In Sermons: showing 1-12 of 12

On Loving God

Contributed by R. Joseph Owles on Jun 20, 2012

God will ask us if we love Him, and we answer, not with our mouths, but with our lives.

A time will come, whether we believe it or not, when we will stand before God and God will ask us just one question–only one. And he will not ask us how many times we have gone to church, or how many times we have read the Bible, or how many times we have received holy communion, how much ...read more

Denomination: Catholic

Getting What You Ask For From God

Contributed by R. Joseph Owles on May 6, 2012

Based on the Lectionary readings for the 5th Sunday in Easter (Acts 9:26-31; 1 John 3:18-24; John 15:1-8). Jesus says that we can ask anything from God and receive it. 1 John explains it, and Acts shows the consequence.

Jesus 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 ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-8

Denomination: Catholic

Wedding Homily (Standard)

Contributed by R. Joseph Owles on Jun 23, 2011

The wedding homily i generally use.

We are all here to witness and to celebrate a marriage. A marriage is indeed taking place this day; yet, it is not mere a marriage of two people, but of two peoples–two families, two sets of friends, being united together through love, into one family, one group of friends, one people. This ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-8

Denomination: Catholic

Real Good News For The Real World

Contributed by R. Joseph Owles on Jun 23, 2011

The Great Commission playing out in every day life.

Anchorage Presbyterian Church R. Joseph Owles August 16, 1998 [Based on Matthew 28:16-20] All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me; therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:16-20

Denomination: Catholic

Homily At My Step-Father's Funeral

Contributed by R. Joseph Owles on Jun 23, 2011

The homily I preached at my step-father's funeral.

R. Joseph Owles Layton’s Funeral Home June 2004 An aged and bitter Mark Twain wrote shortly before his death: A myriad of men are born; they labor and sweat and struggle;……they squabble and scold and fight; they scramble for little mean advantages over each other; age creeps ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 15:1-58

Denomination: Catholic

Paralyzed By Life; Healed By Faith

Contributed by R. Joseph Owles on Jun 23, 2011

Four things we can learn from Mark's story of the paralytic being brought to Jesus

There was a man, who was a workaholic. He had a son, who was about seven years old, and like most seven-year-olds, he wanted to spend time with his father, playing catch or some other activity. The father kept promising to spend time with his son, but he was always breaking his promises because the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1-12

Denomination: Catholic

Contagious

Contributed by R. Joseph Owles on Jun 22, 2011

SERMON IN A SENTENCE: We are much more motivated to alleviate suffering when we share in it.

“A leper came to him (and kneeling down) begged him and said, "If you wish, you can make me clean." Moved with compassion, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, "I do will it. Be made clean." The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. Then, warning him ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:40-45

Denomination: Catholic

If The Heart Were A Bone... I'd Be Crippled

Contributed by R. Joseph Owles on Jun 22, 2011

Seeing the Christ in our midst...

I can remember being young and watching the play Peter Pan. In that play there is a scene in which Tinker Bell, who becomes jealous of Wendy, agrees to betray Peter Pan by identifying the location of his hiding place to Captain Hook. Captain Hook then sends a bomb to Peter Pan which is disguised ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:13-35

Denomination: Catholic

It's My Party And I'll Cut Off The Head Of John The Baptist If I Want To

Contributed by R. Joseph Owles on Jun 22, 2011

Who among us is better than Herod? Who among us has not twisted events, facts, details, to suit our own purposes? Who among us has not placed more value on our image than on human need? Who among us has not intentionally given in to easier of the two choi

I'll admit to you all that I had a difficult time with this passage. I spent weeks staring at it , researching it, praying about it, looking for that point of brilliance that would dazzle and amaze you all, once more showing off my preaching skills, once more being the "golden boy." But I drew a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:14-29

Denomination: Catholic

Palm Sunday

Contributed by R. Joseph Owles on Jun 22, 2011

Jewish Scriptural context for understanding Jesus' entry into Jerusalem

The reign of King David was coming to an end. To put it plainly he was old. He was definitely tired. The first half of his life was spent building a kingdom; the second half of his life was spent trying to hold that kingdom together. God had promised that David would never lose his throne, and as ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:1-10

Denomination: Catholic

This Week In Haiti (Or, Don't Be A Walnut)

Contributed by R. Joseph Owles on Jun 22, 2011

Yes, of course I am proud of the human response and the Christian response to such tragedy. But I am saddened that this is the exception and not the norm. I am saddened that among Christians, we aren’t doing this every day, for every one, earthquake or no

So, as everyone knows, there was an earthquake in Haiti, leaving hundreds of thousands of people dead, thousands and thousands of people buried alive awaiting rescue, and nearly everyone else scrambling for basics–water, food, shelter. It was a tragic event. No one can deny the severity of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:24-27

Denomination: Catholic

Christ And Controversy

Contributed by R. Joseph Owles on Mar 3, 2006

Jesus’ forgiveness and compassion creates controversy.

SERMON IN A SENTENCE: We cannot be in a right relationship with God if we are in a wrong relationship with others. Two weeks ago we encountered Paul’s challenge to “Be like Christ,” and we looked at Mark’s account of Jesus healing a leper for clues of how we could actually be like Christ. We ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:13-28

Denomination: Catholic