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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Homily for the 3rd Sunday of Advent: Rejoice!

Posted on by Father Albert
3rd Sunday of Advent, B                                                                                December 13, 2020Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/lNXlwOj7IVg ♫Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you O Israel♫. That joyful refrain is from one of the best known hymns in the Christian tradition. And it is a great time to sing it since today is Gaudete Sunday, Latin word that means “rejoice.” That’s why I am wearing this bright color, because rose vestments represent great joy. The Lord is near, our salvation is at hand, and our anticipation is building. And the longer we’ve waited, the greater our joy....Read More

Homily for the Immaculate Conception: What Mary Knows

Posted on by Father Albert
Immaculate Conception                                                                                  December 8, 2020Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/qx3mpYP2VNg Mary, did you know? If you’re not familiar, that is the title of a popular song that circulates around this time of year. After centuries of being almost anti-Marian, it is encouraging to see many protestants take another look at Mary with the affection that we hear in this song. It makes for some pretty music and many people want to hear it at Church and while they’re out and about during this run up to Christmas. For all its merits, however, what...Read More

Homily for the 2nd Sunday of Advent: Why Wait?

Posted on by Father Albert
2nd Sunday of Advent, B                                                                               December 6, 2020Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/_xhplRF-n6E Why wait? It’s been a tough year, why wait to have the Christmas parties? Why not have the gifts now? It’s been a tough twenty centuries, why does God wait? Why has it taken more than 2000 years for Jesus to come again and just put an end to this mess of a world? Peter addresses that question in our second reading. His answer is simple: God waits so that we have time to repent. St. Peter tells us that...Read More

Homily for the 1st Sunday of Advent: Journey or Destination?

Posted on by Father Albert
1st Sunday of Advent, B                                                                                November 29, 2020Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/yVT9H1--wTw “It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey.” You’ve probably heard that in conversation or on TV, or perhaps read it on cards and inspirational placards. As a reminder to take our time and enjoy things on our way through life, it speaks to an important truth. Yet, taken at face value, it is actually quite wrong and dangerously so. When you apply it to life as a whole, the saying can leave a person in existential dread, wondering...Read More

Homily for Christ the King: Try To Take Over The World

Posted on by Father Albert
Christ the King, A                                                                                          November 22, 2020Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/Lzj5ANflSsQ Since today is such a special feast, what do you want to do today? The same thing we do every day, try to take over the world. That’s a reference to a favorite cartoon from childhood, one that just resurfaced this week. If you work from a Christian understanding of conquest, it’s actually a great answer. Now, words like conquest, empire and destruction probably don’t sound like Christian ideas. Yet, these are important themes for this solemn feast. The same God-man...Read More

Homily for the 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, A: The Master’s Joy

Posted on by Father Albert
33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, A                                                                  November 15, 2020Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/OgEIf095Evg I always loved and hated talents shows. Loved them because I got to see unexpected abilities and surprising creativity from friends and classmates. Hated them because I never felt like I had a talent worth sharing and felt bad for not being able to contribute. Whenever we hear this parable, I suspect that many people feel something similar. The parable even uses the word “talent,” which is actually where we get the word from. Originally it was a measurement of...Read More

Homily for the 32nd Sunday of Ordinary Time: Something Worth Counting

Posted on by Father Albert
32nd Sunday of Ordinary Time, A                                                                 November 8, 2020Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/1uiWIvBj_hY Replace “virgins” with “poll-watchers” and “oil” with “votes” and you could apply this parable to current events. People are awaiting the joyful arrival of a new president, the result is long delayed, and there’s a fair measure of foolishness involved. The whole country has been keeping a vigil long into the night… multiple nights at this point. When the final answer arrives, those who are on the wrong side, who aren’t ready to welcome the victor will more than likely...Read More

Homily for All Saints Day: The Eternal Gaze

Posted on by Father Albert
All Saints Day                                                                                                 November 1, 2020Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/GLTIEDXZD8g I used to be afraid of heaven. Really, as a child I would sometimes lie in bed at night and be overcome by dread. This haunting, existential question would play in my mind over and over and over. If I live forever, what am I going to do? What if I get bored? Not like a little bored, but like an “everything is meaningless” kind of bored. I would try to come up with little scenarios that would explain how someone...Read More

Homily for the 30th Sunday of Ordinary Time: To Turn

Posted on by Father Albert
30th Sunday of Ordinary Time, A                                                                  October 25, 2020Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/APlAuQRr7DA “For they… openly declare… and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.” Could be said of you? St. Paul is basically bragging that the Thessalonians’ service of God is so obvious that other Greek pagans are noticing and being drawn to the Gospel, to conversion. Would he say the same of the people in Jeanerette? Well, if we want that to be the case, we have to imitate their example. Notice what Paul...Read More

Homily for the 29th Sunday of Ordinary Time: Whose Image?

Posted on by Father Albert
29th Sunday of Ordinary Time, A                                                                  October 18, 2020Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/Z0uUkbw-MKg “Whose image is this?” With this question, Jesus sets up his brilliant response to the trap set for him. The pharisees and Herodians, who are normally enemies, team up to ensnare Jesus with this question about taxes. If he opposes taxes, he is guilty of treason. If he simply says to pay taxes, the Jews could accuse him of siding with the pagan Roman empire against God’s chosen people and the promised land. You see, for ancient people, religion...Read More