Harold A. Buetow Homily Reflections (8 vols.)

by Harold A. Buetow

Publisher:

Alba House

, 1994–2005

Overview

This highly-acclaimed series of homily reflections offers inspiration for the many situations where homilists are called to speak. Popular homilist Father Harold A. Buetow coordinates his reflections with the Mass readings for Liturgical Years I and II; Cycle Years A, B, and C; and special occasions such as sacramental rites, holidays, feast days, ecumenical gatherings, healing services, and more. Father Buetow’s characteristic blend of humor and reverence applies scriptural wisdom to real-life situations, resulting in engaging sermons. An excellent resource both for those crafting homilies—such as priests, deacons, and lay-ministers—and for personal spiritual reading throughout the liturgical year.

In the Logos editions, these volumes are enhanced by amazing functionality. Important terms link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Perform powerful searches to find exactly what you’re looking for. Take the discussion with you using tablet and mobile apps. Your software brings the most efficient and comprehensive research tools together in one place, so you get the most out of your study.

Key Features

• Offers inspiration for almost any homiletic situation
• Presents the characteristic wit and wisdom of Harold A. Buetow
• Coordinates with the Lectionary readings

Praise for the Print Editions

Good idea-generators for priests who need to come up with homilies, the books could also serve as daily devotionals.

—CUA Magazine

Product Details

• Title: Harold A. Buetow Homily Reflections
• Author: Harold A. Buetow
• Publisher: Alba House
• Volumes: 8
• Pages: 2,334
• Christian Group: Catholic
• Resource Type: Sermons
• Topic: Preaching Resources

Pastoral Talks for Special Occasions

• Author: Harold A. Buetow
• Publisher: Alba House
• Publication Date: 1994
• Pages: 227

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

On countless occasions, those involved in pastoral ministry are called upon to say a few words of hope and encouragement, congratulations and praise. Sacramental occasions, holidays, feast days, ecumenical gatherings, healing services—these are just a few examples. Father Harold A. Buetow presents an extraordinary collection of reflections to hallow these special occasions. Featuring stories and practical examples from real life, this book will feed the pastor’s spirit and help bring comfort and inspiration to many.

God Still Speaks: Listen! Homily Reflections for Sundays and Holy Days, Cycle A

• Author: Harold A. Buetow
• Series: Homily Reflections for Sundays and Holy Days
• Publisher: Alba House
• Publication Date: 1995
• Pages: 303

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Many people today assume that God only spoke to people long ago—to the prophets, Jesus and the apostles, and perhaps some saints. But Jesus promised that he would never leave us, that his Spirit would give us the power to be God’s witnesses to the ends of the earth. The reason we don't recognize when God speaks is because we aren't listening as carefully or as prayerfully as we should. Learning to do so will help us recognize our call to holiness, the definition of true greatness, the meaning of faith and trust, the loneliness of leadership, and the joy which comes from suffering in union with the Lord.

These reflections on the liturgical readings of Cycle A for Sundays and holy days focus on listening to God’s Word, and obeying the message that we’ve heard. Priests, deacons, lay ministers and congregants will find much to ponder and practice here.

Of special interest to the priest or deacon preparing homilies (but also for Bible Study groups), this new book explores, among the many themes covered, Matthew’s Gospel readings as a call to holiness; it looks at the joy coming from suffering offered in union with Jesus; and it explores the loneliness of leadership. The General Introduction includes the theology of the homily (the author sees the homilist as having a special calling to goodness and renewal if he is to ‘utter God’s hidden wisdom’).

—Crux of the News

All Things Made New: Homily Reflections for Sundays and Holy Days, Cycle B

• Author: Harold A. Buetow
• Series: Homily Reflections for Sundays and Holy Days
• Publisher: Alba House
• Publication Date: 1996
• Pages: 283

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Incorporating all the ramifications of our evolving understanding of the gospel into our daily lives takes a lot of study, reflection, living, and most of all—prayer. The thoughts presented in these pages are the fruit of a careful pondering of the liturgical readings for the Sundays and Holy Days of Cycle B in the light of the lived experience of the men and women of today as they approach the beginning of a new millennium. Priests, deacons, lay ministers and congregants will find much to ponder and practice here.

Ode to Joy: Homily Reflections for Sundays and Holy Days, Cycle C

• Author: Harold A. Buetow
• Series: Homily Reflections for Sundays and Holy Days
• Publisher: Alba House
• Publication Date: 1997
• Pages: 283

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Joy is contagious, but to communicate it homilists must first accept the gift and cultivate it within themselves. One needn’t be a stand-up comic to have a sense of humor. Extracting the humor from our own mistakes, idiosyncrasies, and faults builds the foundation for a healthy outlook toward ourselves and the world around us. Once we learn to take ourselves less seriously, chances are we will become more able to communicate God’s joy to others. Therefore, joy and a sense of humor pervade this volume of homily reflections.

[Ode to Joy] is the third in a three-volume set of reflections for every Sunday and Holy Day of the liturgical year produced by Buetow. His broad biblical and literary background is woven into his musings, resulting in rich and relevant reflections. What makes this collection unique is its concentration on the theme of joy. It is the primary lens through which the author reads the Lectionary passage and the focus of his consideration.

—The Bible Today

Thirst for Life: Meditations/Homilies for the Weekdays of the Year, Weeks 1–9 of Ordinary Time

• Author: Harold A. Buetow
• Series: Meditations/Homilies for the Weekdays of the Year
• Publisher: Alba House
• Publication Date: 2002
• Pages: 272

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Societies fall apart if they lose their fundamental beliefs. To survive, we have to escape from a mentality which sees society as a mass of individuals placed side by side without any concern or responsibility for one another. There are fundamental moral values on which all societies depend, such as respect for truth, for justice, for compassion, for care of the environment, and above all for the sacredness of human life. This volume is titled Thirst for Life because the gospels for this portion of the Church year (weeks one through nine in the Church’s Ordinary Time) are mostly from St. Mark, whose Gospel shows a thirst for life—divine life—treasured, sought, and given, then and now.

These meditations will benefit society and individuals. They discuss weekday readings in ordinary time. Thoughts for each day evolve from the liturgy of that day, mostly from the Gospel. Pertinent ideas from the first readings, both for year one and year two, broaden the outlook.

—Catholic Library World

The reflections offer deft summaries of the biblical message for each passage along with succinct connections to human experience. These volumes could serve either as solid spiritual reading to accompany the liturgical year or as a source of homily ideas.

—The Bible Today

Fine new 3-volume series that will be a great help to homilists, as well as useful to individuals and groups rooting regular prayer in the liturgy and readings.

—Crux of the News

New out of the Old: Meditations/Homilies for the Weekdays of the Year, Weeks 10–21 of Ordinary Time

• Author: Harold A. Buetow
• Series: Meditations/Homilies for the Weekdays of the Year
• Publisher: Alba House
• Publication Date: 2002
• Pages: 377

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Father Harold A. Buetow takes on the difficult task of crafting homilies that will hold meaning for a diverse audience. With much of weeks 10–21 in the Church’s Ordinary Time coming from Matthew’s Gospel, Buetow takes the theme New out of the Old—showing that Jesus is the fulfillment of all that is promised in the concept of the Jewish Messiah.

The burden of this volume is how to increase the value of the Liturgy of the Word in homilies. Matthew proves that Jesus fulfilled his role as the Jewish Messiah. Matthew did not stress what Jesus did, but rather what he taught. Matthew brings in opposing points of view, pro-Jewish and pro-Gentile, a mystic and a legalist. The result is a balance and impartiality to each side.

—Catholic Library World

Rejoicing in Hope: Meditations/Homilies for the Weekdays of the Year, Weeks 22–34 of Ordinary Time

• Author: Harold A. Buetow
• Series: Meditations/Homilies for the Weekdays of the Year
• Publisher: Alba House
• Publication Date: 2002
• Pages: 414

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Homilists today face many challenges. Their congregations are diverse, seeking spiritual nourishment at varying levels and in need of insights to help them deal with the secular world that we are all a part of. The priest or deacon who presides at the liturgy needs all the help he can get. This third volume in a series of Meditations/Homilies for the Weekdays of the Year covers weeks 22–34 and focuses mainly on the gospel of St. Luke, the most joyful of all the gospels.

Life out of Death: A Thought a Day for the Easter Season

• Author: Harold A. Buetow
• Publisher: Alba House
• Publication Date: 2005
• Pages: 175

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Father Harold A. Buetow offers both lighthearted and serious reflections on for the Easter season. Christians are an “Easter people,” freed by Jesus’ sacrifice from the slavery of sin and death. These reflections will benefit enormously those who wish to enter more profoundly into the spirit of Easter.

This volume completes Fr. Buetow’s popular homily reflections covering each day for all three cycles of the liturgical year. The well-known homilist offers in this book his thoughts and reflections on the readings of the Easter season. . . . Buetow reflects on the scripture readings of the Easter season which come from Luke, Acts and the beautiful Gospel of John. The author uncovers the distinctive traits in these readings and uses them for the homilies. Joy, peace, and hope—hallmarks of each Christian’s Easter faith—are his recurring themes. Each homily is about four or five pages in length—easily read and reflected upon each day. Starting with the Monday of Easter week, Buetow continues to reflect on the readings through the Saturday of the seventh week. These reflections, popularly written, will benefit those who wish to enter more profoundly into the spirit of Easter. How often we feel let down after all the glory of the Triduum and Easter. Buetow not only offers homily aids but also extends our joy, peace, and hope beyond Easter Morning.

—Catholic Library World

Pastor and preacher, Fr. Harold Buetow offers the reader a series of reflections on the weekday readings from the Lectionary during the Easter season. In his introduction, the author notes that Easter provides the essential complement to the Church’s contemplation of the passion of Jesus: death leads to life. Therefore, the spirit of Easter is one of joy, peace, and hope. That spirit pervades the brief meditations he provides for each day of the weekday Easter season. These are not biblical commentaries as such but more in the nature of homiletic reflections. Preachers searching for daily homily helps may find a lot to steal here!

—The Bible Today

About Harold A. Buetow

Harold A. Buetow (1920–2009) was a Catholic priest, author, professor, and editor. Buetow studied at Cathedral College and Immaculate Conception Seminary, and was ordained in 1942 to serve in the Brooklyn diocese. He served as a priest for 65 years, taught for 30 years in the school of education at Catholic University in Washington, DC and was a senior staff editor on The New Catholic Encyclopedia. He earned a PhD from Catholic University, and also held a JD. In addition to his celebrated homily reflections, Buetow authored titles such as The Catholic School: Its Roots, Identity, and Future and Religion in Personal Development: Analysis and a Prescription.