Homily on the Spot
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Fr. Jim Chern has been a priest in the Archdiocese of Newark since 1999. On Homily on the Spot, Fr. Jim posts his homilies, messages on the love of Christ, and ways to live better lives.
Homily on the Spot
4d ago
Picture this: A vast sea parts before your eyes, walls of water suspended in mid-air, a path of dry land stretching toward freedom. Now imagine experiencing this scene not through computer-generated effects, but through the pure artistry of human creativity. That’s what I encountered when I finally watched Cecil B. DeMille’s classic “The Ten Commandments ..read more
Homily on the Spot
1w ago
This past October, as my family and I gathered to mark the tenth anniversary of my Father’s death, I was struck by the unpredictable nature of grief. Those who have experienced loss can relate to the way time seems to warp after such an event, with life split into a ‘before’ and ‘after.’ The passing ..read more
Homily on the Spot
2w ago
The other morning, I came across an article that caught my attention. It was about families struggling to come together for Thanksgiving in the wake of bitter political divisions. As we all know, every four years, the American ritual of electing a new president gets more contentious, more polarizing, and often more divisive. This year ..read more
Homily on the Spot
3w ago
God doesn’t need our worship. We do. This truth may come as a surprise to many Catholics. We’ve been told that it’s an obligation to attend Mass on Sunday, so much so that if we miss it, we’re committing a mortal sin and must go to confession before receiving communion again. Hopefully, we’ve been taught ..read more
Homily on the Spot
1M ago
People will ask me from time to time how I write my homilies and what the process behind it is. As someone with attention deficit disorder, I can tell you, it ain’t pretty! The kids who join me for Eucharistic Holy Hour each morning sometimes laugh when they see me arrive in the chapel with ..read more
Homily on the Spot
1M ago
I always have to be cautious when I say that there were many blessings that emerged from the COVID pandemic. It was such an incredibly challenging time for all of us, and the effects still weigh heavily on many people, especially those who lost loved ones. No doubt, all of us suffered in countless ways ..read more
Homily on the Spot
1M ago
A couple of weeks ago at Sunday Mass, we heard from the Gospel the story of the “Rich Young Man” – the story of the guy who had it all, but lost out on everything. Today we hear the story of Bartimeus – the guy who had nothing and experiences one of the most dramatic ..read more
Homily on the Spot
1M ago
There is an anecdote told about President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It is said that FDR, known for his infectious smile and dynamic personality, grew weary of the predictable small talk he would experience during White House gatherings. Curious if anyone was truly paying attention, he decided to conduct an experiment. As guests approached to greet ..read more
Homily on the Spot
2M ago
Bishop Robert Barron is the Catholic shepherd of a small diocese in Minnesota, a place many might struggle to locate on a map. Yet, he is recognized internationally and respected both within and outside the Church, primarily because he is an effective communicator. His ability to teach the doctrines of our faith is both understandable ..read more
Homily on the Spot
2M ago
When you hear the names Thomas Edison and Sylvester Stallone, it may be hard to imagine what they might have in common. Maybe we could find a general thread like “They’re both famous people.” But few would imagine anything else that could link the inventor of the Light Bulb with the actor best known as ..read more