Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church: Catholic Sunday Homilies

Don't Look to the Sky for Miracles, but all around us. (LK 21:25-28, 34-36) (1 AD)

The readings describe great miracles in the sky, a time when God shows to all His power.  If God did that today, would humanity recognize that God is real and change how we live? But if we change, we will see God present already in the many ways He enters our lives. Advent is a time to slow down, and allow our eyes to adjust to see God's light, His presence, in the midst of our darkness.  This homily contains a portion of a book by Immaculee Ilibagiza called "Our Lady of Kibeho". 

This Feast of Christ the King IS POLITICAL! (Jn 18:33-37) (34 OT)

Today's Feast, Christ the King of the Universe, is meant to make a political statement. It was established in 1925 by Pope Leo, to speak to rising Nationalism, which gave rise to WWI and was threatening to lead again to war. It was established to remind all Christians, that even though we live in nations, our highest allegiance is not to any one nation, but to Christ the King of All Nations, and God of All People. We must weigh our nation's politics in the light of the Gospel, the highest standard. This message is still needed to be proclaimed today!

We are in Difficult Times. God can use suffering to bring about good. (MK 13:24-32) (33 OT)

Jesus is the Lord, Savior, and the Messiah prophecized in the Old Testament. Today's Gospel passage calls to mind the prophecy of the Kingdom of God, and the Messiah who is a divine figure coming from heaven on the clouds "like a Son of Man." Today Jesus claims to be the fulfillment of that prophecy, and also predicts the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple. Today's prophecy also foreshadows the end of the world. How does this help us today? It reveals that God has a plan, and no matter how difficult things may seem to be, God will triumph in the end, and we too, through faith with Him.  Suffering is not caused by God, but it is used by God to strengthen our faith.  Today's times can strengthen our faith, and that Faith can lighten our burdens and free us to love others and hence bring about a rebirth after difficult times. 

Be a Giver, Not a Taker, and Do Great Things for God! (MK 12:41-44) (32 OT)

If we put God and others first, having Faith that God will provide for us and others, our Faith and Generosity, will help others and ourselves. We will find our vocation, and do Great Things for God. The story of the Widow's Mite, brings to mind the true story of Danny Thomas and the founding of St. Jude's Hospital.  

Homily by Fr. Carlos (Mk 12:38-44) in English 32 Sunday Ordinary Time

What does it LOOK LIKE to Love God with Heart, Mind, Strength and Soul? (MK 12:28-34) (31 OT)

Jesus says we should Love God "With all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength." What does this really look like? This homily contains some practical suggestions, or check, to see if you love God with your, mind, heart, strength, and soul. To love God is a miracle. It is a response to His love for us. But we can do things to invite this miracle into our lives. 

Blind Bartimaeus was Not So Blind After All! He can teach us how to pray. (Mk 10:46-52) (30 OT)

How come so many of us see the world, and others, differently?  I wonder how God sees the world and others? Jesus saw something in Bartimaeus that others did not see... and Bartimaeus saw something in Jesus that no one else saw! This passage is one of the best to teach us how to pray, so that we may see the world and others as Jesus sees. 

The Son of Man Came to Serve... Shouldn't We? (Mk 10:35-45) (29 OT)

What does it really mean to say Jesus died for our sins? How does Jesus save us? Does God really demand suffering to forgive our sins? Why is there so much suffering if God is Loving? This homily shows a Catholic view of redemption, as reconcilliation. In Christ God breaks down the emnity between us and Him, in Christ, who in His one body, joins Himself to us, and us to Him.  If he did this for us, than we make him present when we enter into the suffering of others, and we serve the Christ suffering in others when we serve our Brothers and Sisters. 

Everyone is Called to Marriage - Our First Marriage to Christ (Mk 10:2-16) (27 OT)

God has designed marriage as our primary means to sanctification. Created in the Image and Likeness of God, who is Love, we express that image in which we are created in the lifelong, faithful, covenant of married life, that is open to new life. Not everyone is called to marriage here on earth. Some marry, some remain single, and some become preists, religious sisters and brothers. However, all are first called to Marriage with Jesus our bridegroom. That love relationship is also open to new life, begetting new children of God, that is disciples of Jesus, and being so filled with God's love that it overflows from God, through us, to others. 

Theology of Fall and Redemption, Heaven, Hell and Purgatory all in 20 minutes! (Mk 9:38-48) (26 OT)

This Gospel passages mentions the devil, sin and the power of Jesus. It emphesizes the need to avoid sin, and the damage it does to us and others. It talks about the need to be charitable to others and build up the human community. And it talks about receiving our reward.  It covers a lot, and so does this homily which is a short summary of The fall of the angels and humans, redemption in Christ, what is sin and how to fight it, what we're called to do in addition to simply avoiding sin, and our eternal reward. If that is not enough, it draws out the lesson of what all this theology matters for us today.