Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church: Catholic Sunday Homilies

The Other Side of the Cross (Jn 12:20-33)

Saint John’s Gospel presents Jesus on the cross as the image to meditate upon to grow in deeper understanding, and appreciation of our salvation in Christ Jesus. There is also another side of the cross, with no body, for Jesus is risen and has shared through the sacraments in his church the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit wants to give us the fruits outlined in Galatians 5:22 and many more gifts, but we must empty ourselves to make room for these gifts. 

God Would Not Condemn a Good Person to Hell for Not Practicing the Faith? (Jn 3:14-21)

Matthew Kelly has a book entitled “The Biggest Lie in the History of Christianity. I believe today’s Gospel passage “For God, so loved the world that he gave his only son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish, but might have eternal life”, is wrongly interpreted to be the biggest lie in Christianity.  Belief in God, with the common understanding of belief, does not save a person. Even the devil believes in God, salvation is more than believe in a concept that Jesus is God, it requires living as he invites us to live. 

Only God Can Fulfill Our Desire for a Soulmate (Jn 4:5-42)

Jesus’s meets a woman at Jacobs well and offers to give her “Living Water”. Jesus offers all who thirst living water. God’s love is  poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. This is the living water that God offers us too. We thirst for it, and Jesus thirsts for our love.

God Planned the Sacrifice of the Mass From the Time of Abraham (Mk 9:2-10)

Today’s first reading (Genesis 22:1-18) where God asks Abraham to sacrifice his only son Isaac is easily misinterpreted. God does not require human sacrifice, instead he is setting the pattern of the true sacrifice of his only beloved son, Jesus Christ, so that we may live and have eternal life.  

God Can Speak to Us through Signs: And We Can Speak Back! (Mk 1:12-15)

The first reading today from Genesis tells us that the sign of a rainbow has a message attached to it. It seems God likes to do that for us: to attach a message to an image we see especially from nature. Learning how to recognize these messages from God, and responding to them by pondering all God has done for us, and returning our love to him each time we see the signs, is a way of praying and growing in our relationship with God. 

We Are the Leper Jesus Touches, and We to Are Called to Touch the Lepers of Today (Mk 1:40-45)

The miracle of Jesus touching a leper really happen, but it also signifies what Jesus does for all of us. He did not have to, but he touched us in our humanity with His Divinity. This is how he saves us, forgives our sins, makes us clean, and reconciles us to himself in one another. Having been touched by Jesus we are called to go out and touch others by helping them, showing them God’s love, including them, and if appropriate sharing gods words with them. 

The Right Order in Our Lives Brings Out Our Best (Mk 1:14-20)

This short Gospel passage teaches us what are the right priorities in life. Putting God first does not mean that other good things suffer. Putting God first makes all things in our life better. 

God Wants You to Be a Rock Star! (Jn 1:35-42)

Jesus asked the question today in the gospel, ”What are you looking for?” It’s a fundamental human question that we cannot answer on our own but God will lead us to the answer if we follow him. Like Cephas went to Jesus, and he changed his name to Peter and built his church upon that rock, God wants to continue building the church through you. You are a rock. A stone in his church, on which he wants to continue to build. He wants you to be a rockstar! 

The Light That Guides Our Journey (Mt 2:1-12)

The feast of the Epiphany shows how God had been working in other nations, and still works today to save all people. God has revealed his truth like a light and darkness. We must decide to follow it, and it will lead to Christ. Then we can be a light to others on the journey. 

God Cares as Much About Your Family as The Holy Family (Lk 2:22-40)

It’s easily to believe that God guided Mary and Joseph, in raising Jesus, because he was the Messiah. But God loves every child, and every child is a miracle, and all families are holy. God cares as much about your family as he does all families.  Trust in him. He’s faithful to his promises.  He will help you. Make room for him in your family. Make him the center of your family. Happy New Year.