Sermons from St. Francis
Listen to sermons and homilies from Sunday Mass at St. Francis.
Sermon for January 11, 2026
A reflection on St. Paul’s words in Ephesians about the mystery of Christ, now revealed to us by the Holy Spirit. Our homes, cars, and savings will all pass away, but our souls are eternal, and like the treasure hidden in a field and the pearl of great value in Matthew 13, God’s truth is worth giving up everything to gain. That truth is ours to claim through Christ’s Church, yet living it takes real effort. Three lessons stand out: the Christian life requires daily effort, it is a team sport lived with one another, and it calls us to remain students of the faith for our whole lives.
Sermon for January 4, 2026
A reflection on Isaiah’s proclamation that the Spirit of the Lord has anointed him to bring good news to the poor, bind up the brokenhearted, and proclaim liberty to the captives. Coming to worship is itself a response to the Holy Spirit stirring our hearts to return to God, much like the prodigal son coming home. We do not deserve the good things we receive; they come from God’s grace and mercy, and what we are given is opportunity. Each of us is free to choose whether to love God and our neighbor or to serve only ourselves, and in the end each of us receives what that choice deserves.
Christmas Eve Homily 2025
A Christmas Eve homily remembering a cold winter evening in childhood and the sight of a brilliant star in the sky, the Christmas star. As we grow older, much of the wonder of the world fades, but the glory of that star never has to. It is the light of an angel proclaiming the birth of God’s only Son, a torch leading shepherds, wise men, and all of us through the darkness of this world to the dawn of our salvation. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Sermon for December 21, 2025
A reflection on the Last Gospel heard at the end of every Mass: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” Repeating these words week after week never makes them less meaningful, any more than hearing “I love you” from someone dear. The Mass is not an old ritual we sit through but a living remembrance in which we truly enter the story of our redemption and receive the body and blood of Christ. It is a foretaste of heaven, where the risen Christ meets us again every time we gather.
Sermon for December 14, 2025
A reflection for Gaudete Sunday on Philippians 4: “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.” We can study, pray, and serve faithfully and still miss the heart of the Christian life: the overflowing joy of knowing we are saved by God’s love. Happiness comes and goes with circumstances, but joy sustains us in good times and bad. We find it in prayer, worship, virtue, and serving others, and above all in knowing that God Himself rejoices when His children grow closer to Him and to one another.
Sermon for December 7, 2025
A reflection for Advent on Luke 21, the “little apocalypse,” where Jesus speaks of signs in the sun, moon, and stars and nations in distress, and says, “When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” Just as checking the forecast before a long bike ride can spare us a frigid trip home, being prepared is wise. This world, tainted by sin, cannot last, and some ignore the warnings while others lose all hope. Yet there are real signs of hope, and Christ calls us to stand up straight, hold our heads high, and be ready.