Monday Morning Homilist

A Special Episode of MMH on the Solemnity of the Annunciation as Izzy joins Father Manny to talk about Mary's yes and how by following Our Lady's example we can accomplish the impossible.  Powerful testimony from Izzy here.
In sports, Ashley joins Father Manny in breaking down the Dolphins blockbuster trade for Tyreek Hill this week.
And in a special segment, Father is joined by the principal of St. John Catholic School, Mrs. Bianca Acosta, to preview this Sunday's Academy Awards.  We talk about the films we enjoyed over the last year and who should be taking home Oscars.
Long episode to get you through the weekend.  Enjoy!

This week's podcast focuses in on repentance and the sacrament of Reconciliation/Confession. God is extraordinarily patient, but are we sometimes too presumptuous of his mercy? Listen in as we discuss the delicate balance between trusting in God's mercy and being truly repentant, which includes firmly resolving to "sin no more."
In sports, the 'Canes dance on into the Sweet 16 while brackets continue to get busted, the Marlins finally make a splash in free agency, and the US Men's Soccer Team looks ahead to World Cup Qualifying.

Our reflection this week focuses on Sunday's 2nd Reading from St. Paul to the Philippians: What does it mean to conduct oneself as an enemy of the cross of Christ? Is our citizenship really in heaven or are we occupied with earthly things? The evil one is constantly trying to derail us. As we continue journeying through Lent, the Transfiguration of Christ not only shows the disciples what is to come after the Passion, but also shows us what our reality should be and what we should aspire to.
In sports: BASEBALL IS BAAAACK and the hot stove is boiling! We also preview March Madness.

In this first week of Lent, we're challenged to take advantage of the opportunity this Lenten season provides us to put our faith back at the center of our lives. The conversation dives deep into the lures and temptations of Satan, the "master of lies," that we're all faced with. As we go through this holy season, let's make a conscience effort to make our plans with God in the middle.
In sports, we quickly catch up on our local teams and then turn our attention to college hoops, with both the UM Men's and Women's team making some noise as March Madness approaches. 

Fr. Manny shares a special reflection for Ash Wednesday 2022.
Repent and believe in the Gospel! Have a blessed Ash Wednesday and a fruitful Lenten season.

This week we finish reflecting on Jesus' challenging Sermon on the Plain and look ahead to the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday.
Do we allow ourselves to be led astray by false prophets or do we hold strong in following Jesus Christ? Lent is a beautiful season of opportunity to refocus and live as the disciples that Christ calls us to be. We invite you to make the most of that opportunity this year!
In our second segment, there's still no baseball and the world of sports is pretty quiet, but we finish the episode with a special prayer for peace for Ukraine, Eastern Europe and the world.

Jesus throws down the gauntlet in this weekend's Gospel, challenging us to "love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." (LK, 6:27-28)
What does it really mean to love your enemies? We don't hold back in this week's discussion and cover plenty of ground trying to answer that question. Enjoy!
In the second segment, we touch lightly on sports as the episode was pre-recorded on Friday (with Fr. Manny calling in from Colombia!), but we have some fun with the newest rage: Wordle!

It's the Super Bowl episode, so you know we're working plenty of sports into the conversation this week! In Sunday's Gospel, Jesus gives us the Beatitudes, our playbook for eternal life. Are we willing to follow His gameplan to get into the endzone? More often than not, we find ourselves getting penalized for trying to do things our own way, and that goal gets further away and harder to make. 
In sports, it's all about the big game... and the joys of hosting a watch party for it!