Tag: Prayer

Homily for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God: God’s Resemblance

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Mary, Mother of God                                                                                     January 1, 2023Fr. Alexander Albert                                                               St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/vD-o9vVEijQ What is a “person?” There are many questions and debates around personhood. Is it intelligence that makes a person? Free will? A soul? These are all important facets, but for human beings, a person is usually associated with something tangible. You cannot see the essence of a person in the abstract, but you can picture their face, recognize their voice, recall a scent, remember an embrace. Of these, perhaps none is more emblematic of a person than their face. Babies are naturally interested...Read More

Homily for Christmas: The Sudden Arrival of Hope

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Christmas                                                                                                        December 25, 2022Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/Gs6_kJf5w6k Allow me to tell you a story… a parable of sorts. Sometime in the past, there once was a man with his daughter. A loving father, a devoted daughter. Living in Australia in its early days, they were both eager to discover what life was like in the old world. After a careless choice by the daughter on the journey, they were separated. Each knowing that the other would not turn back, they resolved to continue the journey, hoping to be reunited along the way. So...Read More

Homily for the 30th Sunday of Ordinary Time: The Most Dangerous Thing

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30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, C                                                                   October 23, 2022Fr. Alexander Albert                                                               St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/eO2TW99OllY “At least I’m not like…” If your thought, your sentence begins with those words, you’ve probably already messed up. As straightforward as this parable is, it’s one of the easiest for people to misapply. Millennia of Christian influence on culture has made it so that we too quickly identify ourselves with the tax collector. Just because we hear the word ‘pharisee’ so often, we assume we know what it means. And all too often we instinctively follow...Read More

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

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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

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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 27th Sunday of Ordinary Time: What Faith Isn’t

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27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, C                                                                   October 2, 2022Fr. Alexander Albert                                                               St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/LlcdLUKsOB4 It’s not just willpower, you know. Faith is not stirring up some kind interior resolve to summon mystical powers and do the impossible. When Jesus gives this example of the mustard seed moving the mulberry tree, he doesn’t mean that if you dig down enough and just believe in yourself, you can levitate giant trees into the ocean. You see, faith is not just willpower or self-confidence. Faith is a virtue. Now, I say that – “faith...Read More

Homily for the 25th Sunday of Ordinary Time: Whom You Serve

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25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, C                                                                   September 18, 2022Fr. Alexander Albert                                                               St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/skWhxMdJTgY What just happened? If you were a little confused by that parable, you’re not alone. Most scripture scholars agree that this is the most confusing parable Jesus tells. Of course, that’s part of what parables are for: to confuse us a little and make us think. Still, what happened? The basic story of the parable is this: a man stole from his boss and when he got caught, he stole from him again, but did it in...Read More

Homily for the 18th Sunday of Ordinary Time: Love That Does Not Retire

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18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, C                                                                              July 31, 2022Fr. Alexander Albert                                                               St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/lOGd5Us241w What’s the plan? Get a decent job, make enough money to get a home, raise a family, save up, and retire? And then what? Relax, go on trips, enjoy nice things? Sounds pretty good doesn’t it? That’s kind of the standard American vision of a good life. But is it the Catholic one? Well, what does St. Paul say about it? “If you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at...Read More

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

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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 Corpus Christi: Assisting Communion

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Corpus Christi, C                                                                                                        June 19, 2022Fr. Alexander Albert                                                               St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/jPNItdt2kdY Ado You may have heard that the US Bishops are launching a kind of Eucharistic Revival in our country over the next few years. To start that off, Bishop Deshotel has asked us to read this letter from him to you: “Dear Friends in Christ, The Church celebrates this weekend the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of the Lord. The celebration invites us to reflect on that most precious gift given to us by Our Savior...Read More