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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

Homily for the 28th Sunday of Ordinary Time: The Feast of Hope

28th Sunday of Ordinary Time, A                                                                  October 11, 2020Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/UyhN9eSo6tA And the award for the most commonly misused bible quote goes to “I can do all things in [Christ] who strengthens me.” Bumper stickers, business logos, sports mottos, and many others love to use this uplifting quote. And why not? Life can be tough, so people often need a reminder that there is hope, that we can survive. The problem is that using this quote incorrectly will only make things worse. When you use this to motivate a sports team...Read More

Homily for CHS Ring Mass: Loving Through Disgust

Memorial St. Francis Xavier Seelos, Monday, Week 27 OT                         October 5, 2020Fr. Albert                                                                                            St. Peter's, New Iberia Disgusting. Probably dead or will be soon, the man oozing fluids on the side of the road should be avoided. I’ve got to get to work… I’ve got to stay clean so I can keep my responsibilities… I’m too rushed and it won’t help anyway. Maybe going over there will put me in danger too. These thoughts, or something like them, probably went through the minds of the priest and Levite as they passed by the beaten man. In 1866,...Read More

Homily for the 27th Sunday of Ordinary Time: Have No Anxiety

27th Sunday of Ordinary Time, A (focus on 2nd reading)                             October 4, 2020Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/PLIfPvti7nA “Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.” Does that statement make you anxious? The Jewish leaders that Jesus is talking to are certainly anxious. The life and teaching of Jesus threaten to change their hard-won power in Jerusalem and their anxiety and anger drive them to the point of having Jesus arrested, tortured, and executed. As God turns...Read More