Sunday Sermon

"For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise."

The Wise Men brought gifts unto the Christ child: Gold, as befits the King; Frankincense, as befits the Eternal High Priest; and myrrh, as befits the Divine Victim.

Each of us should follow the example of St. John the Baptist by preparing the way for the Lord. We do this by introducing others around us to Jesus. How do we introduce others to Our Blessed Saviour?

On the Sunday before the Nativity, we call to mind the ancestors of Christ from the time of Abraham until the advent of our Lord. Just as these forbears prepared the way of the Lord, so also are we called to prepare His way into our hearts.

Today, Satan cannot attack the Risen Christ. His attacks are therefore directed at Christ's Body, the Church. Victory over Satan is possible only as we stand united against him, as a Body under the Headship of our Lord and His true Vicar, His representative here on earth.

In our day, so many find themselves feeling as if they have no connection with anyone: family, friends, neighbors. It is a source of lasting sadness. In the Gospel we hear the invitation of the Lord that we be members of His family through grace, and that we fill His house with charity and joy.

“And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him” (St. Luke 2:45) We seek after the things which we desire. We seek after the things which are important to us. We seek after the things we need. We should desire God and seek after Him for He seeks after us.

Surely one of the great stories of Christmas is the story of the visit of the Wise Men from the East to the Home of the Holy Family where they found Jesus. My question to you is...What if the Magi showed up at your house, what would they fine?

We prepare ourselves for the memorial of our Lord's Nativity that we may hear His invitation to us. Let us not become distracted by even good things, lest we miss the call of our Lord to that which is best.

Feast of St. Stephen, Deacon and Martyr, December 26th, 2021 “But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God”. (Acts 7:55)

In the Twenty-Third Chapter of the Old Testament Book of the Prophet Jeremiah, we hear the following: "BEHOLD, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth" (Jeremiah 23:5) We should take comfort in these words because we are assured that God will take care of His people....

Our Lord shocks the pharisees by healing on the Sabbath! In one instance, we see our Lord on the Sabbath in the Synagogue, healing a woman who had been patiently suffering a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years. Let us take a lesson from the woman who had been healed on how to bear infirmities with grace.

Christians are not to judge other Christians. And Christians are to judge other Christians. That’s what the Scriptures teaches. In fact, the apostle Paul says both things in the same letter. In our Epistle readings for today he says: "Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God." (1 Corinthians 4:5) Just a few paragraphs later Saint Paul says, To judge other Christians. "For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?" (1 Corinthians 5:12) Is Paul contradicting himself? ...

If there’s anyone who ought to be filled with great joy and spreading joy throughout the world, it’s those of us who are Christians. Because we have more reason to be joyful than anybody else on the face of this earth. That’s why Paul was able to say in our epistles readings today, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say, rejoice.”

Let me start by saying that what we believe, concerning the Immaculate Conception is in both Sacred Scripture (the Bible) and in Sacred Tradition (the teaching of the apostles handed on by the Church). The Immaculate Conception of Our Lady is a dogma of our faith which is in Sacred Tradition although not explicit in the Bible but implicit. There are hints of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady in the Bible.

We are now in the second week of Advent. And as we prepare for the coming of our Lord Jesus, I think about the meaning of Christmas. There are many words that come to mind. Words like peace on earth, good will toward men. Words like the love of God, and good news of great joy. We think of a babe in a manger and traveling wise men and shepherds keeping watch by night. We think of a Savior sent to save us from our sin. I want to suggest one more word to associate with the meaning of Christmas. The word, scandal.

Our Lord tells a parable of a rich man who was blessed with such an abundance of crops that his barns were overflowing. Instead of giving of his bounty, the man ordered his barns to be torn down and even larger ones to be built. Little did the man know that he would not see a time to enjoy his riches.

Very often we learn about God from other people: our parents; our grandparents; etc. As children, our parents perhaps take us to church...As we grow, we still are influenced by what we hear and see about God coming from others around us, but as we grow spiritually, we need to experience our own "faith" in God.

Last Sunday After Pentecost: Jesus Is Coming Again! Jesus came into this world when people weren’t ready for him. And Jesus said the same thing would be true of his second coming as well...

“Blessed are they who hear the word of God and keep it.” St. Luke 11: 28. Indeed, blessed are they who hear the Word of God in sermons, and keep it in their hearts and act and live according to it! Blessed are they who learn, know and fulfill the law and the holy will of God. And may we not add: Blessed are they who hear the word of their neighbor, and keep it? They who hear secrets and do not divulge them? For on silence in these matters a great deal depends, and the neglect of it occasions much evil and mischief. But how few are there, even amongst Christians, who deserve to be called blessed on that account! How many talkative people there are who commit even grievous sin by revealing secrets! And of those who unnecessarily reveal secrets I intend to speak to-day, by asking and answering three questions...