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Saints & Feasts Homilies

Saints & Feasts Homilies

By: Fr. Michael Black
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Saints & Feasts Homilies delivers Catholic reflections tied to the yearly cycle of Catholic Masses and rooted in the deepest of deep traditions.Copyright Fr. Michael Black Christianity Ministry & Evangelism Spirituality
Episodes
  • 3-29-26: Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord Readings

    3-29-26: Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord Readings
    Mar 29 2026
    Reading before the Procession with Palms When Jesus and the disciples drew near Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you,and immediately you will find an ass tethered, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them here to me. And if anyone should say anything to you, reply, 'The master has need of them.' Then he will send them at once." This happened so that what had been spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled: Say to daughter Zion, "Behold, your king comes to you, meek and riding on an ass, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden." The disciples went and did as Jesus had ordered them. They brought the ass and the colt and laid their cloaks over them, and he sat upon them. The very largecrowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and strewed them on the road. The crowds preceding him and those following kept crying out and saying: "Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest." And when he entered Jerusalem the whole city was shaken and asked, "Who is this?" And the crowds replied, "This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee."A Reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah The Lord GOD has given me a well-trained tongue, that I might know how to speak to the wearya word that will rouse them. Morning after morning he opens my ear that I may hear; and I have not rebelled, have not turned back. I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; my face I did not shield from buffets and spitting.The Lord GOD is my help, therefore I am not disgraced; I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame.The Word of the LordResponsorial Psalm My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?All who see me scoff at me;they mock me with parted lips, they wag their heads:“He relied on the LORD; let him deliver him, let him rescue him, if he loves him.”My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?Indeed, many dogs surround me,a pack of evildoers closes in upon me;They have pierced my hands and my feet;I can count all my bones.My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?They divide my garments among them,and for my vesture they cast lots.But you, O LORD, be not far from me;O my help, hasten to aid me.My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?I will proclaim your name to my brethren;in the midst of the assembly I will praise you:“You who fear the LORD, praise him;all you descendants of Jacob, give glory to him;revere him, all you descendants of Israel!”My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? A reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Philippians Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.The Word of the LordThe Passion according to the Gosepl of St. MatthewOne of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?" They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples approached Jesus and said,"Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?" He said, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, 'The teacher says, "My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples."' The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered, and prepared the Passover.When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, "Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me." Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another, "Surely it is not I, Lord?" He said in reply, "He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me. The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born." Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, "Surely it is not I, Rabbi?"He answered, "You have said so."While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, "Take and eat; this is my body." Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you, for this is my ...
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    21 mins
  • 3-22-26: 5th Sunday of Lent Readings & Homily

    3-22-26: 5th Sunday of Lent Readings & Homily
    Mar 22 2026
    A Reading from the Book of EzekielThus says the Lord GOD: O my people, I will open your graves and have you rise from them, and bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and have you rise from them, O my people! I will put my spirit in you that you may live, and I will settle you upon your land; thus you shall know that I am the LORD. I have promised, and I will do it, says the LORD. The Word of the Lord Responsorial Psalm R. (7) With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption. Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD; LORD, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to my voice in supplication. R. With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption. If you, O LORD, mark iniquities, LORD, who can stand? But with you is forgiveness, that you may be revered. R. With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption. I trust in the LORD; my soul trusts in his word. More than sentinels wait for the dawn, let Israel wait for the LORD. R. With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption. For with the LORD is kindness and with him is plenteous redemption; And he will redeem Israel from all their iniquities. R. With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption. A Reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans Brothers and sisters: Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh; on the contrary, you are in the spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you. Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the spirit is alive because of righteousness. If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit dwelling in you. The Word of the LordA Reading from the Holy Gospel According to JohnNow a man was ill, Lazarus from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. Mary was the one who had anointed the Lord with perfumed oil and dried his feet with her hair; it was her brother Lazarus who was ill. So the sisters sent word to him saying, “Master, the one you love is ill.” When Jesus heard this he said, “This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that he was ill, he remained for two days in the place where he was. Then after this he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just trying to stone you, and you want to go back there?” Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in a day? If one walks during the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if one walks at night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” He said this, and then told them, “Our friend Lazarus is asleep, but I am going to awaken him.” So the disciples said to him, “Master, if he is asleep, he will be saved.” But Jesus was talking about his death, while they thought that he meant ordinary sleep. So then Jesus said to them clearly, “Lazarus has died. And I am glad for you that I was not there, that you may believe. Let us go to him.” So Thomas, called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go to die with him.” When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, only about two miles away. And many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.” Martha said to him, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.” When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary secretly, saying, “The teacher is here and is asking for you.” As soon as she heard this, she rose quickly and went to him. For Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still where Martha had met him. So when the Jews who were with her in the house comforting her saw Mary get up quickly and go out, they followed her...
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    21 mins
  • 3-22-26: 5th Sunday of Lent Homily

    3-22-26: 5th Sunday of Lent Homily
    Mar 22 2026
    5th Sunday of Lent 3-22-26 Year A On this fifth Sunday of Lent we hear the story of Lazarus. This is a story, not a parable, not a fable. It actually happened, in the town of Bethany, just a mile or two outside of Jerusalem. Jesus tells many parables during his public ministry, but he also performs many miracles. These miracles are not parables. Among His greatest miracles are three resuscitations. He raises the son of the widow of Nain from the dead and he raises the daughter of Jairus from the dead. And most incredibly, he raises Lazarus from the dead after he has been in a rock tomb for four days. This is Christ's miracle of miracles, one only surpassed by Christ raising himself from the dead after three days. The events we hear about today, a “sign” in the language of John’s gospel, directly precipitate Christ’s passion and death, which will take place in nearby Jerusalem shortly afterwards. The details of today’s gospel are interesting. Jesus receives the message that Lazarus is sick yet he remains for two days where he is with his disciples. Why does he stay two days? Why doesn't he hurry to the side of his friend who is sick? Because he wants the will of God to be manifested. He waits. He takes his time so that the natural course of events may be succeeded by the supernatural course of events. Only after he knows that Lazarus has died does he depart for Bethany. When Jesus arrives near Bethany he meets Martha and Mary, Lazarus' sisters, who question him and wonder why he did not come earlier “Lord if you had been here our brother would not have died.” Jesus shares their grief as they express this existential wonder. Where is God when someone is suffering? Where is God when somebody is about to die? People don't ask questions about God’s presence when someone wins the lottery. They don't wonder about the presence of God when they get a promotion at work. But we do ask about God when in the face of evil, in the face of wickedness. We want to know how bad things can happen when we’ve been told that God is so good. Jesus enters into the suffering of Martha and Mary in a deeply human and admirable way. It's easy to share joy. It requires nothing to bask in the sea of happiness at a crowded wedding reception. It's a joy to be joyful with the parents after a baby is born. But to share another’s grief is work, isn't it? When a friend is depressed, a sibling loses his or her job, or a colleague’s marriage fractures and they want to share their grief with us, it can be a challenge. Joy is naturally communal. Grief is deeply personal. Sorrow is just harder to share than joy. Jesus is empathetic. He feels and mirrors the sorrow of Martha and Mary because Lazarus was his friend too. It’s the family’s loss and His loss. And so the gospel tells us, in a very short verse, “Jesus wept.” A famous Hollywood movie might help us to re-imagine the story of Lazarus in a more modern and imaginative key. In the 1978 movie Superman with Christopher Reeve, Superman is emotionally very close to Lois Lane. Lois dies when an earthquake splits the earth and her car slowly sinks into a crevice. She struggles to escape but is suffocated by the earth spilling into her car. Superman is not there to save her. He is not at her side in her hour of need. He zooms through the sky to help her but arrives too late. He pulls her car from the crevice, removes her body, and gently lays Lois’ dead body on the dirt. He weeps. He is forlorn. If only he had been there. And then he does something only a man of his power could do. He rockets into outer space and undoes what has been done. He uncreates what has been created. He whips around the circumference of the globe with such speed and force that the world’s rotation reverses. And slowly the boulders climb back up the mountains. The large chunks of concrete of the Hoover dam reassemble themselves and the water reverses and crawls back into its lake. Superman reverses creation, and thus reverses time. The earthquake is undone. Time reverses as creation reverses. This imaginary episode is not totally crazy. The movie does not show Superman firing a supersonic laser to save Lois, or reaching into a special magic box, slipping through a black hole, or consulting universal psychic. He does something that seems to make some fanciful sense. To uncreate means to undo time. To go back in time means to restore a previous time. We believe that our God is outside of time. Our God is perfect and so is not subject to time. Time is a means for measuring change and change implies becoming better or becoming worse. Change implies more virtue or less virtue. More power or less power. But God can’t improve or decline, by definition. So there is no time where God is, which means that there is no clock in heaven. There is nothing to gauge in the land of God. God is Timeless, ...
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    13 mins
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