Christ at the Center

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.”

Oct 4, 2020: Communication for Parish Growth

The first concrete action that will help our parish to grow in Christ together is a renewed commitment to prayer. It must be primary because it will make the other actions possible. The second concrete step is communication with parishioners and others. Saint Paul wrote to the Church in Philippi, a “parish” of the universal Church that he had founded. They were now physically separated but they remained spiritually connected. During the tumultuous times they were experiencing, Saint Paul encouraged them to stay together and to remain steadfast in faith. Father Harris talks about practical ways of communication to build our parish.

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

Sep 27: Commitment to Prayer as a Parish

A renewed commitment to prayer must be the foundation of what we do as a parish.  It is the first of four concrete actions that will help us to grow in Christ together.  Making this action primary makes the other actions possible.

Part 2 of the homily series on the 2020-2021 parish theme, which is, “Connected: Growing in Christ Together.”  Whether we can come to our parish church on The Lord’s Day or not at this stage of the pandemic, we remain connected as a parish to Christ and to His Church. We encourage each other to cooperate with Christ to grow in faith, hope, and love. God  gave us these virtues throuh Holy Baptism.

Sep 20, 2020:Growing in Christ During a Pandemic

The 2020 - 2021 Holy Family Parish Theme is, "Connected: Growing in Christ Together." Whether people can come to our parish church for The Lord's Day or not at this stage of the pandemic, we can help each other to cooperate with Christ to strengthen our connections to Him and His Church. This is the first of a series of five homilies.

Sep 13, 2020: Reconciliation & Justice

Acknowledging any type of wrongdoing, offering to make amends, and extending forgiveness are key actions of reconciliation. These are not easy conversations because any wrongdoing has wounded relationships, communities, nations, even churches. But they can become life-giving conversations that will lead to reconciling actions that will establish justice.

Sep 6, 2020: Christlike Conflict Resolution

Christ our God teaches us how to love and to be loved, to form and foster relationships. People usually do not appreciate engaging in conflict. However, there are times in which we cannot avoid it. In the Gospel reading, Christ teaches that love is the motivation for addressing it in the Church. We cn find analogous solutions for personal conflicts.