Sunday, February 12, 2012 – “False Compromises”
Fr. David follows up from last weekend on the Health and Human Services mandate that violates freedom of religion for Christians, as well as the right to follow conscience by speaking about the latest actions of the President to seek a compromise. That compromise ends up being no compromise at all, and the threat of the governments incursion into practice of faith and morals is still imminent, as a letter from Bishop Jackels states.
Sunday, February 5, 2012 – “Standing for the Rights of Conscience in Health Care Plans”
All of the readings at Mass this weekend speak about the burden that proclaiming the gospel entails. Even Jesus experienced fatigue in preaching and healing from village to village. Today, our Catholic bishops and we as Catholic faithful, must also assume the burden of the Gospel by praying for an end to a plan by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to mandate the coverage of contraception, sterilization and abortion in private health care plans.
Sunday, January 29, 2012 – Father David was away from the parish this weekend for a Catholic Engaged Encounter weekend.
Sunday, January 22, 2012 – “Keeping Faith in the Big City”
Both the prophet Jonah and St. Paul proclaim God's message of repentance to citizens of large cities: Ninevah and Corinth. They had to battle secularist-or worldly-ways of life to do so. As Catholics, we too must be willing to live our lives in a culture that distances itself more and more from an acknowledgement of God.
Sunday, January 15, 2012 – “No Family, No Vocations!”
Father David enlists the acting abilities of young members of the congregation to explore the story of the boy Samuel who learned God was calling him with the help of Eli the priest. Similarly, our sons and daughters need the help of their parents and family to learn to hear God's call to them. Without fruitful families, we will continue to lack vocations!
Sunday, January 8, 2012, Epiphany – Father David was away from the parish this weekend.
Sunday, January 1, 2012, Mary Mother of God – “Conquering Pornography: Pondering in our Hearts Purely”
Mary used her imagination and memory to ponder and reflect upon the life of her Son, Jesus. The scourge of pornography corrupts the use of human memory and imagination to objectify persons for sexual pleasure and devolves into fantasy. Mary and St. Joseph are strong allies in ending addictions to lust and growing in chastity.
Christmas Midnight Mass, December 25, 2011 – “The Ox and the Donkey”
The history of the Nativity Scene, first assembled by St. Francis of Assisi in 1223, and a children's story about two stable animals present during Jesus' birth and first days on earth, provide illustrations for Fr. David's Christmas homily. Are we able to see and acknowledge Christ as did those first witnesses of his birth in Bethlehem?
Sunday, December 18, 2011 - “Christmas Call to Share”
This weekend, Bishop Jackels invites us to imitate the “Mary-like courage” of our Blessed Mother in saying yes to God’s plan for our lives and in supporting our retired priests and seminarians. Second year seminarian Zachary Pinaire also offer his thanks for the support of St. Mary parish and the diocese in helping him prepare for the priesthood.
Sunday, December 11, 2011 – “Being Recognized as a Catholic”
John the Baptist tells the Jews that one among them, whom they do not recognize, is the Messiah. Do others recognize us as Catholics, or are we reluctant to stand out? The recent news about Broncos quarterback, Tim Tebow, and his Christian witness provides an example of what bearing witness can look like in our lives.
Thursday, December 8, 2011, Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception – “Grace Doesn't Stop a Free Will”
Although Mary was conceived without Original Sin, she nevertheless still had a choice to make, her will to exercise, when Gabriel asked her to be the Mother of God. Grace doesn't take away our freedom of will. Like Mary we, too, can make a choice to accept or reject God's plan for us.
Sunday, December 4, 2011 – “Engaging in Spiritual Construction Work”
Fr. David recalls the experience of construction work on the Togwatee Pass in Wyoming during his summer vacation as a way of considering Isaiah's image of making a highway for the Lord in the first reading. The delays that such work may create (2 Peter) is, in fact, God's gift of time to help us do the necessary work of growing in our faith!
Sunday, November 27, 2011 – “Running Forth with Resolve”
The new translation of the Collect (Opening Prayer) for the First Sunday of Advent provides an image of running to meet Christ with expectation. Do we have that same resolve in our spiritual lives as do Black Friday shoppers seeking holiday gift bargains?
Sunday, November 20, 2011 – “Will we be Among ‘The Many?'”
Jesus' parable of the Last Judgment presents us with the fact that not “all” are saved, but only the “many” who respond to the least of His brothers. The new translation of the words of consecration for the Precious Blood also make us aware that, while God desires all people to be saved, not all will accept the gift…will we?
Sunday, November 13, 2011 – “Will We Invest in the New Translation?”
Just as the master of the industrious servants allowed them to share in his wealth with the talents that they multiplied in his absence, so God wants us to share in the abundance of his graces multiplied for us at Mass. Fr. David explains the translations of the prayers before the Preface of the Eucharist, the Holy, Holy, Holy, and he announces four new “translations” of the arrangement of the worship space at St. Mary.
Sunday, November 6, 2011 – “A Bride's Worst Nightmare?”
What would a bride do if five of her bridesmaids showed up for her wedding without their dresses? This modern day scenario might put into perspective the calamity that the five foolish virgins in Jesus' parable of watchfulness caused. What calamity might await us if we are preparing for the wrong things in life and overlooking our watchfulness for our Lord's return in glory?
Tuesday, November 1 – “Becoming Experts in Holiness”
How can we best explain our Catholic practice of venerating the saints? How do the saints support us now, during our lives on earth? What is one way to learn more about the saints? Fr. David answers these questions in his All Saints Day homily.
Sunday, October 30 – “Living the Faith We Profess”
The opening prayer for Mass on this Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time encourages us to “live the faith we profess.” Fr. David explores some of the new translations applied to the Nicene Creed, the Profession of Faith that we proclaim every Sunday.
Sunday, October 23 – “Gloria in excelsis Deo!”
The English philosopher Thomas Hobbes presented a grim outlook on the life of man which might be supported by the admonitions against corruption offered in the Book of Exodus. However, it was into this sometime grim world that the Son of God was sent to save us. Announced from on high by angelic choirs, the Incarnation is proclaimed every Sunday in the “Gloria” at Mass. The new Roman Missal's translation of the Gloria deepens our joy at God's saving plan.
Sunday, October 16 – “Give to God What is God's”
Jesus eludes a verbal trap of the Pharisees and declares that we give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's. We Catholics give to God what is God's in the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The new translation of the Roman Missal provides new insights into the Penitential Act that begins Mass wherein we give God sorrow for our sins, and He gives us pardon and peace.
Sunday, October 9 – “RSVP'ing for the Banquet”
How do we respond to invitations? In the mail? On Facebook? The invited guests to the wedding banquet of the king's son, as portrayed in Jesus' parable, ignore his invitation or come ill-prepared. At this time, we Catholics are being invited to participate in a new translation of the Roman Missal, the book of prayers for the Mass. Fr. David offers a brief history of the new translation and some of the new responses we are invited to learn.
Sunday, October 2 - Fr. David was away from the parish to offer a Catholic Engaged Encounter weekend.
Sunday, September 25 – “United TOGETHER as a Diocese”
Bishop Michael Jackels offers this homily to encourage us as parishioners of St. Mary's and as members of the Diocese of Wichita to “humbly regard others as more important than yourselves,” as St. Paul encourages the Philippians, and respond to the diocesan TOGETHER Vision appeal.
Sunday, September 18 – “A God of No Comparisons”
Fr. David invites the children of the parish to illustrate the gospel story of the laborers in the vineyard and shows that, while we may feel jealous when comparing ourselves to others, God offers his love unconditionally and with no comparison whatsoever!
Sunday, September 11 - “Forgiveness Heals Twice”
The Book of Sirach and gospel of Matthew speak of the act of forgiveness and how mercy heals not only the one who offends, but the one who is offended as well. A story about the Rwandan genocide survivor, Immaculee Ilibagiza, provides a poignant illustration of the freeing and healing effect of forgiveness for both her and her persecutors.
Sunday, September 4 - “Speaking Out as Watchmen for One Another”
The prophet Ezekiel is called to be a watchman for the Israelites and offer correction and guidance when needed. It is a role that we may find ourselves performing at times even though it may be uncomfortable for us. A newspaper article that Fr. David presents offers a present day example of speaking up to correct poor behavior.
Sunday, August 28 - “If You Could Do It Over Again”
Both the prophet Jeremiah and the Apostles face moments in which they reconsider their callings because of the struggles they entail. If they knew then what they knew now, perhaps they would have reconsidered accepting God's call! Haven't we also had similar moments of disillusionment? Nevertheless, God gives us the strength and courage to take up those crosses of doubt when they come.
Sunday, August 21 - “Fathers are the Key”
Eliakim, Chief Steward of the royal palace named in Isaiah, and St. Peter, the successor to Christ as head of the Church, receive symbolic keys of leadership. Just as important is the key leadership of fathers in their families as head of the household and primary example of living the faith as a spiritual leader!
Sunday, August 14 - “From Outside In”
Have you ever felt like an outsider? Fr. David relates his memory of being left out during a trying time in grade school as a way to relate to how the Canaanite woman might have felt when Jesus seemed to ignore her. Her great faith opened the door to God's gift of salvation that is for all people, not just insiders.
Sunday, August 7 - “Can You Hear Me Now?”
The prophet Elijah and Jesus ascend mountains to encounter God and communicate with him more clearly. Just like trying to get a cell phone signal in the mountains, we need to go up to higher ground, above the hectic pace of life, and tune in quietly to God's signal for us.
Sunday, July 24 - "Wise Treasure Hunters"
Synopsis: this weekend's scriptures speak of the Gift of Wisdom and how it helps us judge the things of the world as stepping stones to salvation. The examples of young king Solomon, the pearl merchant and even the bidders in the A&E reality series "Storage Wars" provide illustrations.
Sunday, July 17 - “Fields of Hope”
Whether it's a landowner whose wheat has been infested with weeds or a Kansas wheat farmer whose ripening crop was flattened by a hail storm, the hope that they demonstrate is inspiration for us all. When we hold out hope to sort out the weeds and wheat, sin and grace in our lives, we can be assured of God's mercy to give us “good grounds” for that hope to experience it's object: the joy of heaven.
Sunday, July 10 - “Riddles of Faith”
Fr. David shares a riddle he solved years ago as an example of how Jesus used parables—story riddles—to teach and inspire people to a deeper understanding of, and relationship with, him. The answer to the riddle that Fr. David shares is a five pointed star: the five points and five intersecting lines of the star mark the ten trees that the farmer had to plant in five rows with four trees in each row! (0:00-3:40 Gospel; 3:41-10:54 homily; 10:55-15:23 John & Connie Kennedy/PSR Enrollment)
Sunday, July 3 -
“The Yoke that Leads to Freedom”
Just as July 4th, Independence Day, commemorates the struggle for freedom between the American colonies and Great Britain, so this weekend’s readings present a spiritual struggle for freedom in which every Christian is engaged: the struggle between the flesh and Spirit. Jesus promises that his yoke will help us persevere. (0:00-1:20 Gospel; 1:21-14:07 homily)
Sunday, June 26
Fr. David introduces himself to St. Mary parish and draws upon a comparison to the first reading from the Book of Deuteronomy in which
Moses assures the Israelites of God's continued care and guidance as
they prepare to enter the Promised Land. (0:00-01:40 Gospel;
1:41-14:09 Introduction and homily )
