HOMILY WEEK 30 02 – Year II Marriage and the Kingdom of God (Eph 5:21-33; Ps 128; Lk 13:18-21) ******************************************* It has been said that the marriage bed is comparable to an altar for a married couple. That statement, and the readings today, present us with the message that marital commitment and achieving intimacy are […]
Saints Simon and Jude
HOMILY WEEK 30 01 – Year II Our Identity and Life in Christ: Feast of St. Simon and St. Jude (Eph 2:19-22; Ps 19; Lk 6:12-19) ***************************************** Today’s readings, and this feast, firmly establish our identity in Christ, and what it means to live in Christ. The late motivational speaker Serge LeClerc claimed throughout his […]
Faith and Healing
HOMILY SUNDAY 30 – B (Homily 01) Faith to Heal and Follow (Jer 31:7-9; Psalm 126; Heb 5:1-6; Mk 10:46-52) *********************************************************** It was mealtime during a flight on a small airline in northern Manitoba. “Would you like dinner?” the flight attendant asked me. “What are my choices?” I asked. “Yes or no,” she replied. Do […]
Faith and Repentance
HOMILY WEEK 29 06 – Year II Balancing Faith and Repentance (Eph 4:7-16; Ps 122; Lk 13:1-9) ****************************************** “Repent and believe in the good news” (Mark 1:15) are the first words Jesus preached as he began his public ministry. The readings today continue that double message of faith and repentance, inviting us to live it […]
Truth, Beauty and Goodness
HOMILY WEEK 29 05 – Year II Truth, Beauty and Goodness – Attributes of God (Eph 4:1-6; Ps 24; Lk 12:54-59) *************************************************** “Truth, Beauty and Goodness” – these are the classical three pillars of believing in God and living in Christ. The readings today, within the context of these three pillars, carry powerful messages for […]
St. Anthony Mary Claret
HOMILY WEEK 29 04 – Year II Awakening to God’s Power Within Us: Optional Memorial of St. Anthony Mary Claret (Eph 3:13-21; Ps 33; Lk 12:49-53) ******************************************* The phenomenon of high and low tides during a priest’s retreat I was conducting in Newfoundland became an invitation for me to be more aware of and appreciative […]
St. John of Capistrano
HOMILY WEEK 29 03 – Year II Live the Mystery of Faith as Servants of the Gospel – Trust, Thank and Tell: Optional Memorial of St. John of Capistrano (Eph 3:1-12; Is 12:2-6; Lk 12:39-48) ***************************************************************** “Life is mystery to be lived, not problem to be solved.” The readings today invite us to live the […]
St. Pope John Paul II
HOMILY WEEK 29 02 – Year II Temples of a Living God: Optional Memorial of St. Pope John Paul II (Eph 2:12-22; Ps 85; Lk 12:35-38) *************************************************** The readings today touch on our identity in Christ and the dignity we have as holy temples and spiritual dwelling places for God. In the first reading, St. […]
Grace and Gratitude
HOMILY WEEK 29 01 – Year II Faithful Grace and Grateful Ministry (Eph 2:1-10; Ps 100; Lk 12:13-21) *********************************************** “One’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” The Word Among Us serves as an initial resource for this reflection. It states that Jesus has just spoken at length to a large crowd about […]
St. Paul of the Cross
HOMILY WEEK 28 06 – Year II Knowing God, Acknowledging Jesus and Experiencing the Holy Spirit Optional Memorial of St. Paul of the Cross (Eph 1:15-23; Ps 8; Lk 12:1-7) ************************************************************** The gospel today invites us to “acknowledge” Jesus, put our complete faith in him, be ready to witness to him openly, and to believe […]