Author: Kevin Aldrich
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Pentecost
Pentecost is the event “where God the Father ‘through his Word, pours into our hearts the Gift that contains all gifts, the Holy Spirit’” (CCC 1082, HD 56). St. Thomas Aquinas teaches that “Gift” is a proper name of the person of the Holy Spirit, who proceeds from the Father and Son as love. Thomas…
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The Ascension or Seventh Sunday of Easter
Christ is in heaven, seated at the right hand of the Father, interceding for us. He is the way: he is both our destination and the road by which we travel. We can be with him by being like him. We who are on the earth-side of this way can say to him, I’ll do…
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Sixth Sunday of Easter
The readings for Lectionary 57 are here. The Homiletic Directory offers the following Catechism points and themes for the Sixth Sunday of Easter: CCC 2746-2751: Christ’s prayer at the Last Supper CCC 243, 388, 692, 729, 1433, 1848: the Holy Spirit as Advocate/Consoler CCC 1965-1974: the New Law fulfills the Old CCC 865, 869, 1045, 1090,…
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Fifth Sunday of Easter
The Gospel reading from St. John for the Fifth Sunday of Easter is short but profound. It is Christ’s New Commandment. I give you a new commandment: love one another.As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.This is how all will know that you are my disciples,if you have love for…
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Fourth Sunday of Easter
The Lectionary 51 readings are some of the most consoling we encounter in Sacred Scripture. Christ and the Father are one. We belong to them. God will wipe every tear from our eyes. Each of the two outlines from the archives focuses on the central idea that Christ is the Good Shepherd. One of them,…
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Third Sunday of Easter
Lectionary readings for the Third Sunday of Easter is no. 48. The Gospel reading is from John: Jesus’ post-Resurrection appearance to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberius. From the archives, here is a full updated outline with the following foci: Central Idea: Christ is our King, but Peter and the Apostles are his princes. Doctrine: The primacy…
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Second Sunday of Easter
The Second Sunday of Easter is also called Divine Mercy Sunday. Lectionary readings (45). The Gospel from John is (1st) Our Lord’s appearance to the apostles on Easter evening with his gift to them of the power to forgive sins and (2nd) His appearance the following Sunday and his encounter with Thomas. For a full…
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Easter Sunday
Here are links to four outlines for Easter Sunday. The Easter Vigil readings The joyful resurrection of Christ and of us The Lord’s Day and walking with the Holy Spirit The Resurrection of Christ and our resurrection Please note that Doctrinal Homily Outlines will quit Facebook at the end of April. To receive notices of…
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Palm Sunday
Pastoral considerations suggest a fairly short homily on Palm Sunday due to the length of the Lectionary readings. For an outline that focuses on various salvific insights from the readings, click here. For an outline that focuses on perhaps the key reading, St. Paul’s account of Christ self-emptying, click here. The Homiletic Directory offers the…
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Fifth Sunday of Lent
The Gospel for Year C is Christ’s merciful love shown to the woman caught in adultery. For an outline that focuses on knowing Christ better, click here.
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Fourth Sunday of Lent
The Gospel for Year C is the Parable of the Prodigal Son. For an outline that focuses on the Sacrament of Confession, click here. For an outline that focuses on our need for continual conversion, click here.
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Third Sunday of Lent
Lord, with your help, may I bear good fruit in this life. The Gospel for Year C is Jesus’ warning about sudden death (some folks Pilate had slaughtered and some who died when a tower collapsed) and about our need to bear good fruit (the parable of the unfruitful fig tree). For an outline focusing…