March 28, 2020
I don't know why, but I do know how we can respond to all that is happening around us these days. Let us raise our sufferings and join them to the sufferings of Christ. Let us reach out in love to ease the suffering of others. Let us Pray. Deliver us oh Lord we beseech, as we stand in the breach. That is a term from the Prophet Ezekiel in chapter 22, where God asks if there will be anyone to stand in the gap, and intercede for his people. Forgive me but I use the lyrics of my favorite poet and songwriter Jackson Browne. Pray he recovers soon from the coronavirus!
March 22, 2020
Today's Gospel reading on one level talks about our Catechumens who are preparing to be baptized this coming Easter. But also it is about how Faith calls us to look at our world, especially during these times of the Corona Virus Pandemic. How can God allow this? What is God's purpose? I don't claim to know. However we all saw the rainbow over Hermosa Beach last Tuesday. In Genesis 9:16 God says: "When the bow is in the clouds, I shall see it and call to mind the eternal covenant between God and every living creature." God is still with us. And if God is with us, God will also deliver us, and in these times we can draw closer to God and one another. Let us all pray to have the "Eyes of Faith" to see and follow what the Lord is doing in these times.
March 8, 2020
Rather than talk about encounters with God, parishioners share their "mountain top" experiences
March 1, 2020
The image of the Garden of Eden is central not only to the book of Genesis, but the Entire Bible! Jesus is the fruit of the tree of life, and His cross is the tree. The temptation of the Garden, is the same temptation of the Desert. Jesus leads us from the deserts in our lives, back to the garden, if we let him. This homily breaks down the Fall of Humanity in Genesis, and Jesus's work to restore that Garden in our lives so that we may have not only life eternal, but fullness of life now.
February 23, 2020
Abraham Lincoln was once criticized by his advisers for having a meeting during the civil war with the Generals from the South. His advisers objected that he should not talk to our enemies, but we should destroy them. President Lincoln responded, what better way to destroy our enemies than to make them our friends. Jesus councils his disciples to Love our Enemies. Why? Because only that will change them. This homily continues to break down the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew's Gospel.
February 16, 2020
Jesus Raises the Law to a Higher Standard but Gives us the Power to Follow It. The law given by Moses (taught by the Scribes and Pharisees) only deals with external behavior. But the Heart is the source of our sin and wrong actions. Jesus wants to purify our Heart to become like His Heart. He remakes us into what God originally intended, Christ Likeness. Let us use the law not only to guide our behavior, but to allow God to transform our hearts! When we recognize we fall short, know that God is not yet finished with us! We need to open our heart to His Power, His Love, the Holy Spirit.
February 10, 2020
We can either be for Christ, against Christ, or far to many are in between, lukewarm. The Kingdom of God needs Saints and witnesses to Christ! This homily includes a testimony of Jim Caviezel the actor who played Jesus in the Passion of Christ. When we recognize better what Christ has done for us, it is more likely we'll live our faith in the world more fervently. Listen to his testimony, and the miracles that happened during the filming of that film.
February 2, 2020
The other part of Mary's yes to the Angel Gabriel was not only the joy of the birth of a child, but the pain and suffering of his death. In this second Annunciation, we see that Mary received a harsh message today. The prophet Malachi brings a harsh message, sometimes live brings harsh messages. How will we respond, if by drawing closer to Christ, these difficult times can help make us Holy, by purifying us. Our salvation in Christ frees us to live authentically, and fully, not slaves to death, but children of the Resurrection.
January 26, 2020
This is a homily by Fr. Paul on the importance of the Word of God in our Catholic Life, and what it means to be a Disciple of Jesus and a fisher or people. The homily is followed by a presentation of a member of our parish council to unveil our new 3 year pastoral plan and parish vision.
January 19, 2020
John the Baptist, although Jesus's older cousin, says Jesus existed before him, and that he did not know Him. Although John knew Jesus in a human way, or knew of Him, he did not know Him in the Biblical way, that is intimately, until an encounter with Jesus that allowed him to know Jesus was God. We are similar, we know of Jesus before we know Him as Lord, and Encounter Him and come to Know Him. Then we are called to be like John, that is to testify to what Jesus has done for us and point others to Jesus. This homily includes testimonies about when and how members of the congregation came to Know Jesus as Lord.
