Sunday Homilies with Father Martin

Are You Generous or Are You Greedy? Do You Give or Do You Grab?

In this homily, Fr. Martin begins by sharing several important parish transitions: thanking Fr. Danh on his final weekend at St. Joseph, welcoming Fr. Arundas Thomas as the new parochial vicar, and announcing his own Installation Mass as pastor on July 26. The homily then turns to a simple but challenging question: "Are you generous or greedy? Do you give or do you grab?" Fr. Martin reflects that while we all like to think of ourselves as generous, every disciple must examine how freely we give our time, talents, and treasure. Drawing from the readings, he explains that saints are marked by generosity, while sin leads us to grasp and hoard. He highlights Jesus' teaching that "it is more blessed to give than to receive" and illustrates this truth through the contrast between the Sea of Galilee, which remains full of life because it receives and gives away water, and the Dead Sea, which stagnates because it only receives and never gives. Connecting this image to St. Joseph Parish's Five Habits of a Disciple—Pray, Connect, Invite, Serve, and Give—Fr. Martin encourages listeners to practice concrete generosity during the week by giving their time, talents, and financial resources. He concludes with a memorable challenge: "Don't grab. Give." Like the Sea of Galilee, a life of generosity becomes a life that is spiritually alive, fruitful, and overflowing with God's blessings.

A Blessing for Father's Day

On Father's Day, we give thanks to God for all fathers and father figures in our parish community: new fathers, single fathers, grandfathers, spiritual fathers, those facing challenges, those longing to be fathers, and those who have gone before us in faith.  We ask the Holy Spirit to bless and strengthen them so that they may reflect God's paternal love in their families and in the world. Through the intercession of St. Joseph, patron of our parish and model of fatherhood, we pray for all fathers and offer them a small gift of holy water and a prayer card to bless their homes and families.

Una Bendición para el Día del Padre

En este Día del Padre, damos gracias a Dios por todos los papás y figuras paternas de nuestra comunidad: los nuevos padres, los padres solteros, los abuelos, los padres espirituales, quienes atraviesan dificultades, quienes desean ser padres y aquellos que ya han partido a la Casa del Padre.  Pedimos al Espíritu Santo que los bendiga y fortalezca para que sean signos vivos del amor paternal de Dios en sus familias y en el mundo. Por la intercesión de San José, patrono de nuestra parroquia y modelo de paternidad, encomendamos a todos los papás al cuidado amoroso del Señor.

Are You a Saint or Are You a Sinner?

Are you a saint or a sinner? In this homily, Fr. Martin reflects on a powerful insight from Venerable Fulton J. Sheen: every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future. Drawing from the examples of the Twelve Apostles, the words of Pope Francis, and St. Paul's Letter to the Romans, this message reminds us that God does not define us by our failures. Instead, He looks upon us with mercy, loves us in our brokenness, and calls us to holiness. We are sinners whom the Lord has looked upon with compassion—and saints in the making.

¿Eres un Santo o un Pecador?

¿Eres santo o eres pecador? En esta homilía, el Padre Martín reflexiona sobre una poderosa enseñanza del Venerable Fulton J. Sheen: todo santo tiene un pasado y todo pecador tiene un futuro. A través del ejemplo de los Doce Apóstoles, las palabras del Papa Francisco y la carta de San Pablo a los Romanos, este mensaje nos recuerda que Dios no nos define por nuestros fracasos. Al contrario, nos mira con misericordia, nos ama en medio de nuestra fragilidad y nos llama a la santidad. Somos pecadores a quienes el Señor ha mirado con amor y misericordia, y santos en camino hacia la plenitud de la vida en Cristo.