New Year, Holy Me (Homily – January 1, 2026)

New Year, Holy Me (Homily – January 1, 2026)

On January 1, the Church begins the new year not with goals, but with a blessing. On the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, we hear God place His name upon His people before asking anything in return. This homily reflects on why most resolutions fail, how the Church redeems the idea of new beginnings, and what Mary teaches us about real, lasting change. Growth does not start with pressure or willpower. It starts with belonging. Gospel: Luke 2:16–21 Recorded at Saint Edward Catholic Church in Richard, LA

O Wisdom, O Leader (Homily – December 18, 2025)

Thursday of the Third Week of Advent December 18, 2025 Saint Edward Catholic Church As the Church enters the final days of Advent, the O Antiphons give voice to a deeper longing. Today we cry out: O Wisdom. O Leader. These ancient prayers do not explain. They plead. This homily reflects on our hunger for wisdom that actually converts us, and a rescue that requires surrender. Christ does not arrive with noise or force. He comes quietly as Emmanuel, God with us, feeding us and changing us from the inside out. Liturgical Focus: The O Antiphons of December 17–18 and the Church’s Advent prayers.

Yes But Also No (Homily – December 16, 2025)

On Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent, Rev. Korey R. LaVergne reflects on Zephaniah’s hard but merciful words to a people who thought they were listening to God, while quietly deciding for themselves. The homily explores the danger of saying “yes” to God with our words while refusing Him with our lives. Drawing on the Gospel image of the two sons, this reflection calls listeners to an honest, humble conversion that stops pretending and finally goes to work. Gospel: Matthew 21:28–32 “Lord, I said yes, but I didn’t go.”

Unexpected Prophet (Homily – December 15, 2025)

On Monday of the Third Week of Advent, December 15, 2025, Fr. Korey LaVergne reflects on an unexpected Advent figure: Balaam. An outsider hired to speak for pay becomes an unwitting prophet when God interrupts his plans and places truth on his lips. Set alongside the Gospel’s confrontation over authority, this homily explores the difference between humility and fear, between being taught by God and trying to keep control. Advent, Fr. Korey reminds us, is not about waiting for safety or certainty, but about allowing God to rearrange us. Gospel: Matthew 21:23–27.

Third Sunday of Advent (Homily – December 14, 2025)

On the Third Sunday of Advent, John the Baptist asks a question many faithful hearts eventually face: Are you the one, or should we look for another? From a prison cell, John voices the tension of waiting, disappointment, and hope that has not yet been fulfilled. Drawing from the Gospel, Isaiah, and the Letter of James, this homily reflects on patience, quiet growth, and the strange joy of Gaudete Sunday. Christ does not wait for the desert to improve before He comes. He enters it and begins the work of new life. Preached at Saint Edward Catholic Church and Saint Thomas Mission Chapel on December 14, 2025.