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What Should We Do?

Homily for the Third Sunday of Advent

  • 11 December 2021
  • Author: CUSA Administrator
  • Number of views: 162
  • 0 Comments
What Should We Do?

Conversion of Life

Homily for the 2nd Sunday of Advent

  • 4 December 2021
  • Author: CUSA Administrator
  • Number of views: 169
  • 0 Comments
Conversion of Life

A Pilgrimage with St. Luke

Homily for the 1st Sunday of Advent

  • 27 November 2021
  • Author: CUSA Administrator
  • Number of views: 179
  • 0 Comments
A Pilgrimage with St. Luke

Mammon

Homily for Saturday in the 31st Week of Ordinary Time

  • 5 November 2021
  • Author: CUSA Administrator
  • Number of views: 174
  • 0 Comments

Two Stewards

Homily for Friday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time

  • 4 November 2021
  • Author: CUSA Administrator
  • Number of views: 181
  • 0 Comments

We Are the Lord's

Homily for Thursday in the 31st Week of Ordinary Time

  • 3 November 2021
  • Author: CUSA Administrator
  • Number of views: 173
  • 0 Comments

Death Cannot Separate Us From God

Homily for the Commemoration of the Poor Souls

  • 1 November 2021
  • Author: CUSA Administrator
  • Number of views: 180
  • 0 Comments
Death Cannot Separate Us From God

Of Mustard Seeds and Leaven

Homily for Tuesday of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time

  • 25 October 2021
  • Author: CUSA Administrator
  • Number of views: 170
  • 0 Comments

The Heavens Proclaim the Glory of God

Homily for Tuesday in the 28th Week of Ordinary Time

  • 11 October 2021
  • Author: CUSA Administrator
  • Number of views: 198
  • 0 Comments

We Are Called to be Prophets

Homily for Saturday of the 27th Week in Ordinary Time

  • 8 October 2021
  • Author: CUSA Administrator
  • Number of views: 135
  • 0 Comments

Possession/Obsession

Homily for Friday of the 27th Week in Ordinary Time

  • 7 October 2021
  • Author: CUSA Administrator
  • Number of views: 143
  • 0 Comments

Jesus, the Sun of Justice

Homily for Thursday of the 27th Week in Ordinary Time

  • 7 October 2021
  • Author: CUSA Administrator
  • Number of views: 142
  • 0 Comments

Jonah Should Have Known

Homily for Wednesday of the 27th Week in Ordinary Time

  • 5 October 2021
  • Author: CUSA Administrator
  • Number of views: 132
  • 0 Comments

There is great irony in today’s reading from the Book of Jonah. There is perhaps no better known story about the prophets than the story of the man who was swallowed whole by a great fish or whale which then spat him up on the shore near the city to which God had directed him. Songs have been written about this enigmatic character; even today, sailors refer to an unlucky person on their ship as a Jonah.

However, ironically, while this part of the story is well known, the part about the falling out between God and Jonah after God relents in punishing the Ninevites is often forgotten. We are more fascinated by the notions of God’s wrath decimating sinful people than we are in notion of God’s mercy. That is the first bit of irony.

There is an even more telling ironic twist in Jonah’s words as he argues with God. “I knew that you are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger, rich in clemency, loath to punish.” And why did Jonah know this? Simply put, they are almost the exact words used to describe God in the Book of Exodus, words uttered by God to reveal himself to Moses. “So the LORD passed before him and proclaimed: The LORD, the LORD, a God gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in love and fidelity.”

There is an anecdote that I have heard more than once. As the children of Israel reached the shore after walking through the Red Sea, they found God sitting on a rock weeping. They said to the Lord, “Dry your tears, Lord, we are safe. We made it through the Red Sea unharmed by Pharaoh’s army. They have all drowned.” God turned to them and said through tears, “Don’t you realize that the Egyptians were also my children?”

Today as we pray the Lord’s prayer, let the words about forgiveness soak into our lives and transform us into a people, slow to anger and rich in kindness.

Fr. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M., Administrator

Drawing Others to God

Homily for Tuesday in the 26th Week of Ordinary Time

  • 27 September 2021
  • Author: CUSA Administrator
  • Number of views: 146
  • 0 Comments
Drawing Others to God

Feast of the Stigmata of St. Francis

Homily for the Feast Day

  • 16 September 2021
  • Author: CUSA Administrator
  • Number of views: 139
  • 0 Comments
Feast of the Stigmata of St. Francis
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