November 2023 archive of Homilies
Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Posted by Fr Terry Grachanin on 11/13/23
Wis 6:12-16 | Ps 63 | 1 Thes 4:13-18 | Mt 25:1-13
As the sun grows dimmer and the Church calendar draws toward its close, we hear much about the final judgment. The Jews of Jesus’ day expected Almighty God to declare war on evil at any moment and ... Read More »
The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls')
Posted by Fr Terry Grachanin on 11/13/23
Wis 3:1-9 | Ps 23 | Rom 6:3-9 | Jn 6:37-40
Yesterday, All Saints Day, was a day of celebration. We celebrated the lives of the saints, who are in communion with one another and with God. “Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,” we looked to them ... Read More »
The Solemnity of All Saints
Posted by Fr Terry Grachanin on 11/01/23
Rv 7:2-4, 9-14 | Ps 24 | 1 Jn 3:1-3 | Mt 5:1-12a
On this glorious feast of All Saints, our readings, cryptic as they may seem, provide us with a rather simple recipe for our sainthood. Sainthood isn’t about possessing secret knowledge or accomplishing marvelous deeds; rather, if ... Read More »
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 »