Category: Homilies

I post the text and audio of my Sunday homilies here for anyone who wants to go back to something they liked or catch something they missed. I sometimes include links to resources that I mention, so that you aren’t left guessing how to follow up on anything I may have challenged you to do.

I put up every weekend homily and the homilies for special feast days like Christmas or the Assumption.

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Getting To Heaven

Posted on by Father Albert
Baptism of the Lord, A                                                                                   January 12, 2020Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette What does it take to get to heaven? Depending on who you ask about it, you’ll get a wide variety of answers. So many people today assume that basically everyone, including themselves, will get to heaven. Some are afraid that almost no one makes it, including themselves. Many Christians say that all it takes is accepting Jesus into your heart. Others will say it’s just a matter of being baptized and maybe going to confession close to the end. Some people...Read More

The Story of Kings

Posted on by Father Albert
Epiphany 2020                                                                                                January 5, 2020Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette Isn’t this gospel adventurous? Three kings from foreign lands who come to recognize the true king of Israel, all while undermining the false king Herod. A royal story that’s inspired many songs and poems. It’s fascinating to me that, in a society founded on equality and democracy, we are so attracted to the idea of kingship, of royalty. How many parents call their daughter “princess?” How many of our favorite movies and books are about kings and queens – stories like Frozen and Lion...Read More

Begin With Mary

Posted on by Father Albert
Holy Mary, Mother of God 2020                                                                   January 1, 2020Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette Beginning. That’s a powerful word for us, beginning. It strikes us with a sense of potential, of expectation. In reference to a difficult situation, it places weight upon us. In reference to a time of accomplishment or celebration, it fills us with hope. “It’s only the beginning.” The power, the potency of this word is fitting for the feast we celebrate today. Mary, the Mother of God begins each new year just as she began our salvation. Eve, in the...Read More

The First School of Love

Posted on by Father Albert
Holy Family, Year A                                                                                      December 29, 2019Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette I’ve had some pretty weird dreams. I’m not so sure I’d uproot my whole family from just a dream. What makes St. Joseph so certain that this dream is from God rather than a bad meal? Because he has learned to recognize the voice of God, to care for his family according to God’s design. Through a lifetime of prayer and discernment, Joseph has developed a sensitivity to when God asks something of him, so he recognizes the angels message...Read More

Seeing Is Believing

Posted on by Father Albert
St. John - Patronal Feast                                                                                 December 27, 2019Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette “He saw and believed.” Don’t some people just have all the luck? St. John the Apostle and Evangelist seems to get everything. He’s the “beloved disciple.” He gets to be in the inner circle for the Transfiguration and the Agony in the Garden. He’s the only one at the foot of the cross. He’s one of the first people who gets to enter the empty tomb of Jesus, the holiest place in the universe. And then, to top it all...Read More

The Story That Satisfies

Posted on by Father Albert
Christmas                                                                                                        December 25, 2019Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette Are you satisfied? With your Christmas shopping? The gifts you’ve received? The vacation and time with family and friends? For months people have been celebrating and building up to this day, preparing and scrambling to make the best of the most wonderful time of year. Now that it’s here, are you satisfied? And since we’re at the of the year, it’s fair to ask about the past year? What about the rest of your life? Are you satisfied? I ask because the whole...Read More

To Give, To Receive

Posted on by Father Albert
Fourth Sunday of Advent, A                                                                          December 22, 2019Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette How are you at giving gifts? What about accepting them? Some people have a knack for getting the perfect gift for every person in their lives. Me? Not so much. But you know who does give the perfect gift every time? God does. He knows what you want, he knows what you need, he knows everything. Humanity as a whole, however, isn’t very good at accepting gifts, like children who don’t appreciate the gifts of food, shelter, education and everything else...Read More

The Colors of Life

Posted on by Father Albert
Third Sunday of Advent, A                                                                            December 15, 2019Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette Color. In her ardent desire to use all of creation in teach us about Christ her bridegroom, the Church loves to use color. Green, the color of orderly growth throughout the year. Red, the color of the blood shed by Christ and his martyrs and the color of the fires of the Holy spirit. White, the color of holiness and purity. Gold, the color of royalty and celebration that often complements the colors of the higher feasts. Blue, the color of...Read More

Given to Fulfill

Posted on by Father Albert
Second Sunday of Advent, A                                                                         December 8, 2019Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette “The wolf shall be the guest of the lamb.” “The baby shall play by the cobra’s den.” “Justice shall flourish in his time and fullness of peace for ever.” These are Messianic prophecies from Isaiah and the Psalms. What do you think? Have they come true? Does Jesus – the Messiah – really keep these promises made to the ancient Israelites? Even a quick look shows us war, injustice, and violence even in nature itself. Does that mean we can’t trust...Read More

The Contradiction of Kingship

Posted on by Father Albert
Solemnity of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, C                                       November 22, 2019Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette Are you not the Christ?! Prove it! That cry has echoed in the world from even before the Crucifixion. Parents of sick children, victims of unjust war, refugees of natural disaster have all railed against the claim that an all-loving God is truly in charge. The thief is not asking about Jesus’ last name. Christ means “anointed one,” which is a synonym for King. “Are you not the Christ” is the cry to God that wonders if his...Read More