UMD NEWMAN CATHOLIC CAMPUS MINISTRY

Homily from Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion. That moment you realize that His story is your story. The entire point of the spiritual life is to grow in love. One of the ways that we grow in love is to realize our part in the story. Another way we grow in love is to get into the story and watch Jesus, listen to Jesus, and interact with Jesus. Catholics call this Holy Spirit-inspired imaginative prayer “Ignatian Prayer”. And it has the potential to change your life forever. Mass Readings from March 20, 2016: Luke 19:28-40 (Procession) Isaiah 50:4-7 Psalms 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24 Luke 22:14—23:56 TO DOWNLOAD THE BIBLE STUDY TAP ON THIS LINK OR COPY THE FOLLOWING LINK IN YOUR INTERNET BROWSER (Chrome, Firefox, Safari): http://bulldogcatholic.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Taking-Him-Personally.pdf TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IGNATIAN PRAYER AND TO FOLLOW ALONG WITH HOLY WEEK REFLECTIONS, TAP ON OR COPY THIS LINK: http://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-spiritual-exercises/an-ignatian-prayer-adventure/week-7

Homily from the Fifth Sunday of Lent. True Christian maturity passes through the desert. Every relationship has to be purified. Every true and great love has to be purified. When God calls us into the desert, He is calling us to enter into deeper relationship and into greater love. Mass Readings from March 13, 2016: Isaiah 43:16-21 Psalm 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6 Philippians 3:8-14 John 8:1-11 TO DOWNLOAD THE BIBLE STUDY TAP ON THIS LINK OR COPY THE FOLLOWING LINK IN YOUR INTERNET BROWSER (Chrome, Firefox, Safari): http://bulldogcatholic.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Its-Nothing-Personal-Dryness-and-Difficulties.pdf

Homily from the Third Sunday of Lent. Let God be God. To find one’s self in the Presence of the true and living God is overwhelming. If we allow God to be the real, Personal, God who is in pursuit of us, we will find ourselves growing in Fear of the the Lord. If we remain in His Presence, we grow in fearlessness. Mass Readings from February 28, 2016: Exodus 3:1-8, 13-15 Psalm 103: 1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8, 11 1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12 Luke 13:1-9 TO DOWNLOAD THE BIBLE STUDY TAP ON THIS LINK OR COPY THE FOLLOWING LINK IN YOUR INTERNET BROWSER (Chrome, Firefox, Safari): http://bulldogcatholic.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Fear-and-Fearlessness.pdf

Homily from the Second Sunday of Lent. The primary battle in prayer is faithfulness. Prayer is all about a relationship. That makes it incredibly personal. But in order for prayer to be what it should be, we need two things. First, a conviction that God is present. Second, the commitment to be present as well. We pray because He has asked us to. Because of that, it doesn’t matter what “happens” during prayer. God shows up. And so do you. Mass Readings from February 21, 2016: Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18 Philippians 3:17—4:1 Luke 9:28-36 TO DOWNLOAD THE BIBLE STUDY TAP ON THIS LINK OR COPY THE FOLLOWING LINK IN YOUR INTERNET BROWSER (Chrome, Firefox, Safari): http://bulldogcatholic.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Faith-and-Faithfulness.pdf

Homily from the First Sunday of Lent. There are two steps to Heaven. Step one: God loves you. Step two: You let Him. So many people do not have a personal relationship with God simply because they falsely believe that prayer comes down to a “technique”. For all of the beautiful and complex prayers and ways to pray that there are out there, it really all comes down to two simple steps. Mass Readings from February 14, 2016: Deuteronomy 26:4-10 Romans 10:8-13 Luke 4:1-13 TO DOWNLOAD THE BIBLE STUDY TAP ON THIS LINK OR COPY THE FOLLOWING LINK IN YOUR INTERNET BROWSER (Chrome, Firefox, Safari): http://bulldogcatholic.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Its-Nothing-Personal-Two-Steps.pdf

Homily from Ash Wednesday. Mass Readings from February 10, 2016: Joel 2:12-18 2 Corinthians 5:20—6:2 Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Homily from the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Could your work mean more than you realize? When Jesus steps into your boat, He may call you to leave your nets and follow Him. But He also might call you to stay with your nets and follow Him. You may not be called to a new what, but Jesus calls you to a new how. Mass Readings from February 07, 2016: Isaiah 6:1-8 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Luke 5:1-11 TO DOWNLOAD THE BIBLE STUDY TAP ON THIS LINK OR COPY THE FOLLOWING LINK IN YOUR INTERNET BROWSER (Chrome, Firefox, Safari): http://bulldogcatholic.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Everybodys-Working-Not-What-But-How.pdf

Homily from the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time. There is no such thing as work that is beneath you. We can place so much emphasis on what kind of job we have or what kind of work we do that we lose sight of what it is that gives work dignity. Human work has dignity because of the fact that human beings, made in God's image and acting as His co-workers, are doing the work. Mass Readings from January 31, 2016: Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19 1 Corinthians 12:31—13:13 Luke 4:21-30 TO DOWNLOAD THE BIBLE STUDY TAP ON THIS LINK OR COPY THE FOLLOWING LINK IN YOUR INTERNET BROWSER (Chrome, Firefox, Safari): http://bulldogcatholic.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Everybodys-Working-Not-What-But-Who.pdf

Homily from the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time. Work is the response to a call. Not to self-expression, but to self-donation. If work is about me, then it will always involve fruitless and pointless toil. But if work is about responding to a call outside or myself…if it is about responding to a need outside of myself…then work is free to simply “be work”. And we can cease to look to work for validation, identity, and meaning. Mass Readings from January 24, 2016: Nehemiah 8:2-4, 5-6, 8-10 1 Corinthians 12:12-30 Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21 TO DOWNLOAD THE BIBLE STUDY TAP ON THIS LINK OR COPY THE FOLLOWING LINK IN YOUR INTERNET BROWSER (Chrome, Firefox, Safari): http://bulldogcatholic.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Everybodys-Working-Called-to-Work.pdf *SURVEY IS NOW CLOSED: THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED!*

Homily from the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. Is work a curse? Or is it one of God’s blessings? In the beginning, God made human beings for work. Work is one of the attributes we share with God. We are made to be God’s co-workers in this world. This reality wasn’t lost after the Fall, but it was obscured. We work for the wrong things or in the wrong way. But work is still a blessing if we look at it with the proper vision. Mass Readings from January 17, 2016: Isaiah 62:1-5 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 John 2:1-11 TO DOWNLOAD THE BIBLE STUDY TAP ON THIS LINK OR COPY THE FOLLOWING LINK IN YOUR INTERNET BROWSER (Chrome, Firefox, Safari): http://bulldogcatholic.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Everybodys-Working-Made-for-Work.pdf

Homily from the Baptism of the Lord. The first step to holiness is telling the truth. Real freedom and joy…real relationships and holiness...are based off telling the truth. The essential virtue of telling the truth about one’s self is humility. Without humility, I remain a mystery to myself and hidden from God and others. With humility, I can finally hear the voice of the Father. Mass Readings from January 10, 2016: Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 Acts 10:34-38 Luke 3:15-16, 21-22

Homily from the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas). Jesus is the perfect present given in the imperfect present. So many people put off living well, celebrating well, and being happy by living in the past or waiting for the future. But Jesus comes to us here and now. He doesn't wait for things to be perfect, but comes to us in the imperfect present. Mass Readings from December 25, 2015: Isaiah 52:7-10 Hebrews 1:1-6 John 1:1-18

Homily from the Third Sunday in Advent. Hope is the heart of every promise. Hope is trust in another extended into the future. The promise of Jesus makes hope possible. Our “yes” to His promise makes hope actual. Mary, the Mother of Christians, makes our hope strong. Our hope is this: Jesus is with us…and will be with us. Mass Readings from December 13, 2015: Zephaniah 3:14-18 Philippians 4:4-7 Luke 3:1-6 TO DOWNLOAD THE BIBLE STUDY TAP ON THIS LINK OR COPY THE FOLLOWING LINK IN YOUR INTERNET BROWSER (Chrome, Firefox, Safari): http://bulldogcatholic.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/The-Promise-Hope-of-the-Promise.pdf

Homily from the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. "I am your Merciful Mother, the Merciful Mother of all of you who live united in this land, and of all mankind, of all those who love me." Mary is the woman of the Promise because she is the New Eve. God continues to fight the enemies of those whom He loves through the intercession of Mary, the Mother of His Son. Even though her “yes” cost her her life and the life of her Son, Mary continues to say “yes” to the Father when His children need God’s grace. Mass Readings from December 8, 2015: Genesis 3:9-15, 20 Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12 Luke 1:26-38 TO DOWNLOAD THE BIBLE STUDY TAP ON THIS LINK OR COPY THE FOLLOWING LINK IN YOUR INTERNET BROWSER (Chrome, Firefox, Safari): http://bulldogcatholic.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/The-Promise-Woman-of-the-Promise.pdf

Homily from Second Sunday in Advent. A new Ark, a new Queen, a new Mother. For centuries, God’s people walked in darkness and silence. When God’s presence overshadowed Mary, God proved that He keeps His promises. Mass Readings from December 6, 2015: Baruch 5:1-9 Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11 Luke 3:1-6 TO DOWNLOAD THE BIBLE STUDY TAP ON THIS LINK OR COPY THE FOLLOWING LINK IN YOUR INTERNET BROWSER (Chrome, Firefox, Safari): http://bulldogcatholic.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Mother-of-the-Promise.pdf