Have you ever received a Christmas gift that made you leap for joy? In today's gospel reading from Luke, the Holy Spirit helps Elizabeth and John recognize the Messiah. God's gift of the Holy Spirit is constantly pouring out for us. May we be open to receiving God's gift, and be filled with the Holy Spirit to recognize the presence of Jesus with joy.

Catholic Mass Readings for the 4th Sunday of Advent, December 22, 2024

First Reading: Micah 5: 1-4a
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 80: 2-3, 15-16, 18-19
Second Reading: Hebrews 10: 5-10
Alleluia: Luke 1: 38
Gospel: Luke 1: 39-45

What kind of rejoicing do you usually think of in connection with today's Gaudete Sunday? We rejoice because God is near, and can also rejoice in St. John the Baptist's message that "the chaff He will burn...". What does this mean for us in our lives today? The chaff is anything that keeps us from growing in holiness and becoming closer to God. It is also the loneliness or sadness of others that God might work through us to burn away. It is another one of God's gifts this Advent season.

Catholic Mass Readings for the Third Sunday in Advent, December 15, 2024

First Reading: Zephaniah 3: 14-18a
Responsorial Psalm: Isaiah 12: 2-3, 4, 5-6
Second Reading: Philippians 4: 4-7
Alleluia: Isaiah 61: 1
Gospel: Luke 3: 10-18

The Reitrement Fund for Religious in the U.S. Catholic Church took up a national collection at Masses Dec. 7–8. This collection gains a fresh perspective in Fr. Chuck's homily. Listen today to hear how he connects this collection with the Second Reading from Philippians 1. Namely, he echoes Paul's confidence in Phil 1:6, that God "who began a good work . . . will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus." Learn now how we engage in this "Divine Good-Work-Completion" in support of the 24,000-some U.S. men and women Religious now in retirement (or semi-retirement).

Catholic Mass Readings for the Second Sunday of Advent, December 8, 2024

First Reading: Baruch 5: 1-9
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 126: 1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6
Second Reading: Philippians 1: 4-6, 8-11
Alleluia: Luke 3: 4, 6
Gospel: Luke 3: 1-6

Have you ever had something inconvenient happen to you that you later realized was actually an opportunity? God's guidance and timing may not always be what we would like, as Father Chuck points out in today's homily. Psalm 25 asks us to surrender to God's timing,"To You, Oh Lord, I lift my soul ... and for You I wait all the day."

Catholic Mass Readings for the First Sunday of Advent, December 1, 2024

First Reading: Jeremiah 33: 14-16
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 25: 4-5, 8-9, 10, 14
Second Reading: First Thessalonians 3: 12 – 4: 2
Alleluia: Psalms 85: 8
Gospel: Luke 21: 25-28, 34-36

Do you realize that you are actually talking to Jesus the Lord during Mass and that Jesus is listening to you? With the help of the Holy Spirit, we have the privilege of talking to, and building a personal relationship with, Jesus the Lamb of God. Think about the Mass prayers like the Gloria in which we talk to Jesus, and how we continue the dialog with Jesus throughout our day. The King of the Universe is listening.

Catholic Mass Readings for the Feast of Christ the King, November 24, 2024

First Reading: Daniel 7: 13-14
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 93: 1abc, 1d-2, 5
Second Reading: Revelation 1: 5-8
Alleluia: Mark 11: 9, 10
Gospel: John 18: 33b-37

Have you been struggling to do something that you can't do with mere human strength? Listen to today's homily to be reminded that you have the gift of Divine Grace to fulfill your purpose - to be perfect forever. "Perfect" doesn't mean what you may think though. And you don't have to settle for mediocre Christianity!

Note: Father Chuck discerned promptings to make slightly different emphases In each homily at 9 and 11 am Mass and then sensed that both should be available online. You may want to listen to both and ask the Holy Spirit to inspire you to take what you may need from one or the other or both versions. (This is the 11am version.)

Catholic Mass Readings for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, November 17, 2024

First Reading: Daniel 12: 1-3
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 16: 5, 8, 9-10, 11
Second Reading: Hebrews 10: 11-14, 18
Alleluia: Luke 21: 36
Gospel: Mark 13: 24-32

Have you been struggling to do something that you can't do with mere human strength? Listen to today's homily to be reminded that you have the gift of Divine Grace to fulfill your purpose - to be perfect forever. "Perfect" doesn't mean what you may think though. And you don't have to settle for mediocre Christianity!

Note: Father Chuck discerned promptings to make slightly different emphases In each homily at 9 and 11 am Mass and then sensed that both should be available online. You may want to listen to both and ask the Holy Spirit to inspire you to take what you may need from one or the other or both versions. (This is the 9am version.)

Catholic Mass Readings for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, November 17, 2024

First Reading: Daniel 12: 1-3
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 16: 5, 8, 9-10, 11
Second Reading: Hebrews 10: 11-14, 18
Alleluia: Luke 21: 36
Gospel: Mark 13: 24-32

Have you realized that you are truly a saint in the making? Listen to learn how God leads us and helps us grow in our saintliness, sometimes with "Godincidences". And we can trust the Holy Spirit to guide us on our way.

Here is the prayer for our spiritual homework this week: "Lord, I praise you as my constant helper and call on you as my loving protector. Guide me by your wisdom, correct me with your justice, comfort me with your mercy, protect me with your power. Help me to conquer anger with gentleness, greed by generosity, apathy by fervor… Help me to forget myself and reach out toward others, through Christ our Lord. Amen"

Catholic Mass readings for the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, November 10, 2024:

First Reading: First Kings 17: 10-16
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 146: 7, 8-9, 9-10
Second Reading: Hebrews 9: 24-28
Alleluia: Matthew 5: 3
Gospel: Mark 12: 38-44 or Mark 12: 41-44