Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church: Catholic Sunday Homilies

Domingo V de la Cuaresma (Jn 11:1-45)

Homilia del padre Carlos.

What Do Eyes of Faith See in these Times of Corona Virus? (Jn 9:1-41) (4 LT)

Today's Gospel reading on one level talks about our Catechumens who are preparing to be baptized this coming Easter. But also it is about how Faith calls us to look at our world, especially during these times of the Corona Virus Pandemic. How can God allow this? What is God's purpose? I don't claim to know. However we all saw the rainbow over Hermosa Beach last Tuesday. In Genesis 9:16 God says: "When the bow is in the clouds, I shall see it and call to mind the eternal covenant between God and every living creature." God is still with us. And if God is with us, God will also deliver us, and in these times we can draw closer to God and one another. Let us all pray to have the "Eyes of Faith" to see and follow what the Lord is doing in these times. 

Domingo IV Cuaresma (Jn 9:1-41)

Homilia del padre Carlos. 

Christ Thirsts for Us, and puts into us a Thirst for Him (Jn 4:5-15,19b-26,39a,40-42) (3 LT)

Let's use this time during the corona virus to pray, grow closer to God and each other. God so wants to be with us, that He came from Heaven in Jesus. The woman at the well, who was not worthy that Christ should talk to and wish to have a relationship with, represents all of us. But unworthy as we are, God wants to join Himself to us, in relationship, and truely in Sacrament; Spirit and Truth, where God who is Spirit, is Completely Present in Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity, to dwell in us through the New and Everlasting Worship Established by Christ in the Eucharist. Once we encounter Him, we too are invited to be like the woman and tell others, who come to drink and eat also. 

Homilia III Domingo Cuaresma

Homilia del Padre Carlos. 

Let's Have a Mountaintop Experience (And Not Just Talk About It) ) (Mt 17:1-9) (2 LT)

Rather than talk about encounters with God, parishioners share their "mountain top" experiences

Segundo Domingo de Cuaresma (Mt 17:1-9)

Homilia del Padre Carlos. 

Eat of the Fruit of the Tree of Life; the Body of Christ (Mt 4:1-11) (1 Lt)

The image of the Garden of Eden is central not only to the book of Genesis, but the Entire Bible! Jesus is the fruit of the tree of life, and His cross is the tree. The temptation of the Garden, is the same temptation of the Desert. Jesus leads us from the deserts in our lives, back to the garden, if we let him. This homily breaks down the Fall of Humanity in Genesis, and Jesus's work to restore that Garden in our lives so that we may have not only life eternal, but fullness of life now. 

Homilia Primer Domingo de Cuaresma (Mt 4:1-11) (1 LT)

Homilia del padre Carlos. 

Destroy Your Enemies; by Making them Your Friends and Loving Them (Mt 5:38-48)

Abraham Lincoln was once criticized by his advisers for having a meeting during the civil war with the Generals from the South. His advisers objected that he should not talk to our enemies, but we should destroy them. President Lincoln responded, what better way to destroy our enemies than to make them our friends. Jesus councils his disciples to Love our Enemies.  Why? Because only that will change them.  This homily continues to break down the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew's Gospel.