Author: frsuelzle

A homily on the Feast of the Annunciation of Our Lord, by Father Dan Suelzle.

At Gabriel’s annunciation to Mary we see a profound collision of divine majesty and radical humility that shapes our understanding of humanity. By choosing to enter the world through the Blessed Virgin’s womb, Jesus Christ sanctified every stage of human existence, from conception to adulthood, and thus is like us in every way. This condescension was the fulfillment of God’s divine plan to save mankind. By becoming fully human and remaining fully divine, Christ is the one and only God-man, able to fulfill the Law and suffer in our place, and defeating sin, death, and the devil. Ultimately, the Annunciation reminds us that in his incarnation, Christ makes himself our brother in the flesh so that we might truly become children of the Father. You can listen to the full homily below.

A sermon for Laetare, the Fourth Sunday in Lent, by Father Dan Suelzle.

Laetare Sunday serves as a spiritual pit-stop in the Lenten season, inviting believers to rejoice in the freedom found in the “Jerusalem above,” which St. Paul identifies as the Mother of all Christians. This historical “Mothering Sunday” reminds us that we are not children of the Law’s slavery, but children of the Promise, birthed into new life through the Church in Word and Sacrament. Just as a child cannot grant himself life, a Christian receives and sustains his life through “Mother Church,” where Christ—the true Temple—feeds His people with the Bread of Heaven. We rejoice that we belong to a free, heavenly city that offers peace, nourishment, and the saving gifts of Christ.

A sermon for Reminiscere, the Second Sunday in Lent, by Father Dan Suelzle.

Wrestling with God is not an act of rebellion, but a profound expression of faith that clings to His character when circumstances suggest He is distant or indifferent. As seen in the persistent boldness of Jacob and the unwavering humility of the Canaanite woman, true faith refuses to succumb to despair or entitlement, choosing instead to hold God to His own promises. This “holy combat” serves as a safe training ground where the Lord strengthens us against the world and our own doubts, not to destroy us, but to drive us deeper into the certainty of His Word. Ultimately, our confidence rests in the objective reality of Christ’s work—delivered through the font, the pulpit, and the altar—assuring us that because God cannot deny Himself, He will never fail to be the merciful, promise-keeping Father He has declared Himself to be.