Preaching Videos

In our Gospel today, Jesus argues with the Pharisees and declares definitively that God desires mercy more than following the letter of the law. In our dealing with ourselves and with others, are we more concerned about making sure that everyone is following the rules or about helping the people who are suffering?

In our Gospel today, Jesus tells us that he will give rest to the weary. Life is sometimes a struggle. Jesus is not minimizing that, but assuring us that he can help us in the worst of times by accompanying us. We never have to suffer alone.

In our Gospel today, Jesus tells us that our faith should be "childlike." Children's understanding of the world is based on personal experience and first-hand knowledge. Let us develop that kind of faith—not the God whom we have heard about, but the God whom we have met.

In our Gospel today, Jesus rebukes the towns in which he has worked miracles who still did not recognise him. Do we recognise God in our own midst, especially in the poor and suffering?

As we celebrate the memorial of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, the first native American saint, we remember how she left her family in order to become a Christian and to follow Christ more closely. May we share her zeal for the faith and avail ourselves of Jesus' promise that those who lose their lives for his sake will find it.

Today we hear the Parable of the Good Samaritan, in which Jesus challenges his followers to be compassionate towards those in need, because those in need are our neighbors. Today, in our interconnected world, this parable has implications about how Christians should think about International Policy and immigration laws and enforcement.

Today we are given another chapter of the story of Joseph and his brothers, where they ask for forgiveness and forgive one another. Families are messy, and they are a good place to learn about forgiveness.

Join Fr. James Marchionda, OP in this Know Before You Go video for the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. In our first reading from Deuteronomy, we learn that God's Law is already inside us. We don't need to go looking for it.
In the second reading from Paul's Letter to the Colossians, we hear of how Christ is the center of all things.
For a Gospel, we have the classic parable of the Good Samaritan, and are confronted with the question of who is our neighbor today? If it is the one in front of us in need, it seems as if the answer in the United States is the recent immigrant. What should we do about that as faithful Christians?

Jesus sent out his disciples "like sheep among wolves," knowing that they would encounter difficulties. Yet he sent his Holy Spirit with them as well. You and I are sent to preach the Good News as well. Ask God to give you the courage and wisdom you need to endure in this task. God will provide.

In the Old Testament story of Joseph, his brothers, who had sold him into slavery, were dying of famine, and they came to Joseph for food, not recognising him. Instead of condemning them, he said to them, "I am your brother, Joseph" and gave them food. In the same way, in the Archdiocese of Chicago, Joseph Cardinal Bernardin introduced himself to a Church that was hurting with the line "I am your brother, Joseph." To whom do we need to be brother and sister, extending not condemnation but God's compassion?

In the Old Testament story of Joseph, son of Jacob, he is faithful to God no matter what. But when famine hits the land there is only so much he can do to help people. Like Joseph, Jesus is faithful to God no matter what, but Jesus is able to multiple loaves and fish when people are hungry, or turn bread into his body for us when we are in need. Let us trust Jesus who is not only faithful, but able to give us what we need, and even more than we hope for.

In today's Gospel, Jesus sees the needs of the world and is not discouraged or overwhelmed. Jesus responds by noting to his disciples that the great needs bode a great harvest if they would be willing to be sent into the vineyard. You and I are not simply called to be God's friends, but to be the rightful inheritors of God's work in saving the world. The only question is will we join in?