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Our content is delivered through the DePorres Pages Podcasts, which you can subscribe to by using the app wherever you get your podcasts, or by listening right here on the website.

There are essentially two types of podcasts — our homilies, recorded in a variety of churches, chapels and other locations — and commentaries, an eclectic collection of topics that catch the imagination.

Homily for Thursday, September 23, 2021

September 23, 2021 by thefriarwebmaster
When I was in Rome for a class in my doctoral studies, I noticed that in almost every shop there was a picture, somewhere in the store, of Padre Pio. What is interesting is that while people recognized his holiness, often his own community did not. We can be fooled into thinking that if we follow God our lives on this earth will be perfect. But, alas, countless examples from the saints indicate that this is not true. What Padre Pio teaches us is that it is our quest for God, for a deep relationship with his son Jesus that makes all the difference.
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Homily for Wednesday, September 22, 2021

September 23, 2021 by thefriarwebmaster
Ezra was a prophet who arose at a bad, but the right, time. The people had gone astray and their entire lives had fallen apart. If they lived today, I doubt they would have been posting their suffering on social media. Finally coming to their senses, they are ready to make a change. They recognize that the important time is now — they need to follow God. Sometimes we can be fooled into thinking that what we see on social media tells the whole story, that every one else is very happy, and we are not. But God gives a much better invitation. Follow him.
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Homily for Tuesday, September 21, 2021

September 21, 2021 by thefriarwebmaster
God has a tendency to call people who at first glance do not seem to be likely choices. There is Moses, the poor speaker, or David, whose passions get him into trouble. Today we encounter Matthew the tax collector, who reminds us that God’s grace is more powerful than any sin we can commit.
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Homily for Sunday, September 19, 2021

September 19, 2021 by thefriarwebmaster
There is an internal tension in most of us, an angst. We want things we cannot have. Or what we have is never enough, we want more. Many world religions have recognized this angst. For example, Buddhism refers to tanha, or roughly translated “desire” as something that explains why life is suffering. We think if we just get this job, or that house, or this new gadget, we would be happy. Or, if we could just overcome this disease, or not have that coworker, or not have this annoying neighbor, we could be happy. But without humility, that radical honesty about who we are and what we need, we are left suffering. It is only when we recognize that only Jesus fulfills all we want or need that we are truly happy and fulfilled.
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Homily for Friday, September 17, 2021

September 17, 2021 by thefriarwebmaster
There are a not insignificant number of people who believe, I think, in what is sometimes called the “prosperity gospel.” That is, the belief that our faith in God will be rewarded by material goods. Yet that runs opposed to most, if not all, of the Scriptures. In his letter to Saint Timothy, Saint Paul warns against seeing faith in Jesus as a means to material wealth. What does this mean for our faith?
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Homily for Thursday, September 16, 2021

September 16, 2021 by thefriarwebmaster
I judge others. I do it a lot. Yet, I am a sinner. I have no right to judge others, because Jesus has given to me something I do not deserve. Salvation. Mercy. Forgiveness. I hope that I may be able to love much, fully forgiven by Jesus.
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Homily for Tuesday, September 14, 2021

September 14, 2021 by thefriarwebmaster
What image do we desire to present to the public? If social media is any clue, we wish to present the perfect image of ourselves. We are always having a good time, we are never lonely, we are surrounded by lots of happy faces. The reality, of course, for all of us, is that we are not perfect, we are sometimes lonely, and sometimes there are people with brokenness who surround us. What image would God the Father post on social media? The crucifixion. That moment where it appeared Jesus had failed. But it was the moment of his greatest success. His loving sacrifice of taking on our sins is our salvation. Bring your brokenness to the Lord Jesus.
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Homily for Sunday, September 12, 2021

September 12, 2021 by thefriarwebmaster
We know the answer to the question. But do we really answer the question by how we live. There is the rub. Peter gets the right answer, but does not live the answer. We can be like that too. We wish the poor well, but we do nothing to help them.
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Homily for Thursday, September 9, 2021

September 9, 2021 by thefriarwebmaster
It is not always easy to help the poor. It is not always easy to treat our enemies with respect. It is not always something we choose, lending to those who may not repay. Put simply, it is not always easy to be a Christian. But today’s gospel helps us to see that the size of our heart, the ability to receive the love of God, is connected to our ability to love. But it is not our loving someone only by our efforts. Rather, it is loving someone because God enables us to love.
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Homily for Tuesday, September 7, 2021

September 7, 2021 by thefriarwebmaster
Are you too “busy” for prayer? In today’s gospel we see the importance of prayer in the life of Jesus. We see this at other times too. When things have gotten really busy, he invites the disciples to come away for a while. When he has fed the multitudes, and he knows they will make him king, he retreats to prayer. Time and again we see that Jesus is a model of us about prayer. Make time today to pray with Jesus.
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