The Father's Joy

It's easy to measure the externals and check boxes in our faith, but have we experienced our hearts on fire?Homily for the 3rd Sunday of Easter, April 19, 2026

We are impatient with our own defects and others', and our timeline for transformation often doesn't match Jesus'. Thank you, Jesus, for being patient with us, especially when we aren't with ourselves!Homily for Divine Mercy Sunday, April 12, 2026

Record numbers joined the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil this year. What is going on, especially among our youth, that they are flocking to Catholicism?Homily for Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026

On April 3, 2025, Fr. Arul was shot and killed outside of Sts. Peter and Paul Church. This first anniversary of his death providentially lands on Good Friday. With this rosary, Jesus brings healing to our hurts and traumas through His Presence and the love of His Mother.Good Friday, April 3, 2026

Jesus has given Himself completely to us in the Eucharist...have I made Him the center of my life in return?Homily for Holy Thursday, April 2, 2026

We naturally hate and want to hide our weaknesses. Jesus gives us permission to be weak by allowing Himself to experience our naked weakness on the cross.Homily for Palm/Passion Sunday March 29, 2026

Our Lady has made Her presence known in Medjugorje, but She points us back to Jesus' real Presence right where we are.Daily Mass homily for Saturday, March 28, 2026

All of us have blind spots and most of us presume that we don't. Jesus, remove my blindness so I can see with Your eyes!Homily for March 15, 2026: Laetare Sunday, the 4th Sunday of Lent, Year A

Only the Living Water of the Holy Spirit satisfies our "thirst," and yet we keep trying to fill ourselves with everything but Him!Homily for the 3rd Sunday of Lent, Year A

God can come to us at any time; in fact, He is always "coming." Sometimes, however, we need to go out of our way to more fully receive an experience of His Glory!Homily for March 1, 2026, the 2nd Sunday of Lent, Year A

Our youth are drawn into the Mystery of the Faith that is bigger than them and not about them!Homily for the 1st Sunday of Lent and the 2nd Annual Rooted in Christ youth event, February 21, 2026

The root of our sins is found in our broken hearts.Homily for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A, February 15, 2026

To be a light in Jesus means to imitate Him who says from the cross, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."Homily for the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year AFebruary 8, 2026

Why should I care about being "poor in spirit"?Homily for the 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year AFebruary 1, 2026

One of the important ways that God speaks to us is through the good desires He has put into our hearts. He put them there so that they can be fulfilled by a more radical "yes" to following Him!Homily for the 3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, January 25, 2025

Our screens are getting more "face time" than God and our loved ones. That's a big problem because we become what we behold!Part 1 of the homily for January 18th, the 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

If we aren't "beholding" the Father's love for us, we might start believing and living the opposite of the Our Father!Part 2 of the Homily for January 18th, the 2nd Week of Ordinary Time, Year A

Christianity isn't about trying harder. It's letting ourselves be loved by God...and through other people, the Church!Homily for the Baptism of the Lord, January 11, 2026

When we are in darkness, we can see more clearly Jesus' invitation into His Light.Homily for Epiphany 2026

What's the key to having an amazing 2026?Homily for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God 2026

The messiness of our families has its roots in broken hearts. Jesus, make me whole again!Homily for the Feast of the Holy Family 2025

This Christmas concludes the Jubilee Year of Hope, but what if we are struggling more now to be hopeful than we were a year ago?Homily for Christmas 2025

Join us for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Seneca on January 1st following the 7pm Mass!

Woe to us when we believe that we are basically "good people" who don't need God's mercy that Jesus died to give us!Homily for the 4th Sunday of Advent, Year A

When we are feeling our weakness, we naturally want to numb ourselves or find a little escape. Jesus is the only One who keeps us from being blown around by the winds of this life.Homily for Gaudete Sunday, Year A 2025

Sometimes the first step towards hope is reaching out and not trying to figure it out or fix it ourselves. The opposite of healing is denial of our darkness and running away in fear...Homily for the 2nd Sunday in Advent, Year A

Advent is also the time of preparing for Jesus' coming in the present moment. Are we too busy to notice and receive Him?Homily for the 1st Sunday of Advent, Year A

When we are "in control," we are often angry and anxious. When Jesus is King of our hearts, there is peace!Homily for the Solemnity of Christ the King

Have we prepared materially, relationally, and spiritually for the most important moment of our life?Homily for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

Jesus wants to "deal with" everything that is in our mind and heart: casting out lies and fear, forgiving all guilt, breaking shame, healing unforgiveness and anger, and establishing our true identity as beloved sons and daughters. Can you hear the small voice of the Good Shepherd loving you and building up your spirit?Sunday Homily for the Feast of the Dedication of St. John Lateran Basilica

It's hard to share the "Good News" if you don't know what it is and if you haven't been transformed by it!Homily for all school Mass, Friday, November 7

Today on All Souls Day we pray for the poor souls in purgatory. They have been saved by Jesus' mercy, but the "rehabilitation" or purification of soul is still ongoing!Homily for All Souls Day, 2025

The worst thing that can happen to us is to believe we don't need God and His Mercy. Confession is the natural first step toward healing on all levels!Homily for the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

We pay God a compliment when we ask for much because it shows we believe He can give much...Unless we ask for certain things, they almost certainly won't happen!

"Eucharist" means thanksgiving. Mass isn't about us, so we go not primarily for what we "get out of it," but because it's the least (and in some ways, the most) we can do to give thanks to Him.Homily for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

Our faith can naturally diminish to how we feel or to our level of everyday experience. Beyond begging God for an increase of the gift of faith, "Hear. Pray. Tell." is a formula for growing in this fundamental virtue!Homily for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

St. Francis, like every saint, embodies the healing and revival that God wants to bring into the world. It begins with childlike surrender and joy to what the Father is doing in, for, and through us!Homily for the Feast of St. Francis, October 4, 2025

We can't grow and be comfortable at the same time; Jesus wants to use our suffering to reveal what He wants to heal and draw us closer to Himself.Homily for the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

The more we have, the more we think we need. The more we give away, the more we realize how we actually need less!Homily for the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

Our suffering allows us to enter into Jesus' on the cross. When we offer everything back to Him on the altar at Mass, we receive the peace of His Presence in the midst of our suffering.Homily for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross 2025

If we follow the examples of newly canonized Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis and keep our eyes fixed on Jesus in the Eucharist, we will always have "enough"!Homily for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

God gives us opportunity to grow in humility through our humiliations, but there are three other ways to cultivate this receptivity to the Holy Spirit: Contrition, Gratitude, and SURRENDER!Homily for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

What does it mean to enter the "narrow gate"? Surrender is the key.Homily for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

The Fire of the Holy Spirit that Jesus casts on the earth creates division because we are not equally receptive to it!Homily for the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

"Life is far too important to be taken so seriously." Mary invites us to play as children, rejoicing in Her Son's victory over the grave.Homily for the Assumption of Mary, 2025

We are hungry for God's Presence that transforms us. Do others experience His Presence through us?Homily for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

We have learned how to talk to God but few of us are in tune with how He speaks to us. We are His sheep, and we can hear the voice of the good shepherd!17th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

Jesus is always with us in our "home," our hearts, but being distracted from His Presence leaves us open to the doubt that leads to fear and anxiety.Homily for the 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

We struggle to have compassion and mercy towards others because we aren't very merciful with ourselves....because we haven't received the mercy Jesus is offering us first.Homily for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

Evil is real, but in Jesus, we have nothing to fear and the victory is sealed! Jesus wants to release new joy into our lives through our surrender of controlFr. Joel's homily for his first weekend as pastor at Saints Peter and Paul Parish, Seneca, KS for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year CJuly 6, 2025

Wouldn't it be better if we said fewer hellos so we have fewer goodbyes? Is the pain of relationship worth it?Fr. Joel's last homily at Sacred Heart - Sabetha for the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. June 29, 2025