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Homily stories

28 Nov 2010 - First Sunday of Advent, Cycle A

OUR HOUSE was broken into recently while my family and I slept soundly in our beds. We woke when we heard noise on the back porch, but it was too late. The thief was gone along with a purse filled with cash, credit cards, and keys. A hundred "if onlys" went through our heads. If only we'd double-checked that the back door was locked, if only we'd hidden the purse from view, if only we'd woken sooner and scared the no-goodnik away, if only we'd been more prepared. But then, of course, came the gratitude we all felt: Thank goodness no one was hurt, thank goodness all the thief got was a purse, thank goodness we're not so desperate as to feel compelled to steal. Perhaps we were more prepared than we realized--not for preventing the theft, but for counting our blessings. Counting our blessings is an essential part of the Advent preparation. The more aware we are of the gifts we've been given, the more able we are to appreciate the gift of Love that is to come. We may not know the hour of Love's arrival, but we can rest assured that nothing can prevent love from reaching us if we are steadfast. Death and death-dealing acts will not prevail. The thief, the liar, the betrayer, the murderer will never have the last word. The last word is, was, and always shall be reserved for the first Word--who is Love

Authors Patrice J. Tuohy

counting blessings advent gifts Love

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Homily stories

30 Nov 2025 - First Sunday of Advent, Cycle A

Our house was broken into recently while my family and I slept soundly in our beds. We woke when we heard noise on the back porch, but it was too late. The thief was gone along with a purse filled with cash, credit cards, and keys. A hundred "if onlys" went through our heads. If only we'd double-checked that the back door was locked, if only we'd hidden the purse from view, if only we'd woken sooner and scared the no-goodnik away, if only we'd been more prepared. But then, of course, came the gratitude we all felt: Thank goodness no one was hurt, thank goodness all the thief got was a purse, thank goodness we're not so desperate as to feel compelled to steal. Perhaps we were more prepared than we realized—not for preventing the theft, but for counting our blessings. Counting our blessings is an essential part of the Advent preparation. The more aware we are of the gifts we've been given, the more able we are to appreciate the gift of Love that is to come. We may not know the hour of Love's arrival, but we can rest assured that nothing can prevent love from reaching us if we are steadfast. Death and death-dealing acts will not prevail. The thief, the liar, the betrayer, the murderer will never have the last word. The last word is, was, and always shall be reserved for the first Word—who is Love

Authors Patrice J. Tuohy

counting blessings gifts

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Homily stories

01 Feb 2026 - Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

A person far removed from the rarefied air of business titans was invited to lunch at a prestigious club reserved for just such people. Surrounded by corporate lawyers, bankers, financial advisers, and other high rollers, the guest watched as patrons sipped energy drinks, Bloody Marys, and mid-afternoon martinis while discussing business, politics, sports, and health. The newest fascination among the elites was apparently weight-loss medications and anti-aging treatments, including Botox injections, stem-cell replacements, and blood plasma exchanges that cost $10,000 per session. “To look better and live longer, what more could you want?” surmised one club member at the table. Another laughed and said, “Well, I could use a good plumber.” That quip led to a discussion about how impossible it is to find good tradespeople. “It took me two months to find an electrician to upgrade the wiring at my summer home,” said one. “And forget about finding a landscaper,” another added. A third chimed in, “I don’t know why so many young people go to college. They should go to vocational school and learn a trade so I can find a painter when I need one!” The discussion then turned to education and the “ridiculous” teachers’ salaries and pensions, and the “lack of work ethic” among public servants and union workers. At that point, the invited guest, who had little success in presenting alternative points of view on any of the lunch table topics, expressed her thanks for the meal and said she had to get going. As she made her way home, a wave of sadness washed over her. These people with so much wealth and power came across as stingy and resentful. They seemed incapable of counting their blessings, yet, oddly, desired to live forever. Perhaps they feared the reward that might be waiting for them in heaven.

Authors Patrice J. Tuohy

beatitudes blessings counting blessings

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