April 21, 2024 by frbillnicholas Vocations – Why the Shortage? Sunday Homily4th Sunday o Advent – B“Good Shepherd Sunday” For “Good Shepherd Sunday” Fr. Bill preaches on the reasons for the shortage of Priests and Religious Brothers and Sisters. How we Pray for Vocations may have a lot to do with it.
March 17, 2024 by frbillnicholas ST. PATRICK OF IRELAND AND THE CONFIDENCE OF CHRISTIANS Homily5th Sunday of Lent / St. Patrick’s DayJohn 12:20-33 The Second Half of the Gospel of John presents a Confident Jesus, determined to carry out His Father’s will. St. Patrick evangelized Ireland with the same zeal and surety in his message and mission. Fr. Bill ties the two together, including a prayer from among the earliest tradition of Christian evangelization as the Church begins the final days and weeks of the Season of Lent.
February 18, 2024 by frbillnicholas TEMPTING THE TEMPTER The Temptations of Jesus in the Desert———Homily – First Sunday of Lent Fr. Bill preaches on the Temptation of Jesus and how engaging fully in the practices, observances, penances and sacrifices during Lent actually invite temptation as part of the Spiritual Exercises of the season.
December 31, 2023 by frbillnicholas FAITH, FAMILY & FREEDOM Homily for HOLY FAMILY SUNDAYLuke 2:22-40 The stability of any Society depends on the stability of the Family. Fr. Bill preaches on how the Holy Family of Joseph, Mary and Jesus symbolizes God’s entry and sanctification of the basic element of a free and stable society, the basic component of the Church, and ultimately, a basic symbol of God’s gift of Freedom.
December 24, 2023 by frbillnicholas THE RETURN OF DAVID THE KING – JRR Tolkien and the Annunciation “All that is gold does not glitter….”Homily – 4th Sunday of Advent – BLuke 1:26-38 J.R.R. Tolkien’s poem featured in “The Fellowship of the Ring” speaks strongly to the history of Israel, leading up the birth of Jesus and culminating in the Annunciation of Gabriel to the Virgin Mary. Fr. Bill preaches on the history of the Dynasty of King David and what the Angel Gabriel says about it when he announces the impending birth of Jesus.
December 17, 2023 by frbillnicholas The “Other Messiah” – John the Baptist Homily – 3rd Sunday of Advent Many believed John the Baptist was the Messiah, until he pointed out Jesus as the one who was to come after him. Fr. Bill preaches on the mysterious person of John the Baptist, who he may have been, what the Gospels tell of him, and how the Church came to understand his important role in relation to Jesus.
December 10, 2023 by frbillnicholas PUTTING ADVENT BACK INTO CHRISTMAS Homily – 2nd Sunday of Advent—-Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11 Christians declare “Put Christ Back Into Christmas”. Fr. Bill preaches on how we can put ADVENT back into Christmas.
November 5, 2023 by frbillnicholas “Call No One Father” – Here we go again! Homily – 31st Sunday of the Year – AMatthew 23:1-12 Father Bill addresses the command of Jesus to “call no one on earth YOUR Father”, as well as the places in the Gospel when Jesus calls out the Pharisees and Sadducees and appears to bemoan the “heavy burdens” associated with the Law of God.
October 22, 2023 by frbillnicholas “SEPARATION OF CHURCH & STATE” – Rendering Unto Caesar Homily – 29th Sunday of the Year – AMatthew 22:15-21 The United States has a particular approach to the “Separation of Church and State”. Fr. Bill explains how this country understands this doctrine, how it was incorporated into the nation’s Founding, how we get it wrong today, and how it perfectly expresses Jesus’ admonition to “render to Caesar…”
October 1, 2023 by frbillnicholas A CHRISTIAN ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT PARABLE OF THE 2 SONS & THE 4 CHILDRENHomily – 26th Sunday of the Year – AMatthew 21:28-32 What is the disposition we have regarding living and worshipping as Christians? Fr. Bill preaches on Christ’s Parable of the Two Sons and the Jewish Passover Parable of the Four Children and speaks of how Christians in general and Catholics in Particular can examine and adjust the dispositions from which we all approach our calling to live and worship as followers of Christ.