Author: Derek Michael Larson

Find the full text of the homily here.

Questions for Reflection

1. In what areas of my life am I experiencing loneliness, and how can I take proactive steps to connect with others in my community?
2. How do I prioritize relationships in my daily life, and what changes can I make to ensure I am casting my net more effectively?
3. In what ways do I embody the call to be a “fisher of people”? Who in my life might I invite to join our community?
4. How do I balance my individual pursuits with the need for community involvement, and what might I need to adjust to better align with Jesus’ call to belong to one another?
5. Reflect on a time when you felt a strong sense of belonging. What did that experience teach you about the importance of community in your spiritual journey?

Find the full text of the homily here.

Questions for Reflection

1. In what areas of my life do I feel inadequate or unprepared, and how can I embrace my shortcomings as opportunities for growth and service?
2. How has my understanding of faith been shaped by my experiences of failure or imperfection, and what lessons can I draw from those moments?
3. In what ways can I cultivate humility and openness in my daily life to better recognize Christ’s presence and guidance?
4. How do I typically respond to my own faults or failures, and how might shifting my perspective bring me closer to understanding God’s grace?
5. What steps can I take to foster a sense of community and interdependence with others, recognizing that we all share in the journey of faith, imperfections and all?

Find the full text of the homily here.

Questions for Reflection

1. What feelings arise within me when I consider the symbolism of water in my own life? How do I relate to the notion of stepping into the water alongside Jesus?
2. In what areas of my life do I struggle to let go of control? How might surrendering this control allow me to experience a deeper connection with God?
3. How do I understand the concept of forgiveness as “letting go” in my relationships with others? Are there specific situations or individuals I need to practice this with?
4. Reflecting on my own baptism, what does it mean for me to renew my baptismal vows today? How can I embody this renewal in my daily life?
5. What hesitations do I experience that keep me from fully embracing the presence of Jesus? How can I address these hesitations to deepen my spiritual journey?

Find the full text of the homily here.

Questions for Reflection

1. In what moments or places in your life have you felt a deep sense of beauty that made you long to stay or linger?
2. Reflect on your current spiritual journey: do you see yourself as a visitor, a pilgrim, or at home in your relationship with God? How does this understanding affect your approach to worship and prayer?
3. Consider the different prayer postures mentioned in the homily (standing, kneeling, sitting). Which posture resonates most with you in your current spiritual state, and why?
4. How can you intentionally create sacred spaces in your life that allow you to encounter God more deeply and often? What practices can you adopt to foster a sense of pilgrimage in your everyday routine?
5. In what ways can you be more mindful of God’s presence in your life and recognize yourself as a dwelling place for God? How can this awareness shape your interactions with others and your community?

Find the full text of the Christmas Eve Homily “One Shared and Sacred Life” here.

Find the full text of the Christmas Day Homily “Fully Present to the Word Made Flesh” here.

A Homily for the Third Sunday of Advent:

Find the full text of the homily here.

Questions for Reflection

1. In what areas of my life am I holding onto rigid expectations of how Jesus should act or how situations should unfold?
2. Can I recall a time when I experienced doubt similar to John the Baptist? How did I navigate those feelings?
3. What unexpected ways has Jesus come into my life, and how have I responded to those moments?
4. How can I reimagine my understanding of Jesus’ mission in my life and in the world around me?
5. What is one belief or perspective about my faith that I feel Jesus is inviting me to reconsider during this Advent season?

A homily for Advent Lessons and Carols:

Find the full text of the homily here.

Questions for Reflection

1. How do I experience the physicality of my faith in my daily life? In what ways do I acknowledge the connection between my spiritual life and my bodily experiences?
2. What are some areas in my life where I feel a deep yearning for God’s presence? How can I invite Christ into those physical and emotional spaces?
3. Reflect on a moment when you experienced God’s presence in a bodily way. How did it impact your faith journey?
4. In what ways can I cultivate awareness of the natural world around me during this Advent season, and how does that awareness enhance my understanding of the Incarnation?
5. How do the stories of Adam and Eve and Mary resonate with my personal journey of saying yes or no to God? What might I need to prune in my life to prepare for Christ’s coming?

Find the full text of the homily here.

Questions for Reflection

1. Heart Condition Assessment: What fears or attachments am I currently holding onto that might be hindering my spiritual growth? How can I confront these feelings in a healthy way?
2. Identifying Fruits of the Spirit: In what areas of my life am I experiencing the fruits of the Spirit? How can I nurture and expand these positive qualities in my daily actions and interactions?
3. Intentional Practices: What specific practices or rituals can I implement to support my journey of repentance and growth? Which of these will challenge me most, and how might I approach them with openness?
4. Need for a Reset: Am I in a season where I require a “hard reset” in my life? If so, what steps can I take to initiate this process, and who can I turn to for guidance and support?
5. Understanding Pruning: How can I reframe my understanding of hardship and challenges in life as opportunities for spiritual pruning and renewal? What lessons can I learn from past experiences of change or difficulty?

I forgot to post last week’s homily! So here is yesterday’s for the Feast of All Saints:

You can find the full text for the homily here.

Questions for Reflection

1. How does the concept of the communion of saints reshape my understanding of community and connection with those who have passed on before me?
2. In what ways can I open my eyes to the mystical aspects of the world around me, recognizing God’s work of healing and reconciliation in the midst of brokenness?
3. Reflecting on St. Paul’s message, how can I actively participate in the work of restoration and reconciliation in my own life and community?
4. How can I foster a greater sense of unity and communion with others, especially in a world that often feels divided and polarized?

And here is my homily from a couple weeks ago:

You can find the full text of the homily here.

Questions for REflection

1. How do I see myself as anointed for ministry as a Christian?
2. Reflecting on the different expressions of healing mentioned in the homily, which resonate most with my personal skills or passions? How can I utilize them in service to others?
3. What steps can I take to deepen my commitment to my parish and its mission as a minister, rather than just a recipient of care?
4. As I prepare my pledge for the stewardship campaign, how am I willing to contribute my time, talents, and resources to support our shared ministry and mission?

Find the full text of the homily here.

Questions for Reflection

1. In what ways do I seek healing and restoration in my life, and how do these desires influence my presence in church each Sunday?
2. Do I come to church primarily to receive God’s grace, or do I also offer my praise and thanksgiving? How can I better balance these two aspects?
3. How does viewing the church as both a place of nourishment and an altar for sacrifice change my perception of my role in the community?
4. In what aspects of my life do I feel called to offer myself as a living sacrifice, and how can I incorporate this into my stewardship and participation in the church?

Find the full text of the homily here.

Questions for Reflection

1. How has my faith journey been influenced by the people in my life? Can I identify specific individuals who have shared their faith with me?
2. What practices do I engage in to nurture my sense of belonging within my faith community? How do I contribute to the shared life of my parish?
3. In what ways can I actively remember and honor those who have come before me in my faith tradition? How might their stories inspire my own spiritual growth?
4. How do I perceive my role in supporting the ministry and mission of my church? Do I view my contributions as a responsibility or merely as an act of charity?
5. In reflecting on the concept of stewardship, what steps can I take to more deeply engage with the shared community of my parish? How can I encourage others to do the same?