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Homilies, Scripture Reflections & Modern Issues

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Fr. Jeff's Homilies and Reflections on Modern Issues


Jeffrey VonLehmen
Jeffrey VonLehmen
Jeffrey VonLehmen's Blog

Beatitudes: Breaking Vicious Cycles of Anxiety
Click to hear the homily.Beatitudes: Breaking Vicious Cycles of Anxiety The viscous cycle of anxiety is not the same as worry. Anxiety is the viscous cycle of insecurity.Abandonment to God stops insecurity.    

Prayer and Sacrifice Increases Our Light Shine on Everyone
Click to hear the homily.Prayer and Sacrifice Increases Our Light Shine on Everyone: Communal invitation:  By prayer and sacrifice (fasting), we can stop wars in people’s hearts,  the de-escalation of violence.  Make a healthy sacrifice not an unhealthy sacrifice for each other.   

Elevated Love
Click to hear the homily.Elevated Love:  Not what  we here in the Gospel, it is how we hear it: Elevated Love 

No Such Thing as Irreversible Damage in Christ
Click to hear the homily.No Such Thing as Irreversible Damage in Christ  Victory is not so much conquering but reversal. With the temptations, we are never alone. With Christ, there is no such thing as irreversible damage.  

Epiphany - Love You!
Click to hear the homily.Epiphany Power of Divine “Love you" The Power of the two words “love you” when it is Christ like.

Sexual Confusion-Theory
Click to hear the homily.A Brief Reflection Sexual confusion Theory   We mistake theory for facts.  So it might help to reflect on theory in general and especially theory of sexuality. Again, all sexuality is such a sensitive part of our lives that we must handle such discussions reverently. I don’t feel comfortable talking about such things publicly, but at least I can treat this as a sacred topic. Theology can greatly help theory.  In two minutes or less, I will give it a try.  

For Those in Bible Study
Click to hear the homily.A Brief Reflection For those involved in Bible Study - Part One   Bible study is accessible to everyone, is encouraged and  is not difficult to read or understand in most cases. Bible study is like medicine , good for the soul.  However , every medicine comes with a caution on the label. Good to know what the caution is.  Keep in mind, the Bible is not the whole Christ.  Christ is the Word of God speaking to us through the Bible and the people of God(the Living Tradition, succession of the Apostles).  We must always be in touch with the whole Christ when we read the Bible. There are other areas of caution that may be good to know.   If you read the bible on your own or in a bible group, maybe this little five minute message can help.

Coping Mechanism
Click to hear the homily.3rd Sunday of Advent Coping Mechanism   Is 35:1-10, Jas 5:7-10, Mt 11:2-11   Most of life, physical or spiritual, is coping. Life is 80% coping and 20% overcoming. People with chronic illness teach us how to help each other cope.

Where is the Mother, There is Healing
Click to hear the homily.Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin MaryWhere is the Mother, there is healing.   Mary is blessed with original freedom and so is Eve.  What happened? May Mother help us find original freedom again, freedom for the Word, freedom for the other, freedom to love.  

Beautiful
Click to hear the homily.Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the UniverseIn the bible, the king is majestic,  beautiful.How does beauty saves us,How is Christ the king, majestic on the cross?If Christ rules over our hearts, what beautiful thing happens inside us?Are we being carried away by a kingdom of false beauty  or carried along by the kingdom of true beauty?1 Pt:  It was not any cleverly invented myths that we were repeating when we brought you the knowledge of the power and the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; we had seen his majesty for ourselves. He was honoured and glorified by God the Father, when the Sublime Glory itself spoke to him and said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour.’ We heard this ourselves, spoken from heaven, when we were with him on the holy mountain.