Sunday Homilies From St. John The Baptist

Christian discipleship demands of us to learn Spiritual Detachment from desires and pleasures especially become rich in material possessions and seeking those things that matter to God, our Christian Virtuous life.

The question posed by one of the Lord's disciples "Lord, teach us how to pray" reveals that we really don't know how to pray and reveals to us the true nature and purpose of Christian prayer.

Jesus visits Martha and Mary. He appeals to Martha who is "anxious and worried" to consider the truly important and necessary things in life, to order her priorities as Mary who had "chosen the better part."

The scholar today seeks to trip up Jesus by asking what must be done to inherit eternal life, Jesus responds by explaining the expectation of showing love for God and neighbor.

The 72 Disciples are sent out to preach and to heal, a vital part of being a follower of Jesus Christ.

We are called to be "real Christians" accepting the truths of faith using our reason and common sense and not simply our emotions

The demands of Christian discipleship; "deny yourself, take up your cross, follow me" are often seen as negatives, but in reality they are true goods that are joy-filled.

What is the "good news" that Jesus preaches from village to village? The story of David's confession of his sin and the sinful woman in the pharisee's home tells us that the good news is God's merciful love.

The story of the widow of Nain and the encounter with Jesus reminds us of the damage done by sin, especially sin that leads to spiritual death.

"You give them something to eat yourselves" The Church is called to satisfy the hunger of the crowd for food, truth and God all which is satisfied by the Eucharist the Lord of Compassion, Truth and God his very self.

The Lord speaks of the "possessiveness" of God which he shares in stewardship to his people, an action of love of the Trinity.

On the day of Pentecost, we learn of two miracles that take place, 1. the miracle of speech or tongues that allows the disciples to not fear and preach with confidence and 2. the miracle of hearing that opened the ears of the pilgrims in Jerusalem to "hear in their own native tongue".

First Communicants receive two gifts today: Jesus in the Eucharist and the Holy Spirit which make their hearts grow so as to learn to love.

In the liturgy of Pentecost we pray "come" Holy Spirit. What exactly are we inviting when we invoke him?

Two biblical words are prevalent in today's liturgy; power and witness. The Lord leaves his disciples the power of faith, goodness, truth, and justice and the expectation to be witnesses.

In his farewell discourse to his disciples, Jesus desires his disciples who love him to keep his word. What does it mean to "keep" the Lord's word?

Jesus gives to his disciples his doctrine of love; given as a model in the Washing of the Feet, Sacramentalized in the Eucharist and the Priesthood, and the Commandement to Love.

The characteristics of the sheep help us to understand our relationship with the Good Shepherd.

We are the fish caught by the nets of the fisherman of the Church and brought to Jesus Christ to become consumed by his great love and formed into His Mystical Body.

Thomas' doubt is caused by fear and reluctance, both vices against the virtue of faith.