Taking time out to recognize everyday temptations – and ask God's help  

Reflections on the readings for the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (February 16, 2020): SIR 15:15-20; PS 119:1-2,4-5,17-18,33-34; 1COR 2:6-10; MT 5:17-37

MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days. 

Today’s readings call our attention to our relationship with God – and with one another.

Topics: homily helps, Ordinary Time

God created us to be the light of His world  

Reflections on the readings for the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (February 9, 2020): IS 58:7-10; PS 112:4-5,6-7,8-9; 1 COR 2:1-5; MT 5:13-16

MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days. 

The New Testament readings for today speak about what it means to live a Christian life.

Topics: homily helps, Ordinary Time

The martyrs we honor today imitated Christ through their faithful lives as well an in the manner of their death  

Reflections on the readings for the Memorial of St. Paul Miki and Companions (February 6, 2020): 1 KGS 2:1-4,10-12; 1 CHR 29:10,11-12; MK 6:7-13

MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days. 

Today we celebrate the 26 Martyrs of Japan. While Christianity had been introduced in that country earlier in the 16^th century, less than 50 years later political leaders worried about the increasing influence of outsiders.

Topics: homily helps, martyr, St. Paul Miki

Looking for the Lord every day...  

Reflections on the readings for the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (February 2, 2020): MAL 3:1-4; PS 24:7,8,9,10; HEB 2:14-18; LK 2:22-40

MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days. 

Today, forty days after Christmas, we celebrate the presentation of the Blessed Infant at the Temple in Jerusalem.

Topics: homily helps, Ordinary Time, Presentation of the Lord, Anna, Simeon

Changed – and helping change the world   

Reflections on the readings for the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul  (January 25, 2020): ACTS 22:3-16; PS 117:1,2; MK 16:15-18

MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days. 

Today we honor St. Paul the Apostle as we recall his conversion from an enemy of Christ to His devout disciple.

Topics: homily helps, St. Paul

'A light to the nations...'   

Reflections on the readings for the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time  (January 19, 2020): IS 49:3,5-6; PS 40:2,4,7-8,8-9,10; 1 COR 1:1-3; JN 1:29-34

MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days. 

On this Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, we contemplate Jesus in the early days of His mission to His fellow Jews – and the world.

Topics: homily helps, Ordinary Time

When we reflect on and venerate the Lord’s Baptism, we can better appreciate our own  

Reflections on the readings for the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord  (January 12, 2020): IS 42:1-4; PS 29:1-2,3-4,9-10; ACTS 10:31-38; MT 3:13-17

MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days. 

As we honor the Baptism of Jesus, we enter into the days of Ordinary Time that continue until Lent.

Topics: homily helps, Baptism of the Lord, Baptism

Through the Epiphany of Jesus we see the King of Kings and Son of God among us    

Reflections on the readings for The Epiphany of the Lord (January 5, 2020): IS 60:1-6; PS 72:1-2,7-8,10-11,12-13; EPH 3:2-3,5-6; MT 2:1-12

MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days. 

Today’s feast of the Epiphany is one of the oldest celebrated by the Church. It focuses on the manifestation of the Holy Child to the Magi who represent all Gentiles.

Topics: homily helps, Three Kings, Little Christmas, Epiphany

The first American-born saint sought to do everything God asked of her every day     

Reflections on the readings for the Memorial of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton  (January 4, 2020): 1 JN 3:7-10; PS 98:1,7-8,9; JN 1:35-42

MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days. 

Today we celebrate the life of the first American-born saint: Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton. The daughter of a prosperous New York family, she was raised in the Episcopal tradition and from an early age was drawn to a love of prayer, the Scriptures, and service to others.

Topics: homily helps, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Mary the Mother of God is waiting to guide us through the New Year and lead us to her Son     

Reflections on the readings for The Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God (January 1, 2020): NM 6:22-27; PS 67:2-3,5,6,8; GAL 4:4-7; LK 2:16-21

MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days. 

Today we revere the Blessed Virgin Mary under her title Mother of God.

Topics: blessed mother, homily helps, Mary Mother of God, Blessed Virgin Mary