The Emmaus Pastorate’s Podcast

Christmas Music Selections 2023

We hope you enjoy these Christmas musical selections from The Emmaus Pastorate as you celebrate Christmastide this year!  The first ensemble is the St. Joseph Choir from St. Joseph Parish in Elkader, and the second ensemble is from St. Mary Parish in Strawberry Point.  Merry Christmas from all the staff of The Emmaus Pastorate!

 

Reprinted and streamed with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-626030.

Christmas Day Homily 2023

Jesus came into our imperfect world to make us perfect.  He didn't need that.  The Holy Trinity existed just fine before Jesus came.  But nonetheless God wanted us to feel his holiness and perfection.  In the midst of our Christmas celebrations, when not exactly everything goes according to plan, let's remember that Jesus lives in the imperfect!  Merry Christmas from the staff of The Emmaus Pastorate!

Christmas Eve Homily 2023

So often - too often - we live in the dark.  In all the little things that go wrong, the people that get sick, the relationships that go bad, we are surrounded by darkness.  And yet the Prophet Isaiah tonight says, "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light!"  This Christmas let us invite the light of Christ into our lives and so enjoy his amazing presence!  Merry Christmas from the staff of The Emmaus Pastorate!

Homily from the Fourth Sunday of Advent

As we gather at the outset of Christmas, our Gospel today - the Annunciation of Mary - reminds that that we are above all a people of hope and of promise.  Despite all the dreariness this world has to offer, there is always a glimmer of hope and promise of better days to come.  The question for us who follow Christ, then, is simple: Will we believe in the promise?

Homily from 12-17-23

COME!  LISTEN!  What do you hear?  What do you see?  As we near the end of our Advent journey and celebrate Rejoice Sunday (Gaudete Sunday in the Latin), we're again reminded that Advent isn't just a season of three or four weeks.  It should be a lifestyle we live.  This week, in what do you rejoice?  And where do you find Christ?

Homily from 12-10-23

The only reason Jesus came was to save us from ourselves.  That's it.  He didn't need to be a baby.  He didn't need to be from a poor family.  He simply came to save us from ourselves.  This Advent, take advantage of the Sacrament of Reconciliation!  On Wednesday, December 13 from 6:00pm-8:00pm at St. Mark Parish in Edgewood, IA, 8 priests will be available to absolve your sins in preparation for Christmas.  A light dinner will also be served from 5:30pm-7:30pm.  Please join us!

Homily from 12-8-23

It's easy to confuse the Immaculate Conception with the Incarnation.  After all, they both involved Jesus, right?  And Jesus was certainly born without Original Sin!  But no.  The Immaculate Conception marks the annual reminder that Mary herself - the Mother of God - was also conceived without sin and that she also committed no sin during her earthly life.  She so perfectly answered God's call with her fiat - her "yes to God's plan - that Jesus redeemed her from all sin even before Mary was born!  Wrap that around your head!  The question for us all these years later is: Can we also perfectly respond to God's call?

Homily from the First Sunday of Advent

Come...  That's what God invites us to this Advent season.  Come... But come where?  To do what?  For what purpose?  Remember that Advent isn't so much a season but a way of life.  God wants to come into our lives so that we can allow him to come into other people's lives.  In so doing, our lives will change for the better.  In the zillion little daily ways, how are you coming to God in this new liturgical year?  

Homily on 11-26-23

Christ the King is here!  (Well, the Solemnity of Christ the King is here anyway!)  As we transition from one liturgical year to the next and wish each other a Happy New Year of Church, it's a good time to sit down and reflect a bit.  Looking at the last year, has Christ been the King of our lives?  Have we been good sheep following the shepherd's voice?  Or have we been more like goats who ignore the master and go their own way?  As we begin Advent next weekend, now is a good time for some internal preparation!

Homily on 11-19-23

God has been LAVISHLY good to us!  We have been given incredible gifts!  And God is wondering about his return on investment.  How have you been using what you've been given?