Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church: Catholic Sunday Homilies

Lord Increase My Faith: How does faith Grow? (Lk 17:5-10) (27 OT)

We rarely feel like we have enough faith to do what we are called to do. Each time it feels like a leap.  We are called to cry out Jesus increase my faith, and then leap!! Remembering when God caught us in the past, and hearing the stories of others, helps us take that leap today. 

Who are the Lazaruses in our lives and world, and what can we do? (Lk 16:19-31) (26 OT)

Jesus' parable of the rich man and Lazarus challenge us to see who're we are overlooking in our life, and those who need our help. We can sometimes not see the suffering of others because we justify it, this parable challenges to respond to human suffering, and to see with God's eyes. But it is easy to become overwhelmed by all the human suffering too, so let us help at least one, act locally, and think globally. To God it matters, cause he knows the poor by name. 

How to Convert Worldly Dollars into Heavenly Currency: The Right Use of Money (Lk 16:1-13) (25 OT)

Jesus tells a very strange parable, seemingly condoning a dishonesty in the workplace. But really he is praising the resourcefulness of a person being fired as he scrambles to provide for his future. Jesus is encouraging us to be as resourceful in His business as we often are in our worldly business. Our money says "In God we Trust." It is written by our Treasury department, but I like to think of it as written by the surgeon general, as a warning to use it for the right purpose: God's Kingdom. 

Is the God of the Old Testament the same as the God of the New Testament? (Lk 15: 1-32) (24 OT)

The Gospel today shows us a God who seeks us out, to bring us back to Himself, and His Love. However we often hear that the God of the Old Testament is Angry and seeks to destroy His people. This homily looks at both the Old Testament Reading where God seeks to destroy His people after the worship the Golden Calf, and at today's Gospel showing how radical and far reaching God's Love is,  and shows it is the same God; who is forever unchanging and Merciful. 

The Cost of Discipleship is Everything, but we receive so much more in return. (Lk 14:25-33) (23 OT)

The cost of being a disciple of Jesus is everything! It costs all we have, all we are. It is a Love relationship, which by definition means we give all to the other, yet together the two become better than either one. Jesus gave Himself totally to us, and invites us to give ourselves totally to Him.  Take a Leap of Love!

I am Humble, and Proud of it! (Lk 14:1, 7-14) (22 OT)

You may have heard the old joke about being humble and proud of it? The world does not understand humility and sees it as weakness. But even by the world's standards, this homily will argue that humility is true greatness, recognizing that through us, God will do Great things! Finally, this homily will give some suggestions on how to grow in humility, and holiness. 

Will Only a Few Be Saved? (Lk 13:22-30) (21 OT)

Someone in the crowd asks Jesus "Will only a few be saved?" Jesus does not answer the question, therefore he is not saying that only a few will be saved. He of course wants all to be saved. However he does say that the gate is narrow, and many will try to enter and not. Why is that? What is his point? Well there is good news, because although the gate is narrow, God's heart is wide, and there is room for all if we surrender to his Mercy, forgiveness, and lay down our life in love for him and others. 

How Much Faith Do You Have? (Lk 12:32-48) (19 OT)

Faith is invisible, but it's effect can be seen in our lives. When we live by faith, our lives look different than when we live only according to the world. Today's Gospel gives us a little test: Where your treasure is, there your heart will be.  This little tool can help us examine if we are living by faith, or merely claiming to. Our faith shapes our private/personal lives, and our public life. These readings challenge us who claim to have faith, to live bold lives, sharing in the ministry of Jesus, the bringing about God's Kingdom. 

Martha and Mary; It's a Choice. Busyness does not need to be our Master. (Lk 10:38-42) (15 OT)

Are you more like Martha or Mary? Which are we called to be? It is not either/or, but both/and. We are called to do for God's Kingdom, but not in slavery to obligation or what we think is good for God, but out of willingness to let go, and trust God. After all; if he created the world, and redeemed it, perhaps he can do the dishes (and cook the food, or put the food on our tables) too! We can recognize the burden, stress, anxiety, resentfulness, blaming others, as signs calling us to turn to Jesus, sit at his feet, and let go of all the tasks we're juggling. This will help us do, only the necessary, and to do it with His help. 

Jesus Calls us to Love even when our mind can find many reasons not to. (Lk 10:25-37) (15 OT)

A doctor of the law summarizes it in two commands; Love God and Love your Neighbor. But we can find many reasons why the one we don't love is not our neighbor. But Jesus takes away those reasons; for all humans are children of God, and if we too wish to be, we are brothers and sisters to one another. God calls us to join in suffering, compassion - to suffer with. God does not wish our suffering, it is a consequence of sin. However God uses our suffering to unite us to each other, and to himself.