2023 archive of Homilies
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Posted by Fr Terry Grachanin on 11/01/23
Ex 22:20-26 | Ps 18 | 1 Thes 1:5c-10 | Mt 22:34-40
Is there anything the world talks so much about and practices so little as love? Just about every song we hear and every movie we watch is about love, but, in the real world, it is hard ... Read More »
Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Patronal Feast Day)
Posted by Fr Terry Grachanin on 11/01/23
Is 52:7-10 | Ps 40 | 2 Cor 4:7-15 | Mt 28:16-20
Matthew brings his Gospel to completion with Jesus’ great commission after the resurrection, often viewed as the mission statement of the Church. Resurrection leads to commissioning, for Jesus’ resurrection is not the end of his mission, but ... Read More »
Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Posted by Fr Terry Grachanin on 11/01/23
Is 25:6-10a | Ps 23 | Phil 4:12-14, 19-20 | Mt 22:1-14
Jesus likened the kingdom of heaven to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. Notice that the father (God the Father) is giving a banquet for his son (God the Son) and bride (the ... Read More »
Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Posted by Fr Terry Grachanin on 11/01/23
Ez 18:25-28 | Ps 25 | Phil 2:1-11 | Mt 21:28-32
Besides the Bible, a book that has been most popular among Christians has been The Imitation of Christ, a Christian devotional book first composed in Medieval Latin. It’s a devotional text, divided into four books of detailed spiritual ... Read More »
Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Posted by Fr Terry Grachanin on 11/01/23
Is 55:6-9 | Ps 145 | Phil 1:20c-24, 27a | Mt 20:1-16a
Over the past few weeks, the Scriptures have reminded us of how enormous God’s love is—especially when we compare it to our own experiences of love. God’s love for us is so great, in fact, that we ... Read More »
Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Posted by Fr Terry Grachanin on 11/01/23
Sir 27:30-28:7 | Ps 103 | Rom 14:7-9 | Mt 18:21-35
Forgiveness is a holy venture. When each of us embarks on such a path, we all change. Letting go of past hurts and unfortunate circumstances and outcomes deepens and strengthens our relationships. Forgiveness is not easy. Such a ... Read More »
Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Posted by Fr Terry Grachanin on 9/03/23
Jer 20:7-9 | Ps 63 | Rom 12:1-2 | Mt 16:21-27
I believe it’s in our very nature to safeguard those we love. At this time of year, children are going to kindergarten, teens and young adults are headed into high school and have departed for college—sometimes we’d rather ... Read More »
Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
Posted by Fr Terry Grachanin on 8/28/23
Is 22:19-23 | Ps 138 | Rom 11:33-36 | Mt 16:13-20
Jesus is curious to know how the disciples interpret his life and mission and questions them about how they view his identity. His curiosity becomes a birthplace of heavenly grace upon the disciples. The questions that come from ... Read More »
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Posted by Fr Terry Grachanin on 8/21/23
Is 56:1, 6-7 | Ps 67 | Rom 11:13-15, 29-32 | Mt 15:21-28
About six centuries before the time of Jesus, the final chapters of Isaiah were written. We heard a bit from one of these chapters in our first reading today. This was a time when the exile ... Read More »
The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Posted by Fr Terry Grachanin on 8/15/23
1 Chr 15:3-4, 15-16; 16:1-2 | Ps 132 | 1 Cor 15:54b-57 | Lk 11:27-28 (or) Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab | Ps 45 | 1 Cor 15:20-27 | Lk 1:39-56
Mary has a unique role in salvation history, and we honor her this day for that distinction. But today ... Read More »