Homilies
The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Posted by Fr Terry Grachanin on 12/29/23
Gn 3:9-15, 2- | Ps 98 | Eph 1:3-6, 11-12 | Lk 1:26-38
Many people tend to love award shows (or did); before acceptance speeches became overtly political and presenters weren’t slapped across the face on live television. The red carpet and designer wear can be enamoring, but one ... Read More »
First Sunday of Advent (Year B)
Posted by Fr Terry Grachanin on 12/29/23
Is 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7 | Ps 80 | 1 Cor 1:3-9 | Mk 13:33-37
In today’s first reading, the prophet Isaiah offers us one of the Bible’s most beautiful images of God. It is the image of God as the potter, one who makes things out of clay. We, ... Read More »
Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
Posted by Fr Terry Grachanin on 12/29/23
Ez 34:11-12, 15-17 | Ps 23 | 1 Cor 15:20-26, 28 | Mt 25:31-46
Saint Martin is a popular saint throughout France and much of Europe. He was born in the early 300’s in modern day Hungary. As the son of a military officer, he joined the cavalry for ... Read More »
Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Posted by Fr Terry Grachanin on 12/29/23
Prv 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31 | Ps 128 | 1 Thes 5:1-6 | Mt 25:14-30
The parable Jesus tells today works very much in tandem with last week’s reading and brings us to the threshold of the Solemnity of Christ the King next week. Both parables concern an absence and ... Read More »
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 »