Fr. Andrew’s Confirmation Homily Podcast
This homily was given to the Confirmation candidates from St. Francis Xavier and Cathedral of Christ the King on May 1, 2015 at the joint Confirmation liturgy hosted at St. Francis Xavier.
May we stay connected to the Holy Spirit to empower our lives, as we uniquely and personally share the gifts and blessings we have received with one another!
Fr. Andrew’s Easter Homily Podcast (7 minutes)
This homily was given on April 5, 2015 at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Superior, WI.
Their lives were changed; the sorrow cast from the shadow of the Cross is now transformed by resurrection glory…He’s alive! The grace of Jesus Christ inspired the disciples to go out to the world – carrying their crosses – with the power of the Lord’s triumph.
Christ brings this transformation to us today; his power continues to work in the world. May we open our hearts to the resurrection…and be transformed!
This is the 4th of four presentations given at a Parish Mission on March 9-12, 2015 for Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church in Green Valley, Arizona.
Fr. Andrew’s Presentation Podcast #4 – Easter (33 minutes)
The power of the Resurrection and subsequent outpouring of the Holy Spirit transforms the disciples – they have encountered the Risen Lord and no longer fear sin and death. Rather, they engage the world with Good News and share the gift of their lives with power and joy. This transformation must always be understood through the double lens of the Cross/Resurrection; only with a clear understanding of the sacrifice of Christ can we begin to truly appreciate the gift of Eternal Life. Two key concepts surface:
Our STRENGTH comes from the Lord. Through our daily encounter with Christ through prayer and sacrament we our empowered to choose our attitude and seek opportunities to live our faith in the unique and precious moments of each day.
Furthermore, the Good News of Christ leads to a SUNRISE of HOPE. We recognize that our personal witness is most authentic when our lives exude the hope and joy that come from Christ’s resurrection. Guided by the Fruits of the Spirit, we can honestly look within our hearts and cast out anything that keeps us from God and one another.
The Cathedral hosted the Youth Rally on March 18, 2015. This homily was given to the 400+ youth who came together for adoration, a keynote talk from Joel Stepanek, and Mass.
Fr. Andrew’s Youth Rally Homily Podcast
Keep praying for our youth that the Lord will touch and bless their lives with grace, wisdom, and strength!
Study: Consider a time in life when you used power and authority well. What helped and guided you?
Pray: Ask the Lord for the wisdom and courage to live your life in accordance with God’s commands.
Serve: How can you make a difference with your life today? What is in your reach to do that makes an immediate difference?
4th Sunday of the Year Readings
Fr. Andrew’s Homily Podcast
In great and small ways, we all exercise power and authority. Some people make daily decisions that shape the lives of nations; others rule kingdoms no bigger than the back garden. Yet regardless of size and shape, the fact remains that power and authority are part of human life.
Having these two dynamic attributes, however, are no guarantee that they will be used wisely and well. History is filled with both good and bad examples where power and authority have been used – for great good and great harm.
Like all gifts, power and authority find their origin in the Lord. God is the source of all life, and every blessing, every ability, derives its strength from the throne of Heaven. Both the first reading and the Gospel today acknowledge this truth: Moses proclaims that God will raise up a future prophet for the people; Jesus teaches with authority and casts out demons. As Christ fulfills the promise of Moses, the Lord extends his power to conquer sin and death that we might have hope in this world as we look to the world to come.
In light of these readings two thoughts emerge for consideration:
Think about it. We often know what we should do…the question is, do we do it?! The Lord’s commands (forgiveness, prayer, service to the poor, justice, etc.) are not nice things to think about in our spare time. They are dictates from on high that are meant to enliven us and fill us with grace, peace, and joy. The problem of course is that our own ego can get in the way and redirect our energy away from God. In these moments, we search our conscience (Remember the Examination of Conscience last week?) and return to the Lord.
And while we are examining our hearts, we have the opportunity to put into practice the power and authority we have in a 1001 ways. Consider:
Since all power comes from God and flows through us, it might be helpful to recall that one day we are going to stand before Jesus Christ. With loving eyes he will look into our souls and ask what we did with the gift of life we were given. It’s not the mistakes we made that will be hardest to bear, but the opportunities we missed to good with what we had. Perhaps today we might reflect on the Lord’s commands for our lives, and reconsider how we might put them into practice with the power we possess.
Study: Recall a time when you were entrusted with power. How did you use it?
Pray: Ask the Lord for guidance over the things and situations in your control right now.
Serve: How can you help someone who is struggling with a decision of leadership? How can you offer solid support?
21st Sunday of the Year Readings
Take a look at the keys in your pocket. As you hold them, think about what they do:
Keys allow us access and empower us with authority. Keys give us control over our physical world and they help us to use resources wisely and well. They are also symbols that speak to identity and purpose – just think about what happens when our keys are lost or taken from us….
In the first reading and the Gospel today we discover the power of God’s keys:
These promises to Eliakim and St. Peter are mighty – they will receive the power, authority,and responsibility from God lead and guide. Consider these three points:
Power: they receive the strength and ability to carry out the work entrusted to them. Power gives them resources and skills to accomplish great things. Without power they are weak; with God’s power they can do more than they ever dreamed possible.
Authority: these keys are a sign of leadership and respect. The keys they possess allow them to direct and command others. Those who hold the keys are followed; those who hold the keys stand before us and provide wisdom, insight, and vision.
Responsibility: “From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.” (Luke 12:48b) With great power comes great responsibility, and those who have been given strength and ability are required to use it with wisdom. Indeed, having the keys of Authority are a burden to demonstrate transparency, accountability, and trust.
Again, look at the keys in your pocket. How do we use them? Today we might consider the gifts and talents God has given us: we have an opportunity at this moment to exercise our own power and authority with God’s guidance, knowing that one day the Lord will seek an accounting with what we have done.
May our own keys inspire us to live with conviction and direction – using the resources we have received with the insights offered by our faith in Jesus Christ. The Lord is the source of all keys, may we call upon him to help us use them!
Study: Reflect on a time when you felt God’s strength. Was it with the help of others or in a particular situation? How did God help you?
Pray: We all need strength to face challenges in life. Ask for the power of the Holy Spirit to face what lies ahead.
Serve: How might the Holy Spirit be working through you to help another? How might the Spirit call you to serve someone else?
Where do people find their strength? As a priest I have had the privilege of walking with families during moments of trial and difficulty. At times when pain and struggle seem too difficult to bear, I often witness people who face incredible obstacles through their faith, which sustains them in truly amazing ways.
Faith gives life, guidance, meaning, and strength. Yet what makes our faith possible? How does God empower our faith in the midst of the activity and demands of daily life? The answer is simple: The Holy Spirit.
The feast of Pentecost celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Church after Jesus ascended into Heaven. Through this coming the Apostles were transformed – their hearts were on fire, blazing with a desire to live as Christ taught, and sharing what they had received with others.
Pentecost was an amazing event! Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the Church gained courage and strength that it had not previously experienced. Disciples (who had formerly been afraid and doubtful) were now fearlessly proclaiming the Good News – facing even persecution and death.
Something happened. Something powerful and life changing. Something that could not be attributed to a human cause. Through Pentecost God intervened in the lives of people, and from this moment the Church has been on fire.
Yet Pentecost was not a one-time event. Indeed, the power of this feast continues through the whole Church. The Holy Spirit, promised to us by Jesus, is sent by the Father so that this same strength is ours as well. It is the Spirit which dwells within us, guiding and empowering us in our moments of need.
Every saint, every person of faith, every heroic and Christ-like act of goodness – is filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. For whenever we open our hearts, asking the Spirit to dwell in our lives, God will send the Spirit to give us the strength we need.
This is our promise! We stand in the same tradition as the Apostles, and we seek God to be with us. Just as God sent the Spirit upon the early Church, so too will God send the Spirit upon the Church today. What is needed is an invitation:
Come Holy Spirit!
Kindle in our hearts the fire of your love!
Msgr. Ed Meulemans – my friend and mentor
Study: Who are your role models? Who are the people in your life who work hard, live by their values, and are loyal in the face of difficulty?
Pray: What do you need to ask God for strength for this week? What is going on in your life that requires direction, guidance, and grace?
Serve: Who is struggling in your life right now? Can you help them or perhaps direct them to the assistance they need?
4th Sunday of Easter Readings:
Lit with the fire of the Holy Spirit, the Apostles Paul and Barnabas boldly proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ in the first reading today. They travel to the city of Antioch and their story follows a pattern that occurred frequently in their ministry:
1. They speak about Christ
2. Some heard their message and followed
3. Some DID NOT
4. Pressure mounted against them, forcing them to leave
We know that Paul had success as a preacher; yet it is easy to take for granted his efforts. Each city was a challenge – telling the story of Jesus, setting an example of faith, working to provide enough money to live on, and dealing with opposition – and he endured this situation for years!
Clearly this ministry was difficult. It required a lot of hard work. Paul exerted enormous effort in his time and personal energy. He was tested in body, mind and soul. There were times when he felt alone and abandoned; there were times when he wondered if he was getting through to anyone.
We know, however, that Paul had a fire inside of him that could not be extinguished. He had been transformed by the Lord on the road to Damascus. He had been healed of his blindness, and he had experienced the witness of other disciples whose lives had been reshaped by the resurrection of Jesus.
Yet through all this hard work and conviction, many people did not accept the message of Christ. They listened and walked away. Some insulted Paul, others mocked him, and still others followed for a time and then went back to their old lifestyle. Each time must have cost something to Paul; to work so hard and have to let people go….
What sustained him? What gave him strength in his times of need? We are told that the disciples were filled with joy; the love of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit blessed them.
Like Paul, we are called to follow the Lord. It is not always easy. There are times when hard work appears to show no results. At these moments we look to the example of the Apostles, who persevered with conviction and joy. After all, the Good News needs to be proclaimed – yet each one of us must decide if we will listen and follow Christ.
Catholic Inspiration – Podcast Archives of Homilies & Talks
Three Great Things 