Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church: Catholic Sunday Homilies

Is Christianity for this Life or the Next? (Lk 6:17,20-26)

I have always found an unattractive expression of Christianity is to be good in this life to go to heaven in the next. Christianity's power is it helps now bring strength purpose meaning and many other blessings into our life. However, it is true that the promise of life to come also is a tremendous blessing. We are called to live as agents of transformation in this world never fully succeeding but longing for the completion to come after we die. 

Take The Next Step Towards Your Big Catch (Lk 5:1-11)

This passage shows three different ways we can relate to Jesus; He's distant we know of Him but we're not listening to Him, He's in our life and helps us but we're still in control, or we've turned control of our lives over to Him. To allow God to work the biggest miracles in our lives requires that we allow Jesus to be the captain of our ship. 

Jesus Our Redeemer (Lk 2:22-40)

Jesus our Redeemer, our Savior redeemed us from sin, death and the evil one. He takes away the power of death he forgives us of our sins which disarms the devil's capacity to enslave us, and joins us to Himself in God's family making of us an  offering to God. On this feast of the presentation of Jesus we learn that he presents us to God just as Mary presented Him. 

Ignorance of Scripture is Ignorance of Christ; and That is not Good! (Lk 1:1-4, 4:14-21)

If ignorance of scripture is ignorance of Christ, as Saint Jerome says, then that is pretty serious! Because ignorance of Christ, unless it's no fault of our own, means we are not saved. 

God Did Not Give Up On Us! (Jn 2:1-11)

Atheism says there cannot be a God who is all powerful and loving if there is suffering in the world. But Christianity's  answer to suffering is different. God hasn't given up on us. 

Do you want to be anointed with the Holy Spirit and power? (Lk 3:15-22)

Jesus did not need to be baptized since he was God, but the Holy Spirit gave him the mission, because God always works as one; Father,  Son and Holy Spirit. We too, with the same Spirit, can share in the same mission with the Power of the Holy Spirit! 

Those Who Seek Find (Mt 2:1-12)

Jesus promises that anyone who seeks Him will find him, the question is will we seek? There are many reasons why we may not, but if we do we find the meaning, purpose and direction of our lives and the strength to live them. 

A Holy Family searches to find Jesus (Lk 2:41-52)

Is it a bit strange that on the feast of the holy family we hear about how Mary and  Joseph lost Jesus!? Maybe the message is that a Holy Family is not necessarily a perfect family but one who searches for, and finds, Jesus. Let's make a plan for our families to search and to  find a deeper relationship with Jesus and in that grow closer together. Happy new year. 

Unopened Gifts: A Christmas Homily

Sometimes we don't open all our Christmas gifts. We have been given the greatest gift of all; let's unwrap it. 

Fill Us With Awe and Wonder this Christmas (Lk 1:39-45)

The child in the womb of Elizabeth lept for joy when the Lord came to him, and Elizabeth exclaimed who am I that the Lord should come to me? Let's pray that we will be so filled with awe and wonder at the miracle of God's incarnation that we too leap for joy! It's incredible to think that God would come to his creatures in this way! Who are we to deserve such a great blessing? Yet God loves us so much that's exactly what he has done!