The Sunday Homilies

THE BEST OF THE SUNDAY HOMILIES: Father Paul Henson, O.Carm. - Pentecost Sunday Homily for 9:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, June 12, 2011

stbernardla@stbernardla.cc — Sun, 27 May 2012 17:21:23 -0600

Today we present an episode we brought to you during Pentecost in 2011. ‎"Let that 'amen' that you say everywhere ... make it real today. Say, 'Yes, amen, I believe' to the Father, to the Son, to the Spirit, and especially that Holy Spirit that drives us to holiness," Father Paul tells us in his homily for Pentecost Sunday 2011.

Father Perry D. Leiker - Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord

stbernardla@stbernardla.cc — Wed, 23 May 2012 22:02:52 -0600

"Until we can appreciate that he leaves us, can we ever begin to understand the meaning of Pentecost, that the Spirit is unleashed into us, poured out over us, anointing all of us, birthing the church with the power of the Spirit of God in us," Father Perry tells us in his homily for the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. "So that anointed with God, we would go out and spread his good news. That's our call."

Father Perry D. Leiker - Sixth Sunday of Easter Homily for 9:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, May 13, 2012

stbernardla@stbernardla.cc — Sun, 13 May 2012 17:55:55 -0700

The call to love is so central to the Christian message, Father Perry tells us in his homily for the Sixth Sunday of Easter. "The way that that is expressed, of course, in final and human form, is in the person of Jesus pouring out his life on the cross. Not because he had to, but because he was willing to give his life to love. The greatest love is that someone is willing to lay down their life for another."

Father Perry D. Leiker - Fifth Sunday of Easter Homily for 9:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, May 6, 2012

stbernardla@stbernardla.cc — Tue, 8 May 2012 14:24:58 -0700

Today is a great "pruning day," Father Perry tells us in his homily for the Fifth Sunday of Easter. "What will prune us is the word of God, the words of Jesus. ... When Jesus speaks, it's going to have power. When Jesus does something, I watch for it, I look at what he did. Why did he do it? What did it affect? Every single experience of Jesus I see, that I listen to, prunes me and changes me."

Father Perry D. Leiker - Fourth Sunday of Easter Homily for 9:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, April 29, 2012

stbernardla@stbernardla.cc — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 17:49:27 -0700

On this Fourth Sunday of Easter, Good Shepherd Sunday, and World Day of Prayer for Vocations, we are asked to pray for vocations. "We need priests. We do. We are a church that depends upon priests for the Eucharist, to confect the Eucharist, to make that bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ," Father Perry tells us. "But more than that, we need priests who are filled with the life of the Spirit. Just having a bunch of priests doesn't cut it."

Monsignor H. Gerald McSorley - Third Sunday of Easter Homily for 9:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, April 22, 2012

stbernardla@stbernardla.cc — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:47:58 -0700

Like the ad limina visits that some of our bishops are participating in this week, we are called to make an ad limina visit of our own; that is, to the empty tomb of Jesus, Monsignor McSorley tells us in his homily for the Third Sunday of Easter. "The question we should ask ourselves is, how real is Jesus for me? Is he some kind of ghostly figure out there, outside of my life? Is he present in my life? Do I believe in his presence with me? Do I sense his presence in all my daily activities? Is he truly alive for me at this time?"

Father Ed Dover - 7 p.m. Confirmation Mass Homily for Wednesday, April 18, 2012

stbernardla@stbernardla.cc — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 22:26:06 -0700

Do you have that kind of strength, do you have that kind of faith to stand up for Christ, to hold God's values as your own, and to transform the world through the power of the Spirit that is given you today? Father Ed asks us in his confirmation Mass homily. "You are apostles; you are missionaries; you are sent through this sacrament, and in every celebration of the Eucharist, to go beyond those doors and to transform the world."

Father Perry D. Leiker - 3 p.m. Divine Mercy Sunday Mass Homily for Sunday, April 15, 2012

stbernardla@stbernardla.cc — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 19:19:39 -0700

There are many things that deform us in life --- experiences; hurts; most of all, the power of sin that is all around us, Father Perry tells us in his homily for the Second Sunday of Lent. But "if we listen to the scripture today, it is loaded with transformation, transformative experiences. ... The transformation that happens when someone truly recognizes that Jesus is the Christ is a transformation that heals the spirit, that renews the spirit, that brings new life. We are born again."

Father Perry D. Leiker - Second Sunday of Easter Homily for 9:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, April 15, 2012

stbernardla@stbernardla.cc — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 18:32:38 -0700

Monsignor H. Gerald McSorley - Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord Homily for 9:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, April 8, 2012

stbernardla@stbernardla.cc — Sun, 8 Apr 2012 18:13:17 -0700

Without the resurrection, we would never have heard of Jesus. Without the resurrection, there would be no church, no Christians, Monsignor McSorley tells us in his homily for Easter Sunday. "And it was not his passion and death, but his resurrection that prompted his disciples and gave them the courage to go out and preach his name throughout the world and suffer martyrdom for his name. This is the power of the resurrection and the meaning of the resurrection."

Father Perry D. Leiker - 8 p.m. Holy Saturday: Vigil in the Holy Night of Easter Mass Homily for Saturday, April 7, 2012

stbernardla@stbernardla.cc — Sat, 7 Apr 2012 18:08:44 -0700

The washing of the feet reminds us that service is kind of like the key to the door. You want in that door to know what that kingdom of God is about? The way to get there is service, Father Perry tells us in homily for Holy Thursday. "When Christ fills my life and nourishes my spirit and soul and I become more like Christ, it is now that I must pour out my life for others as he did for me." To know Christ, to receive Christ, to live Christ is to become a servant.

Father Perry D. Leiker - 7 p.m. Holy Thursday Mass Homily for Thursday, April 5, 2012

stbernardla@stbernardla.cc — Thu, 5 Apr 2012 22:23:47 -0700

Monsignor H. Gerald McSorley - Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord Homily for 9:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, April 1, 2012

stbernardla@stbernardla.cc — Sun, 1 Apr 2012 14:10:09 -0700

Were you there when they crucified my Lord? The answer to that question is "yes," Monsignor McSorley tells us in his homily for Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord. "Each of us was there when they crucified our Lord. We were there because Jesus was dying for all of us. ... The Lord invites us to be with him this week. ... In the cross and in the resurrection, Jesus lifts all of us to himself. Let us be with him and accept his invitation this week."

Father Perry D. Leiker - Fifth Sunday of Lent Homily for 9:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, March 25, 2012

stbernardla@stbernardla.cc — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 18:33:51 -0700

The story of Jesus raising Lazarus is meant, like all the scripture stories, to be "our story that we experience in our lives today," Father Perry tells us in his homily for the Fifth Sunday of Lent. "There are so many ways to approach this. We can be Lazarus, and we have come to the point that we have died in some way, or that we must die. ... This is our story, and this is what Lent is all about."

Father Perry D. Leiker - Fourth Sunday of Lent Homily for 9:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, March 18, 2012

stbernardla@stbernardla.cc — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 23:11:58 -0700

Darkness. When it comes into our life, we need a way out, Father Perry tells us in his homily for the Fourth Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday): "Is there a way out? ... The church gives us this Sunday with these readings to lead us into our darkness, to get us to look at it, to check it out, to ask oursevles: Is there darkness, and what can we do to find sight and light? If we don't, we can sprial down."

Father Perry D. Leiker - Third Sunday of Lent Homily for 9:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, March 11, 2012

stbernardla@stbernardla.cc — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 17:21:34 -0700

Jesus speaks to this "water of life," Father Perry tells us in his homily for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time. Lent is arid and dry; we are longing, "longing for those waters, blessed on the night of the Easter vigil. ... It's an important lesson to teach. During this Lent we experience the dryness so we are overcome with those life-giving waters of baptism."

Father Pius Noel Pareja, MMHC - Second Sunday of Lent Homily for 9:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, March 4, 2012

stbernardla@stbernardla.cc — Sun, 4 Mar 2012 20:39:55 -0800

We must ask ourselves: "If God was willing to let go of his son on the cross, what is there that God will not give me?" Father Pius tells us in his homily for the Second Sunday of Lent. "What is there that God will not do for me? It is that confidence that leads us to go into a deeper faith in the Lord." Even though in our difficulties and problems we sometimes say to the Lord: "Where are you? Why did you abandon me?"

Father Perry D. Leiker - First Sunday of Lent Homily for 9:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, February 26, 2012

stbernardla@stbernardla.cc — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 11:22:16 -0800

During Lent, the church experiences a renewal, Father Perry tells us in his homily for the First Sunday of Lent. "Every Lent we get the chance to go again deep into this period of renewal so that we are ready for the great event of the great story --- the death and resurrection of the Lord."

Father Perry D. Leiker - Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Homily for 9:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, February 19, 2012

stbernardla@stbernardla.cc — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 11:20:12 -0800

God forgets our debts; he wipes them away. But he doesn't do it "because we're repentant or because we do the right thing or the right formula; he says it in the word: 'It is I, I who wipe out for my own sake your offenses,'" Father Perry tells us in his homily for the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. The core of God is his mercifulness. As Catholic Christians, we are asked to "do more than tolerate. I don't care if you like me, but I do care that you love me. I ask you to love me, because that is what I do for you: ... 'Father, forgive me my trespasses as I forgive those who trespass against me.'"

Monsignor Gerald McSorley - Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Homily for 9:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, February 12, 2012

stbernardla@stbernardla.cc — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 19:58:17 -0800

Throughout the Gospels, we hear of people being "touched by the love and the compassion and the healing power of Jesus," Monsignor McSorley tells us in his homily for the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. "He went about doing Good." We are called to do the same, St. Paul tells us --- never grow weary of doing good. "Whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God."

Father Paul Henson, O.Carm. - Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Homily for 9:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, February 5, 2012

stbernardla@stbernardla.cc — Wed, 8 Feb 2012 19:42:28 -0800

When one part of our body hurts, the entire body hurts. So it is among ourselves when we "ignore each other, ignore the pain of society, ignore the pain within our own families where we can say 'I'm sorry'," Father Paul tells us in his homily for the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. "Where we cannot reconcile, where we just ignore one another. That breaks down the body." But it is not so much about curing these things than it is about healing.

Father Perry D. Leiker - Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Homily for 9:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, January 29, 2012

stbernardla@stbernardla.cc — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:42:54 -0800

It is straight out there. "Listening" has more to do than listening with the ears, Father Perry tells us in his homily for the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time. So if today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. "The psalmist ... he doesn't say listen with your ears. He says, harden not your hearts. The truth is, we can listen with our ears and hear the words, but that doesn't mean we hear. This is where people want to be heard. They want to hear the other person, and be heard by the other person, in their hearts."

Monsignor Gerald McSorley - Third Sunday in Ordinary Homily for 9:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, January 22, 2012

stbernardla@stbernardla.cc — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:28:23 -0800

How does God call us? Think about it. It's a very favorite scripture theme. "God calls people; and God expects them to answer," Monsignor McSorley tells us in his homily for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time. "Last Sunday, it was the boy Samuel who was called and woke up from his sleep hearing his name. Eli the prophet told him, 'That's God calling you.'"

Father Tim McGowan - The Best of the Sunday Homilies: 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time Homily for 9:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, October 10, 2010

stbernardla@stbernardla.cc — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 16:52:44 -0800

This week, we bring you the best of the Sunday Homilies, with an homily recorded on Sunday, Oct. 10, 2010 (28th Sunday in Ordinary Time). Father Tim speaks of our being unaware of blessings in our life, based on the Gospel of Luke which tells of the one leper out of the 10 who was grateful to Jesus for being cured: "And is that, sometimes, our problem, too, that I am unaware of all the blessings that surround me and, therefore, am not grateful?"

Father Paul Henson, O.Carm. - The Epiphany of the Lord Homily for 9:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, January 8, 2012

stbernardla@stbernardla.cc — Sun, 8 Jan 2012 18:43:20 -0800

Today we honor the discovery of God "in human person, in wisdom, in understanding, in caring, in fighting for justice, fighting for those things that are unjust ...," Father Paul tells us in his homily for the Epiphany of the Lord. "Each of us was born ... to be here. What is your destiny? Why are you alive? What has God given to you that you can help manifest his name, his praise, his ability to love people, his ability to forgive people? I want you just to think about that."

Father Paul Henson, O.Carm. - Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God Homily for 9:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, January 1, 2012

stbernardla@stbernardla.cc — Mon, 2 Jan 2012 15:31:40 -0800

We are named. We are named to go out into the world and proclaim God's word, Father Paul tells in his homily for the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God. "Jesus' name means 'God saves.' Mary's name means 'God saves.' I make God accessible to the world. And our reception of the body and blood of Christ makes us as a body to change the world, to make God accessible to every person we meet."

Monsignor Gerald McSorley - Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) Homily for 9:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, December 25, 2011

stbernardla@stbernardla.cc — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 17:25:34 -0800

Today we celebrate the great event that took place almost 2,000 years ago. "We are united with our fellow Catholics and Christians all over the world, celebrating this great event of the birth of our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ," Monsignor McSorley tells us in his homily for Christmas Day. "So let us be aware that we're not just one congregation here. We are a great people of the Lord, celebrating and giving thanks for the gift of Christmas, the gift of our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ."

Father Perry D. Leiker - Christmas Midnight Mass Homily on Sunday, December 25, 2011

stbernardla@stbernardla.cc — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 17:24:20 -0800

We cannot appreciate the light without appreciating the darkness, inasmuch as we cannot understand Jesus, event the infant Jesus, without understanding his crucifixion and death as well. "The truth is, it's in the darkness that we best see the light," Father Perry tells us in his homily for Christmas midnight Mass. "It's in the darkness that we best come to understand the power and the meaning of this light."

Father Perry D. Leiker - Fourth Sunday of Advent Homily for 9:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, December 18, 2011

stbernardla@stbernardla.cc — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 16:46:42 -0800

In the beautiful story of Mary, we are challenged to "open our eyes" that God dwells in all of us, Father Perry tells us in his homily for the Fourth Sunday of Advent. It's hard to believe when so much sadness exists in the world, but, "Maybe God dwells right next door or in our own home, and we don't recognize him."

Father Perry D. Leiker - Homily for 6 p.m. Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass on Monday, December 12, 2011

stbernardla@stbernardla.cc — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:09:49 -0800

NUESTRA SEÑORA DE GUADALUPE
"Yo creo que la pregunta en nuestra mente mas importante debe de ser eso: '¿Señorita, que quiere de nosotoros?' Pausa."

Father Perry D. Leiker - Third Sunday of Advent Homily for 9:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, December 11, 2011

stbernardla@stbernardla.cc — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 13:34:08 -0800

This one is about what the season of Advent is all about: The art of living lies not in eliminating but in growing with troubles; it is in these times "that so much richness of life really happens," Father Perry tells us in his homily for the Third Sunday of Advent. "God, what is it you're trying to teach me in this? God, what is it you want to give to me in this? God, where are you taking me?"

Father Perry D. Leiker - Second Sunday of Advent Homily for 9:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, December 4, 2011

stbernardla@stbernardla.cc — Sun, 4 Dec 2011 17:25:05 -0800

During Advent we are called to embrace the darkness, for it is during the darkest and longest night that we celebrate Jesus' birth, Father Perry tells us in his homily for the Second Sunday of Advent. "Advent calls us into darkness, not to avoid it, but to greet the darkness, to welcome the darkness, to embrace the darkness."

Father Perry D. Leiker - First Sunday of Advent Homily for 9:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, November 27, 2011

stbernardla@stbernardla.cc — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 17:03:00 -0800

Be ready, right now, for the coming of the Lord. "The kingdom of God is at hand," Father Perry tell us. "It is here; it is among you; it is within you; it is now. Open up. See it. Receive it!"