Homily for the Solemnity of Christ the King: Justice and Mercy

Christ the King, C                                                                                           November 20, 2022Fr. Alexander Albert                                                               St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/0oCRms2gkmw “We have been condemned justly.” Have we? Since the beginning of the Church, there have been those who keep coming back to the same error, the same mistake: the idea that our condemnation isn’t really just, that damnation just can’t be real. There are a lot of subtle and clever arguments to support the idea that everyone goes to heaven – we call it universalism – but it seems to me there is always something beneath the surface…...Read More

Homily for the 26th Sunday of Ordinary Time, C: Worries of Wealth

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, C                                                                   September 25, 2022Fr. Alexander Albert                                                               St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/j3869UiivJk There’s not much room for soft balling here: Jesus talks about caring for the poor so much and there’s only so many ways to rephrase it. So, I’ll keep it pretty straightforward. Care for the poor or you will go to hell. The rich man didn’t kill anyone. It doesn’t say that he lied or stole or cheated or commit adultery or skip church. It simply says he was rich and comfortable while Lazarus was poor. Then...Read More

Homily for the 21st Sunday of Ordinary Time: Strive

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, C                                                                   August 21, 2022Fr. Alexander Albert                                                               St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/bvUNadKwPHM What are you really after? When you ask a question like “will only a few people be saved,” what is the real question? The deeper motivation? I think it could be several things; most of them aren’t good. Most of them come back to pride. We might want to know how many people will be saved out of a simple desire to have the answer. The one who asks Jesus this question is probably thinking about a...Read More

Homily for the Immaculate Conception: Destiny and Freedom

Immaculate Conception                                                                                 December 8, 2021Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/WaT2iEGRTls Destiny. What is destiny? What do we mean when we say something is a person’s destiny? That they have no choice? That life is beyond their control? I ask because St. Paul tells us we are “destined” for adoption by God through Jesus Christ. We have been “chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will.” And what is his will? “That we might exist for the praise of his...Read More

Homily for the 6th Sunday of Easter: Complete Person, Complete Joy

6th Sunday of Easter, B                                                                                              May 9, 2021Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/QDA_Q1Qbjb8 “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy might be complete.” Perfect! Isn’t that exactly what we want… what we’ve been talking about this whole Easter season? Who doesn’t want complete joy? Well then, what is it Jesus says that makes this possible? “If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.” That kind of sounds...Read More