In last weekend's readings, we heard about the Babylonian captivity, which began with the sinfulness and infidelity of the the people of Judah and ended 70 years later with King Cyrus of Persia allowing the Israelites to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. St. Paul wrote that we are saved by grace, a gift from God so that we may not boast, and in the gospel, Jesus says He will be lifted up like the serpent in the desert in order to save those who believe in Him, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son" (John 3:16).
In Fr. Newton's homily from Saturday, he emphasizes the intent of the Babylonian king at the time of the exile to destroy the temple in Jerusalem in order to destroy the hope of the people and make them easier to manage as slaves. He thought the Israelites would think that God had abandoned them, but instead they recognized and repented of their sin. Grace requires a response, and they responded: they looked to God and were saved, and the temple was restored.
Fr. Mark's Sunday morning homily calls us to be men and women of integrity, walking in the light. The sacrament of Confession invites us into the light, to be forgiven of our sins and emerge as free men and women. If we have sins in our lives that we would rather keep hidden, he reminds us that we can go to Confession anonymously, behind the screen, and that priests don't care what the sins are: they want all God's people to be forgiven and to begin walking in the light of faith and virtue.
Fr. Mark again delivered a short English homily at the Spanish Mass, translated by our bilingual receptionist Rosa Renteria. Check all three homilies out below.
- Readings in English (USCCB)
- Homily: Fr. Arockiya Newton (Audio)
- Homily: Fr. Mark Innocenti (Audio)
- Lecturas en Español (USCCB)
- Homilia: Padre Mark Innocenti, traducido por Rosa Renteria (Audio)