Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church: Catholic Sunday Homilies

The Way of Jesus is the Cross: Let’s Not Make Politics Our Religion (Mk 8:27-35)

Today’s times in many ways are no different than the times of Jesus when he was tempted to use worldly powers, leaders, politics, and armies to bring about the kingdom of God. But these are just ways to avoid the cross, the longer and more difficult way of humility, sacrificing and Love. This is the way that Jesus chose to promote the kingdom, and he asks us to pick up our cross and follow him. 

Traditions and Hypocrisy! Our Hearts Are Still a Work in Progress (Mk 7:1-8,14-15,21-23)

Christians are often criticized for hypocrisy, and Catholic Christians are often criticized for their human traditions. But law and traditions have an important role to help us shape our heart and to help guide us when are hearts are still a work in progress.  But only Jesus who joined us in our humanity, so that we may join him in his divinity, purifies our hearts through the Holy Spirit, His presence in us. His transformation of our hearts is a lifelong task,  nourished by the  Sacred Tradition He has given us in the Eucharist. 

Conclusion of Bread of Life (Jn 6:60-69)

Faith in the Eucharist is ultimately a gift from God that we can ask for. God reveals himself to us.  The Eucharist unites us and gives us strength to serve one another. Today we hear from a lay missionary, who has dedicated her life to serving Christ’s body.  

Deepening Our Faith in the Eucharist (Jn 6:51-58)

For me, with an engineering background, it’s been a long struggle to appreciate the Eucharist and the great gift it is. I used to think it was such an arbitrary idea. Why would God be present in a piece of bread? But now I realize it makes tremendous sense, historically, scripturally, and theologically. But still it requires faith to believe, and perhaps that’s the greatest beauty of it! We will never be able to fully understand God and all he has done to save us, and to be with us, but let us come in faith and humility and receive and be transformed from within. 

Jesus is Our Shepherd and He Founded His Church to Lead Us To Him. (Mk 6:30-34)

Jesus Christ is the True shepherd, the One mediator between God and humanity. But to be a complete follower of Christ means also to be an active member of His church, which he established to lead others to Christ, and He promised to be with it until the end of time. Rather than an obstacle, it is meant to be, and with Christ present in it offering His grace, is a means to a deeper relationship with Jesus.  

No Excuses: God Qualifies the Called (Mk 6:7-13)

Like Amos the prophet, we don’t feel we are qualified to serve God, but God calls us all, despite how we feel, because he will give us his power and authority. We are all called to be priest, prophet and king; to share in the ministry of Christ. He died, not only to bring us eternal life, but to transform this world, and he calls us to work with him for the coming of that kingdom.  This homily gives some concrete ways to discern our call, and to preach to others the Gospel.

How to Unleash God’s Power in Our Lives (Mk 6:1-6a)

God is all powerful nothing can stop him, except our lack of faith! We all lack the kind of faith that allows God’s power fully into our lives, but little by little, we can strengthen our faith by asking God to increase it and by exercising that which we have. Faith is like a muscle it grows as we use it. 

We Choose: Slow Death or Eternal Life. (Mk 5:21-43)

Wisdom is to know that life is limited, and before our death each of us has the opportunity to reach out to Jesus to be healed of our terminal illness that is mortality. Eternal life doesn’t begin after death, it begins in this life allowing us to live life to the fullest.

Jesus Can Calm the Storm Or Give Us Calm in the Storm (Mk 4:35-41)

Jesus is God, and can overcome any obstacle and calm the storms of our world and of our lives. But sometimes when we cry out to him, it seems as if he is sleeping or he doesn’t care. But he does care, and he does answer, sometimes not by calming the storm but giving calm during the storm. 

Bring About the Kingdom of God One Heart at a Time (Mk 4:26-34)

Jesus did indeed come to transform the world, but not from the top down, rather from the bottom up, one heart at a time. If we want to make the world a better place, let’s start with our own heart. God wants to make us holy. Holiness is his work, but like the farmer we must cooperate with it and help that growth, by protecting the seed he planted, watering it and fertilizing it with our prayer, especially with scripture, reception of the sacraments, study and service. PS-SSS.