SUNDAY HOMILIES

March 31, 2024

FEATUREDCDRBISHOP GOLKAFR. LANGEHDR. C. VANESSA WHITE

March 29, 2018

KEY INSIGHTS w/ Timestamps

Easter is about the belief in the resurrection of the dead and the idea that life is coming into this world, with Jesus being the first to rise from the dead.

00:00 📖 The Easter Sunday Gospel of John tells the story of Simon Peter and the beloved disciple running to the empty tomb.
00:56 📖 The Beloved disciple in the Gospel of John may not actually be John, but rather a symbol for the reader to identify with.
02:00 🐰 Jesus' resurrection is a marvelous work of God, different from Lazarus' resurrection, and the disciples are starting to believe in it.
03:20 💡 God is doing something incredible, leaving death behind and bringing something new, as seen in the story of Jesus entering the home of Cornelius.
04:02 🙏 A faithful man is revered for his piety and almsgiving, and has a vision from God to send for Peter.
05:02 🐣 God's work continues through Jesus' followers, who are commissioned to preach and testify about his resurrection and the expansion of his church to all people.
06:13 🐣 Peter, Cornelius, and the Beloved disciple all seek what is above and trust in Christ risen from the dead.
07:50 🐣 Easter is about the belief in the resurrection of the dead and the idea that life is coming into this world, with Jesus being the first to rise from the dead.

2021 Archive / View More

KEY INSIGHTS w/ Timestamps

Easter Sunday is a time to rejoice in the new life and renewal that comes with the resurrection of Christ.

00:00 🌅 Easter Sunday is a time to rejoice and celebrate the new life that comes with spring.
00:39 🌷 Spring reflects the resurrection of Christ, as nature comes to life after a dormant winter.
01:28 🌱 The cycle of nature reminds us of the hope and renewal in life.
02:20 🌅 New life is certain, nature will rise again, and we are bestowed with newness of life through the resurrection of Christ.
03:22 🌅 Reflect on becoming a new creation and rejoice in the new life God wants to bestow upon your soul through the power of his resurrection.
04:21 🙏 Jesus has conquered sin and death, bringing new life to those who turn to him, and we trust in him for new beginnings.

March 10, 2024

KEY INSIGHTS w/ Timestamps

The Paschal Triduum is a time to focus on the mystery of Christ's sacrifice, his resurrection, and the promise of eternal life through communion with God.

00:00 🙏 The Paschal Triduum is a time to focus on the mystery of Christ's sacrifice and the three main events of Holy Thursday.
00:53 🙏 Receiving Holy Communion is a promise of eternal life and a communion with Jesus, like a bride and groom coming together on their wedding day.
01:52 🙏 Communion with God is our identity, priesthood is about humble service, and the Eucharist is a life of fraternal charity and service to others.
03:02 🙏 Good Friday is called a good day because Jesus willingly sacrificed himself out of love, teaching us about redemptive suffering and forgiveness.
04:14 🙏 Jesus shows us total submission to God on Good Friday, and the church does not celebrate the Eucharist on Good Friday and Easter Saturday to honor his sacrifice.
05:32 🙏 Jesus, as God, is present from creation and thirsts for our love, offering divine love to all through his resurrection.
07:17 🙏 Every sin can be forgiven, God's love conquers death, and through Christ's resurrection, we prepare for eternal life and the transformation of the world.
08:48 🙏 Jesus transforms ordinary bread and wine into something heavenly, just as he will transform the entire universe when he comes again, so have hope and joy in God this Easter.

2021 Archive / Recent Reflections

KEY INSIGHTS w/ Timestamps

Easter Sunday is a joyful celebration of the resurrection of Jesus, giving us new hope and new life.

00:00 🙌 Jesus is alive, praise the Lord, readings from Acts, Psalms, Colossians, and John are shared.
01:12 🐣 Easter Sunday is a joyful celebration of the resurrection of Jesus.
01:54 📖 Many people don't understand the significance of Good Friday, feeling lost and confused, but it's like a football match where the end is not the end.
02:18 🏆 Your favorite team may seem to be losing, but hope can be restored when things suddenly turn around and they end up winning.
03:08 🙌 Jesus' death on Good Friday and resurrection on Easter Sunday show that truth cannot be buried, and his resurrection gives us new hope and new life.
04:21 🙌 Happy Easter, may God bless you, and consider getting the Bible diary and illustrated children's Bible.

March 19, 2021

KEY INSIGHTS w/ Timestamps

Mary Magdalene's experience of the Resurrection and her proclamation of the Risen Lord reaffirms the power of a woman's testimony and the transformative power of love in the world.

00:00 🏃‍♀️ Mary discovers the empty tomb and runs to share with the disciples, reminding us that God is with the oppressed and suffering.
01:45 🌅 Mary Magdalene discovers the empty tomb and, in panic and despair, fails to realize the significance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
02:49 🎤 Jesus' burial garments were neatly folded and his head wrapping was deposited in a different place, providing evidence within the African-American religious tradition.
03:04 🎤 Mary's experience of the Resurrection has a powerful history, with African-American women claiming her as the patron saint of their public voice.
04:02 🎤 Mary, as a woman, was the first to preach the Risen Savior, but her words were not legally valid in Roman and Jewish law, reflecting the historical discounting of women's words.
05:22 🌟 Mary was the first to proclaim the Risen Lord, and her voice reaffirms the power of a woman's testimony in the Resurrection story.
06:24 🌟 Jesus transformed communities with Holy Love, and we must believe in the power of love to change the world.
07:12 🙌 Truth transformed Mary into the Apostle to the apostles and has the power to change us today, so let this day be a day of praise and thanksgiving.

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SOURCE: Father Andrew Ricci

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SOURCE: National Shrine

Introduction

OPTION A

The Victory of Life

Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed
and he is risen from the dead.
Let us celebrate the feast
by getting rid of all that is evil
and becoming all new in the Lord.

Penitential Act
General Intercessions

SOURCE: Bible Claret Liturgy Alive

OPTION B

The Meaning
of Life

We have heard this story so often that it may fail to impress us. Our attention may be more on Easter dinner, dyed eggs and baskets of candy. But how would this day be different if we had just discovered there is more to life than we could possibly have imagined? What difference would this discovery make on Monday morning?

Penitential Act
Prayer of the Faithful

SOURCE: National Catholic Reporter: Cycle B Sunday Resources feature series. View the full series.

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UPDATED/ADAPTED FROM CELEBRATION 2018 NOTES

ONE LITURGY THAT SPANS THREE DAYS—None of the Triduum liturgies stand alone; they might even be understood as one liturgy that spans three days. The key is to keep a holistic view.

Holy Thursday - Introduction

What is Holy Thursday Really About?

Holy Thursday has an identity problem. Since it is the night of the Last Supper, we naturally think of it as a celebration of the institution of the Eucharist. Some clerical-minded folk link it also to the institution of the priesthood, since a priest is required for celebrating the Eucharist.

At the same time, the Evening Mass on Holy Thursday is part of a larger whole. It is the beginning of the Triduum, the great three-day celebration at the heart of the liturgical year. One indication of this part of the liturgy’s identity can be found in the entrance antiphon in the Missal: “We should glory in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom is our salvation, life and resurrection, through whom we are saved and delivered.” Notice that there is no mention of the Eucharist or the priesthood in that antiphon. We often use a hymn to begin Mass rather than the antiphon in the Missal, but this might be a good time to make an exception. Several composers have written settings of this antiphon, including Tony Alonzo, Ricky Manalo, Paul Tate and Steven Janco. If you can’t get the music and learn one of these this year, find a hymn that expresses similar thoughts.

Washing of the Feet

Some of the challenge comes from the tendency to view the Eucharist as primarily the reserved sacrament rather than the action of giving thanks and praise and entering into communion with God and with each other. One corrective to this imbalance might be found in the ritual of the washing of the feet. Though listed as optional in the Missal, this action is important for emphasizing what the Eucharist requires of us. The Triduum celebrates Christ’s self-giving love, and this ritual powerfully reminds us that we are called to the same kind of self-sacrifice for others.

Take the time needed to figure out the best way to involve the whole assembly in this ritual. It is not restricted to 12 men (and remember that Pope Francis explicitly includes women) but is best carried out so that all can have their feet washed and perhaps also wash the feet of others. This requires multiple chairs, pitchers, bowls and towels with well-coordinated movements by those who arrange them. It’s worth the time and effort!

READ MORE

SOURCE: NCR: Cycle B series.

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[contentcards url=”https://www.ncregister.com/blog/how-to-keep-holy-in-holy-week”%5D

Triduum Resources

Your Essential Guide to the Triduum

Busted Halo

18 Questions on the Paschal Triduum

USCCB

Preparing for the Ester Vigil

Creighton University

Featured Resources

Australian Catholics

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[contentcards url=”https://www.australiancatholics.com.au/homily-notes-easter-sunday-year-b”%5D

Easter Sunday B

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Easter Sunday. Fr David Rocks responds to the desire of those who seek to see Jesus.

Our Lenten journey was one of recall and remembrance, as we acted out the events that lead to the death of Our Lord. It is very easy, and very helpful, for us to consider our own path of suffering and challenge in this journey. We do this every time we come together for Mass. Then we see him when he comes to us in Holy Communion, after which the Ciborium is veiled in the Tabernacle. Each time we do that, we start on a new journey, and the Mass ends when we are told to Go in Peace. It is the joy of embarking on that new journey which is ours.

Image: from a 6th century mosaic of the empty tomb at the church of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna, photographed by Fr Lawrence Lew OP

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