Exegesis | Preaching Hope

6 OT A ~"Consider Your Calling" ~ Susan McGurgan

Feb 7, 20233 min read

6 OT A ~"Consider Your Calling" ~ Susan McGurgan

When St. John Paul II preached on this passage from the Mount of Beatitudes twenty-three years ago he began by quoting Corinthians,...

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5th OT A ~ "Salt and Light" ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

susan mcgurgan

Jan 31, 20236 min read

5th OT A ~ "Salt and Light" ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

There are a number of biblical texts that have entered our culture’s vernacular, most every one of them having the Word of God deleted...

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susan mcgurgan

Jan 23, 20233 min read

4th OT A ~ "Blessed" ~ Susan McGurgan

On a small windswept hill overlooking the Sea of Galilee, stands a lovely gray and white chapel. Built in 1938, the Church of the...

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susan mcgurgan

Jan 16, 20234 min read

3OT A ~ "Walking Out of Darkness" ~ Susan McGurgan

The people Isaiah speaks to are a people who have been oppressed by corrupt leaders, dispossessed by a ruthless enemy, and fractured by...

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2 OT A ~ "Prepared by Grace" ~ Rev. Benjamin Roberts, DMin

susan mcgurgan

Jan 9, 20233 min read

2 OT A ~ "Prepared by Grace" ~ Rev. Benjamin Roberts, DMin

A few years ago, a few days after Christmas, after the longest possible Advent season we could have, after a long day here, an even...

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Holy Innocents/Holy Family/Epiphany C ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

susan mcgurgan

Dec 26, 202210 min read

Holy Innocents/Holy Family/Epiphany C ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

Note to Preachers: The following exegetical discussion and homily may help you reflect upon and preach the extended narrative for the...

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Nativity of the Lord ~ "Do Not Be Afraid" ~ Rev. Benjamin Roberts, DMin

susan mcgurgan

Dec 19, 20222 min read

Nativity of the Lord ~ "Do Not Be Afraid" ~ Rev. Benjamin Roberts, DMin

Do not be afraid. Those were the words of the Angel: Do not be afraid. People had been afraid of God for generations. They had been...

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susan mcgurgan

Dec 12, 20222 min read

Advent 4 C ~ "A Leap of Faith" ~ Susan McGurgan

Sometimes, it's hard to see the Holy Spirit at work in our lives, when that Spirit turns our lives upside down. Sometimes, it's hard to...

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Advent 3 A ~ "Finding the One we Seek" ~ Rev. Benjamin Roberts

susan mcgurgan

Dec 5, 20223 min read

Advent 3 A ~ "Finding the One we Seek" ~ Rev. Benjamin Roberts

A few years ago, and in a place far, far away, I heard a priest give an excellent and profound description of religious obedience. He...

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Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe ~ "Juan Diego, Preacher of Good News" ~ Rev. Benjamin Roberts

susan mcgurgan

Dec 5, 20223 min read

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe ~ "Juan Diego, Preacher of Good News" ~ Rev. Benjamin Roberts

Every year we come to this celebration. We come to Tepeyac early in the morning to sing the praises of the Our Mother of Guadalupe. We...

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Advent 2 A ~"With Water for Repentance" ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

susan mcgurgan

Nov 28, 20226 min read

Advent 2 A ~"With Water for Repentance" ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

When did the “Holiday Season” actually begin? It seems like it has never ended, but the promotion of holiday joy that comes from buying...

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"Know What You're Doing in Preaching and Why You're Doing it" ~ Rev. Michael E. Connors, CSC

susan mcgurgan

Nov 22, 20225 min read

"Know What You're Doing in Preaching and Why You're Doing it" ~ Rev. Michael E. Connors, CSC

Rev. Michael Connors, CSC, is the Director of the Marten Program in Homiletics and Liturgics at the University of Notre Dame. In the...

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susan mcgurgan

Nov 21, 20224 min read

Advent 1 A ~ "Advent-Where the Infinite Beckons, and all Bets are Off" ~ Susan McGurgan

This week, we enter into a new liturgical season, with a new cycle of readings. When we look at these readings over the three-year span,...

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The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe ~"Viva Cristo Rey!" Rev. Ben Roberts

susan mcgurgan

Nov 14, 20222 min read

The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe ~"Viva Cristo Rey!" Rev. Ben Roberts

On this Sunday we celebrate the feast of Christ the King. This is the final Sunday of the liturgical year. Next week we will begin the...

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susan mcgurgan

Nov 7, 20225 min read

33rd Sunday OT C ~ "Testify" ~ Susan McGurgan

It will lead to your giving testimony. "The day will come," Jesus warns, "when your temple will lie in ruins. The day will come when you...

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susan mcgurgan

Oct 31, 20223 min read

32nd OT C ~ "Direct your Hearts" ~Susan McGurgan

Encourage your hearts Strengthen your hearts Direct your hearts This reading from Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians reminds us that our...

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31st OT C ~ "Mr. Clean" ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

susan mcgurgan

Oct 24, 20227 min read

31st OT C ~ "Mr. Clean" ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

A strange series of things happen as Jesus passes through Jericho, passes through on his way to Jerusalem. And they all have to do with...

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Solemnity of All Saints C ~ "That Great Multitude of Saints" ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

susan mcgurgan

Oct 24, 20226 min read

Solemnity of All Saints C ~ "That Great Multitude of Saints" ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

We are formed to approach the Book of Revelation in the Bible by the films and books of our age. Lots of esoteric plots about the seven...

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susan mcgurgan

Oct 18, 20224 min read

30th OT C ~ "Take off your Mask!" ~ Susan McGurgan

This time of year, a couple of treasured photographs sit on my mantle, little dog-eared invitations to joy and gratitude. One, snapped in...

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29th OT C ~ "Raise us Up" ~ Rev. Benjamin Roberts, DMin.

susan mcgurgan

Oct 10, 20223 min read

29th OT C ~ "Raise us Up" ~ Rev. Benjamin Roberts, DMin.

On my first Christmas as a priest, I drove from my parish in Greensboro to my aunt’s house in Charlotte after the Christmas Morning Mass....

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What's New?

New Position for Susan McGurgan
Susan is now the Director of the Preach All Ways Lilly Compelling Preaching Grant and Associate Professor of Theology at Marian University, Indianapolis.

20 OT B ~ "A Deeper Union with Christ" ~ Rev. Benjamin Roberts, D.Min. ~Preach This Week

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What's New?

New Position for Susan McGurgan Susan is now the Director of the Preach All Ways Lilly Compelling Preaching Grant and Associate Professor of Theology at Marian University, Indianapolis. 20 OT B ~ "A Deeper Union with Christ" ~ Rev. Benjamin Roberts, D.Min. ~Preach This Week

Subscribe Form

New Position for Susan McGurgan
Susan is now the Director of the Preach All Ways Lilly Compelling Preaching Grant and Associate Professor of Theology at Marian University, Indianapolis.

20 OT B ~ "A Deeper Union with Christ" ~ Rev. Benjamin Roberts, D.Min. ~Preach This Week