A Homily on John 11

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

In today’s Gospel reading from John chapter 11, we hear the story of Lazarus, the brother of Martha and Mary, who becomes ill and eventually dies. Jesus receives word of Lazarus’ illness, but He does not immediately go to him. Instead, Jesus says, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.” (verse 4)

When Jesus finally arrives in Bethany, Lazarus has been dead for four days. Martha and Mary express their grief, and Jesus is moved to tears. He goes to the tomb, and there He commands Lazarus to come out. Lazarus, who was dead, rises from the dead and comes out of the tomb.
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Homily on John 6

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Today’s Gospel reading from John chapter 6 presents us with a deeply meaningful message about the significance of the Eucharist in our lives as Catholics. This passage is one of the most significant and profound teachings of Jesus Christ and serves as a reminder of the miraculous nature of the Eucharist.

In this chapter, Jesus speaks to a crowd of people who had followed Him after He had performed a great miracle of feeding five thousand men with just five loaves of bread and two fish. The people were amazed by this miracle and sought to follow Jesus. However, Jesus, knowing that they were more interested in the physical food than the spiritual food that He was offering, challenged them to think more deeply about the meaning of this miracle.
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Five Encouraging Verses from the Didache

The Didache is a brief early Christian text written in the first century AD. Here are some encouraging passages from the text:

“My child, remember night and day him who speaks the word of God to you, and honour him as you do the Lord. For wherever the lordly rule is uttered, there is the Lord.” (ch. 4)

This passage encourages believers to honour and remember those who teach the word of God.

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How Can We Honour the Blessed Mother Mary?

Mary is called the Mother of God because she gave birth to Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God and the second person of the Holy Trinity. As such, Mary is the mother of Jesus Christ in His humanity and divinity. This belief is central to the Christian doctrine of the Incarnation, which holds that God became human in the person of Jesus Christ.

The title “Mother of God” is not intended to suggest that Mary is the source of God’s divinity or that she existed before God. Rather, it is a recognition of her unique role in salvation history as the mother of the incarnate Son of God. This title has been used in Christian tradition since ancient times and has been affirmed by various councils and theologians throughout history.
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Authentic Catholicism

Authentic Catholicism, as opposed to Catholicism in name only, refers to the teachings and practices of the Roman Catholic Church as they have been passed down through the centuries, based on the Bible, sacred tradition, and the Magisterium (the teaching authority of the Church). It is a way of life that seeks to follow the example of Jesus Christ, His teachings, and the teachings and traditions of the Apostles as interpreted by the Holy Church.

Authentic Catholicism includes belief in the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), the divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ, the resurrection, the sacraments, and the authority of the Church. It calls attention to the importance of prayer, participation in the sacraments, and works of charity and justice.
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Homily on John 8

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today’s Gospel reading from John chapter 8 is a powerful reminder of the mercy and forgiveness that our Lord Jesus Christ offers to each and every one of us, no matter how great our sins may be.

The passage begins with the scribes and Pharisees bringing a woman caught in adultery before Jesus, seeking to trap Him in a dilemma. They remind Him that according to the Law, the punishment for adultery was stoning to death. They ask Him what He thinks should be done with the woman. However, Jesus does not fall into their trap. Instead, He challenges them: “Let whoever is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.” And one by one, they all leave, convicted by their own consciences.
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The Blessed Presence

As Catholics, one of our most treasured beliefs is the belief in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. We believe that the bread and wine used in Mass become the body and blood of Jesus Christ through the process of transubstantiation. This means that while the bread and wine appear to be unchanged, their substance is transformed into the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ.

The belief in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist is not a new one. In fact, it can be traced back to the earliest days of Christianity. In the Gospel of John, Jesus tells his disciples, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35) He goes on to say, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you will not have life in you.” (John 6:54) While some of His disciples found this teaching difficult to accept and turned away from Him, the apostles, particularly Peter, affirmed their faith in Jesus and His teachings.
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Homily on John 4

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

In today’s Gospel passage from John 4, we hear the story of Jesus encountering a Samaritan woman at a well. This encounter is significant for several reasons, but one of the most important is that it shows us how Jesus breaks down barriers and welcomes all people into his love and offers salvation.

First, let us consider the context of this encounter. Jesus, a Jewish man, meets a Samaritan woman, a member of a group that was looked down upon and despised by many Jews. In addition, Jesus is alone with a woman, which was not a socially acceptable situation for a Jewish man to be in. Yet despite these barriers, our Lord engages the woman in conversation and treats her with respect and dignity.
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Belonging to Our Lord Jesus

To belong to Jesus means to accept Him as Lord and Saviour, to have faith in His teachings, and to follow His example in our daily lives. It means to live according to His teachings and to become a part of His family, the Church.

When we belong to Jesus, we are called to follow Him and to imitate His life of love and service to others. This includes living a life of prayer, participating in the holy sacraments, and seeking to grow in holiness. Through our baptism, we are adopted as children of God and become members of His family, the Church.
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Homily on Luke 18

Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ,

In today’s Gospel reading from Luke 18, we hear several stories and parables that teach us important lessons about our spiritual lives and relationship with God.

First, we hear the story of the persistent widow who seeks justice from an unjust judge. Despite the judge’s refusal to help her, the widow persists in her requests until she finally receives justice. This story teaches us about the importance of perseverance in prayer. We should not give up or become discouraged when it seems like our prayers are not being answered, but rather continue to ask God for what we need and trust in His timing and wisdom.
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