Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church: Catholic Sunday Homilies

Homilia del XXIII Domingo Tiempo Ordinario (Mt 18:15-20)

Homilia del padre Carlos.

What is the Prophetic Word for Today's World? (Mt 16:21-27)(22 OT)

Peter is chastised by Jesus, while just last week Jesus praised Peter. God does both to those He loves. He loves us where we are, but loves us too much to leave us where we are!  He wants to help  us see our lives and the world more like He does. The first reading is from the Prophet Jeremiah. What is the Prophetic word for today's troubled times? The way of Jesus that Peter does not understand, is the way of the Cross.  Suffering, if we draw closer to Christ, can lead to New Life, and Resurrection. God has throughout history at times chastised His people, allowing suffering to bring them back to Himself. Perhaps that is what God is doing. If so, how can we respond?

Homilia XXII Domingo Tiempo Ordinario (Mt 16:21-27)

Homilia del Padre Carlos

Jesus asks the Question that for us is the Rock to Build a Life. (Mt 16:13-20) (21 OT)

Jesus asks Peter and the disciples; "Who do you say I am?" Than Jesus says you are Rock on which I will build my church.  This also is the fundamental question we must answer to wisely answer "What will I do with my life".  But this passage goes further. We see Jesus intended to build a "called community" the Church, he established it on the foundation of the Apostles, and gave it Authority. We sometimes think of the Church as optional, as long as we "Believe in Jesus".  But if we believe in Jesus we also follow His will, which is to establish and build His Church. That too is our vocation, our call, each in our own way. 

Homilia Domingo XXI Tiempo Ordinario (Mt 16:13-20)

Homila del padre Carlos

PUSH: Pray Until Something Happens (Mt 15:21-28) (20 OT)

A pagan woman who was not supposed to approach Jesus, has the faith and love of her daughter to do so anyway, despite what seems like a rebuff from Jesus. Her great faith in the midst of opposition, and even when at first not being heard by God, is an example for all of us of the power of persistence in prayer, believing that God will hear, and do - if not what we ask - but SOMETHING! And in that process we will experience the power of God increasing our Faith, Hope and Love. 

Homilia XX Domingo tiempo ordinario (Mt 15:21-28)

Homilia del padre Carlos.

We are Called to Walk on Water! (Mt 14:22-33) (19 OT)

Jesus shows himself to be God by walking on the water in the midst of the storm. But in the walking of Peter on the water towards him, we see that we too are called to do the impossible by Jesus's direction.  Are there many storms in your life? Do you think there are many storms in our world today? Are we to remain in the boat paralyzed by fear, or despite that fear have the faith to step out.  We only need to take one step at a time, focus on the power of Jesus, not the immensity of the storms. If we do that, God will give us the strength to walk. As we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus walking in the midst of the storm, this will call others to do the same and perhaps to calm the storms. 

Homilia XIX Domingo Tiempo Ordinario (Mt 14:22-33)

Homilia del padre Carlos

Are You Hunting for Spiritual Food? (Mt 14:13-21) (18 OT)

Just as we hunt, or search for material food, we must also do for our Spiritual Food. We are en-fleshed spirits, we starve and die without our spiritual nourishment. All the material things of this world participate in the greater spiritual reality, and only that reality can satisfy us. We may be searching for fulfillment, peace, joy, meaning, purpose, contentedness, love in material ways, but that will never satisfy us. Only God can.  This homily contains some ways to have a deeper spiritual life.