Casts of a Fisherman Fr. Matt

Homily from the Feast of Saints Philip & JamesJohn 14:6-14Jesus said to Thomas, "I am the way and the truth and the life.No one comes to the Father except through me.If you know me, then you will also know my Father.From now on you do know him and have seen him."Philip said to him,"Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us."Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you for so long a timeand you still do not know me, Philip?Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own.The Father who dwells in me is doing his works.Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me,or else, believe because of the works themselves.Amen, amen, I say to you,whoever believes in me will do the works that I do,and will do greater ones than these,because I am going to the Father.And whatever you ask in my name, I will do,so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it."

Homily from Thursday of Week 5 of EasterActs 15:7-21After much debate had taken place,Peter got up and said to the Apostles and the presbyters,“My brothers, you are well aware that from early daysGod made his choice among you that through my mouththe Gentiles would hear the word of the Gospel and believe.And God, who knows the heart,bore witness by granting them the Holy Spiritjust as he did us.He made no distinction between us and them,for by faith he purified their hearts.Why, then, are you now putting God to the testby placing on the shoulders of the disciplesa yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear?On the contrary, we believe that we are savedthrough the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they.”The whole assembly fell silent,and they listenedwhile Paul and Barnabas described the signs and wondersGod had worked among the Gentiles through them.After they had fallen silent, James responded,“My brothers, listen to me.Symeon has described how God first concerned himselfwith acquiring from among the Gentiles a people for his name.The words of the prophets agree with this, as is written:After this I shall returnand rebuild the fallen hut of David;from its ruins I shall rebuild itand raise it up again,so that the rest of humanity may seek out the Lord,even all the Gentiles on whom my name is invoked.Thus says the Lord who accomplishes these things,known from of old.It is my judgment, therefore,that we ought to stop troubling the Gentiles who turn to God,but tell them by letter to avoid pollution from idols,unlawful marriage, the meat of strangled animals, and blood.For Moses, for generations now,has had those who proclaim him in every town,as he has been read in the synagogues every sabbath.”

Homily from Tuesday of Week 5 of EasterJohn 14:27-31aJesus said to his disciples:"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.Not as the world gives do I give it to you.Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.You heard me tell you,'I am going away and I will come back to you.'If you loved me,you would rejoice that I am going to the Father;for the Father is greater than I.And now I have told you this before it happens,so that when it happens you may believe.I will no longer speak much with you,for the ruler of the world is coming.He has no power over me,but the world must know that I love the Fatherand that I do just as the Father has commanded me."

Homily from Monday of Week 5 of EasterActs 14:5-18There was an attempt in Iconiumby both the Gentiles and the Jews,together with their leaders,to attack and stone Paul and Barnabas.They realized it,and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbeand to the surrounding countryside,where they continued to proclaim the Good News.At Lystra there was a crippled man, lame from birth,who had never walked.He listened to Paul speaking, who looked intently at him,saw that he had the faith to be healed,and called out in a loud voice, "Stand up straight on your feet."He jumped up and began to walk about.When the crowds saw what Paul had done,they cried out in Lycaonian,"The gods have come down to us in human form."They called Barnabas "Zeus" and Paul "Hermes,"because he was the chief speaker.And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city,brought oxen and garlands to the gates,for he together with the people intended to offer sacrifice.The Apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their garmentswhen they heard this and rushed out into the crowd, shouting,"Men, why are you doing this?We are of the same nature as you, human beings.We proclaim to you good newsthat you should turn from these idols to the living God,who made heaven and earth and sea and all that is in them.In past generations he allowed all Gentiles to go their own ways;yet, in bestowing his goodness,he did not leave himself without witness,for he gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons,and filled you with nourishment and gladness for your hearts."Even with these words, they scarcely restrained the crowdsfrom offering sacrifice to them.

Homily from Sunday of Week 5 of EasterJohn 15:1-8Jesus said to his disciples:"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit,and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.Remain in me, as I remain in you.Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its ownunless it remains on the vine,so neither can you unless you remain in me.I am the vine, you are the branches.Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit,because without me you can do nothing.Anyone who does not remain in mewill be thrown out like a branch and wither;people will gather them and throw them into a fireand they will be burned.If you remain in me and my words remain in you,ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.By this is my Father glorified,that you bear much fruit and become my disciples."

Homily from Friday of Week 4 of EasterJohn 14:1-6Jesus said to his disciples:“Do not let your hearts be troubled.You have faith in God; have faith also in me.In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.If there were not,would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?And if I go and prepare a place for you,I will come back again and take you to myself,so that where I am you also may be.Where I am going you know the way.”Thomas said to him,“Master, we do not know where you are going;how can we know the way?”Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life.No one comes to the Father except through me.”