The Emmaus Pastorate’s Podcast

Homily from 5-16-21

As we celebrate Ascension Sunday and Baccalaureate at St. Mark this weekend, we remember the day Jesus went "up, up, and away."  Although he didn't ascend in a hot air balloon, we rose to better things: heaven.  We are also called to bigger, better things: discipleship.  As we focus on getting out of our tombs this Eastertide, are you leaving aside the pride, selfishness, and need for control that keep you in your tombs?  Are you going up, up, and away to the better things St. Paul describes?  We can do that for each other!

Homily from 5-9-21

Love one another.  Friendship is as simple and complicated as that.  To be my friends, you must love one another, Jesus tells us.  Not love some people, or kind of love others.  Love one another.  How do we do that in 2021?  How are you doing in that these days?

Homily from 5-2-21

"I am the vine, and you are the branches.  Remain in me, and bear much fruit."  As with any crop, without the vine and proper care of watering and weeding, no branch would produce any grape for wine.  Remaining close to Christ sounds easy, but in the day and age it's anything but that!  Remaining close to Christ requires work on our part, and only after putting in the work will we bear much fruit.  So how's your connection this week?  How's your workload?

Homily from 4-25-21

On this Good Shepherd Sunday, we hear about how a good shepherd lays down his own wants, desires, even his own life for those of the his flock.  Such a shepherd is so loving that he knows the voice of each sheep, and they know his voice.  As we traverse through the often confusing messages we encounter today, Jesus asks us a question.  Who's your shepherd?  Who's voice are you hearing?

Homily from 4-18-21

"Nobody likes a liar."  "We are what we eat."  St. John may as well have used these phrases in today's reading.  If we receive the Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist, then we should become the Body and Blood of Christ in our lives.  And if we don't, as St. John tells us, we are liars!  The First Communicants help Fr. John with his homily this week as they explore what it means to receive and live the Eucharist.

Homily from 4-11-21

Easter is the season for saying "yes" in a culture that is constantly saying "no."  Like Doubting Thomas, we often find ourselves living in our own tombs, afraid of saying "yes" to the Good News around us, doubting that there really is hope and joy in this world.  But Divine Mercy Sunday and the season of Easter call us into something different, into a life of believing in those realities, even if we can't always see Christ or heaven with our own eyes.  We are an Easter people.  Alleluia is our song!  It's time to get out of the tomb!

Easter Sunday Homily 2021

Jesus comes into our lives through everyday ways, like friends who come to visit and in sharing a meal with someone.  Will you open the door and let him in?

Easter Vigil Homily 2021

Who is this God who loves us so much?  And why does he care?  He is Christ, our light!  It is he who created us, loves us, desires us to grow, and wants communion with us.

Good Friday Homily 2021

The day Jesus died, there were four deaths: Judas, the indignant thief, the repentant thief, and Jesus.  One hopeless, one heartless, heartless, one hopeful, and one holy.  What will our deaths say about us?  What will yours say about you?

Holy Thursday Homily 2021

What good is it if the bread is changed but I'm not?  That's the question Fr. John poses to us as we begin the sacred Triduum in 2021.  If the bread changes but we don't, what's the point?  Join us as we celebrate the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ in the Emmaus Pastorate.  Visit our website for the schedule and other information: www.vibrantcatholic.com/live.