Tag: Sin

That We Might See: Homily for the 4th Sunday of Lent

Posted on by Father Albert
4th Sunday Lent, A                                                                                          March 19, 2023Fr. Alexander Albert                                                              St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/pgY0F1AJOE0 “Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes on a sabbath.” This line is an important clue to what’s going on here. Do you know what it’s telling us? What reference it’s making that helps us understand?... Whenever the New Testament says or describes something we don’t understand, it’s a good idea to ask “what part of the Old Testament is this referring to?” This is a great tip – people are always coming up with crazy theories about the book of...Read More

Homily for the 1st Sunday of Lent: What We Eat

Posted on by Father Albert
1st Sunday Lent, A                                                                                          February 26, 2023Fr. Alexander Albert                                                              St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/d16N75iYsrY Why does eating a piece of fruit condemn all of humanity to death and destruction? Why does it matter so much what we eat? Well, if someone is hanging from a cliff by a rope, ask them why it would matter if you cut that rope. The poetic language of the creation story talks about fruit and trees, but it’s really conveying to us our place in the universe. Adam and Eve had no say in how gravity works, how the chemical...Read More

Homily for Ash Wednesday: Why are you Here?

Posted on by Father Albert
Ash Wednesday                                                                                              February 22, 2023Fr. Alexander Albert                                                              St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/NmYF9BYwq58 Why are you here? Why take the time? It’s not a Holy Day of Obligation. It’s the middle of the week, so it’s not exactly convenient for people working today and probably an interruption for those on vacation. Now, I am glad you’re here, but the question is still important because how you answer that question determines whether or not this time is wasted. Is it to just to get ashes smeared on your forehead? I hope you realize that these ashes aren’t magical....Read More

Homily for the 2nd Sunday of Advent: Poison and Fire

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2nd Sunday of Advent, A                                                                                December 4, 2022Fr. Alexander Albert                                                               St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/a8ZR_5PdF2w “You brood of vipers!” So much for Christmas cheer. John the Baptist says this to the Pharisees and Sadducees, but it’s not like he’s caught them doing something terrible. These are the ones who came to him! They traveled out of the city all the way to the Jordan river to hear him preach. They came to be baptized! People often say pastors should just be grateful that people show up… that they shouldn’t get caught up...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 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 Assumption of Mary, 2022: The Heights of Desire

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Assumption of the BVM                                                                                 August 15, 2022Fr. Alexander Albert                                                               St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/QK2PRZQNZjU “The woman herself fled into the desert where she had a place prepared by God.” That cuts to the heart of what we’re celebrating in this solemn feast. Mary had a place prepared for her by God and, in order to show us what’s in store, God raised her up body and soul to go to that place. It makes sense that the very body which carried the son of God should be spared from corruption. Many traditions agree...Read More

Homily for the 5th Sunday of Lent: The Seriousness of Sin

Posted on by Father Albert
Lent Sun 5, C                                                                                                  April 3, 2022Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/QgizjQEXI7Y Imagine if this scenario went a bit differently. Let’s say Jesus was walking through Jerusalem and came across a small group of people. Let’s say one of them was this woman who had committed adultery and that someone else in the group casually mentioned that fact and then, after some awkward moments, the rest of the group walks away and Jesus is left alone with the woman. He then looks at her and says, “don’t worry about your past, just try to...Read More

Homily for the 3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time: Present to the Word

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3rd Sunday OT, C                                                                                           January 23, 2022Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/EOW_ul5yMjA Normally I preach for 10 minutes but in honor of Ezra reading from “daybreak until midday,” how does an hour sound? Not long enough? How about 3? No, but we should take God’s word seriously. The Gospel ends with Jesus saying “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” Not “fulfilled in your presence.” Not “fulfilled at this time.” In. Your. Hearing. The Word of God is fulfilled not just in being proclaimed, but in being heard, received, made fruitful. The question...Read More

Homily for All Saints Day 2021: To Ascend the Mountain

Posted on by Father Albert
All Saints Day                                                                                                 November 1, 2021Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/Y-Gh-k4lSQk “Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD? or who may stand in his holy place?” So our psalm asks… it’s a version of the question “who goes to heaven?” Fitting on All Saints Day, the day we celebrate all those who have gone to heaven, whether we know their name or not. This is a day of joy, of celebration, of victory, of thanksgiving… the very meaning of the word Eucharist. Yet, it is also a day of wondering, “what will it take for...Read More