Homily - St. Cecilia - November 22, 2023

Deacon Ryan first proclaims the Gospel for the feast of St. Albert the Great, from Luke 17:11-19.

Deacon Ryan then challenges us to think, to question, to hypothesize, to test and analyze.  Faith is not in opposition to reason.  

Deacon Ryan first proclaims the Gospel for Wednesday of the third week of Advent, from Luke 1:26-38.

Deacon Ryan then describes the full impact of Mary's yes, her fiat.

Deacon Ryan first proclaims the Gospel for Wednesday of the 29th week in Ordinary time, from Luke 12:39-48.

Deacon Ryan then discusses power and authority in the Church.

Deacon Ryan first proclaims the Gospel for the feast of St. Cecelia, from Luke 19:11-28.

Deacon Ryan describes how St. Cecelia and our Lady Mother are the perfect examples of femininity.

Deacon Ryan first proclaims the Gospel for the Solemnity of Christ the King, from Matthew 25:31-46.

Deacon Ryan then discusses how Christ as our King is a rallying cry to battle, yet how we fight that battle might not be as we initially think.

Deacon Ryan first proclaims the Gospel for Wednesday of the thirtyfirst week in Ordinary time, from Luke 14:25-33.

Deacon Ryan uses an example of when his daughter was bullied to show how difficult it can be to follow Christ.

Deacon Ryan first proclaims the Gospel for the 4th Sunday of Advent, from Luke 1:26-38

Deacon Ryan then highlights how for many, Advent and the Christmas season is anything BUT joyful.  Families are complex.  And yet, if we look at the Holy Family, the perfect family, we also see that they were anything BUT normal. 

Deacon Ryan first proclaims the Gospel for Wednesday of the nineteenth week in Ordinary time, from Matthew 18:15-20.

Deacon Ryan then uses the "famous" words of Pope Francis, "who am I to judge?" to discuss that while we are not called to judge our brothers and sisters, we ARE called to intervene when they sin.

Deacon Ryan first proclaims the Gospel for Wednesday of the twenty-first week in Ordinary time, from Matthew 23:27-32.

Deacon Ryan then discusses our lack of self-love, how we often take a more Protestant approach to our humanity (snow covered dung-hill) rather than appreciating that our Lord is foolishly in love with us.

Deacon Ryan first proclaims the Gospel for Wednesday of the twenty-seventh week in Ordinary time, from Luke 11:1-4.

Deacon Ryan discusses a single word in the Lord's Prayer, the Our Father:  Father.  He reminds us that while we may pray this prayer on auto-pilot, it is worth medidating on the awesomeness of being able to call God, the creator of the universe, father.  It is also important to realize that for some, "father" doesn't elicit the same sense of love, trust, safety that it does for others.