12/23/12 The Fourth Sunday of Advent

The Blessed Mother visits Elizabeth.

Mass Readings

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Homily Ideas

Three-point Outline

1. It is not about self-importance. 
1. Bethlehem was small. 
2. Mary was poor. 
3. Elizabeth regarded herself as insignificant.
2. It is not about how much you can give.
1. The second reading tells us the sacrificial system was imperfect. 
2. You can't earn God's love by giving to God.
3. It is grace! It is a gift!
3. This gift comes by faith. 
1. Elizabeth says to Mary, "Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled." 
2. Our second reading tells us, "By this "will," we have been consecrated through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."
3. We must believe, trust, that little baby whose body was given for us. 
4. We stop trying to earn forgiveness, or earn God's love, or earn God's blessing. 
5. We trust and believe in the God who willed to come down and become human just like us.
6. Today at this Eucharist, we renew our faith in this baby. 
7. As we prayed: Pour forth, we beseech you, O Lord, your grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ your Son was made known by the message of an Angel, may by his Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of his Resurrection.

12/16/2012 The Third Sunday of Advent Gaudete Sunday

Mass Reading

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3-minute Homily Idea

3-point Sample Outline

1. Rejoice in the Lord Always and Again I say rejoice! 
1. Gaudete in Domino semper: iterum dico, gaudete:
2. A big change from last week's stories of exile and trouble.
3. Both sorrow and joy prepare us for the Lord's arrival. 
4. As our collect says, we prepare "with solemn worship and great rejoicing.
5. The Gospel reading tells us how to prepare. 
2. Do what is right! 
1. John told the people of his day: share, don't steal, do your job well, be honest. 
2. People worry so much about God's will, but they don't worry about the little things. 
3. They wonder what job God wants them to do, but they don't help their neighbor.
4. They wonder if they should go on the mission trip to Mexico, but they don't bother to spend time with their kids! 
5. John the Baptizer appears and says "Get ready! Start doing what you are supposed to do!" 
3. It is when we are doing what know is right that God will come down and work miracles! 
1. John baptized with water. Simple water.
2. Jesus brought the Holy Spirit! 
3. When we take care of the simple things in our life, we can expect God to act. 
4. This Advent, as we take a look at our life and begin to set it right, we can rejoice at the things that God will do. 
5.  Gaudete in Domino semper: iterum dico, gaudete!

12/9/12 The Second Sunday of Advent

Mass Readings

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3 Minute Homily 

3 Points

1. We must heed John the Baptizer's call. 
1. Prepare the way of the Lord. 
2. Preparation isn't easy. 
3. We know this from Christmas- we have to work to enjoy the rewards.
4. Preparation for Christ  involves confession.
5. In involves penance. 
6. It involves work! 
7. It might even involve tears.
2. Our Psalm says, "Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing."
1. This happens in our first reading. 
2. Exile turns to joyful return. 
3. We see this in our Gospel. 
4. The Roman occupation ushers in the Messiah's birth. 
5. God can turn these periods of sorrow and hardship into times of joy. 
3. We have begun our Advent preparations. 
1. "The one who began a good work in you  will continue to complete it  until the day of Christ Jesus." 
2. Let God continue to change your heart and life in this season. 
3. Let God bring the good work to completion in you!
4. May you prepare the way of the Lord this Advent season.

12/8/12 Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

Mass Readings

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Homily Ideas

Sample Outline

1. Mary was a vessel, conceived without sin for a purpose.
1. Mary's yes to God was to undo our first mother's no. 
2. Mary accepted her call.
3. Mary said "May it be done to me according to your will." 
2. We are like Mary.
1. At baptism we are all washed clean of original sin. 
2. Like Mary, the Holy Spirit comes upon us at Confirmation. 
3. At Eucharist, Christ comes into us. 
4. This is why like Mary, that second reading says that we are "chosen" and "destined in acccord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the purposes of His will." 
3. Mary is a model for us. 
1. What is God calling you to do? 
2. A new job? Surrender some sin? Undertake some missionary work? A work of mercy? An act of penance? The religous life? Priesthood. 
3.  May we, like Mary, respond to God by saying "Be it done to me according to your will."

11/18/12 The Thirty-third Sunday of Ordinary Time

Note: This entry is incomplete. Sorry. I am out of town and working with limited resources. Though there is no video sample, I do hope the outline is helpful to those looking for inspiration! 

Mass Readings

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Homily Ideas

Sample Outline

1. The message of our readings today is a message of hope. 
1. Christ is coming again to bring life. 
2. There are signs that he is coming again. 
3. The fig tree shows signs that summer is coming. 
4. When we see calamity and trouble, we know that the end is nearing. 
5. So every sign of distress and hopelessness is a a reminder that this world is temporary. 
6. This world is not our home. 
7. "It will be a time of unsurpassed distress" as our first reading says. 
8. That is when we "will escape" as the reading says. 
2. However, the message is a message of warning. 
1. Not all shall escape. 
2. "Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake; some shall live forever, others shall be an everlasting horror and disgrace."
3. Christ "has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated." 
4. Christ's sacrifice is different from the one offered in earlier times! 
5. We are on a journey toward holiness. A journey toward consecration. 
6. Christ has already done all that is required. His one sacrifice is the payment for all our sins. 
7. We need only continue on that path which will lead us out of this world and into the coming kingdom. 
8. If, on the other hand, we turn away, we will be will an everlasting horror and disgrace. 
9. The end is  not a time of hope for those who reject God. 
3. God doesn't send anyone to hell. God does all he can to keep everyone out. 
1. The only thing that can put us in hell is our decision to refuse God's offer of grace and forgiveness. 
2. For those who have turned away in mortal sin, God offers that grace and forgiveness every time one enters the confessional. 
3. For all of us, constantly struggling with sin on this journey of life, God offers that grace and forgiveness here in this Eucharist. 
4. May these readings be a consolation and a warning to us today! 

Out of Town

I am out of town this week and next. I hope to get the posts up soon, but I can't make any promises. Have a happy Thanksgiving!

Steven

11/11/12 The Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

The widow gave all that she had.

Mass Readings

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Homily Ideas

Sample Outline

1. Widow gave little flour to Elijah. 
1. She was grumbling and complaining.
2. She had lost hope. 
3. God took a little, because of her faith, and made a lot out of it. 
4. After the election, many have lost hope. They trust in a political process, but not God. 
5. Politics is good and important, but it isn't our savoir. 
6. Christ is our savior, not Romney or Obama. 
7. Satan is our enemy, not Romney or Obama. 
2. In that same way, in our Gospel reading, Jesus saw a widow offer a little bit. 
1. Talking to the religious leaders and the rich people, he said that her offering was worth more than theirs. 
2. These were educated, religious, wealthy men! 
3. Her faith made her offering more valuable.
3. Our second reading also lets us know about a gift that has been given to us.
1. Jesus offered himself- all he had- for us. 
2. Not like the earlier temple sacrifices which were repeated whenever there was a need. 
3. Jesus gave all and he wants you to give all. 
4. Jesus doesn't want to control 10% of your money. 
5. He want to control all of it. 
6. He doesn't want 10% of your time.
7. He wants all of it. 
8. Jesus doesn't want your vote, he wants your life. 
9. Sure, you only give the church some money and some time. 
10. But Christ gave up all for you. He wants you to give all in return. 
4. Where are those areas that you are holding back? 
1. Some secret sin? Money? Time? Skill? Prayer? Confession?
2. It is time to give everything to God. He can do great things with it! 
3. Today, during the Eucharistic sacrifice, offer God those areas of your life that you have been holding back. 
4. He provided the widow with enough flour to to get through, but only after she had offered her all.