Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church: Catholic Sunday Homilies

As the people are about to enter the Promised Land, Moses reminds the people of how good and important the law is that God gave them, and that they must keep it to flourish.  But in the Gospel, it seems Jesus is encouraging us to break the law?  It is because laws have a purpose, and Jesus tells us elsewhere the laws to Love God and Love Neighbor are the basis of all law. These readings remind us that the purpose of law is to help us love others better, sacrificing self for the common good.  As we debate our laws in both the church and society, let us keep in mind the purpose of law and not fail to love as we strive to make a just society through law, thus giving other an image of God's love. 

Homila del padre Carlos.

Jesus says "Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. The one who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life". Does not Jesus say in John 3:16 that whoever believes is saved? Must I receive the Eucharist? In John chapter 3 Jesus also says you must be baptized to be saved? Which of the three statements are correct; you must believe, you must be baptized, you must receive the Eucharist? Perhaps it is not which one, but all three.  The Church is an essential part of our salvation, founded by Jesus and the Eucharist is Jesus' continued presence entrusted to the Church. God is everywhere, but the Eucharist, and the Church are... well.. in Church! We not only believe as individuals, but become members of His body, that is the Church. This is the fullness of salvation given and commanded by Christ. 

The book of Revelation is not a prediction of future events, but a seeing of the times and history of the early Church in light of the spiritual reality that underlies all history. The feast of the Assumption of Mary gives the same message. Both messages give Hope to humanity in difficult historical times, reminding those suffering that Christ has already won the victory over evil, sin and death. We can have faith and persevere for Christ will come again to restore all things as God originally intended; a new heaven, earth, our bodies, and all creation will be restored.  The same message is true for us in these difficult times. 

Homilia del padre Carlos.

God answers our prayers and loves to give us good things. But God wants more than that. He Thirsts for us to Know and Love Him, the giver of the gifts. The Good things he gives us are signs that point us to Him.  Let us not get stuck at the sign, but go deeper to what it is pointing to. God invites us to seek Him, know Him, know His Love for us, and respond in Love by serving Him. 

Homilia del Padre Carlos.

If we seek first the Kingdom of God, God will provide for our physical needs. This frees us to be generous to others.  At times we feel we cannot address an issue, or are at the end of our rope and have no more. But God invites us, take what little you have left, offer it to Me, and I will multiply it.  This one act can help us in our personal lives, and with all the world's many problems. 

Homilia del Padre Carlos

Knowing human pastors will always fall short, Jesus becomes our Good Shepherd. True God and True Man. But he leads his flock through the Church He established. The Church is the Body of Christ, and the Eucharist is the main event, it's heartbeat.