Lifeissues is mainly concerned with publishing thoughtful articles directly related to issues raised in Evangelium Vitae. However, from the very beginning, we have also published a few related homilies, notably by Fr. Al Cariño, O.M.I., Fr. Tony Pueyo, and others.
Please use the pulldowns below to select a homily by Liturgical Calendar date.
All of us, without exception, are called by the Lord. He says to us each and every one of us the same words he said to his Apostles: "Come with me." In order for us to hear the call of Jesus and be able to follow Him, as the apostles did, we need to disengage from the inordinate desire for material things that plagues the society in which we live. If we do not do that, we may find that there is too much clutter in our lives, too many things to worry about, and we will not be able to follow the Lord freely.
The kingdom of God may be described as " the leaven of today in the dough of the bread of tomorrow." It is "not yet" but "already". The kingdom of God is a gift from God and at the same time a project we help build.
Why should anyone preach at all? I see two important reasons, first, because the Lord commanded it, and second, because something good ought to be shared.
Supernatural faith is the highest way of knowing. And eventually, after living in real self-surrendering faith, we become aware that we’ve been walking in light, not darkness. That is why St. Augustine says: “Believe in order to understand.” Many people have this backwards; they will not make an act of faith until they understand, until they are sure.
Without the regular reception of the sacrament of confession, we are just living an exterior religious life. There's simply no way we can live every day without committing venial sins, which very slowly and gradually tarnish the interior of the soul. In the depths of that interior is a mirror that reflects the divine light to our unconscious mind, and we begin to see ourselves in that mirror.
Mark doesn't waste words in getting to the heart of his message. The Baptist's arrest reminds us of dangers as Jesus comes proclaiming God's kingdom. Because the reign of God comes near, people are called to change their thinking and become part of that movement. And Jesus calls four fishermen to be the first of many to be instruments of the reconciliation that he brings.
Life is unpredictable, and we don't know what's around the next corner. Regardless of what's next, and regardless of our past, God does not give up on us. We will look at Jonah today and see that at the worst times in his life, God was still with him. Jonah had a redo with God's help, and we can have that too.