Liturgical Seasons and Celebrations

Regarding Feast Days and Liturgical Seasons

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The LION, the WITCH and the ASCENSION OF JESUS

Homily for Ascension Sunday – Year A
Matthew 28:16-20

Fr. Bill discusses the novels of C.S. Lewis, and the priorities Jesus left with us when He Ascended into Heaven. He also addresses the importance of Creation and the Eschaton in relation to those priorities as we await, hope in and expect the eventual Return of Jesus at the End of Time.

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STOP PRAYING FOR VOCATIONS!!

Good Shepherd Sunday
4th Sunday of Easter

Fr. Bill addresses the shortage of Vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life in the Catholic Church. He proposes a shocking reason why he thinks God has been answering our prayers all along, and what Catholics can do to stem the tide of the decline so as to ensure a future increase in vocations.

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JESUS WANTS US TO BE PERFECT

Sunday Homily
7th Sunday of the Year – A
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Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18
Matthew 5:38-48

“Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Is such a thing even possible? Was Jesus serious when he said this? What are we to make of it if perfection is impossible for humanity?

Fr. Bill preaches on these words of Jesus; why they were uttered; why we are expected, even commanded to be perfect, not as a suggestion, but as a mandate; and ways God has given us to achieve this seemingly impossible command.

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IN SEARCH OF . . . . JOHN THE BAPTIST

Homily – 2nd Sunday of the Year – A
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John 1:29-34

Fr. Bill preaches on the different accounts of John the Baptist between the Four Gospels and what we can learn about the possible historical dynamic between Jesus, John and their respective followers, and the final resolution regarding both men’s role in the overall plan of God.

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DEATH OF POPE BENEDICT XVI

Homily for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
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Luke

Fr Bill eulogizes Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.

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CHRISTMAS IS A NATIONAL RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY

Fr. Bill returns to his podcast to talk about Christmas not only as a secular observance, but one in which even atheists give a nod to the birth of Jesus just by virtue of celebrating Christmas (however they do it).  Christmas is also a national reminder of our “First Freedom” as Americans — which is not the Freedom of Speech (at best, that is the Second Freedom).

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EUCHARISTIC RENEWAL in the SEASON OF ADVENT

Celebrating the Church’s New Year
Homily for the First Sunday of Advent – Year A
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Matthew 24:37-44

Advent marks the beginning of the New Year, 2023 for the Catholic Church. Fr. Bill preaches on the Eucharistic Renewal and New Year’s resolutions that can help our celebration of the Eucharist become fuller, more vibrant and more substantial as we await Christ’s Return in Glory.

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NOT A DAY TO BE “THANKFUL”

Thanksgiving Day Homily

Fr. Bill preaches on Thanksgiving Day, making a distinction between “BEING Thankful” and “GIVING Thanks”. He also talks about the importance of Thanksgiving Day as a National Holiday that expresses the true Heart and Soul of our Nation, more than any other day of the year.

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ARE YOU JEWISH OR PAGAN? — Looking Backwards to Jesus’ 2nd Coming

Sunday Homily
Solemnity of Christ the King
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Luke 23:35-43

Pagans saw time and history as an endless cycle. Jewish (and Christian) people see time and history as linear.

Fr. Bill preaches on the Solemnity of Christ the King, the end of the Year 2022, and how we prepare for Christ’s Second Coming by looking Backwards to the previous year, in preparation of the year ahead.

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HAS JESUS ABANDONED US?

Homily
ASCENSION SUNDAY

Fr. Bill preaches the Ascension of Jesus Christ, the Shooting Massacre at Robb Elementary School in Texas, and whether, in Ascending into Heaven, Jesus may, in fact, have abandoned us to our fate.