Sun, 06 Sep 2020 11:25:43 -0700

Fr. John Ehrich, STL

For live-stream go to www.stmglendale.org

The Government is Not Our Savior - 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sun, 30 Aug 2020 10:46:33 -0700

Fr. John Ehrich

St. Thomas More Catholic Church

Glendale AZ.

For full mass go to www.stmglendale.org

Do Not Be Afraid of Failure - 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sun, 23 Aug 2020 10:37:03 -0700

Fr. John Ehrich

St. Thomas More Catholic Church

Full Mass www.stmglendale.org

What Does God Owe Us? - 20th Sunday In Ordinary Time

Sun, 16 Aug 2020 11:11:50 -0700

Fr. John Ehrich, STL

For full mass go to www.stmglendale.org

Sun, 21 Jun 2020 11:21:45 -0700

Fr. John Ehrich, STL

St. Thomas More Catholic Church

Yes, He Really Meant It! - Corpus Christi

Sun, 14 Jun 2020 12:34:47 -0700

Fr. John Ehrich, STL

What the Family Tells Us About God - Most Holy Trinity

Our Emptiness Is A Space For God's Grace - 5th Sunday In Lent

Sun, 29 Mar 2020 09:00:00 -0700

Sun, 23 Feb 2020 20:03:57 -0700

We all know friends or people in our own lives who truly struggle. No matter their upbringing, circumstances, issues such as addiction or abuse and their repercussions can be a damaging and lifelong battle for many people we might know intimately. Seeing the humanity of a person and the desperate reality they live in can be a very humbling sight. Have you ever wondered what it’s like to hear confession?

It is a theme among a large number of people that we all are striving to be better despite ourselves. Seeing a priest as a conduit for God's Grace is a way to present themselves honestly and to make real moves to improve and make changes. Though we may struggle with the same sins constantly, it is a comfort to know how universal our human suffering can be. This idea also emphasizes a greater need for consistent compassion and nonjudgement when we interact with one another. When we see each other on a human level, we can see how remarkable each of us are as we acknowledge the many demons that we all face daily. We all carry great burdens. Our Heavenly Father wants us to love our enemies, to be challenged to see one another’s true selves and be kind no matter what.

Love or Law or Something In Between? - 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sun, 16 Feb 2020 17:23:30 -0700

It’s been said by many scholars of scripture that “Jesus is more about love than the law;” a statement that we can be attentive to. How easy it is for us, as members of nations, societies, religions, and clubs, to use language such this, which often can be dichotomous, dualistic or black/white thinking.

While the lasting and promised mercy of Christ is certainly apart of our salvation, could it not be said that Jesus is “about” both love and the law? The two terms can be intertwined especially in the ways that Jesus expounds upon the law in today’s gospel. For example, Jesus explains that not only is the action of adultery or hate sin, but the very thoughts and mentality that lead up to those actions can also be culpable. Our heart is the very thing Jesus is after, not our good deeds.

It’s important to remember that there is definitely an eternal value to our actions and that confession is an important element to how we treat our humanness. There can be two ways we deal with this internal reality. Sometimes we want to go to confession every day “just to be safe,” or contrastingly, rely too much on the mercy of God without truly accounting for ourselves.

We all struggle with various sins we’ve committed and we can feel guilty. Some may question how merciful God is. “Can His love really be that endless? That good?” As serious and vast as our need for mercy may be, so to is the mercy he gives us. Let us turn to the only person who can truly be the last Word in our eternal standing. To a God who incorporates both love and law to help us be our truest, inherently good and beautiful selves.

Can We Be Light? - 5th Sunday In Ordinary Time

Sun, 09 Feb 2020 16:39:28 -0700

Have you ever been stuck in a room of total darkness? It can be terrifying to be in that disorienting situation, trying to stumble through to find a light switch and not trip over anything. Once the lights are suddenly turned on, we are immediately comforted and can see the reality of our surroundings, feeling much better. The divine revelation of our faith says that the world was in darkness, searching as lost children. When Christ came, He illuminated that darkness and brought deep peace while pointing us in the right direction. We are called to be the hands of feet of God by bringing that light into the world as well. Today’s gospel asks us to consider whether we bring light/dark, positivity/negativity, kindness/resentment, harmony/discord to the our own reality. In being light to others, we allow ourselves to Also bring Christ into the room.

God's Laws Are For Our Good - Presentation of the Lord

Sun, 02 Feb 2020 14:07:20 -0700

Why, as people of authority, (parents, teachers, priests, leaders) do we try to enforce or expect others, such as our children, to learn the value of rule-following? Is it perhaps for the purpose of discipline, in hopes of the best interest of the other? Is it in hopes that children learn to take ownership of their lives as well set good boundaries for themselves? The very laws that are the hardest to follow, remain faithful to, or even accept into our lives at all, are always the laws that point to a greatest good. The Jews were certainly aware of the root and purpose of laws; the definite value they present especially in relationship to God. The lawful act of praise and worship in a church and community is ultimately good for us- our very nature is affirmed in the act of letting God into the fabric of society. Going to mass weekly is not meant to be obligatory simply by the hand of authority or challenge, but to uphold and affirm our true selves, which is the very nature that is apart of His design. It is a simple gesture by us to be present to Him one hour a week, a simple commandment and a foundational pattern that grounds us in Christ, together.

The Power Of Invitation - 3rd Sunday In Ordinary Time

Sun, 26 Jan 2020 18:35:59 -0700

The way that scripture presents the four disciples in these readings is that, at one encounter, they drop everything in their lives and follow Jesus. At first glance, this act of leaving everything behind seems almost un-virtuous as if they abandoned their families and responsibilities. It seems like to radical of a move without further reflection. On a human level, we can probably glean what really happened - what’s more likely, is that they knew Jesus already, enough to trust him and make a conscious free decision to follow him. They were predisposed to make a commitment to someone who they most likely had grown in trust and relationship.

Invitation can be life-changing. When we ourselves don’t always stay committed to the things we want to, such as our faith life and even relationships, we can find ourselves invited in various ways to reconnect and even connect others to these areas of our lives. We cannot predict the ways that these invitations will manifest new and profound interior and exterior movements as we go forth in making decisions and self-identifying. At St Thomas More, everyone is invited and welcome. This church is not a place for the sinless, but the ones who need that constant invitation to ask for help and grow. It is a place we can also invite others and allow Jesus to take the reins. If He is a God who can do the impossible, then let us give Him a chance to do so in all of our lives.

Be Vulnerable - 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sun, 19 Jan 2020 13:18:55 -0700

“Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” We can recall the history behind these scriptural words - the sacrificial lamb at Passover, the suffering servant in Isaiah, and the sacrifice that becomes the Eucharist as Christ’s body and blood.

Today, we need to have a deep understanding of who Jesus is - not just academically or theologically, but personally. The modern culture around the church has declined in numbers and fervor mostly because of the rise of an apathetic and unbelieving attitude towards the person of Jesus. This means we are lacking in our personal prayer or effort in seeking time directly with God. How can we bring ourselves to not just do the actions of faith but bring our authentic hearts to prayer?

Asking the tough questions, sharing anxieties and all emotions, being open to the reality of who He is. Every time we carry out any ritual in the church, we are invited to connect our deepest, most vulnerable selves to a truly real God. It might take a conscious act of Will in our part, but it is more than worthwhile to enter more intimately into the spirituality of the church and community. Every song is an invitation, every recitation of a prayer or response is the open hand of Jesus wanting to share His heart.

How To and Why Forgive - Baptism Of The Lord

Sun, 12 Jan 2020 07:40:40 -0700

We hear about another manifestation of who Jesus is in today’s readings. We see Jesus being baptized with the entire Trinity being revealed in the voice of God and the appearance of the dove as the presence of the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist explains this baptism as an act of repentance. And yet, even though Jesus does not need to repent, He still exemplifies for us the gift and sacrament of baptism; and as salvation history unfolds, He takes responsibility for all acts of repentance. This is a huge bit of truth. God did not enter into our story to just teach, to heal or to model morality. His existed for the sake of forgiveness and reconciliation with God our Father.

How can we ourselves be brought back to God in reconciliation? As baptized, transformed and adopted children of God, we can become like Jesus in his mission by forgiving and understanding one another. Everyone has or has been challenged to forgive someone in their life. It is not always easy to do. However when we do not forgive, it can be toxic and self-damaging. We must be aware that forgiveness is not about admission of wrongs, but letting go of the things we cannot control - and there’s great benefit and blessing in acknowledging a greater truth and love amidst great pain and hurt. There is real freedom in forgiving each other. Once we seek to know one another’s stories, and why there might be hurt or wounded actions, we can better pray for them as we seek to forgive them. Let us constantly look to Jesus to receive an understanding and merciful heart.

The Only Savior; Everyone's Savior - Epiphany 2020

Sun, 05 Jan 2020 13:13:15 -0700

Fr. John Ehrich, STL

St. Thomas More

Glendale, AZ

God Is Calling Men To Be Leaders - Holy Family

Sat, 28 Dec 2019 19:44:11 -0700

In the readings, we hear words like ‘obedience, honor, and subordination.’ One thing we can remember when we hear these terms, especially in the context of family and relationship with God, is that the desire to be obedient comes from a place of respect and love and awe for the other person. Even in the structure of the Holy Trinity, the three persons of God are completely equal, mutually respected and loved among the three. This Trinitarian relationship is meant to be made manifest in our marriages and in our families.

Though we may. often forget this love and respect in our everyday lives, it is so important to continually be reminded of the honor that we can hold for each other. It is so important that children are taught obedience for the sake of learning these concepts of love and respect and honor. Subordination is not a synonym for being controlled. Rather, it is rooted in trust and intimate relationships. A husband cherishes his wife, and therefore a wife can trust in the love and respect she can also return.

Christ gave everything for His Bride. It is vital that we honor God just as He has honored us by giving us life. One problem that can be addressed among families is the call for men to be leaders. In their work, in their many pursuits, but most notably in their families. We look at the Holy family and we see a leader even in St Joseph, the foster-father of God. Men can sometimes be in a position to potentially believe they are inferior, but the true reality is they are needed as leaders in faith and honor for God. Putting others before ourselves is the most loving thing we can do for one another. This sacrificial leadership is what Joseph did, what Christ did for His bride, and what all men are called to do as well.

The Divine Author - Christmas

Wed, 25 Dec 2019 19:31:58 -0700

Let’s say you were the author of a story. The characters that you created are vast and intimately known by you, their creator. You decide to give your characters free will because that way, they get to choose themselves rather than be controlled. What are you to do as the author brings their attention to you? Would you enter into their story? Maybe you could enter into that story so that you could communicate directly and say, “ I love you, I have created you from the beginning and I have always been with you.”

It’s an analogy that we can reflect on as a way to potentially see God's perspective. To clarify, God did not create sin, nor evil, but as a consequence of free will allowed the possibility of evils suffering to be apart of our story. This does not mean we are abandoned. The very opposite is true - God takes responsibility for our own sins. The main point of God entering into Hos creation was for Our redemption. The power of evil is therefore gone.

Though we might not feel like evil and suffering has been defeated in our lives, yet the Lord shows us that suffering cannot go un-redeemed. No one can be abandoned. In the most vulnerable way, as a child, God brings back power to his creation. The power of redemption. He did not come as a king and conqueror but as a humble gift of self-offering. How can we not respond with awe and gratitude at this miracle of grace and fidelity?

Just Say "Yes" - 4th Sunday of Advent 2.0

Sun, 22 Dec 2019 17:10:51 -0700

God does amazing things through the people who say “yes.” Abraham is the one who makes a covenant with God initiates this pattern in scriptures. When finally the angel Gabriel asks of Mary to bear the son of God, she said yes to God's plan even without knowing the full story. Joseph also was asked to accept a difficult truth and to say yes to the idea of raising a foster child. Without knowing the entirety of the situation, these figures in the Bible represent an abiding trust in simply saying yes. And this trust might be interpreted as recognizing that this might be God's initiative, that it could be a beautiful gift in the making. Which is what it truly was for all of humanity.

We can never predict what our life will be like. We simply cannot know what will take place through all of our moments of saying yes. While it’s easy to look at other people’s lives and think our lives should be the same, the comparison is not a factor with a God who creates us all so uniquely and with different purposes. Perhaps if we feel stuck or lost, we could accept that we might need hardship and suffering to be used for our ultimate yes to God. It’s in those difficult moments that God can turn our lives toward Him and restore our own relationship with Him.

God Is Always With Us - 4th Sunday of Advent 1.0

Sun, 22 Dec 2019 17:10:10 -0700

Abraham and Sara wait and are blessed with the fulfilled plan of allowing them to conceive. Even we’ll pass their old age, they desire to conceive and are finally graced with a child. There are many similar storylines in the Bible that share this theme. Conception as a gift from God.

Its almost as if God was preparing humanity for the big one. The immaculate conception and the very salvation that would miraculously enter into the world. Emmanuel, God with us. We see in this narration a God who takes responsibility for our sin, who desires to be with us in our suffering as the only way to restore us. It is not only a story that is a mystery to our scientific minds, but to our psyche - that Christ desires to be actually apart of human history by becoming human Himself. He desires to be close, to be with us even in our unfaithfulness. We can look at our lives; times when we have been prosperous and times of victory, but also times of great need for help and healing. This God wants to meet us and for us to trust Him to bring us to greater fidelity. Let us acknowledge this reality as a way to be consoled in our suffering and our human needs. We have the grace of the gift of this conception narrative and can be grateful for a God who will never abandon us but rather, truly be with us in everything.

Bring Your Sacrifice To The Altar - 3rd Sunday of Advent

Sun, 15 Dec 2019 17:36:20 -0700

Rejoicing. On this caudate Sunday, we hear all about all the blossoming of good things God will do, specifically in the “desert.” The location of the desert is significant because, during the time of John the Baptist and earlier prophets, the desert was seen as a place of barrenness, where the vast dryness of nature resides. Isaiah focuses on the messiah coming to these places of death, vast infertility, blindness, deafness, etc. We hear that He will renew the earth, renew and restore all people and unite us in the redemptive good news. The metaphors of the desert are not just relatable to our own places of emptiness, but a larger symbol for Gods coming into the world and blessing us with abundance, with promises of unending love and beauty. We are not called to live in anticipation of future glory, but to see that He is already renewing all of mankind by virtue of His Grace. Let us live and bask in these graces as often and courageously as we can.

Can We Be People Of Encouragement? - 2nd Sunday of Advent

Sun, 08 Dec 2019 18:20:29 -0700

Confrontations and discouraging instances are no surprise for Jesus. He faced many such encounters. In the time of the gospels, the Pharisees would revel in the chance to point out the ways that others were wrong, unworthy, or not ‘measuring up.’ But notice that Jesus never joins in with that approach, rather He dismisses the Pharisees for it and instead, loves the ones who have been beaten down by life. Rather than condemn and criticize, how can we encourage and build one another up? We should recognize when we might have “Pharisee” moments when our approach might be harsh or without understanding. “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle.” (A quote from Fr. John’s mentor). These unseen battles are very real, whether they are battles of guilt, shame, neglect, abandonment, fear or woundedness. We share in some of these battles whether or not we are aware. And so coming to mass, the welcome and receiving of one another in love can bring about the encouragement and affirmation that we all need in the unity of Christ’s love for us. During this advent, let us focus on kindness in all of the ways it can bless our lives.

Preparing The Way - 1st Sunday of Advent

Sun, 01 Dec 2019 19:35:21 -0700

It’s Christmas time! Let the shopping and holiday events begin. As Catholics, this time of year is especially important as a time for preparation on a spiritual level, but we can only do this preparation by actually allowing ourselves to slow down, hearing Gods call to peace. St Paul asks us to not settle for the worldly expectations that constantly surround us, to not be complacent but to be always awaiting the coming of Christ.

Can we take the time to place ourselves in the face of Jesus? What words come to mind? What would it be like? Are we living like He really exists or is he an idea? Let us not forget how quickly this life goes and how this type of season that we are in now can bring our focus elsewhere. There are many opportunities to let God back in. Through confession, honest prayer, and quality time with God, we can remove the “cobwebs” within our own spirituality. Let us live with an urgency that calls us back to our Lord.

Jesus, Remember Me - Christ the King

Sat, 23 Nov 2019 18:54:45 -0700

Priest. Prophet. King. Offering sacrifice, delivering God’s message and even ruling over nations are anointed actions shown in prefigurements in the Old Testament. People such as Moses and David. The New Testament accounts Jesus as a different kind of leader, as someone who does not desire the worldly platitudes we expect from other priests, prophets and kings of the past. A salvific leader, Christ’s kingdom encompasses a differing vision from temporal reality. The greatest act of power is not merely to command or fix, but to submit to a greater power. Jesus displayed this by surrendering to His Father; by dying on the cross so that the gates of heaven could be opened, allowing reigning mercy for all to become the last word.

On a personal level, we hear the words in the gospel, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” We can understand that Jesus can truly reign in our lives and even at the end, when we are brought to our own salvation.

Some Of That Old Time Religion - 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sat, 16 Nov 2019 19:03:52 -0700

Fr. John reflects on the gospel and refers to the reactionary responses that often follow any hearing of "the end times," whether in scripture or in everyday life encounters. In the gospel, Jesus foretells the signs, both false and true, that will occur. As Christians, we believe in the Truth of the person of Jesus Christ, who desires us to choose Him over any other fears, idols, or ideologies that circumvent our understanding of Him. Fr. John names radical subjectivism as one of those dangerous ideologies. It is a mentality that is rampant in modern society and clouds the truth that the Lord has always had for His children. We cannot be both for and against God, rather, we must stay faithful to the heart of the gospel and its many gifts that we continue to unpack and understand. The God of mercy, justice, and hope is truly one to never forget amidst the chaos of today's times.

There's No Golf In Heaven - 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sun, 10 Nov 2019 09:25:38 -0700

Fr. John Ehrich describes some misconceptions that many might hold in regards to our ideas about heaven, which are described by Jesus in the gospel. The idea that our loved ones who have passed have “become angels” may serve comfort to grieving families, but ultimately, we must clarify that we are only “like” angels, not actually new angels, when we enter into heaven. Another clarification is that marriage in heaven is not a part of the equation. Though Christ has compared eternal life to a wedding in other scripture passages, our human institution of marriage is not purposeful in the context of heaven. Why? One, there is no need for the procreation that marriage brings about because when we are in heaven, at that point, we are fully, purely, impermeably present with God. When we think about the state of affairs in heaven, it is easy to think very personally in the first person perspective (Will or won’t I be in heaven? Will it be my version of heaven? Will it be a land of golf, or chocolate, or _______), or forget about the communal importance of being together at mass. Our understanding and hope is that we’re not only all meant to be united with our Lord Jesus Christ after we die, but also be actively participating in the life in the Body of Christ that we experience in ministry, service, family and love for one another.

The Man In The Tree - 31st Sunday of Ordinary Time

Sun, 03 Nov 2019 13:09:38 -0700

A pervading message in our minds is the phrase, "not good enough." A phrase that pops up in our thoughts about other people and especially ourselves. "I am not good enough." It is a damaging thought that can pervade our mentalities due to upbringing, culture, or just our own standard of evaluation. But God has not created anything that is not good. We cannot fully rely on our own judgement about ourselves because the reality is that Christ loves us in all that we are. If we exist, we are loved. We are enough.

The famous "little and despised," Zachaus, a tax collector and an enemy to many people, encounters Jesus in the gospel reading today. It is well-known that because of his job title, many would think very little of him in character and moral standards, because he would have profited personally from the funds he would collect. Though we do not know exactly how Zachaus might have truly viewed himself, we can deduce that he still has an interest in the Messiah - so much so that he climbs a tree to get a better view. It is interesting that Jesus has a mission with Zachaus. He meets Zachaus immediately in friendship, even before Zachaus professes his need to change. He does ask or demand change beforehand. He simply wants to eat dinner with him, (a sinner). What we can take from this interaction is that Christ seeks each of us out personally and independently of what we think we deserve or should be. Despite our limited view, whether we think we are "not enough," or even the worst, God loves us entirely and sees what we can be. Like a loving parent, Jesus is patient and deeply knowing of who we are at our deepest level. We can rest in that love. A love that always abides and even challenges us to invite Christ into our homes and our hearts.

Jesus, Have Mercy On Me A Sinner - 30th Sunday In Ordinary Time

Sat, 26 Oct 2019 19:55:43 -0700

Fr. John continues to expand on the themes of the Gospel of Luke to be persistent in prayer, what prayer ought to be like, and what our disposition in prayer should be. We see how the comparison between the Pharisee’s prayer and the tax collector’s prayer speak to their different postures when approaching the Lord. In today’s time, the Pharisee could be seen as a “Good Catholic”, one who thinks that they are doing everything moral and upright because that’s what it takes to get to heaven. The tax collector is someone who knows that they are a sinner and they are helpless without God. God knows that there is nothing that we can do to earn His grace, and so he does not want us to “do everything right” but to recognize our state, who we are, and our need for mercy. We can try to do better, incorporate virtue, but recognize it is God’s operation first, God’s movement in our lives that moves us forward and upward towards perfection. Jesus’ time spent with sinners shows how he did not have time to spend with people who didn’t think they were sinners. If there is no “space” for God to fill, then he cannot fill it, so we need to open our hearts in need of God’s mercy.

Does God Answer Our Prayers? - 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sun, 20 Oct 2019 10:29:22 -0700

This week’s homily addresses the power of prayer. Is God telling us the truth in promising to give us what we ask for? Or did he mean something else or more for us? There are many cases in which are prayers are not answered…we see in war and worldly issues. Yet there are instances too in which sick people are healed after being told they have a certain amount of time to live from diseases. Fr. John Ehrich takes a survey of the congregation and many raised their hand and shared that they have had prayers answered, but it’s a question of whether it’s an answer to prayer or if God is operative in our every day life. We must ask for faith and a deeper understanding that if God doesn’t answer our prayers, he will deliver a good answer with our best interest in mind. Jesus is constantly telling us about persistence of prayer. Take the woman who nags at Jesus on the street. God says if an unjust judge will not answer this woman how much more will God bring justice to her? The reasons we ought to prayer is the same reason we ought to do everything – because Jesus said so. There will be a good deal of time between what we ask for and when we get it, and that our prayers are not always going to be good for us. Yes it is not according to our will but God’s will. God wants us to see us as dependent on him. We must examine our prayer life. IF we don’t pray every day we will be missing something. Ask for the Lord to be with us every day through even small prayers to keep the relationship going. See if we can add more prayer to strengthen our relationship with him. He will abide.

Sun, 22 Jul 2018 16:19:45 -0700

Fr. John Ehrich STL

Preaching from St. Joseph the Worker, Williams, AZ.

You Are Called, Have Some Courage! - 15 Sunday Ordinary Time

Sat, 14 Jul 2018 18:34:45 -0700

Fr. John Ehrich

Diocese of Phoenix

Preaching from St. Joseph the Worker, Williams, AZ.

Let Us Boast Of Our Weaknesses - 14th Sunday In Ord Time

Sun, 08 Jul 2018 11:22:45 -0700

Fr. John Ehrich

Diocese of Phoenix

Preaching from St. Joseph the Worker, Williams, AZ.

God Is Not Out To Get You - 13th Sunday In Ordinary Time - 2018

Sat, 30 Jun 2018 20:44:38 -0700

Fr. John Ehrich, STL

Preaching from St. Joseph the Worker, Williams, AZ.

God Has A Plan For You - Nativity of John the Baptist 2018

Sat, 23 Jun 2018 21:52:56 -0700

Fr. John Ehrich, STL preaching from St. Joseph the Worker in Williams, AZ.

Having Appropriate Expectations of God and Others - 11th Sunday Ordinary Time

Sun, 17 Jun 2018 13:32:48 -0700

Fr. John Ehrich, STL

Preaching from St. Joseph the Worker, Williams AZ.

The Great Divorce - Class #4

Tue, 12 Jun 2018 20:54:57 -0700

Fr. John Ehrich, STL

www.stmglendale.org

Fr. John's Music

Sun, 20 May 2018 15:15:30 -0700

Fr. John Ehrich, STL

Preaching from St. Joseph the Worker, Williams, AZ.

You know the "What", But Do You Know "Why?" - Ascension 2018

Sun, 13 May 2018 11:43:49 -0700

Fr. John Ehrich, STL

Preaching from St. Joseph the Worker, Williams, AZ.

We Are All Chosen - 6th Sunday of Easter 2018

Sat, 05 May 2018 20:42:48 -0700

Fr. John Ehrich, STL

Preaching from St. Joseph the Worker, Williams, AZ.

Stay in Relationship - 5th Sunday of Easter 2018

Mon, 30 Apr 2018 13:57:52 -0700

Fr. John Ehrich, STL

Preaching from St. Joseph the Worker in Williams, AZ.

Baptism and Confirmation - St. Joseph Adult Formation

Fri, 19 Jan 2018 14:28:17 -0700

Adult Formation from St. Joseph Catholic Church in Williams, AZ.

Fr. John Ehrich, STL

What Do You Want From Jesus? - 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time - 01-14-17

Sun, 14 Jan 2018 11:28:43 -0700

God calls us. He is the one who initiates relationship. What would we ask for from him?

Fr. John Ehrich, STL preaching from St. Joseph the Worker in Williams, AZ.

Jesus for Everyone; Even You - Epiphany 2018

Tue, 09 Jan 2018 08:36:30 -0700

S/ometimes the idea that Jesus is the savior of all obscures how he is our personal savior as well.

Fr. John Ehrich, STL preaching from St. Joseph the Worker in Williams, AZ.

Abraham, the Holy Family and Faith - Holy Family - 12/31/17

Tue, 02 Jan 2018 19:08:55 -0700

Looking at Abraham and Sarah and Mary and Joseph as paradigms of faith. Then how that is relevant to us.

Fr. John Ehrich, STL preaching from St. Joseph the Worker in Williams, AZ.

Christmas 2017 - Why did God do things that way?

Sun, 24 Dec 2017 19:53:52 -0700

Why did God do things that way?

Fr. John Ehrich, STL preaching from St. Joseph the Worker in Williams, AZ.

Christ Will Be Your Strength - 4th Sunday of Advent - 12/24/17

Sun, 24 Dec 2017 19:51:49 -0700

Following the words of St. Paul, we need to let Christ be our strength.

Fr. John Ehrich, STL preaching from St. Joseph the Worker in Williams, AZ.

Allow the Lord to Heal You - 3rd Sunday of Advent - 12-17-17

Mon, 18 Dec 2017 11:46:26 -0700

How to allow the Lord to heal us? First we must get honest about our deficits and deficiencies.

Fr. John Ehrich, STL preaching from St. Joseph the Worker in Williams, AZ.

Preparing the Way for the Lord - 2nd Sunday of Advent - 12/09/17

Mon, 11 Dec 2017 20:35:55 -0700

Each of us must repent and prepare a place for the Lord in our hearts.

Fr. John Ehrich, STL preaching from St. Joseph the Worker in Williams, AZ.

Personal Watchfulness - 1st Sunday of Advent - 12-03-17

Sun, 03 Dec 2017 13:48:54 -0700

We need to not only be watchful of Christ's return, but during this season we need to be watchful of ourselves to prepare.

Fr. John Ehrich, STL preaching from St. Joseph the Worker in Williams, AZ.

The Four Last Things: Death, Judgment, Heaven & Hell - 11/28/17

Wed, 29 Nov 2017 21:25:05 -0700

Fr. John Ehrich, STL

Adult Formation from St. Joseph the Worker parish in Williams, AZ

Of Judgment, Sheep and Goats - Christ the King - 11-25-17

Sat, 25 Nov 2017 20:06:18 -0700

The judgment of the world and each person is coming. Are you a sheep or a goat?

Fr. John Ehrich, STL preaching from St. Joseph the Worker in Williams, AZ.

God's Gifts Are Diffusive - 33rd Sunday in Ord Time - 11/19/17

Mon, 20 Nov 2017 22:51:09 -0700

God's love and gifts are diffusive and meant to be shared.

Fr. John Ehrich, STL preaching from St. Joseph the Worker in Williams, AZ.

The Eucharist and the Mass - 11/14/2017

Tue, 14 Nov 2017 21:55:56 -0700

Fr. John Ehrich, STL

Adult Formation from St. Joseph the Worker parish in Williams, AZ

Mortal and Venial Sin - Confession - Conscience

Tue, 14 Nov 2017 21:46:09 -0700

Fr. John Ehrich, STL

Adult Formation from St. Joseph the Worker parish in Williams, AZ

Please note: When discussiing an incorrect or erroneous conscience I spoke of a person haveing an invincibly incorrect or vincibly incorrect conscience. The traditional rendering of this is an invinvibly ignorant or a vincibly ignorant conscience. This is a better specification that what I gave because, well, I forgot. Anyway the principle is still the same with what I said, namely that one's incorrect conscience is either their fault or possibly not their fault and thus they are not as guilty of the sin as a result of that invincibly ignorant and incorrect conscience.

Are You Known By Christ? - 32nd Sunday in Ord Time - 11/13/17

Mon, 13 Nov 2017 17:56:30 -0700

The Wise and Foolish Virgins - Do you have enough oil?

Fr. John Ehrich, STL preaching from St. Joseph the Worker in Williams, AZ.

Jesus Against Rigorism and Legalism - 31st Sunday in Ord Time - 11/05/17

Sun, 05 Nov 2017 11:34:01 -0700

Jesus teaches about how the bad example of the Pharisees should not be followed, including their legalims and rigorism.

Fr. John Ehrich, STL preaching from St. Joseph the Worker in Williams, AZ.

What is Love? - 30th Sunday in Ord Time - 10/28/17

Sat, 28 Oct 2017 18:53:43 -0700

What is Love? What does it mean to love God, ourselves and our neighbor?

Fr. John Ehrich, STL preaching from St. Joseph the Worker in Williams, AZ.

God's Power vs. Caesar - 29th Sunday in Ord Time - 10/22/17

Sun, 22 Oct 2017 12:07:09 -0700

The difference between the power of Caesar (the State) and the power of God?

Fr. John Ehrich, STL

Preaching from St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in Williams, AZ.

All Are Invited To Heaven - 28th Sunday in Ord Time - 10/15/17

Sat, 14 Oct 2017 19:47:05 -0700

All are invited to Heaven. But not all accept.

Fr. John Ehrich, STL

Preaching from St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in Williams, AZ.

Mere Christianity and Basic Christian Doctrine - Class #6

Tue, 10 Oct 2017 21:07:17 -0700

Mere Christianity and Basic Christian Doctrine: Class #6

Fr. John Ehrich, STL

www.stmglendale.org

Fr. John's Music

Fri, 16 Jun 2017 14:12:59 -0700

Here is my Pentecost homily from 2008 at St. Thomas the Apostle

The Ascension of the Lord - Fr. John Ehrich

Sun, 28 May 2017 20:59:12 -0700

Here's a homily for the Somenity of the Ascension from Fr. John Ehrich. Peace!

Suffering by Fr. John Ehrich

Tue, 16 May 2017 22:28:37 -0700

Next we have a homily on suffering from Fr. John Ehrich. This is a common theme in my homilies over the years as it is probably the topic that has be of the most interest to me.

Making A Habit of Prayer - Fr. John Ehrich

Thu, 11 May 2017 17:29:07 -0700

Here is another vintage homily from Fr. John Ehrich preaching at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Phoenix.

Our Faith Will Be Tested - Fr. John Ehrich

Fri, 05 May 2017 12:10:12 -0700

Fr. John Ehrich preaching from St. Thomas the Apostle in Phoenix about how our faith will certainly be tested.

Opinion vs. Truth - Fr. John Ehrich

Fri, 05 May 2017 12:09:28 -0700

Fr. John Ehrich preaching from St. Thomas the Apostle in Phoenix about the difference between opinion and truth.

Having a Mature Faith - Fr. John Ehrich

Fri, 05 May 2017 12:08:14 -0700

Fr. John Ehrich preaching from St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Phoenix about what it means to have a mature faith

The Road Map to Heaven - Fr. John Ehrich

Mon, 01 May 2017 20:51:07 -0700

Fr. John Ehrich preaches from St. Thomas the Apostle in Phoenix, AZ about the Road Map to Heaven.

Divine Mercy Homily - Fr John Ehrich

Fri, 21 Apr 2017 12:16:08 -0700

Here is a homily from Fr. John Ehrich preaching at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Phoenix

Easter Sunday Homily - Fr. John Ehrich

Tue, 18 Apr 2017 13:07:27 -0700

Here is an Easter Sunday Homily from Fr. John Ehrich at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, Phoenix, AZ.

Good Friday Homily from Fr John Ehrich

Thu, 13 Apr 2017 11:57:53 -0700

Good Friday homily from Fr John Ehrich from St. Thomas the Apostle in Phoenix AZ.

Hope you enjoy!

Holy Thursday Homily from Fr John Ehrich

Thu, 13 Apr 2017 11:25:35 -0700

Here we have a homily for Holy Thursday from Fr. John Ehrich from St. Thomas the Apostle parish in Phoenix, AZ.

Blessings!