Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church: Catholic Sunday Homilies

Turning the Desert into a Garden (Mk 1:12-15) (1 LT)

Why does the Spirit drive Jesus into the Desert? To meet us where we are. We are in the desert because through temptations and the fall, we left the Garden of Eden, to find ourselves in the desert fighting the effects of temptation, sin which brings suffering and death. Jesus enters our humanity to bring us back to the promised land the Garden, and through us, our work as gardeners, to make the desert bloom and bring us back to the Garden.  But know that this life is a struggle, but God promised to always be with us, like the rainbow in the storm, so that we may grow closer to Him and through our suffering, storms, be made holy. 

Jesus Wishes to Cure Our Leprosy (Mk 1:40-45) (6 OT)

A leper approaches Jesus and says "If you wish you can cure me.."  In one way this is a healing. But it is also showing us what Jesus wishes to heal all of us from; our spiritual disease that is much like leprosy, our sinfulness. Jesus wishes to make us clean. We can approach Jesus as the leper had the courage to do; to experience the touch of God, the power of His infinite Love, and hear the words "I do wish it, be made clean". 

The Answer to Life's Big Questions (Mk 1:29-39) (5 OT)

Job points out that life is short and filled with suffering.  (We hear similar musings from Ecclesiastes). Is there more to life than what we see? Is there a purpose in life? Is there life after death? Why is there so much suffering? If God exists, it does answer some of these big questions. That there is a God, gives a better answer to these questions than if there were no God.  But the atheists requires proof that God exists. It turns out that the better answer is also the one for which there is the most evidence; that God exists. 

The One Mediator Between God and Humanity (Mk 1:21-28) (4 OT)

Jesus is the Great Prophet (but more) that Moses prophecied. Jesus speaks authoritatively for God, as he is God become Human. However, unlike the days of Moses, when people could not be in the presence of God and live, we can be in the presence of Jesus and transformed into His likeness so we can stand in the presence of God and live forever!

Discipleship is a Journey to the Kingdom of God (Mk 1:14-20) (3 OT)

Jesus calls his disciples from sin and all worldly attachments; to trust in Him and follow where He leads. Where does it lead? To the Kingdom of God, which is doing God's will. We grow personally in our holiness and our following of God's will. The Kingdom grows in us. But we also live that holiness in the world; in our personal lives and with the church to become fishers of people, and help bring about His kingdom on earth, as it is in heaven. 

Speak Lord Your Servant is Listening: A Bold Prayer (Jn 1:35-42) (2 OT)

To say "Speak Lord Your Servant is Listening" is a bold prayer. What if the Lord says something I do not what to hear???  As we grow in the faith, we often find following God's will as an obligation and burden. But the Lord wants to draw us to Himself in Love. He leaves us free and does not demand that we do this or that; rather He invites us to spend time with Him, the only thing that can satisfy what we are truly longing for. Spend time with Him everyday, especially in scripture, prayer, and sacrament. 

Why Was Jesus Baptized? (Mk 1:7-11)

Jesus is baptized not so that the waters of Baptism make Him holy, but so that He make the waters of Baptism holy for us to be baptized and share in His life, death and resurrection. Our salvation is sacramental, that is a divine reality present in our physical world. Jesus is the first sacrament, Divinity present in our humanity. The sacrament of Salvation that is Jesus is shared with us through the sacraments Jesus instituted; Baptism and Eucharist. By our Baptism we hear the Father say to us "This is my beloved son/daughter with whom I am well pleased." We are made God's children through adoption, and we are joined; physically and spiritually to Christ and filled with the Holy Spirit. This gives us power and strength to embark on our Public Ministry all the days of our lives. 

What the Wise Men Found, We Can Too (Mt 2:1-12) (2 CT)

The wise men used both natural and supernatural means to find God. They pursued science and theology to find the Truth. The pursuit of truth uses all means, natural and supernatural, science and theology, there is no conflict between science and theology. We too must make a similar journey to recognize Jesus as God, to offer him our gifts, and allow that encounter to change the direction of our lives. We do this with our life journey, but also each week as we encounter the True God present in the Eucharist. This weekly journey, guides our life journey.

Families are Holy (Lk 2:22-40) (2 CT)

A birth is a miracle. The Birth of God in Jesus a greater Miracle. God makes Holy all creation by joining Himself to it. But God was also born into a family, making it Holy too. As difficult as being a parent is, we can trust that our children are God's Children too. God will guide and protect our families, and help each member fulfill their mission. We can trust in that, and ask for the intercession of the Holy Family; Mary, Joseph and Jesus. 

Say Yes to God even without Understanding (Lk 1:26-38) (4 AD)

Despite personal danger and plans, Mary says Yes to God, even without understanding.  Can we show similar faith? Can we say Yes to God to be part of Salvation History, bearing Christ to the world, no matter the cost and even if it means changing our plans for our lives? Can we Trust in God.  Our yes begins the journey. This Christmas, a renewed Yes to God is the best gift we can give.