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Showing posts from August, 2025

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time 2025

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Have you ever been to a wedding reception and wondered, “Where am I supposed to sit?”   Maybe you found a spot near the head table, only to realize later that it was reserved for family.  And then comes that awkward moment—someone taps you on the shoulder and says, “Sorry, these seats are taken.”  You have to get up, gather your things, and shuffle off to a less important table. It’s embarrassing. We all know that feeling of wanting to belong, of wanting a good place at the table. Jesus notices the same thing in today’s Gospel. People were jockeying for the best seats at the banquet.  So He tells a story: “Don’t put yourself in the place of honor. Choose the lowest place. Then the host may come and say, ‘My friend, move up higher.’ ” That sounds like simple dinner etiquette, but Jesus is pointing to something much deeper. He’s teaching us about humility and about the Kingdom of God. The world tells us: grab the best seat, fight for recognition, look important.  ...

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time 2025

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When I was a kid, I was a horrible athlete.  I was small and skinny and uncoordinated.  I was the guy who would accidentally score points for the other team in basketball, trip over a base in baseball, or be constantly offsides in soccer.  I dreaded the one thing that came before every game at the park: picking teams. I can still feel that moment — standing there, hoping I wouldn’t be the last one picked, but deep down knowing that I probably would be.  That feeling of being unwanted, of being left out, of being “last.” And then I hear today’s Gospel. Someone asks Jesus, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?”   You can hear the same anxiety: Am I going to be picked? Will I be left out? Will I be last? Jesus doesn’t give a number, but he does give a challenge: “Strive to enter through the narrow gate.” The narrow gate isn’t about being the fastest, strongest, or most coordinated.  It’s not about being first in line or having the right résumé of good works....

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2025

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  I recently read a story by a woman named Susana, who grew up in a devout Catholic family. Her parents were born and raised in conservative Catholic homes in Mexico, and faith was a central part of their lives.  But in recent years, political differences have driven a wedge between her and her mother. They used to talk about childhood memories, dreams, and family life.  But now, every phone call seems to end up in an argument.  Susana has learned to share less and less about her own life just to keep the peace.  And yet… she still loves her mother deeply. She worries about her, helps her financially, and wants her to know her granddaughter. That tension — loving someone and yet feeling divided from them — is exactly what Jesus is talking about in today’s Gospel. His words make us sit up: “Do you think I have come to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division." We call Him the Prince of Peace — and yet here He is, telling us that His mission will ...

Feast of the Assumption of Mary

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  A few years ago, I had the privilege of visiting not one, not two, but three different places that all claim to be the site of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s Assumption. In Jerusalem, there’s the ancient tomb in the Kidron Valley at the foot of the Mount of Olives, said to be where Mary rested before being taken into heaven. Not far away, on Mount Zion, the Church of the Dormition remembers the “falling asleep” of Mary in peace. And then, in Ephesus, Turkey, there’s the House of Mary, where tradition says she lived with the Apostle John and was taken from there into glory. So which one is it? The Church has never officially said. And maybe that’s the point. The Assumption is not about where it happened, but what happened: that at the end of her earthly life, Mary was taken body and soul into heaven. Our first reading tonight tells of King David bringing the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem with great rejoicing. The early Christians saw Mary as the true Ark—she carried within hers...

Bishop LaValley's Homily at the 2025 Diaconate Ordination

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  Bishop LaValley's Homily at the 2025 Diaconate Ordination My sisters and brothers, in just a few moments, you will hear me pray these words to our Heavenly Father: “In the first days of your Church, your Son’s apostles, led by the Holy Spirit, appointed seven men of good repute to help them in the daily ministry, so that they might devote themselves more fully to prayer and the preaching of the Word.” Today, our appointed men are Gordy, JB, Jimmy, Frank, Gary, Gary, and Nick. Now, that’s only six names—so who is the seventh? In the Bible, the number seven appears more than 700 times. It is a symbol of completeness, perfection, and divine order. So where is our “plus one” today? Who completes the number? Brothers, your “seventh” is no mystery at all. He will be your constant companion, your friend, your teacher. He is your priest, prophet, king, and Savior—Jesus Christ. Without Him, your diaconal ministry will be incomplete—lacking divine order. Without His presence, your servic...

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2025

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“Gird your loins and light your lamps!” It’s a strange phrase to modern ears, but the image is simple.  In Jesus’ day, people wore long robes. If you needed to move—run, work, travel—you gathered the fabric and tied it at the waist so nothing tripped you up.  That’s “gird your loins.”  In our terms: roll up your sleeves, lace up your boots, be ready to move.  And “light your lamps” means keep the flame of faith burning so you can see in the dark and recognize the Lord when He knocks. That’s the thread through today’s readings.  In the Letter to the Hebrews, the author holds up Abraham as the example of faith. God calls, and Abraham moves without a map. Sarah hopes when hope seems impossible. Their faith isn’t a feeling—it’s readiness in motion.  In Wisdom, Israel keeps vigil on the night of Passover, acting in trust—even in the dark, even in secret. This is the shape of faith: prepared hearts, lamps lit, hands ready. And Jesus begins by saying, “Do not be a...

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2025

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  What will you leave behind?  Read more in this week’s homily! This past week, the world lost four well-known figures: Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Ozzy Osbourne, Hulk Hogan, and Chuck Mangione.  Each of them left a mark on the culture — through television, music, sports, and performance.  For many of us, they were part of the soundtrack or scenery of our lives.  And when the news broke, social media lit up with tributes and memories, as people recalled what these celebrities had meant to them. It’s a familiar ritual: someone famous dies, and suddenly we start remembering.  We replay their greatest hits, quote their most iconic lines, and reflect on the impact they had.  That’s not a bad thing.  In fact, it reveals something deeply human: we all long for our lives to matter. Whether we’re famous or not, we hope we leave something behind that lasts. But it also reminds us of something we too easily forget: celebrities are human.  They age, they suff...