Official Website of the
Catholic Diocese of Little Rock
Bishop Taylor Homily Library
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor celebrates Mass across Arkansas and beyond. This library features the homilies delivered from March 2014 to the present. To listen to earlier homilies, please visit the bishop's Homily Archive.
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Mass for Life 2017 Published: Sunday, January 22, 2017 The right to life is a seamless garment encompassing all of life, from the first moment of conception to natural death, and that any violation of human life and human dignity is contrary to our faith and must be actively opposed. |
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Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Published: Saturday, January 21, 2017 In other words, that you be pure of heart, patient and understanding. This will make all the difference in the world when dealing with difficulties in your family, at work, in your parish and in the larger community. |
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Funeral of Father John Michael Payne, OCD Published: Monday, January 16, 2017 He was human and sincere and that is what made him so dear to me ... and to you. It was also a reflection of his closeness to God. And so it is with faith and confidence that we entrust him to the Lord whose love is everlasting and who has given us the gift of eternal life. |
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Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Published: Sunday, January 15, 2017 John’s role was to prepare for Jesus’ first coming … ours is to prepare for his second coming! Meaning that we too must name and condemn the evils of our day, get people — including ourselves — to reform their lives so as to receive forgiveness from Jesus ... |
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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Mass Published: Saturday, January 14, 2017 It is one thing to talk about racism in the abstract, but quite another go to the museum at Central High School and see photos of grim faced teenagers enduring taunts as they tried to go to school and photos of terrified adults being attacked by dogs in Selma. |
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Epiphany of the Lord 2017 Published: Saturday, January 7, 2017 We also believe in miracles and in apparitions of the saints, and encounter God in our worship and through the sacraments. We are a Church of theologians and mystics. Our beliefs are clearly articulated, but in living our faith we are encouraged to follow our star down whatever path the Spirit of God leads us. |
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Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God 2017 Published: Sunday, January 1, 2017 So Jan. 1 is many things. A time for resolutions and to watch football. But more than this, it is a day to honor the Blessed Mother, the queen of peace, a day to recall the circumcision of the Prince of Peace, and a day to pray for peace in our world, in our families and in our own hearts. |
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Seventh Day of Christmas, Year A Published: Saturday, December 31, 2016 I began to pray more starting in 11th grade, working up eventually to 20 minutes a day, usually in the morning before going to school. This time with the Lord helped me to gradually hear his word more clearly, the word he had planted in my heart, the call he had for my life, my vocation, my role in his plan. I hope that this time together will do the same thing for you: give you courage and lead you to greater insight. |
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Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph 2016 Published: Friday, December 30, 2016 But notice how appropriate that is for the ordination of two men who belong to a monastic community — indeed, a monastic family — and as such a community called to be a holy family modeled on that of the original Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. |
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The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) 2016 Published: Sunday, December 25, 2016 We have that Savior — he is Jesus, whose very name means God saves. He was born on Christmas. Welcome him into your heart. The darkness will dissipate and his light will grow in you and fill you with hope, meaning and purpose the more you conform your life to his. Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us. He is the light that is stronger than any darkness we will ever have to face. |
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Diaconate Ordination of Nelson Rubio Published: Saturday, December 17, 2016 Nelson, as a deacon you commit yourself to serve others as Jesus did — with self-sacrificing love. If you do the will of God joyfully, generously and courageously, the brilliance of the light emanating from your ministry will grow more and more. |
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Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year A Published: Saturday, December 17, 2016 God's presence among us began with the virgin birth on Christmas and our redemption was accomplished in Jesus on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, but our appropriation of this great work of salvation continues to unfold in a world in which the power of darkness and every kind of evil still continue to blind us. |
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Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe 2016 Published: Monday, December 12, 2016 We all have darkness in our lives. Things we worry about and bad things we simply have to endure. But we are people of hope. That is the message of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the message of Advent and especially the message of Christmas. In our lives too, the light can be — and is — stronger than any darkness we will ever have to face. |
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Second Sunday of Advent, Year A Published: Sunday, December 4, 2016 But Jesus did far more than just resign himself to the inevitable, he embraced his cross with love and we are to embrace our crosses with love too. |
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First Sunday of Advent, Year A Published: Sunday, November 27, 2016 If we don't welcome him when he comes to us in humility for help, how do you think we'll fare when he comes in glory for judgment? |
