Homilies and remarks from St. Monica Catholic Church in Edmond, Oklahoma.
Subscribe:.rss.atom.json.md.m3u.pls
Live Last read · last published · next check
Saves to your Listen queue, to pick up on another day or another device.
Dominica XX per Annum A 16 August 2026 The Gospel passage is a bit unsettling for us because the Lord seems distant and rude, and even offensive toward the woman who calls out to him. There is debate about whether the term “dog” in reference to the Canaanite woman was offensive in ancient language. Some scholars suggest the Lord was using a diminutive form of the term, in other words something…
Homily for the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time by Fr. Stephen Hamilton. Reading 1 Zechariah 9:9-10 Responsorial Psalm Psalm 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13-14 Reading 2 Romans 8:9, 11-13 Alleluia Cf. Matthew 11:25 Gospel Matthew 11:25-30
Dominica XIV per Annum A Sermon on the 250th Birthday of the USA 5 July 2026 This year’s significant Independence Day milestone provides an opportunity to connect our faith to the civic observance of the birthday of these United States of America. In the second year of the American Revolutionary War, on July 2, 1776, representatives of the thirteen American colonies of the kingdom of Great Britain…
Dominica XII per Annum A 21 June 2026 The context here in chapter 10 of St. Matthew is that Jesus has just commissioned the Apostles, given them his authority, and is sending them out to share in his preaching. As this chapter (10) progresses, the Lord tells the apostles that, like him, they will face the same opposition, hostility, and even dangers to their life. This culminates with him…
Sollemnitas Corpus Christi Dt. 8:2-3, 14b-16a; 1 Cor. 10:16-17; Jn. 6:51-58 7 June 2026 Today is our annual observance of the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of the Lord, also called by the Latin name “Corpus Christi.” Our faith in the Holy Eucharist is one of the most essential and defining doctrines we hold as Catholics. We believe, without equivocation or adopting the language of mere…
Dominica Pentecostes 23 & 24 May 2026 The Easter Season concludes today with one of the greatest solemnities of our faith, the Solemnity of Pentecost. As a term, “Pentecost” refers to the “fiftieth day”. There is a Jewish feast of Pentecost, more commonly called Shavuot (or the Feast of Weeks), that falls fifty days after the Jewish Passover. Our Christian observance of Pentecost does not…
Homily for Pentecost Sunday at the Vigil Mass by Fr. Stephen Hamilton. Reading I Genesis 11:1-9 Responsorial Psalm Psalm 33:10-11, 12-13, 14-15 Reading 2 Exodus 19:3-8a, 16-20b Responsorial Psalm Daniel 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56 Reading 3 Ezekiel 37:1-14 Responsorial Psalm Psalm 107:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 Reading 4 Joel 3:1-5 Responsorial Psalm Psalm 104:1-2, 24, 35, 27-28, 29-30 Epistle Romans 8:22-27…
Homily for the Fifth Sunday of Easter by Fr. Stephen Hamilton. Reading 1 Acts 6:1-7 Responsorial Psalm Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19 Reading 2 1 Peter 2:4-9 Alleluia John 14:6 Gospel John 14:1-12
Dominica V Paschae A 3 May 2026 The Gospel passage today takes us back to Jesus’ extended remarks to his apostles at the Last Supper where he was preparing them for their life and mission when he would no longer be with them in the same way. He had just informed the group of his own imminent departure (Jn. 13:33). The apostles are stirred up, maybe even confused and hurt. And so, in response to…
Homily for Second Sunday of Easter (or Sunday of Divine Mercy) by Fr. Stephen Hamilton. Reading 1 Acts 2:42-47 Responsorial Psalm Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24 Reading 2 1 Peter 1:3-9 Alleluia John 20:29 Gospel John 20:19-31
Dominica II Paschae A 12 April 2026 Divine Mercy Sunday We Catholics follow a different pattern or rhythm of life. We would each do well to arrange our personal and family life around these same patterns of observances of the faith. We have Advent as a time of preparation such that Christmas has not begun as soon as the Thanksgiving Dinner table is cleared. And when the world is ready to toss the…
Easter Vigil & Easter Sunday 4 & 5 April 2026 Gospel: Matthew 28:1-10 On this holy [night/day] the Church ushers in the greatest of solemn feasts, the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. This great feast comes after the long preparation of penance in Lent. In Lent, by the means of penance and more serious striving, we seek to die to the things that weigh us down and that…
Homily for Holy Saturday At the Easter Vigil in the Holy Night of Easter by Fr. Stephen Hamilton. Reading I Gn 1:1—2:2 Responsorial Psalm Ps 104:1-2, 5-6, 10, 12, 13-14, 24, 35 Reading II Gn 22:1-18 Responsorial Psalm Ps 16:5, 8, 9-10, 11 Reading III Ex 14:15—15:1 Responsorial Psalm Ex 15:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 17-18 Reading IV Is 54:5-14 Responsorial Psalm Ps 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11-12, 13 Reading V Is 55:1-11…
Holy Thursday 2 April 2026 On this holy night, with the beginning of this Holy Mass, Lent has concluded and the Sacred Triduum, a brief privileged time from now until Easter Sunday evening finds us commemorating some of the most important events of our faith, the events by which the Lord Jesus accomplished his saving mission for us. Though we have been in an extended period of penance during Lent,…
Homily for the Holy Thursday-Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper by Fr. Stephen Hamilton. Reading I Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14 Responsorial Psalm Psalm 116:12-13, 15-16bc, 17-18. Reading II 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 Verse Before the Gospel John 13:34 Gospel John 13:1-15
Dominica IV in Quadragesima A 15 March 2026 This weekend’s shift to a lighter liturgical color fits well with the prominent scriptural themes of darkness versus light and blindness versus sight. The Gospel passages in late Lent raise themes of recognizing our deeper thirst for meaning and for deeper life, the life of the soul (like the woman of Samaria thirsting at the well last Sunday). There is…
Homily for the Second Sunday of Lent by Fr. Stephen Hamilton. Reading 1 Genesis 12:1-4a Responsorial Psalm Psalm 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22 Reading 2 2 Timothy 1:8b-10 Verse Before the Gospel Matthew 17:5 Gospel Matthew 17:1-9
Dominica II in Quadragesima A 1 March 2026 Lent is a privileged season of renewal in our life as disciples. It is not renewal in the sense that we might renew a membership in a club or renew a streaming service. The best focus for our Lent is to see this season as a blessed opportunity for renewal in our relationship with Jesus the Lord . Relationships need ongoing work and they require effort. If…
Dominica II per Annum A 18 January 2026 In the context of this Gospel selection, Jesus has already been baptized, such that John is reporting to the crowds what he saw when he baptized the Lord. John reports, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from heaven and remain upon him”. Given what John knows, and given the signs that accompanied the baptism, John is able to point to Jesus and say,…
Homily for the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time by Fr. Stephen Hamilton. Reading 1 Isaiah 49:3, 5-6 Responsorial Psalm Psalm 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10 Reading 2 1 Corinthians 1:1-3 Alleluia John 1:14a, 12a Gospel John 1:29-34
Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God 1 January 2026 The major solemnities of our faith are observed liturgically for an eight-day period, called an octave. Christmas, the birth of our Savior, is one such octave. Having an octave is a way to encourage us to enter more deeply into the mystery of the faith being observed, to deepen our appreciation of it by sticking with it rather than quickly…
Homily for the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God (The Octave Day of the Nativity of the Lord) by Fr. Stephen Hamilton. Reading I Numbers 6:22-27 Responsorial Psalm Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8 Reading II Galatians 4:4-7 Alleluia Hebrews 1:1-2 Gospel Luke 2:16-21
Nativitas D.N.I.C. Vigil & Midnight Mass 24-25 December 2025 Tonight we usher in our celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ! This arrival of the One who is the long-awaited Messiah and who is also God Himself is the fulfillment of centuries of promise. The sin of Adam and Eve created a rupture such that they could no longer be in God’s presence. The result for them, and for all who share fallen…
Reading I Isaiah 9:1-6 Responsorial Psalm Psalm 96: 1-2, 2-3, 11-12, 13. Reading II Titus 2:11-14 Alleluia Luke 2:10-11 Gospel Luke 2:1-14
Dominica III Adventus A 14 December 2025 Within the season of Advent this Mass of the Third Sunday stands out with a unique character. The character of this Sunday stands out by the shift in color from purple to the liturgical color rose and the permission to decorate the sanctuary with flowers. With these visual clues, it should be obvious to anyone following from day to day in Advent that…
Homily for the Third Sunday of Advent by Fr. Stephen Hamilton. Reading 1 Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10 Responsorial Psalm Psalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10. Reading 2 James 5:7-10 Alleluia Isaiah 61:1 (cited in Lk 4:18) Gospel Matthew 11:2-11
Immaculate Conception of the BVM 8 December 2025 Each liturgical solemnity in the calendar of observances of our Catholic faith is a major day worth celebrating, to be marked by rejoicing and even feasting. Such is the case today, and even more so, since our country has been given the patronage of Mary under her title of the Immaculate Conception. In other words, today’s holy day is also the…
Homily for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Fr. Stephen Hamilton. Reading 1 Genesis 3:9-15, 20 Responsorial Psalm Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4 Reading 2 Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12 Alleluia See Luke 1:28 Gospel Luke 1:26-38
Homily for The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe by Fr. Stephen Hamilton. Reading 1 2 Samuel 5:1-3 Responsorial Psalm Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5 Reading 2 Colossians 1:12-20 Alleluia Mark 11:9, 10 Gospel Luke 23:35-43
Dominica D.N. Iesu Christi Regis 23 November 2025 The Church’s liturgical year comes to a close this week with this final Sunday before a new Church year and the new liturgical season of Advent begins next Sunday. In recent decades this final Sunday of the year is called the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, commonly referred to as the Solemnity of Christ the King. The…
All Souls’ Day 2 November 2025 All Souls’ Day Masses this weekend are Memorial Masses whose characteristics are much like that of a funeral, the difference being that there is no body of a deceased person present in these Masses. But the Scripture selections, prayers, and symbolism are much the same as in a funeral. The Church’s Sacred Liturgy contains her doctrine and it is an instrument by which…
Homily for the Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time by Fr. Stephen Hamilton. Reading I 2 Kings 5:14-17 Responsorial Psalm Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4 Reading II 2 Timothy 2:8-13 Alleluia 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Gospel Luke 17:11-19
Dominica XXVIII per Annum C 12 October 2025 The first reading and the Gospel selection follow a remarkably similar narrative. A leper, who is a foreigner, is cleansed and has enough awareness to notice, to make a return, and to thank God in adoration and homage. Two lepers. Two non-Jews. Two who are not part of God’s People. Only these are aware of the gift they are given; only these make a…
Dominica XXVII per Annum C 5 October 2025 For many weeks now we have been hearing the Lord’s teaching while on an extended journey to Jerusalem. This section of St. Luke’s Gospel contains many challenging parables. We have heard parables about the cost of discipleship over these weeks. We have heard parables about repentance, being lost, and the extravagant mercy of God who searches us out. We…
Homily for the Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time by Fr. Stephen Hamilton. Reading 1 Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4 Responsorial Psalm Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 Reading 2 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14 Alleluia 1 Peter 1:25 Gospel Luke 17:5-10
Homily for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross by Fr. Stephen Hamilton. Reading 1 Numbers 21:4b-9 Responsorial Psalm Psalm 78:1bc-2, 34-35, 36-37, 38 Reading 2 Philippians 2:6-11 Gospel John 3:13-17
Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross 14 September 2025 I want to focus on the selection from the Book of Numbers. It is important for this feast, but also for appreciating the sacramental life that is such second-nature to Catholics. The Catholic Faith professes belief that God’s decision to unite Himself to the created world by taking on human flesh in the incarnation has important…
Dominica XXIII per Annum C 7 September 2025 If he had one, imagine being the Press Secretary for the Lord. At the meeting to prepare for Monday’s Press Conference, one staffer tells you, “We have a little something brewing that we better prepare for. The Lord said that you can’t be his disciple unless you hate.” You say: “Hate. He said that, huh? Okay, well, I’m sure that was some sort of…
Dominica XX per Annum C 17 August 2025 Last Sunday, the Gospel passage gave us a clear call to be vigilant and prepared for the Lord’s return and for our coming judgment. Last Sunday’s images of servants awaiting their master’s return from a wedding and a homeowner who does not know when a thief may strike, taught us that “at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come”. And while our…
Homily for the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time by Fr. Stephen Hamilton. Reading 1 Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10 Responsorial Psalm Psalm 40:2, 3, 4, 18 Reading 2 Hebrews 12:1-4 Alleluia John 10:27 Gospel Luke 12:49-53
Homily for the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Fr. Stephen Hamilton. Reading 1 Revelation 11:19A; 12:1-6A, 10AB Responsorial Psalm Psalm 45:10, 11, 12, 16 Reading II 1 Corinthians 15:20-27 Gospel Luke 1:39-56
Homily for the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time by Fr. Stephen Hamilton. Reading 1 Wisdom 18:6-9 Responsorial Psalm Psalm 33:1, 12, 18-19, 20-22 Reading 2 Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19 Alleluia Matthew 24;42a, 44 Gospel Luke 12:32-48
Dominica XIX per Annum C 10 August 2025 A fundamental truth about our faith and where it leads us results in the consistent understanding that we must be prepared . We must be prepared to live our relationship with the Lord Jesus in such a way that it transforms us into people of greater holiness. God has come to us in the flesh to show us how to live the faith in such a way that it changes us and…
Dominica XVI per Annum C 20 July 2025 In the first reading, Abraham welcomed and quickly gave focused hospitality to the Lord God, desiring to have the Lord stay with him and providing a meal to the mysterious three figures. In the Gospel account of Jesus’ visit to the home of Martha and her sister, Mary, welcome and hospitality are also a clear theme. But I want to suggest that the Gospel goes…
Homily for the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time by Fr. Stephen Hamilton. Reading 1 Genesis 18:1-10a Responsorial Psalm Psalm 15:2-3, 3-4, 5 Reading 2 Colossians 1:24-28 Alleluia Cf. Luke 8:15 Gospel Luke 10:38-42
Homily for the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time by Fr. Stephen Hamilton. Reading 1 Isaiah 66:10-14c Responsorial Psalm Psalm 66:1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16, 20 Reading 2 Galatians 6:14-18 Alleluia Colossians 3:15a, 16a Gospel Luke 10:1-12, 17-20
Dominica XIV per Annum C 6 July 2025 Every year in late spring and early summer there are a number of events having to do with the priesthood. There are ordinations and anniversaries and many priests are beginning new assignments. We are familiar with pointing to the Last Supper as the place where the Lord established the priesthood and the Holy Eucharist. However, today’s Gospel passage is an…
Homily for the The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity by Fr. Stephen Hamilton. Reading I Proverbs 8:22-31 Responsorial Psalm Psalm 8:4-5, 6-7, 8-9 Reading II Romans 5:1-5 Alleluia Cf. Revelation 1:8 Gospel John 16:12-15
Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity Proverbs 8:22-31; Ps. 8; Rom. 5:1-5; Jn. 16:12-15 15 June 2025 On the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity we commemorate the central and fundamental mystery that we receive and accept in faith. We can say that our faith in the Trinity is the “mystery of mysteries” because it is a mystery about the very being of God Himself and, as such, is the center and…
In Ascensione Domini 1 June 2025 The Church proclaims and believes the saving effects and value of what is called the Paschal Mystery. The Paschal Mystery is the fulfillment in Jesus of the saving acts of God prefigured in the major events of the Old Covenant. The Paschal Mystery is the new Passover by which the one, perfect, unblemished Lamb of God is offered for the sins of the world throughout…
