) of the Liturgical Year, 2022

The First Sunday of Advent brings in the New Year for the Catholic Church. Fr. Bill discusses ways in which Catholics can observe annually this head start the Church has on the rest of the world in bringing in the year from the point of faith.

by

ALL THAT IS GOLD… – The Annunciation and the Lord of the Rings

Homily – 4th Sunday of Advent
The Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary

How does a poem by J.R.R. Tolkien, featured in “The Fellowship of the Ring” (Book 1 of “The Lord of the Rings”) reflect the same sentiment expressed by the Angel Gabriel during the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary?

In his Homily, Fr. Bill discusses an often overlooked detail in the Annunciation to Mary, it’s relation to the Annunciation to Zechariah immediately preceding it, and how Tolkien’s Catholicism was worked into his storytelling of the redemption of Middle Earth.