Readings: Isaiah 56:1, 6-7; Romans 11:13-15, 29-32; Mt 15:21-28Click here to download a PDF of this homily.Click here to watch a video of this homily.Preacher: Deirdre McKiernan Hetzler Two lines struck a chord with me as I reflected on our readings. The first was ,“Maintain justice and do what is right.” Isaiah is urging the Israelites to be sure everyone… read more →
Readings: Acts 2:14a, 36b-41; 1 Peter 2:20b-25; John 10:1-10Click here to download a PDF of this homily. Preacher: Deirdre McKiernan Hetzler “I came that they might have life, and have it more abundantly.” That line jumped out at me as I reflected on today’s readings. Abundant life. Isn’t that what we all long for? Especially in the midst of this… read more →
Readings: Sirach 15:15-20; 1 Cor 2:6-10; Mt 5:17-37Click here to download a PDF of this homily. Preacher: Deirdre McKiernan Hetzler “If you choose,” Sirach says, “you can keep the commandments…to act faithfully is a matter of your own choice.” St. Paul says we are called to choose to live, not according to the wisdom of this age, but according to… read more →
Readings: Isaiah 35:1-6a,10; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11Click here to download a PDF of this homily. Preacher: Deirdre McKiernan Hetzler “Rejoice in the Lord always! And again, I say, rejoice!” Do the words of this Sunday’s entrance prayer seem a bit incongruous in light of the times we live in? How must the Israelites have felt, receiving Isaiah’s message? They had… read more →
Readings: Exodus 32:7-11,13-14; 1 Timothy 1:12-17; Luke 15:1-32Click here to download a PDF of this homily. Preacher: Deirdre McKiernan Hetzler My first reaction to today’s Scriptures was that our God is a God of second chances! We were invited last week to choose to follow Jesus. To embrace costly discipleship. Today, our readings all reveal the costly love of our… read more →
Readings: Isaiah 66:10-14c; Galatians 6:14-18; Luke 10:1-12,17-20Click here to download a PDF of this homily. Preacher: Deirdre McKiernan Hetzler “Rejoice!” “Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad because of her!….Exult! Exult with her all you who were mourning over her.” “Thus says the Lord.” God is offering comfort and a promise of a new beginning to a people disheartened by years… read more →
Readings: Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41; Revelations 5:11-14; John 21:1-19Click here to download a PDF of this homily.Preacher: Deirdre McKiernan Hetzler “Simon Peter, Do you love me?” “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Then, “follow me.” Following Jesus cost Peter, didn’t it? When we meet him and the other disciples in our first reading, it is not the first time… read more →
Readings: Jeremiah 17:5-8; 1 Corinthians 15:12,16-20; Luke 7:17.20-16Click here to download a PDF of this homily. Preacher: Deirdre McKiernan Hetzler In last week’s homily, Gaynelle Wethers asked us to reflect on our response to God’s call. This week, Jeremiah and Luke take that challenge to a new depth. Jeremiah indicates there are only two opposite postures in life: placing one’s… read more →
Readings: Daniel 12:1-3; Hebrews 10:11-14, 18; Mark 13:24-32 Click here to download a PDF of this homily. Preacher: Deirdre McKiernan Hetzler As the end of our liturgical year approaches, and the days are getting shorter, do you feel as though our readings seem to reflect the darkness? In the book of Daniel, we read that “it shall be a time… read more →
Readings: Proverbs 9:1-6; Ephesians 5:15-20; John 6:51-58 Click here to download a PDF of this homily. Preacher: Deirdre McKiernan Hetzler Have you ever cradled a little baby in your arms, and been so enthralled that you said, “Oh, I love you so much I could just eat you up?” That was the first image that came to mind as I… read more →