09/27/15 One and Only: Exceptional

Homily from the Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

If I see myself as one to whom the rules don’t apply…I will see myself as one to whom the grace cannot reach.

We are all tempted to fall into the trap of believing that we are the exception. The rules apply to “other people”, but they don’t apply to me. Other people should behave a certain way, but in my case, I have a “pass”. I am the exception. I am exceptional. The problem with this is that it can lead us not only into a pattern of excuses and exemption, but we can also begin to see ourselves as being the exception when it comes to God’s mercy.

Mass Readings from September 27, 2015:
Numbers 11:25-29
James 5:1-6
Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

TO DOWNLOAD THE BIBLE STUDY, COPY THE FOLLOWING LINK IN YOUR INTERNET BROWSER (Chrome, Firefox, Safari):
http://bulldogcatholic.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Exceptional.pdf

09/20/15 One and Only: Somebody Special

Homily from the Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

It matters to know why your life matters.

We all want to be someone special. Every one of us has something inside of us that wants to prove that we are unique. What do we have that proves we are worth choosing, that we are worth loving? Some people have a long list of accomplishments or qualities that seem to prove that they deserve to be the One and Only…but where does worth really come from? The answer to this question makes all the difference.

Mass Readings from September 20, 2015:
Wisdom 2:12, 17-20
James 3:16—4:3
Mark 9:30-37

TO DOWNLOAD THE BIBLE STUDY, COPY THE FOLLOWING LINK IN YOUR INTERNET BROWSER (Chrome, Firefox, Safari):
http://bulldogcatholic.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Somebody-Special.pdf

09/13/15 One Among Many?

Homily from the Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Jesus is either one among many or He is the One and Only.

In a culturally diverse world, it is easy to see Christianity as simply one more religion among many. Jesus could easily be seen as just one more holy person among many. Is there any evidence that could lead us to staking our entire lives on the Christian claim? And the entire Christian claim rises and falls on the answer to this one question: is Jesus merely one among many? Or is he the One and Only?

Mass Readings from September 13, 2015:
Isaiah 50:5-9
James 2:14-18
Mark 8:27-35

TO DOWNLOAD THE BIBLE STUDY, COPY THE FOLLOWING LINK IN YOUR INTERNET BROWSER (Chrome, Firefox, Safari):
http://bulldogcatholic.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/One-and-Only-One-Among-Many_.pdf

09/06/15 The Long Way

Homily from the Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Sometimes the long way is the best way.

So often, we can become obsessed with our destination, or distracted by the journey. Jesus took His disciples on an eight month walk so that they could learn how to live like Him.

Mass Readings from September 06, 2015:
Isaiah 35:4-7
James 2:1-5
Mark 7:31-37