March 15, 2024 by frbillnicholas LENTEN RESURRECTION Lent inevitably ends with the 50-day celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus. Fr. Bill talks about how the Resurrection is presented in the Gospels, what patterns they follow, what themes they present, and how we can encounter the Risen Jesus continually as His Followers.
January 30, 2023 by frbillnicholas THE GREATEST SPEECH EVER PROCLAIMED – The Sermon on the Mount Homily — 4th Sunday of the Year (A)Matthew 5:1-12 Fr. Bill preaches on great speeches throughout history, the great speeches in the Scriptures, and how the Sermon on the Mount stands as one of the Greatest Speeches ever given.
February 25, 2022 by frbillnicholas WARS & PESTILENCE – Is the End Near? The Russian invasion of Ukraine comes on the heels of the Covid Pandemic around the World, and of Civil Unrest, inflation and Economic Uncertainty in the US. Some would insist that it is the sign that the End is coming.Fr. Bill discusses the words of Jesus regarding Wars, Pestilence and the End of the World and how Catholics are called to react to events that are being reported from home and throughout the World
November 15, 2020 by frbillnicholas LOSING ETERNAL LIFE – How NOT to Prepare for Christ’s Coming Homily – 33rd Sunday of the Year (A)Matthew 25:14-30Parable of the Servants and the Talents In Matthew’s Gospel Jesus tells three parables regarding the preparation for the Coming of the Lord. Each one reminds us of the potential we all have of losing salvation. Fr. Bill describes the method in the Parable of the Three Servants and how we can use or misuse the “talents” God gives us for the benefit or detriment of Salvation.
August 31, 2020 by frbillnicholas PANDEMIC, ELECTION & LIVING GOD’S STANDARDS AS AMERICANS Homily – 22nd Sunday of the YearJeremiah 20:7-9Matthew 16:21-27 St. Peter is reprimanded by Jesus for judging not as God does, but as human beings do, thereby being a hindrance and a stumbling block to Him. Fr. Bill preaches on how we can be more aware of the way we live, vote, and react to a crisis less by human standards and more by God’s standards.
June 19, 2020 by frbillnicholas About “ORIENTATION” – The 6th Commandment, pt. 3 Video #15 – The Ten Commandments“You Shall Not Commit Adultery” An important issue regarding Human Sexuality is the issue of “Orientation”. Fr. Bill discusses this sensitive topic and how it applies to the 6th Commandment – “You Shall Not Commit Adultery”
May 31, 2020 by frbillnicholas CAPITAL PUNISHMENT: MURDERING THE GUILTY – The 5th Commandment, pt 5 Video #13 – The Ten Commandments“You Shall Not Kill” Capital Punishment involves the killing of another human being usually someone guilty of violating the 5th Commandment. But is Capital Punishment itself a violation of the 5th Commandment? Fr. Bill discusses the Death Penalty and how the 5th Commandment plays into God’s formation of his people from retaliation to either forgiveness, or a strict prescription on what forms of punishment are acceptable, and not acceptable in the eyes of God and the Standards God has given us to live.
April 18, 2019 by frbillnicholas HOLY THURSDAY – The Other Great Commission Lenten Reflection, #37 Jesus gives two Great Commissions. One is called “The Great Commission” and was given before leaving his Disciples after the Resurrection. The other was given at the Last Supper. Fr. Bill discusses how Holy Thursday celebrates the institution of the Holy Eucharist, but also of the Commission Jesus gave to His Disciples, and, by extension, to the entire Church.
April 17, 2019 by frbillnicholas JUDAS ISCARIOT, SCANDALS AND THE CHURCH’S CREDIBILITY Reflection for Wednesday of Holy Week Judas Iscariot is addressed in all four Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. Each one tells the story differently, and in one case the tradition of his fate is a bit different than the traditional story. What does the story of Judas and his betrayal of Jesus tell us about what the early Church had to face in dealing with him and his memory, and how can we, as Church, learn from that experience as we face scandals today?
March 27, 2019 by frbillnicholas THE HIGH STANDARDS OF FAITH Lenten Reflection for Wednesday of the 3rd Week of Lent The Law of Moses and the Gospel of Christ are high standards the people are called to live who share those covenants. To what purpose does God impose those standards and what benefit are they to those who are called to them?