Tag: Heaven

Why Do Anything? Homily for the 2nd Sunday of Lent 2026

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2nd Sunday of Lent, A                                                                                  March 1, 2026Fr. Alexander Albert                                                            St. Mary Magdalen, Abbeville https://youtu.be/IN8w68Tje-o “It is good that we are here!” Why is it good? “Because we see Jesus in glory!” “Why do we want that?” This past week, I pestered the 6th grade boys with this kind of questioning. Every time they answered why we should want something, I would ask, “why do we want that?” Now that we’re in the heart of Lent and some of the things we’re doing can begin to weigh on us, we might ask ourselves, “why are we doing this?” You might...Read More

A Heavenly Hunger: Homily for the 4th Sunday OT 2026

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4th Sunday of Ordinary Time, A                                                             February 1, 2026Fr. Alexander Albert                                                           St. Mary Magdalen, Abbeville https://youtu.be/DAKE9jarScg Are you unsatisfied? Is something missing, something not quite right? Do you often wake up or fall asleep with the nagging sense that there’s something you want but don’t yet have? Like maybe you’re hungry, but not quite sure if it’s real hunger or just boredom… that you don’t even know what you want to eat? And after the late-night snack or the early morning breakfast, does that vacancy, that subtle emptiness still tug at the edge of your mind? Good. If any...Read More

The Heat of Salvation: Homily for the 33rd Sunday OT 2025

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33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, C                                                      November 16, 2025Fr. Alexander Albert                                                           St. Mary Magdalen, Abbeville https://youtu.be/3WYBnlvJBVk “Blazing like an oven.” How does that make you feel? To hear that the “day of the Lord,” the day of Jesus’ return, the end of the world is coming “blazing like an oven?” Well, to a piece of wood or straw, to something or someone who would be destroyed by fire, that must be terrifying. But what if you’re the unfinished pie, full of the right ingredients but needing heat to bring together the delicious perfection you’re meant to be? What if...Read More

The Odds of Sanctity: Homily for All Saints Day 2025

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All Saints Day                                                                              November 1, 2025Fr. Alexander Albert                                                          St. Mary Magdalen, Abbeville https://youtu.be/RjiaxZJncGA Saints are exceptional people, aren’t they? Heroic leaders, bold preachers, prophetic speakers, miracle workers, lifelong witnesses to love, brave martyrs… our spiritual hall of fame is full of some amazing people whom even the world sometimes acknowledge as the best of the best. There are an estimated 11,000 official saints in the Catholic Church, all of whom we celebrate today. But that’s not all we celebrate today. For all the ones we know of, there are far more we do not – some of whom...Read More

Building God’s Kingdom: Stewardship Homily 26th Sunday OT 2025

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26th Sunday of Ordinary Time, C                                                                   September 28, 2025Fr. Alexander Albert                                                               St. Mary Magdalen, Abbeville https://youtu.be/EVg8DU3e1rU “The Big Church.” When a small town has multiple churches, I often hear that phrase “the big church.” Especially in Acadiana, that tends to be the largest Catholic Church in the area. Usually, “the Big Church” is not only physically imposing, it’s got a long history, a lot of people, and a lot of stuff going on. In Abbeville, we are the “Big Church,” which makes sense. Look at this place! Big, beautiful, historic, lots of people. Thanks to your generosity, this Church...Read More

Approaching Angels: Homily for the 22nd Sunday OT 2025

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22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time, C                   Confirmation                           August 31, 2025Fr. Alexander Albert                                                               St. Mary Magdalen, Abbeville https://youtu.be/o8x7dHl8nBg N.B. This Mass featured a confirmation. The homily is slightly different from those given at the other weekend Masses. “You have approached…” That’s what our second reading tells us and that is especially true for you today, Jacob. Confirmation is a sacrament of initiation, a sacred ritual that draws you more fully into the Church. Unlike the old testament, the old covenant, this approach isn’t on a mountain with fire and trumpet blasts and the terrifying, booming voice of God. Though...Read More

To Be Strong Enough: Homily for the 21st Sunday OT 2025

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21st Sunday of Ordinary Time, C                                                                   August 24, 2025Fr. Alexander Albert                                                               St. Mary Magdalen, Abbeville https://youtu.be/-vS2vH33qVw Ever heard the phrase, “famous for being famous?” For my generation, it was the Kardashians. For younger kids, there are probably a bunch of social media “influencers” who fall in this category. It’s people who just kind of “got famous” by just hanging around famous people, chasing clout and “aura farming,” until they can market themselves as famous enough to get paid for it. For one in every 10 million people or so, it kinda works. Not that it makes them happy. Jim...Read More

Bodily Destiny: Homily for the Assumption of Mary 2025

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Assumption of Mary                                                                                       August 15, 2025Fr. Alexander Albert                                                              St. Mary Magdalen, Abbeville https://youtu.be/B6AP96HWFv4 Before he died, my grandfather was fond of giving me unsolicited advice on what priests needed to preach about more. Some of his favorite topics were the kingship of Jesus Christ, final judgment, the power of prayer, and the resurrection. To make his point about that last one, he would sometimes share a story about a conversation he had with a friend at lunch one day. While trying to convince his friend to take his faith more seriously, my grandfather started talking about how amazing...Read More

Thy Kingdom Come… Where? Homily for the 19th Sunday OT 2025

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19th Sunday of Ordinary Time, C                                                                   August 10, 2025Fr. Alexander Albert                                                              St. Mary Magdalen, Abbeville https://youtu.be/nxXZdCHeD7g What is faith? Once, a teacher asked that question to a group of children. One little boy raised his hand and said, “it’s believing something even when you know it’s not true!” Where did he get such an idea? I doubt anyone said those exact words to him. Someone probably told him that with their actions. Children don’t usually get hypocrisy, so they simply take in and imitate what they see. Why did that boy think Faith is believing something you know is...Read More

The Wealth of Judgment: Homily for the 18th Sunday OT 2025

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18th Sunday of Ordinary Time, C                                                                   August 3, 2025Fr. Alexander Albert                                                              St. Mary Magdalen, Abbeville https://youtu.be/rgCDUWrgduk “Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?” Uh, friend Jesus, our Father did. In Acts chapter 10, Peter the chief apostle outright says, Jesus “commissioned us to preach to the people and testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead.” So, is Jesus being forgetful or is he just trolling this guy? Actually, “trolling him” isn’t far off. If you’re unfamiliar, that expression is used to describe when someone purposely says things more...Read More