3rd Sunday in Lent 24 Feb 2008

This Homily (23 Minutes) was given by Fr. Thomas Weise at the 11 am Mass. In it he explores the story of Jesus and the Samaritan women at the well. She thirsts for water and love and inclusion. Jesus thirsts for her soul and her faith. Am I already so full of myself that I no longer thirst for God? What do I thirst for... Do I come to my time of prayer empty and thirsting for God? Only the living water that Jesus offers will well up within us to eternal life.

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Readings: Exodus 17:3-7; Psalm 95; Romans 5:1-2, 5-8; John 4:5-42

2nd Sunday of Lent 17 February 2008

This Homily (16 minutes) was given by Deacon Charles Rohrbacher at the 5:30 evening Mass. This homily by Deacon Charles Rohrbacher reflects on our preparation to renew our baptism into Christ at Easter through the Lenten penitential and ascetical practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving in the light of the transfiguration of Jesus. Just as Christ was trasfigured on the mountain top we were transfigured at our baptism.

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Fr. Scott Settimo's homily was not recorded. Here is a short summery of his homily.

The Israelite people were called to be “a people peculiarly [God’s] own.” Just so, in his letter to Timothy, St Paul affirms God’s invitation “to a holy life.” In the transfigured appearance of Christ on Mount Tabor, Matthew’s Gospel shows us, quite literally, what holiness (or sanctity) looks like. Even in our day, we are sometimes privileged to see the glory of the eternal “breaking through” into our world. We should see it, at least with the eyes of faith, in the Mass.

Readings: Genesis 12:1-4a; Psalm 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22; 2 Timothy 1:8b-10; Matthew 17:1-9.

1st Sunday of Lent 10 February 2008

This Homily (15 Minutes) was given by Fr. Thomas Weise at the 11 am Sunday Mass. When looking at the temptation of Jesus we must remember that he has just spent 40 days meditating on what happened at his baptism. The heavens were opened, the Holy Spirit came down, and the God the Father said, "This is my Son, the Beloved, in whom I am well pleased." Starting from that place, Satan challenges Jesus to use his special status and powers to meet his own needs. Jesus counters with a refusal to use his gifts and talents for his own ends. As God beloved he will follow God's will that the whole of creation is built up into the Kingdom of God. Knowing who you are as beloved helps us resisit the temptation to selfishness.

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Readings: Genesis 2:7-9, 3:1-7; Psalm 51:3-6, 12-13, 17; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11.

Ash Wednesday 6 Februray 2008

This homily (9 minutes) was given by Fr. Thomas Weise at 7pm Mass. Paul notes that, "We are Ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us." The time of Lent is ambassador school for Christians. We are to learn through Prayer, Fasting, and Alms Giving how to represent God's Love to a World that so needs it. We are to be open and vulnerable to God, in fact broken hearted, "rend your hearts, not your garments."

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Reading: Joel 2:12-18; Psalm 51:3-6ab, 13-14, 17; 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18.

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time 3 February 2008

This Homily (17 minutes) was given by Fr. Thomas Weise at the 11am Mass. Paul notes, "God chose those whom the world considers absured to shame the wise. He singled out the weak to shame the strong. He chose the low and despised, who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who were something; so that mankind can do no boasting before God." The Beatitudes are God's guide to holiness and wholeness, yet we resit being humble and lowly.

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Readings: Zephaniah 2:3, 3:12-13; Psalm: 146: 6-10; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31; Matthew 5:1-12a.