Author: Kevin Aldrich

  • Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy

    Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy

    Christ personifies mercy. He came, lived, and died to bring us salvation and sanctification. “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (Jn 3:16). One of Christ’s most touching examples of mercy was the woman caught in adultery. The Mosaic…

  • The Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A

    The Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A

    Central Idea: God elevates humanity. Doctrine and practical application: We are a priestly, prophetic, and royal people. To access Lectionary 91, click here. Reading 1: Ex 19:2-6a In those days, the Israelites came to the desert of Sinai and pitched camp. While Israel was encamped here in front of the mountain, Moses went up the mountain to…

  • Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness

    Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness

    Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied Did Christ live this beatitude? Christ said, “I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled!” (Lk 12:49). When he drove the merchants out of the Temple because they were making his Father’s house into…

  • Blessed are those who mourn

    Blessed are those who mourn

    Here is a little meditation on the second Beatitude: Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Christ embraced suffering, agony, and finally death on the cross. He was the suffering servant Isaiah prophesized (Is 53 ff.). Christ’s suffering was infinitely valuable and has saved and sanctified us. At the end of his…

  • Blessed are the poor in Spirit

    Blessed are the poor in Spirit

    To access the Doctrinal Homily Outline for Pentecost Sunday, click here then scroll down. Over the next few weeks I’ll be posting short reflections on Christ and one of his Beatitudes. The Beatitudes and Christ Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus Christ was poor in spirit. Christ…

  • Fifth Sunday of Easter

    Fifth Sunday of Easter

    Only a few of us Catholics have received the Sacrament of Holy Orders and so are part of the hierarchical and sacramental priesthood whose offices are bishop, priest, and deacon. But every one of us, by nature of our Baptism, still has a share in Christ’s priesthood through the reality of the common priesthood of…

  • New Direction for Doctrinal Homily Outlines

    New Direction for Doctrinal Homily Outlines

    Esteemed Readers, I have been writing the weekly Doctrinal Homily Outlines for the past ten years. Outlines for all the Sundays and Solemnities for all three years of the liturgical cycle can be found under the Homily Outlines tab above and then clicking on the current year, which is A. I would love to hear…

  • Fifth Sunday of Lent

    Fifth Sunday of Lent

    To access a full Doctrinal Homily Outline for the Fifth Sunday in Lent, based on Lectionary 34. click here. Central idea: Resurrection from the dead. Doctrine: Death and hope in our own resurrection. Practical application: A proper awareness of death.

  • Fourth Sunday of Lent and the Solemnity of St. Joseph

    Fourth Sunday of Lent and the Solemnity of St. Joseph

    Next Sunday is the Fourth Sunday of Lent. A Doctrinal Homily Outline for Lectionary 31 on Christ as the Light of the World can be found here. Normally, the Solemnity of St. Joseph is on March 19, but because it falls on Sunday this year, it has been moved to Monday. An outline on Joseph…

  • Third Sunday of Lent

    Third Sunday of Lent

    A complete Doctrinal Homily Outline for the Third Sunday of Lent (Lectionary 28) can be found here. The central idea is Christ the living water. The doctrine is our freedom to accept the Gospel. And the practical application is conforming our hearts to God’s will.

  • Second Sunday of Lent

    Second Sunday of Lent

    Here is the link to the Doctrinal Homily Outline for the Second Sunday of Lent The foci for Lectionary 25 are the promise of eternal life, grace, and our response.

  • First Sunday of Lent

    First Sunday of Lent

    For a complete and revised Doctrinal Homily Outline for the Lectionary 22 readings for the First Sunday of Lent in Year A, click here. The central idea explored is God is merciful to sinners. The doctrine expounded is concupiscence and self-mastery. The practical application is a way to plan some Lenten activities.