A Lectionary-based resource for homilists and the lay faithful
We begin a new liturgical year with the First Sunday of Advent. The Lectionary readings for this day give us glimpses of our heavenly home, first in its earthly image as earthly Jerusalem and finally as heaven itself. Our readings exort us to live so as to be ready to […] Read more »
For a revised and updated Doctrinal Homily Outline for the Solemnity of Christ the King, the last Sunday of the liturgical year, click here. The foci are: Central Idea: Christ is the King of the Universe. Doctrine: He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead. […] Read more »
Do I live an orderly life? In other words, am I practicing the four cardinal virtues, enlightened by the Gospel and strengthened by grace: Prudence (seeing what God wants me to do), Justice (doing what God wants me to do), Fortitude (courage and toughness when fear or weakness are obstacles […] Read more »
In this life, it is a special joy to know you are a friend of God. How do God’s friends behave? They pray. They tell the truth. They persevere in doing God’s will. What do God’s friends expect from God? God’s friends expect God’s justice: That he will do as […] Read more »
For a revised and updated doctrinal homily outline for the Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time, click here. The themes are Central Idea: God’s loving goodness. Doctrine: God is love. Practical Application: Divine reading. As was the case with Zacchaeus, blatant sinners can sometimes make a more dramatic conversion to God […] Read more »
Here is the link to a doctrinal homily outline for the Solemnity of All Saints. The doctrinal and practical foci are the beatitude of heaven and the Beatitudes. The Beatitudes are a self-portrait of Jesus Christ, a picture of the lives of the saints, and a blueprint for how we […] Read more »
Here is the link to an updated and revised outline for the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The Gospel includes Christ’s parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. Here are the subjects explored: Central Idea: God is just and merciful. Doctrine: Justification. Practical Application: A life of justice and […] Read more »
Here is the link to a revised and updated outline for the Twenty-Ninth Sunday. It is all about the virtue of perseverence. Moses needed the help of two men to persevere in holding up his arms so that Israel would prevail in battle. In the Gospel, Our Lord counsels us to […] Read more »
God desires to share his goodness, truth, beauty, love, and happiness with beings that would not exist if he did not create them. Lower creatures, lacking consciousness and reason, show but don’t know God’s glory. As conscious and rational beings, we both show and can know God’s glory. Through Christ, […] Read more »
“The faithful exercise their baptismal priesthood through their participation, each according to his own vocation, in Christ’s mission as priest, prophet, and king” (CCC 1546). The laity exercise the common priesthood of the faithful by offering up their lives and work, by living and proclaiming the truth, and by carrying […] Read more »
In the second reading, for the Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary time, St. Paul admonishes Timothy with words that apply just as much to ourselves: But you, man of God, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. Compete well for the faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which you […] Read more »
Here is the link to a revised and updated Doctrinal Homily Outline for the Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time for Year C. Central Idea: Loving persons over things. Doctrine: Four forms of justice. Practical Application: Becoming more just. If you enjoyed this article, get email updates (it’s free) Read more »
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Perfect and imperfect contrition. Examination of conscience. Read more »
Natural and supernatural prudence Read more »
According to David Isaacs, “A humble person recognizes his own inadequacy, qualities and abilities, and presses them into service, doing good without attracting attention or expecting the applause of others.” Here is the link to an updated are revised doctrinal homily outline for the Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time for […] Read more »