Tag: jonesboro catholic church

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 Oculi, the Third Sunday in Lent, by Father Josh Leigeber.

On Oculi Sunday—“Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord”—the Church calls us to consider where our attention is fixed. In the Gospel, the Pharisees are so focused on themselves and their own standing that they fail to recognize the work of God happening right before them, even when Jesus casts out a demon and sets a man free.

We face the same temptation. Our lives easily become consumed with our own concerns and distractions, causing us to overlook the gracious work Christ continues to do among us. Yet in His Church He is still at work—casting out the devil in Holy Baptism, forgiving sins in Holy Absolution, feeding His people in the Holy Eucharist, and giving life through His Word.

Oculi Sunday calls us to lift our eyes again to Christ and to the saving gifts He gives in His Church. You can listen to the full homily below.

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.