Tag: Holy Spirit

You’ve Got the Power: Homily for the Ascension 2023

Posted on by Father Albert
Ascension of our Lord                                                                                                May 21, 2023Fr. Alexander Albert                                                               St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/s3uqxmmtueA [N.B. The Sunday Mass was Confirmation, preached by Fr. Blanda so this homily was only given at the Saturday 4 PM Mass] What would you do with more power? Make your own life easier? Get even with some people? Fix some local problems? What would you do with all the power? Solve world hunger? Cure diseases? Save the environment? Change laws? If I had the power to make one law that couldn’t be reversed, I’d probably make it illegal for anyone to own...Read More

Homily for the 29th Sunday of Ordinary Time: The Word of God

Posted on by Father Albert
29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, C                                                                   October 16, 2022Fr. Alexander Albert                                                               St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/wfNXcYoe0ok “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” Maybe that’s too abstract. Let’s try this, if Jesus were to appear right here, standing before you the same way I am, what would he find? Would you, for example, be able to tell him about what you’ve just heard in the readings? After all, those readings were from God’s word and as St. Paul tells Timothy in our second reading, “all Scripture is inspired...Read More

Homily for the 28th Sunday of Ordinary Time: Faith That Saves

Posted on by Father Albert
28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, C                                                                   October 9, 2022Fr. Alexander Albert                                                               St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/asAMCTLUiWI “Your faith has saved you.” Has it? Has your faith saved you? Maybe that’s a strange question for Catholics to hear, reminiscent of the protestant who inquires “have you been saved?” And yet, it is a worthy question. The fact that Jesus says it to some and not to others leaves us wondering what is the fate of those who have not been told this. Just last week we considered what faith is and isn’t, acknowledging that...Read More

Homily for the 23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time: Discipleship

Posted on by Father Albert
23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, C                                                                   September 4, 2022Fr. Alexander Albert                                                               St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/IEXvOIRenOA To choose to be where you are for the sake of love. That’s the takeaway from last week. Instead of trying to make the most money or find the most convenience, we ought to look for those places and opportunities to put ourselves in humble service to others. God himself did this, going so far as to serve us not only by preaching and teaching, by healing the sick and washing the feet of his disciples, but...Read More

Homily for the 20th Sunday of Ordinary Time: Water and Fire

Posted on by Father Albert
20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, C                                                                  August 14, 2022Fr. Alexander Albert                                                               St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/fS5JI_Jm798 Water and fire. Hearing this Gospel, it might be tempting to focus on Jesus’ promise to divide families, but we’ll miss the point of this if we miss what he’s saying about fire and water. These two have certain things in common: both can be used to cleanse and purify and both can be used to kill and destroy. Often, it is by destroying that they purify. Dirt and grime dissolve in water – are kind of...Read More

Homily for the 17th Sunday of Ordinary Time: Asking Like Children

Posted on by Father Albert
17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, C                                                                              July 24, 2022Fr. Alexander Albert                                                               St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/A0AYOaAPWkU I just spent several days with my brother, sister-in-law, and my niece and nephew. At 3 and 1 years old, as you parents know, those little ones are quite the handful. I admit I kind of enjoyed watching the chaos unfold every night as they entered into the routine of dinner, bath, and bedtime. One thing that struck me again and again – you can ask my brother and his wife how many times I commented...Read More

Homily for the 13th Sunday of Ordinary Time: Freedom Freely Given

Posted on by Father Albert
13th Sunday in Ordinary Time, C                                                                              June 26, 2022Fr. Alexander Albert                                                               St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/jn01oieesqY If I told you that today’s readings are about freedom, how would you take it? Would you perhaps point out that the 1st reading is about a man sacrificing his livelihood and leaving his family all because another man said so? Or point out that Jesus tells people that following him means giving up a home and family? But St. Paul is clear: “for freedom Christ set us free.” Jesus also tells us “the truth will...Read More

Homily for Trinity Sunday: The Mystery that Makes us Who We Are

Posted on by Father Albert
Trinity Sunday, C                                                                                                       June 12, 2022Fr. Alexander Albert                                                               St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/-Kr02irRkbY In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. This is how we’re baptized, how we begin and end everything. It’s so ingrained in us Catholics that we instinctively respond to it. It’s one of my favorite ways to quiet down a room full of Catholics – just shout it out and by the end, most people in the room have done the sign of the Cross and are now at...Read More

Pastor Column: Divino Afflante Spiritu I

Posted on by Father Albert
[Note: This is not the Sunday Homily. It is an article for the bulletin of June 12, 2022]           Next in our tour of papal documents is Pope Pius XII’s encyclical Divino Afflante Spiritu, which translates to “Inspired by the Divine Spirit.” It is Pius XII’s teaching on the interpretation of Sacred Scripture, which he published on the feast of St. Jerome, September 30, 1943. At that point in time, there was a growing interest in applying archaeological and linguistic methods to the study of scripture. Pope Leo XIII had given permission to use newer critical methods of studying scripture...Read More

Homily for Pentecost Sunday: Confirmed in Mission

Posted on by Father Albert
Pentecost Sunday                                                                                                        June 5, 2022Fr. Alexander Albert                                                               St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/YFG_PBT4EHQ “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” Do we really understand what that means? We are sent by Jesus in the same way the Father sent him. The Son of God didn’t become man… Jesus wasn’t born just to sightsee the world he created. He came with a mission. We aren’t here just to get through life. We have a mission – His mission. Sure, this command is given specifically to the Apostles, but when...Read More