Homily for the Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes To have been embraced by the blessed Virgin as our mother in her moment of supreme grief leaves no doubt about the special worth that she places on suffering in our lives. Her apparitions and numerous miraculous healings at Lourdes show us not only the exceptional value that suffering has in God’s eyes, but also how our own eyes need to be cleansed in order to see its value—both in ourselves and in others.

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Daily Mass - 02/11/2022 - Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes - Fr. Eric

Homily for the Memorial of Saint Scholastica, Virgin The Syrophoenician woman’s response to Jesus was not one of despair and despondency. Rather, she agrees with Jesus about the state of her own unworthiness. But she recognizes that Jesus’s mercy is greater and deeper than her unworthiness. To receive Jesus requires us to own our own unworthiness.  Love conquers with persistent trust and faith and the Lord shows mercy to those who seek him. The fact that Jesus reached out to this woman in particular, fundamentally shows that Jesus comes for the broken, the sick, the outsider, and the sinner. He wants us to increase our faith in His saving help. This also shows that God’s love and mercy knows no bounds. Sometimes God keeps us waiting so as to deepen our faith. In the long run what He wants is always best for us. Today ask yourself: "What are my ways to deepen my relationship and faith to the Lord?

Daily Mass - 02/10/2022 - Great Faith is Saving Faith - Fr. Mitch

Homily for the Wednesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time Imagine a world where there was no violence, racism, angry conversations, or abuse. Imagine a world where people treated people with dignity and respect. What would that world look like? St. Teresa of Calcutta became well know for speaking about "the five-finger Gospel" where she liked to count on her fingers in a way to remind herself and others of Jesus' words: You. Did. It. To. Me." When we recognize Christ in those that we serve, the world becomes a different place, and God's grace can begin to be manifested. The importance of the words is brought out with emphasis: “As you did it to one of the least of these…you did it to me.” We will not be measured by vague intentions, positive thoughts, or sympathetic emotions; no, we will be measured by our actions and the character that is formed by those actions and gives rise to them. God isn’t looking for the most successful or most popular person to serve – He is looking for the most willing. We all have gifts we can use to serve Him and serve others. We just need to be willing. Today, choose to love and see Christ in everyone you meet.

Daily Mass - 02/09/2022 - Five-Finger Gospel: You Did it to Me - Fr. Mitch

Homily for the Tuesday of Fifth Week in Ordinary Time Every Christian in the world wrestles with sin every single day of his or her life. Even the apostle Paul complained in Romans 7:15, “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate”. When we choose to sin it's like bringing a horse into a living room...it doesn't belong there. None of us is conformed to the image of Christ overnight. However, it is a process that won’t be complete until we trust God and walk with His Spirit. Today, try to keep the horse out of the living room and continue to trust and walk with God daily.

Daily Mass - 02/08/2022 - Keeping the Horse out of the House - Fr. Mitch

Homily for the Monday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time The longing and desire for healing moves people to rush and follow Jesus. They go to towns, valleys and marketplaces, begging that they might touch the fringe of his cloak.  How would you react if Jesus appeared to you today? Would you seek Him out and ask Him to heal you? What is the healing that you would ask for? Or would you be skeptical and watch Jesus from a safe distance? What is it that might keep you from approaching Jesus and asking Him for what you desire: fear, a sense of unworthiness, skepticism or shyness? No matter where you find yourself today, recognize a need for prayer and in the midst of your hardships, keep your eyes on Jesus and He will gift you with the grace you need for the day.

Daily Mass - 02/07/2022 - If I Could Touch the Hem of His Garment - Fr. Mitch

Homily for the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time The gospel today offers rich possibilities for reflecting on how God calls ordinary people to discipleship and mission. Simon Peter and his fishing partners are simple fisherman, and they are simply doing what they did every day when Jesus comes along, enters into their normal mundane lives, and changes everything. Jesus encounters Simon as he is, even though he is acutely aware of his unworthiness.  How often do we resist Jesus' claim on our lives because what he is calling to do seems too crazy or too impractical? How often do we avoid putting out into the deep waters of following and bearing witness to Jesus because we are convinced that we will not see any results? What might it mean for us to go deep-sea fishing with Jesus - to trust and follow him outside our comfort zone, to let go of our certainties... to have our lives radically reoriented? Jesus' mission doesn't wait until we think we are ready; we are called right now. We must trust that Jesus will keep working with us and through us. Today, trust God and realize that the catch is in God's hands, and that God's desire is for the nets to be bursting and boats full. Readings from February 6, 2022: 1st Reading: Isaiah: 6:1-2a, 3-8 Responsorial: Psalms: 138:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 7-8 2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Gospel: Luke 5:1-11

The Catch is in God's Hand - 02/06/2022 - Fr. Patrick

Homily for the Friday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time King David is a man who genuinely loved God. But he carved out an area of his life that was never submitted to the authority of the Lord. He allowed sin to build a position of power in his life, and that led him to a place where he did things that, in the earlier years of his life, he would never have imagined himself doing. However, David's prayer of thanksgiving reveals how David’s view of God grew instead of his ego. David could have thought, “I’m so great that even God gives me good gifts.” Instead, David’s heart is reflected in the prayer. Because of how God elevated his stature and his family, he praises God and tells God just how wonderful and mighty God is. Today, no matter what you’re going through, pray as David did. When worry, doubt, or the uncertainty of the future start to untether us, use David’s way of prayer as a way to combat the enemy of fear. We can trust that our mighty God is still authoring our lives and will use His plans for our good!

Daily Mass - 02/04/2022 - King David: Repentance & Prayer - Fr. Joseph

Homily for the Memorial of Saint Blase, bishop and martyr Today in the gospel, we see the disciples starting to get into the action of really getting their hands in the work. Jesus has given them the authority over any unclean spirits, he has paired them up, and now he is sending them out to do the work. The disciples, with their lack of food, money, and clothing are learning a new lesson - how to depend on and trust in Jesus with their every need. They are learning to listen to his word and to obey whatever he says. And that is the most important lesson anyone can learn in their life. This is a lesson that can be difficult for us to learn as we follow Jesus. Very rarely are we in situations where we have to be 100% dependent on anyone else. Our lives are more often overfilled than underfilled, and we have mastered the art of independence. The call of the Gospel, however, is a call to dependence. It is a call to rely completely on our Savior. It is a call to let our Provider provide. It is a call to obedience and faithfulness to the one who has given his life so that we might live. This dependence on Jesus is a dependence that we all must learn as we draw closer to him and allow him to work in our lives. Without Christ, we would be completely lost. We are dependent on him for all things, and our relationship with him will only improve if we can realize that dependence.

Daily Mass - 02/05/2022 - Are you willing to depend on Jesus? - Fr. Mitch

Homily for the Memorial of Saint John Bosco For many of us, there would not be a single day that passes by that we do not worry about big and even those little, unimportant things. So much so that if we do not worry, we would think it's almost inhuman.  When we connect this to what St. Paul instructs us in Philippians 4:6, we come to understand that Paul is talking about the peace that comes from the God who is never subject to anxiety because He is the sovereign, omnipotent Creator and Lord of the universe. Nothing takes Him by surprise or makes Him bite His nails, wondering how it will turn out. This is the peace that Jesus promised, “not as the world gives.” It is humanly not explainable. But, praise God, it is real, and every child of God has known it and has known that it comes from God alone, not from psychological insights. Today, have no anxiety at all and know that in the joy of the Lord, our strength will come.

Daily Mass - 01/31/2022 - Breathe, Pray. Let God - Fr. Mitch

Homily for the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Do you ever find yourself discounting someone’s gifts or talents? Do you ever find yourself judging another person based upon where they live, who their family is, or their education? We don’t like it when someone judges us, right? However, oftentimes we tend to judge people before getting acquainted with them; it seems to be almost automatic at times. We know the pain of being judged or ignored because of who we are or what we do, yet we cause the same pain by being judgmental ourselves. Some of the people in the temple dismissed Jesus simply because he was a lowly carpenter. Other individuals in the temple were enthralled by Jesus, his presence, and his teaching. Are you enthralled by Jesus or has Jesus become too familiar to you? Have you lost the thrill, the joy, and the wonder you experienced when Jesus first became real to you and he no longer was just a character in the Bible? Today, sit in Jesus’ presence. Simply sit there quietly and in silence. Jesus is there with you. May your mind and heart be open and recognize his presence. Readings from January 30, 2022: 1st Reading: Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19 Responsorial: Psalms 71:1-2, 3-4, 5-6,15-17 2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13 Gospel: Luke 4:21-30

Unwelcome at Home - 01/30/2022 - Fr. Mitch

Homily for the Memorial of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Priest and Doctor of the Church Saint Thomas Aquinas wisdom and absolute devotion to truth are both necessary and encouraging in our attempts to better understand and live the Faith. To write and practice every day, facing daily struggles and sacrifices is what makes action effortless and, therein, repeatable. St. Thomas Aquinas is trying to convince us of this. If we can act rightly once, great. But to act rightly 1000 times is far more worthy of praise, for a lifetime of goodness is more to be desired than a single great moment. Saint Thomas Aquinas, pray for us!

Daily Mass - 01/28/2022 - Saint Thomas Aquinas - Fr. Eric

Homily for the Third Week in Ordinary Time In the homily today, Jesus uses the image of a lamp and light to describe who the disciples are to be to the world. They are to be light for the world. Jesus also calls each of us to be light in our world.  Now take a moment and ask yourself, “How do I shed light in the world?”  Most likely many of the ways we strive to do this may seem insignificant to us. However, small rays of sunshine still light up the world. Our world is in need of sunshine and hope. Today, share some sunshine with the people you encounter and to notice the ways in which others share sunshine with you. 

Daily Mass - 01/27/2022 - Light of Truth - Fr. Mitch

Homily for the Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus Paul installed St. Timothy as his representative at the Church of Ephesus. Titus has the distinction of being a close friend and disciple of Paul as well as a fellow missionary. In Titus we get another glimpse of life in the early Church: great zeal in the apostolate, great communion in Christ, great friendship. Yet always there is the problem of human nature and the unglamorous details of daily life: the need for charity and patience in “quarrels with others, fears within myself,” as Paul says. Through it all, the love of Christ sustained them. At the end of the Letter to Titus, Paul says that when the temporary substitute comes, “hurry to me.”

Daily Mass - 01/26/2022 - Saints Timothy and Titus - Fr. Mitch

Homily for the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle St. Paul’s conversion teaches us that when Jesus come to us, He doesn’t come alone. He comes with His angels, saints, priests, and bishops. He comes with Mary, the sacraments, doctrine, and devotions. He comes with the Church because he and the Church are one. And when we go to the Lord we don’t go alone either. We go as members of a Church into whose mystical body we were baptized. Thus St. Paul heard from God Himself, and thus we believe today. 

Daily Mass - 01/25/2022 - Conversion of St. Paul - Fr. Mitch

Homily for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time The grass was fine until it looked greener on the other side. How many times have you looked on social media or the internet and admired pictures or videos that make life look perfect? Oftentimes we don't know those pictures story or how long it took to make it look good. As humans, we tend to look at other people's life and assume that having a certain life like theirs would make ours better. We oftentimes think of the success that is portrayed and feel like it should be our life...and sometimes that leads to us getting mad when God's not in a rush to give us that same life. Why try to match what should be one of a kind? You're one of a kind, so enjoy the journey or season that you are in. God is in control and trust that He has you right where you need to be. Readings from January 23, 2022: 1st Reading: Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10 Responsorial: Psalms 19:8, 9, 10, 15 2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:12-30 Gospel: Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21

Is the Grass Really Greener? -01/23/2022 - Fr. Patrick

Homilies, talks, and conversations from the Colonel Catholics at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana

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