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Browsing the 2015 archive of Fr. Matt's Homilies

Homily July 26, 2015 - Pastoral Plan Mass of the Holy Spirit

Posted by Fr. Matthew Strickenberger on 8/01/15

          We are well into this process of Pastoral Planning for the Diocese of Erie.  For the past year, we have been meeting with the Diocese and the Consultants to let them know who we are as St. Bartholomew's.  I am truly grateful to the Members of the Parish, ... Read More »

Homily July 12, 2015

Posted by Fr. Matthew Strickenberger on 8/01/15

There is a picture of Pope Benedict on retreat with his brother priests - they're listening to the retreat master preaching on God knows what.  The picture shows the Holy Father checking his watch - and the caption reads, "see, no one likes long sermons"

 

They say that ... Read More »

Homily July 5, 2015

Posted by Fr. Matthew Strickenberger on 8/01/15

What is going on in our nation anymore.  We live in an odd time - It's a crazy time - lots of crazy thoughts and opinions anymore.  We have lost our minds - and worse, we are losing our humanity and a sense of who God created us to ... Read More »

Homily March 1st, 2015.

Posted by Fr. Matthew Strickenberger on 3/01/15

There are many absurd things we have to deal with in this life - real absurd things, and stupid absurd things - like, what color is this dress.    We can often times look to the story of Abraham as an absurdity.  God asks Abraham to sacrifice his son ... Read More »

Homily February 22, 2015 - Repentance

Posted by Fr. Matthew Strickenberger on 2/23/15

Repent and believe in the Gospel. We don't really have much of a sense of repentance any more.    In the time of Jesus, and especially in the Old Testament they knew what it was to repent - to turn their lives around, to stop doing what went against ... Read More »

CSA Homily Feb. 15, 2015

Posted by Fr. Matthew Strickenberger on 2/15/15

The Powerball on Wednesday was 500 and some Million Dollars.  I was truly hoping that as a result of that I wouldn't have to give this talk today  - but unless anyone here bought their ticket in Puerto Rico, so much for that. 

 

The time has come once ... Read More »

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Being Thankful

Posted by Fr. Matthew Strickenberger on 2/01/15

It's now been a little over two months since Thanksgiving. 

And it's probably a good time for us to call it to mind once again. 

We have so much in our lives to be Thankful for - but are we?

 

The further we get from that designated day ... Read More »

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Homily 2015

Posted by Fr. Matthew Strickenberger on 1/25/15

You may be able to relate to this.  Every now and then when my cell phone rings,  I look at whose calling, and I stop and think for a minute.....do I really want to deal with this person right now....and so I hit ignore, and go back to whatever ... Read More »

Feast of the Baptism of the Lord Homily 2015

Posted by Fr. Matthew Strickenberger on 1/25/15

          This Feast of the Baptism of the Lord is the perfect opportunity at the beginning of a new year for all of us to stop and reflect a little bit on our own Baptism.  Most of us don't remember it.  But we were brought into Church, this one, ... Read More »

Feast of the Epiphany Homily 2015

Posted by Fr. Matthew Strickenberger on 1/05/15

Today is all about an encounter with God.  2000 years ago the magi set out deliberately to find him. We come here week after week to do the same. But this is, generally speaking, easy for us to do.  It doesn't usually take a whole lot for us to ... Read More »