PENTECOST May 24, 2015 Saint Cecilia Catholic Community, Palm Springs, CA Rev. Dcn. David Justin Lynch Acts 2:1-11 Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-31, 34 Galatians 5:16-25 John 15:26-27; 16:12-15 + In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, AMEN. The Greek New Testament uses the word “pneuma” hundreds of times. Its usual meaning is “spirit”, but it can also mean “breath” or “wind.” That is what Jesus was describing when He said that the apostles…

SOLEMNITY OF THE ASCENSION May 17, 2015 Saint Cecilia Catholic Community Reverend Deacon David Justin Lynch Acts 1:1-11 Psalm 47:2-3;6-9 Ephesians 1:17-23 Mark 16:15-20         +In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.         In the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries, a debate raged within the Church of England over whether Jesus was present in the Bread and Wine at the Eucharist. To give you some background, the Church of England, also known as…

SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER – MOTHER’S DAY May 10, 2015 Saint Cecilia Catholic Community, Palm Springs, CA Reverend Deacon David Justin Lynch Wisdom 3:1-9 Psalm 27:1-6 I John 4:7-10 John 15:9-17          + In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, AMEN.          Mother’s Day is a challenge for preachers. Not only is it not a feast in the liturgical calendar, but it raises pastoral issues. Some people…

FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER May 03, 2015 Saint Cecilia Catholic Community Reverend Deacon David Justin Lynch Acts 9:26-31 Psalm 22:26-28, 30, 31-32 I John 3:18-24 John 15:1-8 + In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, AMEN. About three weeks ago, I talked about how difficult evangelism is for people of the Catholic or Anglican tradition. It just seems that it’s not in our DNA to talk to other people about our faith…

THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER Saint Cecilia Catholic Community Palm Springs, California Rev. Dcn. David Justin Lynch Acts: 3:13-15;17-19 Psalm 4:2;7-10 1 John 2:1-5 Luke 14:35-48 + In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, AMEN.        We usually associate ghosts with Halloween. But believe it or not, sometimes Halloween and Easter get mixed up, like in today’s gospel, when the disciples thought they had seen a ghost when the risen Lord appeared to…

SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER – DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY April 12, 2015 Rev. Dcn. David Justin Lynch Saint Cecilia Catholic Community Acts 4:32-35 / Psalm 118:2-4;13-15;22-24 / 1 John 5:1-6 / John 20:19-31 + In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, AMEN.              {Sing, plainsong} “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.”  I couldn’t have had a better set of scripture lessons on which to…

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT February 22, 2015 Catholic Church of the Holy Trinity ECC, Long Beach CA Rev. Dcn. David Justin Lynch Genesis 9:8-15 Psalm 25:4-5,6-7,8-9 1 Peter 3:18-22 Mark 1:12-15 A SHORT HOMILY ADDRESSED TO CHILDREN ABOUT LENT + In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, AMEN.       Earlier this week, the Church observed Ash Wednesday. Lent is a time when we look at who we are and where…

SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR B St. Thomas Independent Catholic Church Rev. Dcn. David Justin Lynch Leviticus 13:1-2;44-46  Psalm 32:1-2,5,11 I Corinthians 10:31-11:1 Mark 1:40-45 + In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, AMEN.        Humans are social beings.  That undisputed fact really comes home to us when we are sick. We look to other people to comfort and take care of us. Even terminal illnesses, which remind us that…