Homilies
Holy Thursday | Mass of the Lord's Supper
Posted by Fr Terry Grachanin on 4/15/22
Ex 12:1-8, 11-14 | Ps 116 | 1 Cor 11:23-26 | Jn 13:1-15
On this night, year after year, as we begin the Sacred Paschal Triduum: one celebration spread over the course of three days. At this, the first celebration, there are principal mysteries commemorated in this Mass of ... Read More »
Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord
Posted by Fr Terry Grachanin on 4/10/22
Procession: Lk 19:28-40 Mass: Is 50:4-7 | Ps 22 | Phil 2:6-11 | Lk 22:14-23:56
Little ever needs to be shared following the proclamation of Our Lord’s Passion. The Roman Missal even states: “After the narrative of the Passion, a brief homily should take place” (Palm Sunday, 22). I’ll ... Read More »
Fifth Sunday of Lent (Third Scrutiny, Year A)
Posted by Fr Terry Grachanin on 4/10/22
Ez 37:12-14 | Ps 130 | Rom 8:8-11 | Jn 11:1-45
Jesus came primarily as a warrior whose final enemy is death. It’s easy to domesticate Jesus, presenting him as a kindly moral teacher. But that’s not how the Gospels present him. He is a cosmic warrior who has ... Read More »
Fourth Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday); (Second Scrutiny, Year A)
Posted by Fr Terry Grachanin on 3/28/22
1 Sm 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a | Ps 23 | Eph 5:8-14 | Jn 9:1-41
It’s a common theme, not just in Scripture, but in literature generally: someone unexpected to do great things is lifted out of the normalcy of their lives in order to, in fact, do great things. ... Read More »
Fourth Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday)
Posted by Fr Terry Grachanin on 3/28/22
Jos 5:9a, 10-12 | Ps 34 | 2 Cor 5:17-21 | Lk 15:1-3, 11-32
“Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.”
Have you ever noticed how often God uses our senses to invite us into an awareness of divine presence? How often the Scriptures tell us that God ... Read More »
Third Sunday of Lent (First Scrutiny, Year A)
Posted by Fr Terry Grachanin on 3/21/22
Ex 17:3-7 | Ps 95 | Rom 5:1-2, 5-8 | Jn 4:5-42
Water is life. We have to have water in order to live. A person can live up to three weeks without food but only three days without water. Water is all around us; seventy-one percent of the ... Read More »
Third Sunday of Lent
Posted by Fr Terry Grachanin on 3/21/22
Ex 3:1-8a, 13-15 | Ps 103 | 1 Cor 10:1-6, 10-12 | Lk 13:1-9
Some of the most interesting and compelling stories in the Bible are about God’s call to ordinary people to do extraordinary things.
Consider Abraham and Sarah: they were an elderly couple, well beyond the age ... Read More »
First Sunday of Lent
Posted by Fr Terry Grachanin on 3/21/22
Dt 26:4-10 | Ps 91 | Rom 10:8-13 | Lk 4:1-13
It’s chilling to hear the devil quote Scripture. The very psalm we just sang is twisted in his mouth to fit an agenda that’s not of God. He uses it to tempt even Jesus himself, and the temptation ... Read More »
Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Posted by Fr Terry Grachanin on 3/21/22
Sir 27:4-7 | Ps 92 | 1 Cor 15:54-58 | Lk 6:39-45
We are surrounded by devices that we use to communicate. Our cellphones not only make phone calls, but they can record video and take pictures. The computers we use at home and at work monitor what websites ... Read More »
Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Posted by Fr Terry Grachanin on 3/21/22
1 Sm 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23 | Ps 103 | 1 Cor 15:45-49 | Lk 6:27-38
The mercy of God is sheer gift. Mercy flows from the heart of God, from the beauty of Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection. Mercy is abundant and true. Mercy invites liberation from the ... Read More »