Christmas at the Cathedral 2007

This Homily (13 minutes) was given by Deacon Charles Rohrbacher at the 8:30pm Mass. He talks about the Love of God given to all of us at Christmas. He uses a story of his visit to the San Quentin prison 30 years ago to tie it all together.

Readings: Isaiah 9:1-6; Psalm 96:1-3, 11-13; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14.

This Homily (18 minutes) was given by Fr. Thomas Weise at the 9:30am Mass. God is Love and that one word was spoken so that all might live for ever with God. Jesus is the refulgence of God's glory, the very imprint of God's being. May our hearts grow larger and larger in order to contain more and more of God's love to share. Could the story of the Grinch who stole Christmas gives us so clue that Christmas is much more that stuff and feasting?

Readings: Isaiah 52:7-10; Psalm 98:1-6; Hebrews 1:1-6; John 1:1-18.

3rd Sunday Advent 16 December 2007

This Homily (15 minutes) was given by Fr. Thomas Weise at the 8:30am Mass. John the Baptist has a particular set of expectations to who the Savior will be and what the Savior will do and they prevent him from seeing Jesus in the role. Our expectations often prevent us from seeing Jesus in our midst.

Readings: Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10; Psalm 146:6-10; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11.

2nd Sunday Advent 9 December 2007

This Homily (14 Minutes) given by Fr. Thomas Weise at the 8:30 am explores the nature of repentance as stressed by John the Baptist. The Greek word translated "repentance" could also be translated "a change of heart" or "re-ordering of our priorities." We hear Paul in the letter to the Romans say, "Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you." This is the hard work of repentance that will bear good fruit in the Kingdom. It all comes down to loving each other as Jesus has loved us, and that is no easy task. Advent is a time to rethink our priorities.

Readings: Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17; Romans 15:4-9; Matthew 3:1-12.

Immaculate Conception 8 December 2007

Click here to stream This Homily (15 minutes) given by Fr. Thomas Weise & Katy Rice at the 9:30 am Mass. We all know deep down that some thing is wrong with our world so full of sin and suffering. We long for a time when sin and suffering will be wiped away and all creation will be in right relationship with God and each other. The need for the Immaculate Conception of Mary starts in the sin of our first parents who walked away from God in arrogance and fear. In today's Gospel of the Annunciation we hear of Mary's yes to God replacing the no of our first parents. Paul reminds us that we have been chosen by God in Love. Katy, pregnant her self, reflects on what it must have been like to be Mother Mary. She notes that, "We pay for our children with vomit and blood one way or another." We can imagine Mary birthing Jesus, nursing him, caring for him in illness, and finally holding him in her arms when he was taken down from the cross. We can imagine her saying with all of her strong motherly love, "This is my body, given up for you."

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Readings: Genesis 3:9-15, 20; Psalm 98:1-4; Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12; Luke 1:26-38.

1st Sunday Advent 2 December 2007

Click here to stream This Homily (15 minutes) was given by Deacon Charles Rohrbacher at the 8:30 an Mass. Deacon Charles explores the Social Justice aspect of the season of Advent.

Click here to download this homily as an mp3.

Readings: Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122:1-9; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:37-44.