Homily for the Fourth Sunday of Easter by Fr. Stephen Hamilton. Reading 1 Acts 4:8-12 Responsorial Psalm Ps 118:1, 8-9, 21-23, 26, 28, 29 Reading 2 1 Jn 3:1-2 Alleluia Jn 10:14 Gospel Jn 10:11-18 ..read more

Dominica in Pasqua IV 21 April 2024  The Gospel passage for this Sunday is familiar.  We hear the Lord declare that he is the Good Shepherd.  It is a tender image.  The Lord Jesus is not simply claiming to be a good shepherd in a superficial way, as if to use the image only to put a nice sentiment in the minds of disciples.  He is also making a contrast between himself and those who are bad shepherds, what the text refers to as a “hired man” and other translations call a “hireling” and even a “mercenary”.  There is an Old Testament precedent for this image of the ..read more

Dominica in Pasqua II Divine Mercy Sunday 7 April 2024  In my homily for the Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday I suggested that our “Alleluia” returns in this season and is joyful precisely because, if we have used Lent well, when the “alleluia” is suppressed, then we have confronted the reality of our own sins and the sinfulness in mankind’s history.  This admission of our guilt can serve to make us more aware of what God has done for us in saving us.  And thus, it makes us more grateful and joyful in signing out “Alleluia” in this season of the resurrection.  Praise the Lord ..read more

Easter Vigil & Sunday 30 & 31 March 2024    At Easter we return to our familiar singing of “alleluia”.  That word originates from the Hebrew and means “Praise the Lord” or “God be praised.”  One of the distinctive liturgical features of Lent is that the alleluia has been suppressed these past many weeks.  We are accustomed to the alleluia before the Gospel, but we use a different Gospel acclamation throughout Lent.  In some religious communities and in some parishes there is the practice as Lent gets started of marking that suppression of the alleluia by t ..read more

Homily for Second Sunday of Easter, Sunday of Divine Mercy by Fr. Stephen Hamilton. Reading 1Acts 4:32-35 Responsorial Psalm Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24 Reading 2 1 Jn 5:1-6 AlleluiaJn 20:29 Gospel Jn 20:19-31 ..read more

Homily for Holy Saturday At the Easter Vigil in the Holy Night of Easter by Fr. Stephen Hamilton. Reading I Gn 1:1—2:2 Responsorial Psalm Ps 104:1-2, 5-6, 10, 12, 13-14, 24, 35 Reading II Gn 22:1-18 Responsorial Psalm Ps 16:5, 8, 9-10, 11 Reading III Ex 14:15—15:1 Responsorial Psalm Ex 15:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 17-18 Reading IV Is 54:5-14 Responsorial PsalmPs 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11-12, 13    Reading VIs 55:1-11 Responsorial Psalm Is 12:2-3, 4, 5-6 Reading VI Bar 3:9-15, 32--4:4 Responsorial Psalm Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11  Reading VII Ez 36:16-17a, 18-28 Responsorial Psalm Ps 42:3, 5; 43:3 ..read more

Dominica III in Quadragesima B 3 March 2024  We learn from our Lord in the Gospel about the dignity and value of the temple, the house of God.  It is sacred and holy, which refers to “being set apart”.  That which is not set apart, that which is common, that which is mixed with ordinary things is profane.  The temple, the house of God, is not to be profaned by making it just another place that is not set apart for God.  We learn that the profane is not to intrude into the sacred. As we learn that the temple, the house of God’s dwelling, is set apart, we also learn some ..read more

Homily for the Third Sunday of Lent by Fr. Stephen Hamilton. Reading I Ex 20:1-17 Responsorial Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 11 Reading II 1 Cor 1:22-25 Verse Before the Gospel Jn 3:16 Gospel Jn 2:13-25 ..read more

Homily for the First Sunday of Lent by Fr. Stephen Hamilton. Reading 1 Gn 9:8-15 Responsorial Psalm Ps 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9. Reading 2 1 Pt 3:18-22 Verse Before the Gospel Mt 4:4b Gospel Mk 1:12-15 ..read more

Dominica I in Quadragesima B 18 February 2024 ACA Commitment Weekend  The journey of Jesus into the desert always fills our hearts and minds with a vivid image to begin the Lenten season. Like our Lord, we journey with resolve to be strengthened, knowing we too will be tempted. No doubt, you have chosen something from which to fast during this season, some sacrifice, and you hope that your efforts will not only prepare you for a greater celebration of Easter, but that they will also make you a better husband or wife, a better father or mother, brother, sister, and friend. In short, you ho ..read more