Category: Homilies

Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year C                                                                                  May 26, 2019Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette What is the most difficult commandment to keep? Jesus reminds us that “whoever loves me keeps my word.” Jesus’s words – his commandments – can be challenging. Because of lust, the sixth and ninth commandments are a common struggle. It’s pretty tough to “forgive as you are forgiven.” And who doesn’t wrestle with “love your enemies?” Yet, there is one command that Jesus gives right here, and in a thousand places throughout scripture, that is quite possibly the most...Read More

Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year C                                                                              May 12, 2019Fr. Albert                                                                               St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” But, why bother? What is the reward of being such a follower? The book of Revelation promises “they will not hunger or thirst,” the “sun” and “heat” will not “strike” them, and “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Those are all great things, but you can buy food and drink, you can pay for air conditioning, and you can even get a dog to make...Read More

Divine Mercy Sunday                                                                                                 April 28, 2019Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette Doubting Thomas. Because of what we see today, that’s the unfortunate nickname this Apostle gets. It makes it sound like Thomas was the only one to have doubts. But all of the Apostles were confused and full of doubt until Jesus appears. They are no better at believing than Thomas, they just get the chance to see Jesus first. What, exactly, does Thomas doubt? Or rather, who? Jesus? Not exactly. He believes Jesus once he sees him. No, Thomas is...Read More

Good Friday                                                                                                                April 19, 2019Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette We’ve begun, during this Triduum, to explore the identity of Jesus as servant, sufferer, and savior. Last night, with the institution of the Eucharist Jesus revealed himself as an obedient servant of God, offering praise and thanksgiving to his father for saving him from death. In the washing of the feet, Jesus showed himself the willing slave… the servant of all mankind. This identity as servant inevitably leads to Christ the sufferer; that is the result of trying to serve...Read More

Homily for Palm Sun, Year C            Abuse Crisis                                        April 13, 2019Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette It’s horrendous. The evil we inflict on each other; even upon God himself. Just 30 minutes after welcoming God with palms and singing, we shout for his crucifixion. This singular moment of history – when God let himself be killed by mankind – both hides and reveals the most difficult questions of the human condition. Why so much evil? What can we do about it? God’s answer is not to ignore reality, to disregard consequences, to snap his fingers...Read More