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The Friar

Religion & Spirituality Podcas

These podcasts feature homilies given at Mass and commentaries on various eclectic topics.

Location:

United States

Description:

These podcasts feature homilies given at Mass and commentaries on various eclectic topics.

Twitter:

@frdeporres

Language:

English


Episodes

Homily for Wednesday, December 15, 2021

12/15/2021
Tell John what you see. I was really struck in a not so happy way with the results of a survey of priests which suggested that many felt the Church was in a mess. I disagree. There have been worse times. And I still see signs of active presence of God in the world. To be sure, if I believed everything were up to me, I might feel differently. But Christ is still active in His Church and the gates of Hell will never prevail against it. Continue reading Homily for Wednesday, December 15, 2021...

Duration:00:08:28

Homily for Sunday, December 12, 2021

12/12/2021
The thing I am most grateful for is the thing I most wish never happened. How is it someone could speak these words in honesty? Perhaps it is because this person understood the difference between joy, a gift of the Holy Spirit, and being free from any and all suffering. Continue reading Homily for Sunday, December 12, 2021 at The Friar.

Duration:00:08:46

Homily for Thursday, December 9, 2021

12/9/2021
Two days. Two seemingly impossible events. Two outstanding examples that with God everything is possible. Yesterday the Blessed Virgin Mary said yes to being the Mother of God. Today, Juan Diego, despite his best efforts to avoid it, shows us that ordinary people can be vehicles of God's grace. Continue reading Homily for Thursday, December 9, 2021 at The Friar.

Duration:00:01:50

Homily for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, December 8, 2021

12/8/2021
Glass half-empty or half-full? I think that is the wrong question. Isn't it more important to be aware of what is in the glass? In our lives, our souls can be filled with clutter and mess, things that block the Holy Spirit, or like Mary, a soul ready to be filled with the Holy Spirit of God. Continue reading Homily for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, December 8, 2021 at The Friar.

Duration:00:06:49

Homily for Tuesday, December 7, 2021

12/7/2021
While there are many ways to divide the book of the prophet Isaiah, one way I like is to divide it as a book of challenge and a book of comfort. Isaiah challenged the people to change their lives, or bad things would happen. When they did not change and bad things did happen, he provided the comfort that God was still with them. Continue reading Homily for Tuesday, December 7, 2021 at The Friar.

Duration:00:02:14

Homily for the Second Sunday of Advent, December 5, 2021

12/5/2021
Saint John the Baptist was, to put it bluntly, an odd duck. Fr. Benedict Groeschel, CFR, indicated that he was a classic example of a borderline personality. But it is important to see and understand the ways in which he was a part of the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah. He ate locusts and wild honey (think Exodus -- plagues and promised land). And he serves as an important intercessor and model for us today. How is God calling you to prepare the way for...

Duration:00:09:28

Homily for Thursday, December 2, 2021

12/2/2021
A temptation of mine is to think that if a pray a little bit (intentions) and am basically a good person, meaning I don't murder anyone, then I will be saved. But today's gospel is a stark reminder that what I am tempted by is not enough for salvation. Not only do I need to call on God's name, more than that, I need to commit to actually doing what he tells me to do. I need not only to ask God to strengthen my faith, but to actually doing what his grace compels me to do in my actions, in the...

Duration:00:02:22

Homily for Tuesday, November 30, 2021

11/30/2021
Most of what Saint Paul wrote was really dictated. And there are times, when you realize that, where you can see Paul getting really excited. Today is one such example. In talking about the tremendous life that one can receive by believing in Jesus, he says this: But how can they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? And how can people preach unless they are sent? Will you let...

Duration:00:02:12

Homily for First Sunday of Advent, November 28, 2021

11/28/2021
When I was a little child, when reading a book, sometimes I would go to the back of the book so that I could see how the story ended. (I still have a beef with Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express because the mystery is solved in the book with a clue that only Poirot knows, and is never shared with the reader until Poirot solves the crime.) Advent is like me as a child -- it points us to the end of the story, in order to help us grow in our relationship with the Messiah, Jesus, the...

Duration:00:07:00

Advent Reflections from CBC High School: Introduction

11/28/2021
Once again, the Church begins a new year with the start of the season of Advent. Some parts of Advent are familiar: the Advent wreath, Advent calendars, and the colors purple and pink. But what is Advent? Continue reading Advent Reflections from CBC High School: Introduction at The Friar.

Duration:00:03:09

Homily for Thanksgiving, November 25, 2021

11/25/2021
In the book of Sirach we are reminded that both prosperity and adversity can mislead us. I did not really understand this verse, or the wisdom behind it until I was in the seminary and my spiritual director suggested I be grateful for adversity. While I did understand at first, it became a wise lesson that has served me well. Continue reading Homily for Thanksgiving, November 25, 2021 at The Friar.

Duration:00:00:39

Homily for Monday, November 22, 2021

11/22/2021
In today's readings, there are two people who might cause us to ask, "What's the big deal?" Daniel refuses to violate Jewish Law. The widow who has little gives it all "to the poor." What's the big deal if you don't follow God completely? Ask Daniel and the widow. Following God completely makes all the difference. Continue reading Homily for Monday, November 22, 2021 at The Friar.

Duration:00:02:31

Homily for Christ the King, November 21, 2021

11/21/2021
What type of king do you want? Looking at King Saul and King David provides us a contrast -- one king who cared too much about what others thought about him and one who though a sinner who received the promise of Christ the King. Is Jesus our king, or are there things that we make more important? Continue reading Homily for Christ the King, November 21, 2021 at The Friar.

Duration:00:08:34

Homily for Thursday, November 18, 2021

11/18/2021
"If this day you only knew what makes for peace." This is such a beautiful line spoken by Jesus. The rest of the gospel for today is not so peaceful. Because the people do not know this day what makes for peace, namely, hearing the words of Jesus and following him wherever he leads, there will be also be the consequences of turning away from God. We do know what makes for peace. Let's commit to following Jesus wherever he leads. Continue reading Homily for Thursday, November 18, 2021 at The...

Duration:00:00:24

Homily for Tuesday, November 16, 2021

11/16/2021
Eleazar and Zacchaeus. Two experiences of believers. Eleazar the faithful man who refuses to pretend in his faith. Zacchaeus, the man who seeks the forgiveness of Jesus and takes action to show the sincerity of his desire. Both are great examples. Who are you? Continue reading Homily for Tuesday, November 16, 2021 at The Friar.

Duration:00:01:19

Homily for the Feast of Saint Albert the Great, November 15, 2021

11/15/2021
At the risk of causing diehard Thomists to pelt me with rotten tomatoes, let me suggest that there is a good reason it is Saint Albert the Great and it is not Saint Thomas Aquinas the Great. Now I am not putting down such a brilliant mind as Thomas. Would that I had a tiny microscopic part of his intelligence! But Saint Albert the Great was great I would argue because he studied absolutely everything he could, from theology to natural science to philosophy and psychology, but he worked hard...

Duration:00:07:16

Homily for Sunday, November 14, 2021

11/14/2021
It does not take much of a look around our world to see evil. There is the evil of those who go without, not having their basic needs of food, clothing, shelter or health care met. There are those who experience the evil of sickness, violence, poverty and oppression. We live in a world where the battle between good and evil is all around us. As people of faith, we know that Christ has won the victory. We know Jesus is the Truth and he will set us free. But we know too it is easy to get...

Duration:00:01:53

Homily for Friday, November 12, 2021

11/12/2021
Choices. Our life is a series of choices. Sometimes they are minor choices, like will I have this or that for lunch, or will I wear this shirt or that. Other times the choices are more significant. Should I marry this person? Should I enter religious life? Should I leave this job for that one? The most important choice? Will you take up your cross and follow Jesus? Continue reading Homily for Friday, November 12, 2021 at The Friar.

Duration:00:01:05

Homily for Thursday, November 11, 2021

11/11/2021
I have opinions. Lots of them. And I am prone to think that I am always right. But often I forget that true wisdom, the discovery of the truth comes only through discerning. I have to discipline myself to being silent in God's presence, waiting to see what God reveals. That is hard. That makes it harder, for I cannot always quickly know what is right. But being in God's presence, patiently awaiting his action in our own life and in the world, helps us to be faithful to the psalm: "Be still...

Duration:00:00:34

Homily for Tuesday, November 9, 2021

11/9/2021
Today we celebrate the dedication of the pope's cathedral in Rome. As we celebrate this dedication, which actually occurred centuries ago, it becomes a time where we are remind of very many things. At the heart of the pope is a bishop's care for the people of God. Among other titles, the pope is the Bishop of Rome. We are also reminded of the fact we are all temples of the Holy Spirit, which should guide us to recognize that all humans are made in God's image and likeness. This realization...

Duration:00:02:03