Homily from the Fourth Sunday of Lent. We need to stop asking "who is to blame?" and start asking "What can God do with this?" The disciples ask Jesus whose fault it is that the man was born blind. So many of us have a tendency to ask the same question: "Whose fault is this?" While that is a natural question, it is not always a helpful question. There is a better question that we can ask. Mass Readings from March 19, 2023 : 1 Samuel 16:1, 6-7, 10-13 Psalms 23 Ephesians 5:8-14 John 9:1-41...
Mar 18, 2023•22 min
Homily from the Third Sunday of Lent. Jesus taught the world how to see the person. We are constantly facing the temptation to define people by their group or by their shame. Jesus reveals that, while He knows the group or by their shame, He sees the person...the individual...and calls them by their name. Mass Readings from March 12, 2023: Exodus 17:3-7 Psalms 95:1-2, 6-9 Romans 5:1-2, 5-8 John 4:5-42...
Mar 11, 2023•27 min
Homily from the Second Sunday of Lent. In teaching about prayer, Jesus offered something no other rabbi could give. Jesus, the Prototype, reveals His prayer to the Apostles. Every rabbi would teach his disciples how to pray, but Jesus is able to give His disciples something that no other rabbi could offer. Jesus prays as the Beloved Son...Jesus teaches His disciples to pray as beloved children who have been claimed by their Father. Mass Readings from March 5, 2023: Genesis 12:1-4 Psalms 33:4-5, ...
Mar 04, 2023•17 min
Homily from the First Sunday of Lent. Expect the Trial. Eliminate the Option. Re-Write the Script. Focus on the Word. We will face trials and temptations throughout our lives. When we follow and study Jesus our rabbi, we learn how to face temptations the way he did. Mass Readings from February 26, 2023: Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7 Psalms 51:3-6, 12-14 and 17 Romans 5:12-19 Matthew 4:1-11...
Feb 25, 2023•25 min
Homily from Ash Wednesday. The goal of the Christian life is to become like Christ. As we begin Lent, we often mistakenly choose arbitrary things to give up or arbitrary ways to pray. But the goal of Lent is more than "doing something difficult" or "getting better". The goal of lent is the imitation of Christ. Mass Readings from February 22, 2023: Joel 2:12-18 Psalms 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-14 and 17 2 Corinthians 5:20—6:2 Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18...
Feb 23, 2023•12 min
Homily from the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. The difference between giving up and surrender is one word: trust. There are so many circumstances in life that are beyond our control. We can easily feel powerless as we realize that we cannot control all outcomes. Christ's words in the Gospel might look like giving up, but they are something vastly different...and far more hopeful. Mass Readings from February 19, 2023: Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18 Psalm 103:1-4, 8, 10, 12-13 1 Corinthians 3:16-23 Mat...
Feb 18, 2023•26 min
Homily from the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Our hearts are enslaved...exile can be the cure. There are so many circumstances that are beyond our control. But no matter the situation, one thing that cannot be taken away from a person made in God's image is the freedom to choose how one responds to those circumstances. Our hearts can be enslaved in any situation, but they can also be free in any situation. Mass Readings from February 12, 2023: Sirach 15:15-20 Psalms 119:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34 1...
Feb 11, 2023•27 min
Homily from the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Do what you would do even if no one is watching. So many of us have a fear of being different. We would prefer to be like everyone else. But we cannot afford to be the same as everyone else. Not because we are better, but because the world needs what Christians have: Jesus Christ. Mass Readings from February 5, 2023: Isaiah 58:7-10 Psalms 112:4-9 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 Matthew 5:13-16...
Feb 04, 2023•27 min
Homily from the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Do not wait to live. God is using this here and now. There is real suffering. There is real good and evil. But sometimes, the difference between something that is worthless and something that is worthwhile is a matter of perspective. God can use even our flaws...in fact, he will use everything if we let him. Mass Readings from January 29, 2023: Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13 Psalms 146:6-10 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 Matthew 5:1-12...
Jan 28, 2023•26 min
Homily from the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time. Our identity is at the heart of our resolution. One of the greatest things that is lost while in exile is a true sense of identity. Too quickly, we forget who we are and settle for something too small to be enough. But if we keep identity at the heart of our resolutions, we will be able to live homeless and Holy. Mass Readings from January 22, 2023: Isaiah 8:23-9:3 Psalms 27:1, 4, 13-14 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17 Matthew 4:12-23...
Jan 21, 2023•25 min
Homily from the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. What is the difference between a "good person" and a "saint"? "A good society is one that makes it easy to be good." But what if you don't live in a good society? Is "being good" the only goal? Is it possible to be more than good...to be holy...even when you are living in exile? Mass Readings from January 15, 2023: Isaiah 49:3, 5-6 Psalms 40:2, 4, 7-10 1 Corinthians 1:1-3 John 1:29-34...
Jan 14, 2023•20 min
Homily from the Mass of the Epiphany of the Lord. The best thing we can do. While we are certainly human "beings", we are also meant to "do". The most important thing we can do is LOVE. And the most important One we can love is God. We love God in a number of ways, the principle of which is through worship. Mass Readings from January 8, 2023: Isaiah 60:1-6 Psalms 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13 Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6 Matthew 2:1-12...
Jan 07, 2023•17 min
Homily from the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God. Mary, the Mother of God is the model for how to live well. Mary is the Mother of God because the baby in her womb was the Second Person of the Trinity. She also shows us how to leave last year in the past and step into the New Year wisely. Mass Readings from January 1, 2023: Numbers 6:22-27 Psalms 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8 Galatians 4:4-7 Luke 2:16-21...
Dec 31, 2022•20 min
Homily from the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas Mass). At Christmas, in our lives, and in the Mass...God becomes small enough to ignore. God is closer than we think. But the ways that He draws close to us is that He comes so close that we can miss Him and He becomes so small that we can ignore Him. Mass Readings from December 25, 2022: Isaiah 62:1-5 Psalms 89:4-5, 16-17, 27, 29 Acts 13:16-17, 22-25 Matthew 1:1-25...
Dec 24, 2022•21 min
Homily from the Fourth Sunday of Advent. What is our response when God does reveal Himself? We've been showing up and placing ourselves in God's Presence for the past 22 days. Sometimes we merely expect God to be silent and still. But what if God revealed Himself in a dramatic way? What would be our response? Mass Readings from December 18, 2022: Isaiah 7:10-14 Psalms 24:1-6. Romans 1:1-7 Matthew 1:18-24...
Dec 17, 2022•16 min
Homily from the Third Sunday of Advent. Be patient with the Lord, the process, and yourself. We often find it difficult to wait for things to come to us. During this season of Advent, we can also struggle with the feeling that "nothing is happening". During this time, we need to be reminded that God is closer than we think; He is in each moment and in each step...and remember to be patient. Mass Readings from December 11, 2022: Isaiah 35:1-6, 10 Psalms 146:6-10 James 5:7-10 Matthew 11:2-11...
Dec 10, 2022•25 min
Homily from the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. God always gives what we need to accomplish His will. Mary was preserved from all stain of original sin at the moment of her conception by the merits of her Son's future life, death, and resurrection. Mass Readings from December 8, 2022: Genesis 3:9-15, 20 Psalms 98:1-4 Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12 Luke 1:26-38...
Dec 08, 2022•14 min
Homily from the Second Sunday of Advent. "One day" could become "Day One". So often, there are things that we would like to do "one day". Sometimes those dreams pass us by and we lose nothing. But other times, we must take action otherwise "one day" becomes "never". As Christians, we either Begin or we Begin Again.
Dec 03, 2022•26 min
Homily from the First Sunday of Advent. You are made for more than a secondhand relationship with God. We have 29 days until Christmas. And so much can change in that time. If we are willing to commit to spending 29 minutes every day for the next 29 days...if we are willing to beg the Lord to reveal Himself to us...everything could be different in just 29 days. Mass Readings from November 27, 2022: Isaiah 2:1-5 Psalms 122: 1-9 Romans 13:11-14 Matthew 24:37-44...
Nov 26, 2022•24 min
To support Ascension’s free media, please click here! To find out more about how Ascension will use your gift, please click here! Are you interested in supporting the Catholic campus ministry at the University of Minnesota Duluth? Please click here! Would you like to watch the "Virtual Front Pew" Day of Thanks Livestream event? Click here! Homily from the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. What do you do when you encounter a God you cannot control? We all have fears. Often...
Nov 19, 2022•23 min
To “give to the max” and support UMD Newman Catholic Campus Ministries, find out more here! Join us for a “Day of Thanks” on Nov. 17 at 7pm CT on the Sundays with Ascension YouTube channel! Subscribe to the channel here! Homily from the Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time. We get what we've chosen. The ending of a story reveals what kind of story it is. Regardless of how we start and how we proceed, we can choose to have a tragic story...or we can choose to have a love story. The determining fa...
Nov 12, 2022•28 min
To “give to the max” and support UMD Newman Catholic Campus Ministries, find out more here! Join us for a “Day of Thanks” on Nov. 17 at 7pm CT on the Sundays with Ascension YouTube channel! Subscribe to the channel here! Homily from the Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time. The things one needs to die well are the same things one needs to live well. As we walk through life, we will all walk into darkness and sufferng and pain. We can still walk in hope, courage, and perseverance. We can be the ...
Nov 05, 2022•24 min
Homily from the Solemnity of All Saints. Live so that this day will one day be your feast day. The Feast of All Saints is the day when all of those who are in Heaven are remembered and we ask them to intercede for us. They are the great "cloud of witnesses" that surrounds us and cheers us on. Mass Readings from November 1, 2022: Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14 Psalms 24:1-6 1 John 3:1-3 Matthew 5:1-12...
Nov 01, 2022•22 min
Homily from the Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time. Zacchaeus knew that he was a bad man. What he didn't know was if he could be different. Too many of us come to Jesus with the idea that He is willing to change us and change our lives. But what happens when we want Him to merely offer cosmetic changes and He wants to make structural changes? Mass Readings from October 30, 2022: Wisdom 11:22-12:2 Psalms 145:1-2, 8-11, 13-14 2 Thessalonians 1:11-2:2 Luke 19:1-10...
Oct 29, 2022•22 min
To download the Litany of Humility prayer that Father mentions in the homily, please click here! Homily from the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Nothing is so worthless as working hard on the wrong things. We can all be so busy, but are we productive? Are we doing things right or are we doing the right things? When it comes to growing through the motions, we need to make sure that the right thing we do is present ourselves before God with humility and not self-reliance. Mass Readings from Oct...
Oct 22, 2022•21 min
Homily from the Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The only way to be able to pray in all seasons is to pray in all seasons. Growing through the motions involves commitment, consistency, and companions. It means being willing to go through the motions no matter the season and no matter the circumstances. It is only by doing this that we can have full range of motion in our relationship with the Lord. Mass Readings from October 16, 2022: Exodus 17:8-13 Psalms 121:1-8 2 Timothy 3:14-4:2 Luke 18...
Oct 15, 2022•25 min
Homily from the Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Our Why is a Who. We can know exactly what to do and how to do it. So much of our lives can be spent doing more and more, but never knowing exactly why. But if the reason behind our actions is Jesus, then we can truly be free to love every time we say "yes" to our Who. Mass Readings from October 9, 2022: 2 Kings 5:14-17 Psalms 98:1-4 2 Timothy 2:8-13 Luke 17:11-19...
Oct 08, 2022•25 min
Homily from the Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. Duty is not the enemy. So much of life is doing our duty. Doing what we are supposed to do. And yet, there are times when this means that we only “go through the motions”. There is a chance for us to do more however…we can choose to grow. Mass Readings from October 2, 2022: Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4 Psalms 95:1-2, 6-9 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14 Luke 17:5-10...
Oct 01, 2022•24 min
Homily from the Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Complacency is being satisfied with how things are and not being willing to change them. We are insulated from discomfort in many ways. And our lives of comfort can lead to complacency. But encountering Christ can lead to compassion. Mass Readings from September 25, 2022: Amos 6:1, 4-7 Psalms 146:7-10 1 Timothy 6:11-16 Luke 16:19-31...
Sep 24, 2022•29 min
Homily from the Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The connection between our values and our virtues. We are nothing without the virtue of integrity. As one pastor noted, "If you have integrity, nothing else matters. And if you don't have integrity, nothing else matters." Integrity is the bridge between our desires and our decisions. Without integrity, our lives remain mere piles without purpose. Mass Readings from September 18, 2022: Amos 8:4-7 Psalms 113:1-2, 4-8 1 Timothy 2:1-8 Luke 16:1-1...
Sep 17, 2022•23 min
