HOMILY EASTER SUNDAY – C  (Acts 10:34, 36-43; Col 3:1-4; Jn 20:1-18) ********************************************** Four dominant symbols draw our attention over the Easter season: The Cross, the Empty Tomb, the Garden and the Upper Room. These symbols are metaphors that help us experience the new life of Easter through forgiveness and healing. The Cross first of […]

 EASTER VIGIL – YEAR C  (Romans 6:3-11; Psalm 118; Luke 24:1-12) ******************************************* Two symbols speak powerfully to us tonight: the Easter candle and the linen cloth. The Easter, or Paschal candle, is a symbol of faith in the Risen Lord. It is a symbol of hope that darkness cannot overcome. It is also a symbol […]

GOOD FRIDAY HOMILY (Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Ps 31; Heb 4:14-16; 5:7-9; Jn 18:1-19:42) ******************************************************* In the movie The Passion of Christ, Jesus, beaten, bloodied and half dead, meets his mother and tells her simply, “Behold, I am making all things new.” This is the shocking reality of faith – it is through his death on the […]

HOLY THURSDAY (Ex 12:1-8, 11-14; 1 Cor 11:23-26; Jn 13:1-15) ******************************************* This celebration tonight begins the three great liturgical days of the year – what we call the Easter Triduum. The feast tonight, Holy Thursday, and indeed every Eucharist, has one message – love one another as Jesus has loved us. Our life is a […]

HOMILY HOLY WEEK 03 (Is 50:4-9; Ps 69; Mt 26:14-26) ********************************** A fellow, tired of carrying his cross, went into a cross shop to trade it in. He tried on all kinds of crosses, but found them all either too long or too short, too heavy or too light, too rough or too slippery, and […]

HOMILY MONDAY of HOLY WEEK  (Isaiah 42:1-7; Ps 27; Jn 12:1-11) ******************************************** Many years ago, well-known spiritual writer Henri Nouwen wrote a book entitled Out of Solitude. It contains three sermons he gave to health-care professionals outlining what it means to really care. One of the points he makes is offering a cure or healing […]

PALM SUNDAY YEAR C (Isaiah 50:4-7; Psalm 22; Phil 2:6-11; Lk 22:14-23:56) ************************************************** Let us enter a moment of silence, to let such powerful readings penetrate our minds and touch our hearts. The message that comes to me from the Word of God this Sunday is basically: “Trust in Jesus the Saviour and follow him […]

            HOMILY LENT WEEK 05 05 – Year I Optional Memorial of St. Stanislaus (Jer 20:7-13; Ps 18; Jn 10:31-42) ************************************* Faith, prayer and presence sum up the readings for today. We are invited to place our total trust in Jesus as Son of God, pray to God from the heart out of our need, […]

WEEK 05 04 – Year I (Gen 17:3-9; Ps 105; Jn 8:51-59) *********************************** Robert was a very popular but alcoholic priest. Unfortunately, he ended up in the hospital after having an alcohol-related accident. There he confided with a friend who had come to visit him that alcohol wasn’t his problem – it was his solution. […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 05 03 – Year I (Dan 3:13-95; Dan 3; Jn 8:31-42) ******************************************** Many parishes are familiar with the hymnbook Glory and Praise that came out many years ago. That title, the psalm response and readings today combine to provide us with a clear message centered on faith: believe in Jesus; listen to […]