God calls us to look at our lives and let Him change us with His love

Reflections on the readings for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (January 24, 2021): JON 3:1-5,10; PS 25:4-5,6-7,8-9; 1 COR 7:29-31; MK 1:14-20

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

What we think of as the ways of the world are not and never have been the ways of our Eternal Father.   

Topics: homily helps, Lent, Easter, Resurrection

 

What it means to respond willingly to God’s call – wherever that may lead

Reflections on the readings for the Second Sunday of Ordinary Time (January 17, 2021): 1 SM 3:3-10,19; PS 40:2,4,7-8,8-9,10; 1 COR 6:13-15,17-20; 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. 

If we entrust our lives to His will, we, also, will be followers of Christ with all that it demands and all the blessings it brings.   

Topics: homily helps, Lent, Easter, Resurrection

 

We, too, are beloved of the Father

Reflections on the readings for the Baptism of the Lord (January 10, 2021): IS 42:1-4,6-7; PS 29:1-2,3-4,9-10; ACTS 10:34:38; MK 1:7-11

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

Baptism is essential for us as Christians. It is the sacrament that invites us into the life of Christ and His Church. As sisters and brothers of our Savior, we, too, are beloved of the Father.   

Topics: homily helps, Lent, Easter, Resurrection

 

St. John Neumann served God as a missionary to the people of America in a time of many hardships and prejudices

Reflections on the readings for the Memorial of St. John Neumann (January 5, 2021): 1 JN 4:7-10; PS 72:1-2,3-4,7-8; MK 6:34-44

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

“When Jesus saw the vast crowd, His heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things” (Mark 6:34).    

Topics: homily helps, Lent, Easter, Resurrection

 

We honor St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, patron of Catholic schools  

Reflections on the readings for the Memorial of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (January 4, 2021): 1 JN 3:22-4:6; PS 1:7-8,1-12; MT 4:12-17,23-25

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

St. Elizabeth Seton had a great devotion to the Eucharist and a deep humility in living her faith in Christ.   

Topics: homily helps, Lent, Easter, Resurrection

 

Today we observe the Epiphany, or revelation, of Christ to His people  

Reflections on the readings for the Epiphany of the Lord (January 3, 2021): 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. 

We know almost nothing about these mysterious strangers except that they traveled from the east following a star. Many later traditions have grown up about the Magi: that they were kings, that their names were Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthasar, and, because of the three gifts, that there were exactly three of them.  

Topics: homily helps, Lent, Easter, Resurrection

 

Resolve to cooperate with the will of God...  

Reflections on the readings for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God   (January 1, 2021): 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. 

As we are adopted children of God, we, too, are children of the Blessed Virgin, our own Mother... He gave her to us and us to her for all eternity.  

Topics: homily helps, Lent, Easter, Resurrection

 

Embrace lives that strive to do good...  

Reflections on the readings for the Feast of the Holy Innocents (December 28, 2020): 1 JN 1:5–2:2; PS 124:2-3,4-5,7-8; MT 2:13-18   

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

The evil in the soul of Herod, the first person to threaten the life of Jesus still exists today. We must answer it with faith in our Savior, hope in His message... 

Topics: homily helps, Lent, Easter, Resurrection

 

Making our own homes places where His message and mercy are welcomed

Reflections on the readings for The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph  (December 27, 2020): SIR 3:2-6,12-14; PS 128:1-2,3,4-5; COL 3:12-21; 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. 

To serve God means to put ourselves into His hands and allow Him to have His way with us. It means devotion and loyalty no matter what God asks because His way is always guided by love. Mary and Joseph had already shown that in their responses to God’s angelic messenger and their journey to Bethlehem.  

Topics: homily helps, Lent, Easter, Resurrection

 

Be open to the Spirit, like St. Stephen        

Reflections on the readings for the Feast of St. Stephen (December 26, 2020): ACTS 6:8-10; 7:54-59; PS 31:3-4,6,8,16,17; MT 10:17-22 

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

In the Gospel, we hear Jesus addressing the Apostles. He had just told them about the ministry they will be undertaking to preach about the coming of the kingdom of heaven.  

Topics: homily helps, Lent, Easter, Resurrection