WLR Homilies

EPISODE OVERVIEW In this first installment of our Lenten series on The Seven Deadly Sins, Deacon Chris explores the spiritual roots of gluttony and greed. Through the lens of Genesis and the Temptation of Jesus in the desert, we discover that the real battle is not about food or money — it is about trust. Temptation begins when we believe God is small. From there, we grasp for substitutes. This episode challenges us to examine: How we use comfort to numb deeper hunger How we cling to control instead of trusting the Father How Lent can enlarge our desire for God KEY TAKEAWAYS Hunger is not sinful — it can be holy. Gluttony is the refusal to be empty. Greed is the fear of dependence. The devil tempts us to live as orphans. Jesus overcomes temptation by remaining the Son. Freedom begins with a pause and a simple prayer. PRACTICAL CHALLENGE Before reaching for your default comfort, pray: “Jesus, what am I really hungry for?” Wait five minutes. Reclaim your freedom. SCRIPTURE REFERENCES Genesis 3:1–7 Romans 5:12–19 Matthew 4:1–11

Ash Wednesday always contains a striking tension. Jesus tells us in the Gospel: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them.” And yet, today, we receive ashes on our foreheads — visible to everyone. So what is happening? In this homily, Fr. Will explains that ashes are not a display of righteousness. They are a confession of weakness. Ashes are what remains after something has been burned. They remind us of our mortality, our dependence upon God, and our need for repentance. “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Ash Wednesday confronts us with reality: death is coming. Pride is real. Sin wounds us. And we need a Savior. Lent is not about self-improvement or spiritual performance. It is about reconciliation. As St. Paul pleads: “Be reconciled to God.” Through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, we take up battle against pride — the root of all sin — and learn again how to receive grace rather than trying to control everything ourselves. Now is the acceptable time. Now is the day of salvation.

In Part 3 of our Sermon on the Mount series, Fr. Will uses a ninth grade geometry story—an exam covered in red ink—to unpack what Jesus is doing in today's Gospel. Christ, the Master Teacher, tells the truth about the human heart. He fulfills the law and then presses deeper, revealing that God desires more than outward compliance—he desires interior conversion. When we face the “reality check” of our weakness and sin, we usually fall into one of two traps: denial (“I'll decide what's right for me”) or despair (“I can't do this, so why try?”). Jesus offers a third way: humility—admitting we need to change and asking him for help. The good news is that God doesn't demand holiness from a distance. The Lord comes close, teaches us, and gives grace to live what he commands. As Jesus promises later in the Sermon on the Mount: Ask and you will receive. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened. Readings: Sirach 15:15–20; 1 Corinthians 2:6–10; Matthew 5:17–37

Episode Summary In this session, we turn to Christian morality through the lens of the Ten Commandments—always interpreted in light of Jesus Christ who “came not to abolish but to fulfill” the Law (Matthew 5:17–20). We review the foundations: beatitude as our common end, the call to repentance, and the way law and grace work together. Then we walk through the First Table of the Decalogue (Commandments 1–3) and begin the Fourth Commandment, covering practical questions like the occult/mediums, superstition, reverence for God's name, keeping Sunday holy, holy days of obligation, and the precepts of the Church. We conclude with Q&A about livestream/TV Mass and the Sunday obligation, then close in prayer. Key Scripture Matthew 5:17–20 — Christ fulfills the Law Luke 10:27; 1 John — Love of God and neighbor together Topics Covered Why the Ten Commandments must be read through Christ Beatitude and the moral choices it demands Law and grace: the “fence around the playground” Commandment 1: no other gods; idolatry; divination/occult; superstition; simony; sacrilege Q&A: “mediums,” charisms, discernment, and why Christians should not seek occult power Commandment 2: reverence for God's name; blasphemy; perjury; habitual flippant speech; profanity and speech discipline Commandment 3: Sunday worship; rest; culture of Sunday; holy days; precepts; fasting/abstinence; Fridays as penance Commandment 4 (beginning): link between love of God and love of neighbor; honoring parents; family as domestic church; duties of children and parents Practical Takeaways Ask: What “idols” compete with God in my life right now? Treat God as Father, not a vending machine—avoid superstition in devotional life Make Sunday visibly different when possible (worship, rest, joy) Recover Friday penance/charity as a quiet, countercultural witness Next in the Series Miss Nancy Glover: Catholic Social Teaching (next week) Then return to continue Commandments 4–10

In this second homily of our Sermon on the Mount series, Deacon Chris reflects on one of Jesus' most direct and challenging teachings: “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world.” Jesus does not offer these words as a future goal or an abstract ideal. He speaks them as a statement of reality. Because we are baptized into Christ, this is already our identity. The question, then, is not whether we are salt and light—but whether our lives actually taste of Christ and shine with His presence. Using a vivid and memorable image from a college geology class, Deacon Chris explores how salt can lose its savor—not by trying to fail, but by becoming diluted. In the same way, our discipleship is often weakened not by rejection of faith, but by comfort, fear, distraction, exhaustion, or the desire to stay “polite” and unnoticed. Drawing from Isaiah, St. Paul, and the Gospel of Matthew, this homily makes the call to holiness concrete. Light breaks into the world when we feed the hungry, shelter the vulnerable, refuse to turn away from those in need, and allow our lives to make God visible—not ourselves impressive. This episode also offers a practical spiritual response: consecration. Rather than trying to design holiness on our own, we are invited to place our lives under the care of those who already belonged completely to Christ. St. Joseph Consecration (33 Days) A powerful path for men—and for anyone drawn to St. Joseph's hidden fidelity, strength, and obedience. Learn more and begin here: https://consecrationtostjoseph.org/ Daily prayers PDF: https://uploads.weconnect.com/mce/c3cf396907a036a9172fc9fcf77650c279dd98b9/33-Days-of-Prayers-and-Daily-Challenge%20ENGLISH.pdf Marian Consecration (33 Days to Morning Glory) A beautiful way to learn from Our Lady how to receive Christ, stand firm in love, and reflect His light to the world. Text available here: https://nanoten.com/religious/texts/33DMG/index-en.html As you listen, consider praying with these questions this week: Where has my discipleship been diluted? Where have I covered the light God has placed in me? Who in my life am I being invited to love more concretely? Jesus does not name us salt and light to shame us—but to reveal who we truly are and to restore what has been hidden or weakened. May this homily help you uncover the lamp, recover the savor, and live in such a way that others glorify our Heavenly Father.

In this homily for the 4th Sunday of Ordinary Time, we begin a three-part series on The Sermon on the Mount, Jesus' longest and most profound teaching in the Gospel. Jesus is not merely offering moral advice or spiritual ideals. As the Master Teacher, He invites His disciples to see reality from His perspective. In the Beatitudes, Christ overturns our assumptions about happiness, strength, and success, revealing what truly leads to human flourishing. This first homily focuses on how Jesus teaches us to see the world as it truly is—and how learning to see through His eyes is essential for authentic discipleship.

Episode Summary Why is it so difficult to be good? In Part 3 of That They May Have Life, we move deeper into the heart of Christian morality. Because of original sin, our intellect is darkened, our will is weakened, and our passions are disordered. Yet Christ does not leave us there. He gives us grace. This session explores how virtue forms us from within, how conscience guides our moral decisions, and how law and grace work together to transform us into the image of Christ. Christian morality is not about “white-knuckling” holiness. It is about becoming the kind of person who can choose what is good quickly, joyfully, and with ease. Topics Covered Original sin and concupiscence How conscience works (and how it can be malformed) The definition of virtue as a firm, habitual disposition The cardinal virtues: prudence, justice, fortitude, temperance The theological virtues: faith, hope, and charity The role of the passions (love, joy, hope, anger, sorrow) Vice, virtue, continence, and moral struggle Natural law, the Old Law, and the New Law Sanctifying grace vs. actual grace Key Takeaways Virtue perfects freedom. Law trains us toward the good. Grace transforms us from within. Holiness requires cooperation with God.

In Part 3 of the Called By Name series, Fr. Will reflects on the call of the first disciples in Matthew 4. While the Gospel can make it seem like the disciples followed Jesus instantly, the wider witness of Scripture shows that Jesus had already been drawing them into relationship over time. This homily explores vocation as a twofold call: first into relationship—“Come after me”—and then into mission—“I will make you fishers of men.” Every baptized person shares in the universal call to holiness, while each of us also receives a particular vocation, most often lived through marriage, priesthood, or consecrated life. The challenge is simple but demanding: like the disciples, we are asked to drop our nets, to let go of what we think will make us happy, and to trust that Jesus truly knows the way to our flourishing.

This session is the second talk in the That They May Have Life: Christian Morality series. Picking up from the previous week's focus on happiness, beatitude, and conversion, Fr. Will turns to a central question of discipleship: if we are made for flourishing, why do we so often miss the mark? The talk introduces the Catholic understanding of sin as an offense against love—often described in Scripture as “missing the mark”—and explains how original sin wounds human nature without destroying it. Fr. Will then clarifies the Church's distinctions between mortal sin, venial sin, and moral imperfections or dispositions, emphasizing that sin is fundamentally a matter of the will and that healing and freedom come through Christ and the sacraments, especially reconciliation. The session concludes by laying the groundwork for moral decision-making through the three fonts of morality (object, intention, circumstances), showing how acts are judged as good or evil and why some acts are intrinsically evil—wrong always and everywhere—regardless of intention. Throughout, the teaching is presented with a pastoral clarity that distinguishes judging actions from judging persons, encouraging both truth and mercy as Christians seek holiness and real freedom in Christ.

This homily is the second reflection in the Called by Name: Relationship, Identity, and Mission series. Preached by Dcn. Chris Haberberger, it focuses on the unshakable Christian identity revealed in baptism. Beginning with the simple but searching question, “Who are you?”, the homily examines the many labels we use to define ourselves—our work, relationships, achievements, and affiliations—and the anxiety that arises when those identities shift or disappear. While these roles matter, they are ultimately fragile and unable to bear the full weight of the human heart. Drawing from the Gospel of John, Dcn. Chris proclaims the central truth of the Christian faith: through baptism, we are not metaphorically but truly made sons and daughters of God. This identity is not achieved through performance or self-construction, but received as a gift of God's love. From this secure identity flows true holiness, freedom, and vocation—not as anxious striving, but as a trusting response that can finally say, “Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.” This reflection prepares the way for the final homily in the series, which will focus on mission as the fruit of relationship and identity.

Powerpoint is availible here

This homily marks the beginning of a three-part series, Called by Name: Relationship, Identity, and Mission, preached on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. In this first reflection, Fr. Will Rooney focuses on the foundational truth that our Christian mission flows from relationship with God, not mere activity. Drawing on the life of St. Louis IX and the Gospel account of Jesus' baptism in the Jordan, the homily explores how identity is revealed through relationship. Before Jesus begins His public ministry, the Father reveals Him as His beloved Son. This relationship—lived in prayer, trust, and communion—is the source of everything Jesus does. Through baptism, we are invited to share in Christ's own relationship with the Father, becoming beloved sons and daughters in the Son. This reflection challenges listeners to examine whether their lives are rooted in that relationship and to rediscover prayer, the sacraments, and intimacy with God as the true foundation for any authentic Christian mission.

This Adult Faith Formation session focuses on how Christians can intentionally grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ. Fr. Will Rooney presents the heart of the Christian life as a response to God's love—received first as a gift and then lived out through charity, prayer, and daily faithfulness. Drawing on Scripture, the teaching of Pope Benedict XVI, and the wisdom of the Church, the talk emphasizes that growth in relationship with God is measured not by feelings but by growth in love. Participants are encouraged to deepen their relationship with Christ through daily prayer, fidelity to the commandments, frequent reception of the sacraments, and life within Christian community. The session also includes guided reflection on personal values and the creation of a practical rule of life. By setting concrete, realistic goals rooted in virtue, participants are invited to cooperate with God's grace and grow steadily in holiness, learning to love God, neighbor, and self more fully.

This homily is the final reflection in a three-part Christmas–Epiphany series on the family. Celebrated on the Feast of the Epiphany and preached by Fr. Will Rooney, it focuses on the mission of the family as God's chosen instrument for making Christ known to the world. Reflecting on the visit of the Magi, this homily highlights how Jesus chose to manifest Himself not in power or prestige, but within the simplicity of the Holy Family. Their encounter with Christ changes them—and reveals a lasting truth: God continues to evangelize the world through families who welcome Him into their homes. Every family, despite its imperfections, is called to become an epiphany—a visible manifestation of Christ's light that draws others to Him. Fr. Will explores how families live this mission concretely by first being evangelized themselves, by forming communities of prayer and sacrificial love, and by allowing the grace of Christ to shape daily life. Through small, faithful practices—praying together, blessing the home, building relationships with neighbors—families become domestic churches where Christ's light shines outward to the world. This final homily completes the series by uniting the roles of fatherhood and motherhood with their shared purpose: to educate, empower, and evangelize, so that every nation may come to adore the Lord.

This homily is the second reflection in a three-part Christmas–Epiphany series on the family. Given by Dcn. Chris Haberberger on the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, it focuses on the vocation of motherhood as God's chosen way of giving His Son to the world. The reflection highlights how God's self-revelation comes not in abstraction, but within the simplicity of a family. Mary's motherhood reveals the heart of Christian motherhood in every age: to give Jesus to the world by receiving Him, pondering Him in prayer, and responding with faithful love. Through the often hidden, daily sacrifices of mothers, homes become places where children first learn what it means to be loved, to belong, and to cry out to God as Father. Recognizing that many families carry wounds or unmet hopes, this homily emphasizes that Mary is not only a model but also a refuge. Christ gives her to us as our Mother, and through her tenderness God continues to bring peace, mercy, and healing into real families as they are. This reflection builds upon the previous homily on fatherhood and prepares for the final installment of the series on the mission of the family at Epiphany.

This homily marks the beginning of a three-part Christmas–Epiphany series on the family, rooted in the mystery of the Incarnation. God chose to enter the world not simply as a man, but as a child born into a family—and in doing so, He reveals both the dignity of family life and its essential mission. In this first reflection, Fr. Will focuses on the role of the father as provider and protector, drawing from Scripture, St. Paul's teaching, and the example of St. Joseph. Christian fatherhood is presented as a vocation of authority ordered to charity—an authority that images Christ's self-giving love for the Church and places the entire family in loving submission to Him. Recognizing that many families carry wounds or fall short of the ideal, this homily emphasizes that the Church holds up the Holy Family not as an unattainable standard, but as a call to ongoing conversion and healing. This reflection sets the foundation for the rest of the series, which will continue with reflections on motherhood and the mission of the family in the world. Series Outline (Optional to Include on Website or Podcast Page) Part 1: The Role of the Father – Provider and Protector Part 2: Motherhood (January 1) Part 3: The Mission of the Family (Feast of the Epiphany)

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Act of Faith O my God, I firmly believe that you are one God in three divine Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I believe that your divine Son became man and died for our sins and that he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches because you have revealed them who are eternal truth and wisdom, who can neither deceive nor be deceived. In this faith I intend to live and die. Amen.

Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. (Mt 25:34)

St. John Paul II said "Man cannot live without love. He remains a being that is incomprehensible for himself, his life is senseless, if love is not revealed to him, if he does not encounter love, if he does not experience it and make it his own, if he does not participate intimately in it. This, as has already been said, is why Christ the Redeemer "fully reveals man to himself"." Read more St. John Paul II's Redemptor Hominis here (https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_04031979_redemptor-hominis.html)