Monday Morning Homilist COTLF

It's Good Shepherd Sunday, so pray for priests and pray for vocations! This week's episode is all about the Good Shepherd, willing to suffer and give his life for his flock. This is just as true about Jesus as it is about the priesthood. 
In sports, it's playoff time for the Panthers and Heat! The Marlins finally didn't lose a series! 

It's another milestone day on MMH as we've completed the full 3-Year cycle of readings and are right back where we started on Day 1 in 2021!
It's also a milestone day in the parish as our STS 2nd graders celebrated their First Communion this weekend and our season of sacramental celebrations is well underway. 
On this week's podcast, we reflect on the response of the disciples as Jesus again appears to them. Is our own response to the Lord one of fear and skepticism or is it one of incredulous joy? What does finding the peace that Christ offers us look like?
In sports, Jorge finally watched the Masters and we gear up for Panthers playoff hockey on tap, and the Heat in the play-in tournament! 

Happy Easter! We're back from a brief post-Easter break and it's a jam-packed episode as we talk about Holy Week, Easter weekend, Divine Mercy, and "Quasimodo Sunday." Queue up the bells of Notre Dame!
As we reflect on these last two weeks and continue praying for our 15 newly baptized parishioners, the invitation this week is to pray for the grace to feel forgiven. Like newborn babes, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation; for you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.
In sports, we air out our frustration with the Marlins, talk Women's Basketball, and Fr Manny attempts to bring wrestling into the conversation but is quickly shut down! 

Fr Manny and Jorge both have the week off but will be back on Monday, April 8th to fill you in on Quasimodo Sunday. Wait, what?! Tune in next week to learn more!
In the meantime, here’s Fr Manny’s Easter Homily.

After spending some time reflecting on the Palm Sunday liturgy, we reflect on Jesus' last words on the cross in the Gospel of Mark.  He cries out to his Father, and the response is...silence.  How many times have we turned to God in moments of trial and desperation and have heard only silence from God?  We are invited as we begin Holy Week to confront the silence of the cross and enter into the passion of our Lord.
In sports, Father Manny and Jorge sift through the rubble of their NCAA Tournament brackets.  We recap a good weekend for the Panthers and an even better weekend for the USA Men's Soccer Team.  Finally, we preview the upcoming MLB season while doing a very deep dive on what is going on with Shohei Ohtani and his interpreter's huge gambling debt.  Could it really take down baseball's biggest star?

On this V Sunday of Lent we begin the period known as Passiontide. You may have noticed the church looked a little different than usual as we veiled the statues for the first time in many years.
As we continue moving towards Holy Week and the celebration of the Lord's Passion, we are called to enter into that suffering with him. 
In sports, we're starting to talk baseball, with Opening Day just around the corner! And get ready for March Madness! To join our tournament challenge, reach out via email and we'll send back the link.
Don't forget to like, comment on, rate/review, and share the podcast! Have any questions you'd like Fr. Manny and Jorge to tackle? Send them in to podcast@cotlf.org and listen in next Monday to see if we were able to answer it!