Below are the most recent DePorres Pages Homilies.
You can’t imitate Jesus if you don’t know him
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Readings for today
Saint Maximillian Kolbe is an amazing figure to know. A convert, a prisoner in a concentration camp, and a martyr for the faith, his story seems too much to believe. He offers himself in place of another man, who had a family, and so dies. Can anyone imagine doing this? How did it come to the point where Saint Maximillian Kolbe could do this? The short answer is that long before this, he started to get to know Jesus. When the moment came, this relationship was so strong it sustained him. The same is true for each one of us. If we get to know Jesus, we can do great things by imitating him.
Homily given at Christian Brothers College High School, Town and Country, Missouri on August 14 2018.
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A glimpse of heaven and a call to change
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Readings for today
HAPPY NEW YEAR! It may seem odd to be greeted with these words in August. But for teachers, now and for the next few weeks, we will be starting a new school year. We will be imagining all that can be, and trying to make it real. Today's reading from Ezekiel is similar. Ezekiel is given a glimpse of heaven, of the glory to come. He sees a small glimpse, probably all he could handle, of the immense majesty of God. This small experience of God is enough to give Ezekiel strength to challenge the status quo. He challenges leaders to care for the people themselves, and not to see them as a means to their own profit. When we get a glimpse of God, a small foretaste of heaven, we are reminded to remove all that keeps us from God. This can be painful. This can be hard. But it is necessary if we are to really live in God's presence.
Homily given at Christian Brothers College High School, Town and Country, Missouri on August 13, 2018.
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Take me now — No, eat! (11:00am)
[audio mp3="https://www.deporres.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/DPP00369.mp3"][/audio]
Readings for Today
Poor Elijah. He is at the end of his rope. And he has good reason. Despite his faithfulness to God, the people reject him. He can do no more. He wants to die. We have probably felt something like this. Perhaps we feel it in a medical diagnosis. Perhaps there are problems with our spouse. Maybe we feel the demands of work are beyond us. Maybe we study for a test only to fail. Perhaps it is a case where I argue with my parents. Whatever, we can come to the end of our rope. That is where Jesus comes to us. When we are hungry and reach out to him. Go to Mass. Eat the bread of life. Be filled.
Homily given at Our Lady of Lourdes, University City, Missouri on August 12, 2018.
Photo by Pixabay.
Take me now — No, eat! (9:00am)
[audio mp3="https://www.deporres.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/DPP00369.mp3"][/audio]
Readings for Today
Poor Elijah. He is at the end of his rope. And he has good reason. Despite his faithfulness to God, the people reject him. He can do no more. He wants to die. We have probably felt something like this. Perhaps we feel it in a medical diagnosis. Perhaps there are problems with our spouse. Maybe we feel the demands of work are beyond us. Maybe we study for a test only to fail. Perhaps it is a case where I argue with my parents. Whatever, we can come to the end of our rope. That is where Jesus comes to us. When we are hungry and reach out to him. Go to Mass. Eat the bread of life. Be filled.
Homily given at Our Lady of Lourdes, University City, Missouri on August 12, 2018.
Photo by Pixabay.
Take me now — No, eat!
[audio mp3="https://www.deporres.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/DPP00368.mp3"][/audio]
Readings for Today
Poor Elijah. He is at the end of his rope. And he has good reason. Despite his faithfulness to God, the people reject him. He can do no more. He wants to die. We have probably felt something like this. Perhaps we feel it in a medical diagnosis. Perhaps there are problems with our spouse. Maybe we feel the demands of work are beyond us. Maybe we study for a test only to fail. Perhaps it is a case where I argue with my parents. Whatever, we can come to the end of our rope. That is where Jesus comes to us. When we are hungry and reach out to him. Go to Mass. Eat the bread of life. Be filled.
Homily given at Our Lady of Lourdes, University City, Missouri on August 11, 2018.
Olives and pickles and what really eliminates hunger (Missionaries of Charity)
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Readings for Today
I was blessed as a kid with two Thanksgiving dinners. The first was at my maternal grandmothers, then we went as a family to my father's side of the family. What I remember about my grandmother's Thanksgiving meal is that everyone played a part and brought something to the feast. Before the meal, I remember being so hungry. The only thing on the table were dishes of pickles and olives. We ate them anyway, until we were scolded away. The meal was always wonderful, and the pies were excellent. But I am still hungry. Thank goodness the Eucharist fills my spiritual hunger forever.
