Christ at the Center

Dec 25, 2020 - The Light of Christ: Our Path for Life

There are periodic problems with the recording. The first homily of Father Harris’ Christmas season series, “The Light of Christ: Our Path for Life.” The Lord Jesus Christ humbled Himself to share in our humanity without sin so that we can have a share in divine life. The light of Christ is our sure path on our journey of life. Walking in His ways helps us to navigate through the twists and turns that may occur. The light of Christ scatters the darkness of gloom which obscures seeing our lives from a godly perspective. The light of Christ sets our direction by living according to His Gospel. The light of Christ enables us to remain steadfast in our devotion.

 

 

Dec 20, 2020 - Hopeful People Keep Their Commitment

The fourth and last homily of Father Harris’ Advent series, “Hope in Christ: Our Strength for Living.” “In the Gospel reading, “Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word’” (Luke 1:38). Responding to the revelation of her unique vocation from God, the Blessed Virgin Mary offered a resolute commitment. This is the testimony of the first human being who placed her hope in the Lord Jesus Christ. The promise of God to save humanity has been fulfilled now. We are beneficiares of it when we receive this gift in a lifelong process of cooperating with God. We practice the virtue of hope by keeping our commitment to Christ and His Church through the twists and turns of the journey of life.

Dec 13, 2020 - Hopeful People Live With Conviction

The third homily of Father Harris’ Advent series, “Hope in Christ: Our Strength for Living.” Hopeful people have a confident expectation in God, whose promises to humanity will be fulfilled. Living according to the teaching of Christ and His Church is fruitful. Hopeful people undergo conversion to God, cooperating with Him to remove anything that hinders them from loving God wholeheartedly, and ourselves and others appropriately. Both characteristics will cause hopeful people to stand out. Illuminated by Holy Baptism, we testify to the Light like Saint John the Baptist (c.f., John 1:7-8). People will either become intrigued or intimidated by our testimony, but their response should not change our identity in God and our mission from God. Hopeful people live with conviction.

Dec 6, 2020 - Hopeful People Undergo Conversion

This is the second homily of Father Harris’ series, “Hope in Christ: Our Strength for Living.” The prophetic ministries of Isaiah and Saint John the Baptist proclaimed the comforting message that God’s liberating power was at hand. They also challenged people to remove anything that would hinder them from receiving it. As we observe Advent, the first coming of the Lord Jesus Christ has happened. We do not have to prepare for the saving power of God to come. Cooperating with the sacramental grace of Holy Baptism, the Lord challenges us to participate in it now by dying to sin and living to the glorify God in our thoughts, words, and actions. or God. Hopeful people undergo conversion

Nov, 29, 2020 - Hopeful People are Confident People

This is the first homily of Father Harris’ Advent series, “Hope in Christ: Our Strength for Living.” We received the gift of hope from God through Holy Baptism. Hope is an abiding trust that God will fulfill His promises to humanity. This includes the timing and the way in which God will do it. Uncertainty about how situations will be resolved or about the end times cannot undermine our confidence in Christ. We remember what He has done for us. We remember that His return in glory is an expression of His love and mercy.

Nov 22: Transforming the Exercise of Power

The name of this Solemnity (Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe) can give rise to thinking about the exercise of power. Human conceptions of power can be corrupted. There are correct ways for human beings to exercise power. How does the Lord Jesus Christ exercise His power? Understanding that will help us to utilize the power that He has given to His disciples correctly. 

Nov 8, 2020 - The Wisdom of Remaining Vigilant

As we are learning during the pandemic, yielding to fatigue leads to devastating consequences. In the Gospel reading, the Lord Jesus offers a parable that invites us to trust in the faithful love of God to remain vigilant in in practicing the Christian life.

Oct 25, 2020: A Proven Foundation For Fruitful Living

Our God has created us in His image with a dignity that no one and no circumstance can diminish. We cannot allow the consequences of the pandemic to drag us down. Whether they are temporary limitations on our activities; potential changes in celebrating the holidays this year; difficulties with hybrid and virtual education; struggles with health; economic distress; political polarization; or any other situation. God created us to share life and love with Him. God gives us directions to build our lives on a proven foundation for fruitful living. The Lord is our strength! Blessed be the God of our salvation!

Oct 18, 2020: Compassion for People

Father Harris concludes his homily series on the 2020-2021 Holy Family Parish Theme, which is, “Connected: Growing in Christ Together.” Whether we can worship in our parish church on The Lord’s Day or not at this time, we can grow in Christ together as a parish by continuing to practice four concrete actions.  They are being committed to prayer; communicating with one another and staying informed; contributing to parish life; and expressing compassion for people. He discusses several practical ways that the expressing compassion is being done the parish.

Oct 11, 2020: The Church is Essential to Christian Discipleship

The parish is a community that forms Christian disciples who transform and sanctify our communities for good.  The parish is a community where Christian disciples are prepared to join the heavenly feast of eternal life with God. The Church of Christ is essential in forming Christian disciples. The parish is a part of the Church, diocesan and universal. It is essential for the parish to make disciples of Christ within His Church.

This is the part 4 of a series of Sunday homilies by Father Harris on the 2020-2021 parish theme: “Connected: Growing in Christ Together.”