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Here's Fr. Marc's homily for Oct. 7th: "The Rosary: Simple, Peaceful, and Powerful".  Enjoy! Luke 11:1-4 Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished,one of his disciples said to him,“Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.”He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name,your Kingdom come.Give us each day our daily breadand forgive us our sinsfor we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us,and do not subject us to the final test.”

Here's Fr. Marc's homily from Oct. 4th, "The Peace of St. Francis".  Enjoy! Philippians 4:6-9 Brothers and sisters:Have no anxiety at all, but in everything,by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,make your requests known to God.Then the peace of God that surpasses all understandingwill guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters,whatever is true, whatever is honorable,whatever is just, whatever is pure,whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious,if there is any excellenceand if there is anything worthy of praise,think about these things.Keep on doing what you have learned and receivedand heard and seen in me.Then the God of peace will be with you.

Here's Fr. Marc's homily from Wed., Sept. 30th: "His Grace is Sufficient" 2 Cor. 12:7-10 Therefore, that I might not become too elated, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, to beat me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me, but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Here's Fr. Marc's homily from Sept. 23rd, "Wants and Needs".  Enjoy! Luke 9:1-6 Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authorityover all demons and to cure diseases,and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of Godand to heal the sick.He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey,neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money,and let no one take a second tunic.Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there.And as for those who do not welcome you,when you leave that town,shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them.”Then they set out and went from village to villageproclaiming the Good News and curing diseases everywhere. 

Here's Fr. Marc's homily for Sept. 20th, "Broken Engines and Healing Graces".  Enjoy! Isaiah 55: 6-9 Seek the LORD while he may be found,call him while he is near.Let the scoundrel forsake his way,and the wicked his thoughts;let him turn to the LORD for mercy;to our God, who is generous in forgiving.For my thoughts are not your thoughts,nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.As high as the heavens are above the earth,so high are my ways above your waysand my thoughts above your thoughts. 

Here's Fr. Bart Tolleson's homily from Wed, Sept. 16th: "Love Never Fails".  Enjoy! 1 Cor 12:31-13:13 Brothers and sisters:Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts. But I shall show you a still more excellent way. If I speak in human and angelic tonguesbut do not have love,I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal.And if I have the gift of prophecyand comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge;if I have all faith so as to move mountains,but do not have love, I am nothing.If I give away everything I own,and if I hand my body over so that I may boastbut do not have love, I gain nothing.Love is patient, love is kind.It is not jealous, love is not pompous,it is not inflated, it is not rude,it does not seek its own interests,it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury,it does not rejoice over wrongdoingbut rejoices with the truth.It bears all things, believes all things,hopes all things, endures all things.Love never fails.If there are prophecies, they will be brought to nothing;if tongues, they will cease;if knowledge, it will be brought to nothing.For we know partially and we prophesy partially,but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.When I was a child, I used to talk as a child,think as a child, reason as a child;when I became a man, I put aside childish things.At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror,but then face to face.At present I know partially;then I shall know fully, as I am fully known.So faith, hope, love remain, these three;but the greatest of these is love.

Here's Fr. Marc's homily from Sept. 13th, 2020: "Seeking Mercy".  Enjoy! Matt. 18:21-35 Peter approached Jesus and asked him,“Lord, if my brother sins against me,how often must I forgive?As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. That is why the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a kingwho decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting,a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back,his master ordered him to be sold,along with his wife, his children, and all his property,in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said,‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’Moved with compassion the master of that servantlet him go and forgave him the loan. When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servantswho owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding,‘Pay back what you owe.’Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him,‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’But he refused. Instead, he had the fellow servant put in prisonuntil he paid back the debt. Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened,they were deeply disturbed, and went to their masterand reported the whole affair. His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant,as I had pity on you?’Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturersuntil he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you,unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart.”

Here's Fr. Marc's homily from Sept. 9th, "Points of Reference".  Enjoy! Luke 6:20-26 Raising his eyes toward his disciples Jesus said:“Blessed are you who are poor,for the Kingdom of God is yours.Blessed are you who are now hungry,for you will be satisfied.Blessed are you who are now weeping,for you will laugh.Blessed are you when people hate you,and when they exclude and insult you,and denounce your name as evilon account of the Son of Man.Rejoice and leap for joy on that day!Behold, your reward will be great in heaven.  For their ancestors treated the prophetsin the same way.But woe to you who are rich,for you have received your consolation.But woe to you who are filled now,for you will be hungry.Woe to you who laugh now,for you will grieve and weep.Woe to you when all speak well of you,for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.”

Here's Fr. Bart Tolleson's homily from Sept. 6th: "Sharing Joy and Love". Enjoy! Matt: 18:15-20 Jesus said to his disciples:“If your brother sins against you,go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother.If he does not listen,take one or two others along with you,so that ‘every fact may be establishedon the testimony of two or three witnesses.’If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. If he refuses to listen even to the church,then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.Amen, I say to you,whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven,and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.Again, amen, I say to you,if two of you agree on earthabout anything for which they are to pray,it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name,there am I in the midst of them.”

Here's Fr. Marc's homily for Wed, Sept. 2nd: "The Primacy of Prayer".  Enjoy! Luke 4:38-44 After Jesus left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon.Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever,and they interceded with him about her.He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her.She got up immediately and waited on them. At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseasesbrought them to him.He laid his hands on each of them and cured them.And demons also came out from many, shouting, “You are the Son of God.”But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speakbecause they knew that he was the Christ. At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place.The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him,they tried to prevent him from leaving them.But he said to them, “To the other towns alsoI must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God,because for this purpose I have been sent.”And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

Here's Fr. Marc's homily for Wed., August 26th: "Beyond All Appearances".  Enjoy! Matt. 23: 27-32 Jesus said,“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside,but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of filth.Even so, on the outside you appear righteous,but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.You build the tombs of the prophetsand adorn the memorials of the righteous, and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors,we would not have joined them in shedding the prophets’ blood.’Thus you bear witness against yourselvesthat you are the children of those who murdered the prophets;now fill up what your ancestors measured out!”

Here's Fr. Marc's homily from Aug. 23rd, "The Rock and The Keys."  Enjoy! Matt 16: 13-20 Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi andhe asked his disciples,“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”Simon Peter said in reply,"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”Jesus said to him in reply,“Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.And so I say to you, you are Peter,and upon this rock I will build my church,and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven.Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”Then he strictly ordered his disciplesto tell no one that he was the Christ.

Here's Fr. Marc's homily from Aug. 16th--"O Woman, Great is Your Faith." Enjoy! Matt. 15: 21-28 At that time, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out,“Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” But Jesus did not say a word in answer to her. Jesus’ disciples came and asked him,“Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.”He said in reply,“I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”But the woman came and did Jesus homage, saying, “Lord, help me.” He said in reply,“It is not right to take the food of the childrenand throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scrapsthat fall from the table of their masters.” Then Jesus said to her in reply,“O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And the woman’s daughter was healed from that hour.

Here's Fr. Marc's homily from Aug. 9th, "Take Courage, It Is I".  Enjoy! Matt 14:22-33 After he had fed the people, Jesus made the disciples get into a boatand precede him to the other side,while he dismissed the crowds. After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone. Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore,was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night,he came toward them walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear. At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter said to him in reply,“Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened;and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter,and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” After they got into the boat, the wind died down. Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying,“Truly, you are the Son of God.”

Here's Fr. Marc's homily for August 2nd, "God is a Giver".  Enjoy! Matt. 14:13-21 When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist,he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself.The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns.When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd,his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick.When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said,“This is a deserted place and it is already late;dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villagesand buy food for themselves.”Jesus said to them, “There is no need for them to go away;give them some food yourselves.”But they said to him,“Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.”Then he said, “Bring them here to me,”and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass.Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven,he said the blessing, broke the loaves,and gave them to the disciples,who in turn gave them to the crowds.They all ate and were satisfied,and they picked up the fragments left over—twelve wicker baskets full.Those who ate were about five thousand men,not counting women and children.

Here's Fr. Marc's Homily from July 26th, "An Understanding Heart."  Enjoy!  Matt. 13: 44-46 Jesus said to his disciples:“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field,which a person finds and hides again,and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchantsearching for fine pearls.When he finds a pearl of great price,he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.”  

Here's Fr. Bart's homily from July 19th, "Weeds and Wheat".  Enjoy! Matt. 13:24-30 Jesus proposed another parable to the crowds, saying:“The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a manwho sowed good seed in his field.While everyone was asleep his enemy cameand sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off.When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well.The slaves of the householder came to him and said,‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field?Where have the weeds come from?’He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’His slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’He replied, ‘No, if you pull up the weedsyou might uproot the wheat along with them.Let them grow together until harvest;then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters,“First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning;but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

Here's Fr. Marc's homily for July 12th, "The Living Word of God".  Enjoy! Matt. 13:1-23 On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea.Such large crowds gathered around himthat he got into a boat and sat down,and the whole crowd stood along the shore.And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying:“A sower went out to sow.And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path,and birds came and ate it up.Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil.It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep,and when the sun rose it was scorched,and it withered for lack of roots.Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it.But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit,a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.Whoever has ears ought to hear.” The disciples approached him and said,“Why do you speak to them in parables?”He said to them in reply,“Because knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heavenhas been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted.To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich;from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away.This is why I speak to them in parables, becausethey look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says:You shall indeed hear but not understand,you shall indeed look but never see.Gross is the heart of this people,they will hardly hear with their ears,they have closed their eyes,lest they see with their eyesand hear with their earsand understand with their hearts and be converted,and I heal them. “But blessed are your eyes, because they see,and your ears, because they hear.Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous peoplelonged to see what you see but did not see it,and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. “Hear then the parable of the sower.The seed sown on the path is the onewho hears the word of the kingdom without understanding it,and the evil one comes and steals awaywhat was sown in his heart.The seed sown on rocky groundis the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy.But he has no root and lasts only for a time.When some tribulation or persecution comes because of the word,he immediately falls away.The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word,but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the wordand it bears no fruit.But the seed sown on rich soilis the one who hears the word and understands it,who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.” or On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea.Such large crowds gathered around himthat he got into a boat and sat down,and the whole crowd stood along the shore.And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying:“A sower went out to sow.And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path,and birds came and ate it up.Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil.It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep,and when the sun rose it was scorched,and it withered for lack of roots.Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it.But some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit,a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.Whoever has ears ought to hear.”

Here's Fr. Marc's homily for July 5th, 2020: "Come to Me".  Enjoy! Matt. 11: 25-30 At that time Jesus exclaimed:“I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,for although you have hidden these thingsfrom the wise and the learnedyou have revealed them to little ones.Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.All things have been handed over to me by my Father.No one knows the Son except the Father,and no one knows the Father except the Sonand anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.” “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,and I will give you rest.Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,for I am meek and humble of heart;and you will find rest for yourselves.For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

Here's Fr. Marc's homily for June 28th, "Lose Your Life for Jesus."  Enjoy!  Matt 10:37-42 Jesus said to his apostles:“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me,and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;and whoever does not take up his crossand follow after me is not worthy of me.Whoever finds his life will lose it,and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. "Whoever receives you receives me,and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophetwill receive a prophet’s reward,and whoever receives a righteous manbecause he is a righteous manwill receive a righteous man’s reward.And whoever gives only a cup of cold waterto one of these little ones to drinkbecause the little one is a disciple—amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.”

Here's Fr. Bart Tolleson's homily from June 21, 2020.  "True Fatherhood Casts Out Fear". Enjoy! Matt. 10:26-33 Jesus said to the Twelve:“Fear no one.Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed,nor secret that will not be known.What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light;what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul;rather, be afraid of the one who can destroyboth soul and body in Gehenna.Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin?Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge.Even all the hairs of your head are counted.So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.Everyone who acknowledges me before othersI will acknowledge before my heavenly Father.But whoever denies me before others,I will deny before my heavenly Father.”

Here's Fr. Marc's homily for the Solemnity of Corpus Christi.  Enjoy! John 6: 51-58 Jesus said to the Jewish crowds:"I am the living bread that came down from heaven;whoever eats this bread will live forever;and the bread that I will giveis my flesh for the life of the world." The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying,"How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"Jesus said to them,"Amen, amen, I say to you,unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood,you do not have life within you.Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my bloodhas eternal life,and I will raise him on the last day.For my flesh is true food,and my blood is true drink.Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my bloodremains in me and I in him.Just as the living Father sent meand I have life because of the Father,so also the one who feeds on mewill have life because of me.This is the bread that came down from heaven.Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died,whoever eats this bread will live forever."

Here's Fr. Marc's homily for June 7th: "Trinity Sunday". John 3:16-18 God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,so that everyone who believes in him might not perishbut might have eternal life.For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,but that the world might be saved through him.Whoever believes in him will not be condemned,but whoever does not believe has already been condemned,because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

Here's Fr. Marc's homily for Ascension Sunday.  Enjoy! Matt.  28:16-20 "Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.'"  

Here's Fr. Marc's homily from May 10th, "Jesus, The Way".   John 14:1-12 Jesus said to his disciples:“Do not let your hearts be troubled.You have faith in God; have faith also in me.In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.If there were not,would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?And if I go and prepare a place for you,I will come back again and take you to myself,so that where I am you also may be.Where I am going you know the way.”Thomas said to him,“Master, we do not know where you are going;how can we know the way?”Jesus said to him, "I am the way and the truth and the life.No one comes to the Father except through me.If you know me, then you will also know my Father.From now on you do know him and have seen him.”Philip said to him,“Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a timeand you still do not know me, Philip?Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own.The Father who dwells in me is doing his works.Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me,or else, believe because of the works themselves.Amen, amen, I say to you,whoever believes in me will do the works that I do,and will do greater ones than these,because I am going to the Father.”

Here's Fr. Marc's Homily for April 26th: "Hearts Aflame with Faith". Luke 24:13-35 That very day, the first day of the week,two of Jesus’ disciples were goingto a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus,and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred.And it happened that while they were conversing and debating,Jesus himself drew near and walked with them,but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.He asked them,“What are you discussing as you walk along?”They stopped, looking downcast.One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply,“Are you the only visitor to Jerusalemwho does not know of the thingsthat have taken place there in these days?”And he replied to them, “What sort of things?”They said to him,“The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene,who was a prophet mighty in deed and wordbefore God and all the people,how our chief priests and rulers both handed him overto a sentence of death and crucified him.But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel;and besides all this,it is now the third day since this took place.Some women from our group, however, have astounded us:they were at the tomb early in the morningand did not find his body;they came back and reportedthat they had indeed seen a vision of angelswho announced that he was alive.Then some of those with us went to the tomband found things just as the women had described,but him they did not see.”And he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are!How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke!Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these thingsand enter into his glory?”Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets,he interpreted to them what referred to himin all the Scriptures.As they approached the village to which they were going,he gave the impression that he was going on farther.But they urged him, “Stay with us,for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.”So he went in to stay with them.And it happened that, while he was with them at table,he took bread, said the blessing,broke it, and gave it to them.With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him,but he vanished from their sight.Then they said to each other,“Were not our hearts burning within uswhile he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?”So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalemwhere they found gathered togetherthe eleven and those with them who were saying,“The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!”Then the two recountedwhat had taken place on the wayand how he was made known to them in the breaking of bread.

Here's Fr. Marc's homily from April 19th, "Trust in Jesus".  John 20:19:31 On the evening of that first day of the week,when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,for fear of the Jews,Jesus came and stood in their midstand said to them, “Peace be with you.”When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,“Receive the Holy Spirit.Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,and whose sins you retain are retained.” Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve,was not with them when Jesus came.So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”But he said to them,“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his handsand put my finger into the nailmarksand put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Now a week later his disciples were again insideand Thomas was with them.Jesus came, although the doors were locked,and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands,and bring your hand and put it into my side,and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me?Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” Now, Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciplesthat are not written in this book.But these are written that you may come to believethat Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,and that through this belief you may have life in his name.

Here's Fr. Marc's homily from April 14th, "Called by Name".  The Gospel is John 20:11-18.  Enjoy.   Mary Magdalene stayed outside the tomb weeping.And as she wept, she bent over into the tomband saw two angels in white sitting there,one at the head and one at the feetwhere the Body of Jesus had been.And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”She said to them, “They have taken my Lord,and I don’t know where they laid him.”When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there,but did not know it was Jesus.Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?Whom are you looking for?”She thought it was the gardener and said to him,“Sir, if you carried him away,tell me where you laid him,and I will take him.”Jesus said to her, “Mary!”She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,”which means Teacher.Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me,for I have not yet ascended to the Father.But go to my brothers and tell them,‘I am going to my Father and your Father,to my God and your God.’”Mary went and announced to the disciples,“I have seen the Lord,”and then reported what he had told her.

Here's Fr. Marc's Homily for Passion Sunday (Palm Sunday), "The Lord's Patience and Passion".  The Gospel passage is Matt. 26:14-27:66.       

Here's Fr. Marc's homily from April 1, 2020.  "Remaining in His Word"  John 8:31-42 Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him,“If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples,and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”They answered him, “We are descendants of Abrahamand have never been enslaved to anyone.How can you say, ‘You will become free’?”Jesus answered them, “Amen, amen, I say to you,everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.A slave does not remain in a household forever,but a son always remains.So if the Son frees you, then you will truly be free.I know that you are descendants of Abraham.But you are trying to kill me,because my word has no room among you.I tell you what I have seen in the Father’s presence;then do what you have heard from the Father.” They answered and said to him, “Our father is Abraham.”Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children,you would be doing the works of Abraham.But now you are trying to kill me,a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God;Abraham did not do this.You are doing the works of your father!”So they said to him, “We were not born of fornication.We have one Father, God.”Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me,for I came from God and am here;I did not come on my own, but he sent me.”

Here's Fr. Marc's homily from March 29th, "Lazarus, Come Out".   John 11:1-45 Now a man was ill, Lazarus from Bethany,the village of Mary and her sister Martha.Mary was the one who had anointed the Lord with perfumed oiland dried his feet with her hair;it was her brother Lazarus who was ill. So the sisters sent word to him saying,“Master, the one you love is ill.”When Jesus heard this he said,“This illness is not to end in death,but is for the glory of God,that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.So when he heard that he was ill,he remained for two days in the place where he was.Then after this he said to his disciples,“Let us go back to Judea.”The disciples said to him,“Rabbi, the Jews were just trying to stone you,and you want to go back there?”Jesus answered,“Are there not twelve hours in a day?If one walks during the day, he does not stumble,because he sees the light of this world.But if one walks at night, he stumbles,because the light is not in him.”He said this, and then told them,“Our friend Lazarus is asleep,but I am going to awaken him.”So the disciples said to him,“Master, if he is asleep, he will be saved.”But Jesus was talking about his death,while they thought that he meant ordinary sleep.So then Jesus said to them clearly,“Lazarus has died.And I am glad for you that I was not there,that you may believe.Let us go to him.”So Thomas, called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples,“Let us also go to die with him.” When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarushad already been in the tomb for four days.Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, only about two miles away.And many of the Jews had come to Martha and Maryto comfort them about their brother.When Martha heard that Jesus was coming,she went to meet him;but Mary sat at home.Martha said to Jesus,“Lord, if you had been here,my brother would not have died.But even now I know that whatever you ask of God,God will give you.”Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.”Martha said to him,“I know he will rise,in the resurrection on the last day.”Jesus told her,“I am the resurrection and the life;whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live,and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.Do you believe this?”She said to him, “Yes, Lord.I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God,the one who is coming into the world.” When she had said this,she went and called her sister Mary secretly, saying,“The teacher is here and is asking for you.”As soon as she heard this,she rose quickly and went to him.For Jesus had not yet come into the village,but was still where Martha had met him.So when the Jews who were with her in the house comforting hersaw Mary get up quickly and go out,they followed her,presuming that she was going to the tomb to weep there.When Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him,she fell at his feet and said to him,“Lord, if you had been here,my brother would not have died.”When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who had come with her weeping,he became perturbed and deeply troubled, and said,“Where have you laid him?”They said to him, “Sir, come and see.”And Jesus wept.So the Jews said, “See how he loved him.”But some of them said,“Could not the one who opened the eyes of the blind manhave done something so that this man would not have died?” So Jesus, perturbed again, came to the tomb.It was a cave, and a stone lay across it.Jesus said, “Take away the stone.”Martha, the dead man’s sister, said to him,“Lord, by now there will be a stench;he has been dead for four days.”Jesus said to her,“Did I not tell you that if you believeyou will see the glory of God?”So they took away the stone.And Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you for hearing me.I know that you always hear me;but because of the crowd here I have said this,that they may believe that you sent me.”And when he had said this,He cried out in a loud voice,“Lazarus, come out!”The dead man came out,tied hand and foot with burial bands,and his face was wrapped in a cloth.So Jesus said to them,“Untie him and let him go.” Now many of the Jews who had come to Maryand seen what he had done began to believe in him.  

Here's Fr. Marc's homily for the Solemnity of the Annunciation: "Fiat" Luke 1:26-38 The angel Gabriel was sent from Godto a town of Galilee called Nazareth,to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,of the house of David,and the virgin’s name was Mary.And coming to her, he said,“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”But she was greatly troubled at what was saidand pondered what sort of greeting this might be.Then the angel said to her,“Do not be afraid, Mary,for you have found favor with God.Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,and you shall name him Jesus.He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,and of his Kingdom there will be no end.”But Mary said to the angel,“How can this be,since I have no relations with a man?”And the angel said to her in reply,“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.Therefore the child to be bornwill be called holy, the Son of God.And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,has also conceived a son in her old age,and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;for nothing will be impossible for God.”Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.May it be done to me according to your word.”Then the angel departed from her.

Here's Fr. Marc's homily from March 22nd, "Rejoice (Even Now)" Psalm 23 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul. He guides me in right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side With your rod and your staff that give me courage. You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for years to come.

Here's Fr. Marc's sermon from March 18th: "Ever United in Prayer" Collect prayer from Mass, March 18th: "Grant we pray, O Lord, that, schooled through Lenten observance and nourished by your word, through holy restraint we may be devoted to you with all our heart and be ever united in prayer.  Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever."

Here's Fr. Marc's homily from March 15th, "Hope in Christ." Romans 5: 1-8 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access [by faith] to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us. For Christ, while we were still helpless, yet died at the appointed time for the ungodly. Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.  

Here's Fr. Marc's homily for March 8th, "Listen to Him".  Enjoy. Matt 17:1-9 Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother,and led them up a high mountain by themselves.And he was transfigured before them;his face shone like the sunand his clothes became white as light.And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them,conversing with him.Then Peter said to Jesus in reply,“Lord, it is good that we are here.If you wish, I will make three tents here,one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”While he was still speaking, behold,a bright cloud cast a shadow over them,then from the cloud came a voice that said,“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased;listen to him.”When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrateand were very much afraid.But Jesus came and touched them, saying,“Rise, and do not be afraid.”And when the disciples raised their eyes,they saw no one else but Jesus alone. As they were coming down from the mountain,Jesus charged them,“Do not tell the vision to anyoneuntil the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

Here's Fr. Marc's Homily from Ash Wednesday (apologies for the technical glitch at the end).   2 Cor. 5:20-6:2 Brothers and sisters:We are ambassadors for Christ,as if God were appealing through us.We implore you on behalf of Christ,be reconciled to God.For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin,so that we might become the righteousness of God in him. Working together, then,we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.For he says: In an acceptable time I heard you,and on the day of salvation I helped you. Behold, now is a very acceptable time;behold, now is the day of salvation.

Here's Fr. Marc's homily for Feb. 23rd.  Enjoy!  Matt 5:38-48.   Jesus said to his disciples:“You have heard that it was said,An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil.When someone strikes you on your right cheek,turn the other one as well.If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic,hand over your cloak as well.Should anyone press you into service for one mile,go for two miles.Give to the one who asks of you,and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow. “You have heard that it was said,You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.But I say to you, love your enemiesand pray for those who persecute you,that you may be children of your heavenly Father,for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?Do not the tax collectors do the same?And if you greet your brothers only,what is unusual about that?Do not the pagans do the same?So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Here's Fr. Marc's homily from Feb. 19th: "Restoring Sight".  Enjoy! Mark 8:22-26 When Jesus and his disciples arrived at Bethsaida,people brought to him a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him.He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village.Putting spittle on his eyes he laid his hands on the man and asked,“Do you see anything?”Looking up the man replied, “I see people looking like trees and walking.”Then he laid hands on the man’s eyes a second time and he saw clearly;his sight was restored and he could see everything distinctly.Then he sent him home and said, “Do not even go into the village.”  

Here's Fr. Marc's homily from Feb. 12, 2020: A Love that Reveals and Heals. Mark 7:14-23 Jesus summoned the crowd again and said to them,“Hear me, all of you, and understand.Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person;but the things that come out from within are what defile.” When he got home away from the crowdhis disciples questioned him about the parable.He said to them,“Are even you likewise without understanding?Do you not realize that everythingthat goes into a person from outside cannot defile,since it enters not the heart but the stomachand passes out into the latrine?”(Thus he declared all foods clean.)“But what comes out of the man, that is what defiles him.From within the man, from his heart,come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder,adultery, greed, malice, deceit,licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly.All these evils come from within and they defile.”

Here's Fr. Marc's homily for Feb. 5, 2020: "Faith that Amazes".  Enjoy Mark 6:1-6 Jesus departed from there and came to his native place,accompanied by his disciples.When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue,and many who heard him were astonished.They said, “Where did this man get all this?What kind of wisdom has been given him?What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands!Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary,and the brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon?And are not his sisters here with us?”And they took offense at him.Jesus said to them,“A prophet is not without honor except in his native placeand among his own kin and in his own house.”So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there,apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them.He was amazed at their lack of faith.

Here's Fr. Marc's homily from Feb. 2nd: "A Sign of Contradiction".  Enjoy. Luke 2:22-40. When the days were completed for their purificationaccording to the law of Moses,Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalemto present him to the Lord,just as it is written in the law of the Lord,Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,and to offer the sacrifice ofa pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord. Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.This man was righteous and devout,awaiting the consolation of Israel,and the Holy Spirit was upon him.It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spiritthat he should not see deathbefore he had seen the Christ of the Lord.He came in the Spirit into the temple;and when the parents brought in the child Jesusto perform the custom of the law in regard to him,he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: “Now, Master, you may let your servant goin peace, according to your word,for my eyes have seen your salvation,which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples:a light for revelation to the Gentiles,and glory for your people Israel.” The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,“Behold, this child is destinedfor the fall and rise of many in Israel,and to be a sign that will be contradicted--and you yourself a sword will pierce--so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”There was also a prophetess, Anna,the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.She was advanced in years,having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage,and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.She never left the temple,but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.And coming forward at that very time,she gave thanks to God and spoke about the childto all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem. When they had fulfilled all the prescriptionsof the law of the Lord,they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom;and the favor of God was upon him.

Here's Fr. Marc's homily from Jan 29th: "Good Seed, Good Soil".  Enjoy. Mark 4:1-20 On another occasion, Jesus began to teach by the sea.A very large crowd gathered around himso that he got into a boat on the sea and sat down.And the whole crowd was beside the sea on land.And he taught them at length in parables,and in the course of his instruction he said to them,“Hear this! A sower went out to sow.And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path,and the birds came and ate it up.Other seed fell on rocky ground where it had little soil.It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep.And when the sun rose, it was scorched and it withered for lack of roots.  Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked itand it produced no grain.And some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit.It came up and grew and yielded thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.”He added, “Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.” And when he was alone,those present along with the Twelvequestioned him about the parables.He answered them,“The mystery of the Kingdom of God has been granted to you.But to those outside everything comes in parables, so thatthey may look and see but not perceive,and hear and listen but not understand,in order that they may not be converted and be forgiven.” Jesus said to them, “Do you not understand this parable?Then how will you understand any of the parables?The sower sows the word.These are the ones on the path where the word is sown.As soon as they hear, Satan comes at onceand takes away the word sown in them.And these are the ones sown on rocky ground who,when they hear the word, receive it at once with joy.But they have no roots; they last only for a time.Then when tribulation or persecution comes because of the word,they quickly fall away.Those sown among thorns are another sort.They are the people who hear the word,but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches,and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word,and it bears no fruit.But those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept itand bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.”

Here's Fr. Marc's Homily from Jan. 26th.  "Come After Me".  Enjoy! Matt. 4:12-23.   When Jesus heard that John had been arrested,he withdrew to Galilee.He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea,in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,that what had been said through Isaiah the prophetmight be fulfilled:Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan,Galilee of the Gentiles,the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light,on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by deathlight has arisen.From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say,“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers,Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew,casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen.He said to them,“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”At once they left their nets and followed him.He walked along from there and saw two other brothers,James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets.He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their fatherand followed him.He went around all of Galilee,teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom,and curing every disease and illness among the people.  

Jan. 19, 2020.  Here's Fr. Marc's homily "Behold the Lamb".  Enjoy!  John 1:29-34 John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said,“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.He is the one of whom I said,‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of mebecause he existed before me.’I did not know him,but the reason why I came baptizing with waterwas that he might be made known to Israel.”John testified further, saying,“I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from heavenand remain upon him.I did not know him,but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me,‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain,he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”

Jan. 15, 2020.  Here's Fr. Marc's homily "Everything Flows from Prayer"  Enjoy! MK 1:29-39 On leaving the synagogueJesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John.Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever.They immediately told him about her.He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up.Then the fever left her and she waited on them. When it was evening, after sunset,they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons.The whole town was gathered at the door.He cured many who were sick with various diseases,and he drove out many demons,not permitting them to speak because they knew him. Rising very early before dawn,he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.Simon and those who were with him pursued himand on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.”He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villagesthat I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.”So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demonsthroughout the whole of Galilee.

With Pope Francis taking the helm of the Catholic Church six years ago, there's been a decided divide between the conservative and liberal wings of the Church body.  Early on Francis was a media darling. Liberals love him for his more personal, humble approach to Christian doctrine. While conservatives still long for the good ole days of Pope Benedict XVI, the now retired pontiff who was more comfortable in the world of theological academics than in the vast splendor of the Vatican's top spot. Enter into this fray, Father Joseph Fessio, the "founder and editor of Ignatius Press, which is the primary English-language publisher of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI's writings and the publisher of Catholic World Report." Fr. Fessio joins Lighthouse Faith Podcast to talk about all things Catholic: the sex abuse crisis, the draining membership of the Catholic faithful, and of course the philosophical fissure that has grown larger since Francis became the Bishop of Rome. How can the Church move forward comfortably when there seems to be more that divides it than unites it? It can be done. But requires a return of true faith, not one mired in politics and secular group think. Here's Fr. Fessio's vision of the future.

The Diocese of Cleveland celebrates Ascension next Sunday, so on this Sixth Sunday of Easter, we have readings from both the Sixth and Seventh Sunday of Easter. Here's Fr. Simone's 2018 homily from this mass.

The Diocese of Cleveland celebrates Ascension next Sunday, so on this Sixth Sunday of Easter, we have readings from both the Sixth and Seventh Sunday of Easter. Here's Fr. Valencheck's 2018 homily from this mass.