HOMILY WEEK 08 04 – Year I The Healing of Bartimaeus – Faith, Healing and Following Jesus: Memorial of Saint Justin (Sirach 42:15-25; Ps 33; Mk 10:46-52) ****************************************************** “Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’” The gospel today invites to have […]
Category: Homilies
Visitation of Mary
HOMILY – FEAST OF THE VISITATION (Zeph 3:14-18/Rm 12:9-16; Is 12; Lk 1:39-56) *************************************************** In his book, Mary – Mirror of the Church, former papal preacher Ranaiero Cantalamessa, OFM Cap., offers beautiful insights into role of Mary in the Church. In his writings, Cantalamessa invites us to make imitation of Mary our priority. He calls […]
Commandments
HOMILY WEEK 08 02 – Year I Keep My Commandments (Sir 35:1-15; Ps 50; Mk 10:28-31) ******************************************* Yesterday’s gospel was about the attachment of the rich young man to his wealth, and the need for detachment, leaving all to follow Christ. Today the Gospel presents us with the disciples who have left everything, and wonder […]
Mary – Mother of the Church
HOMILY WEEK 08 01 – Year I Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church (Gen 3:9-15,20/Acts 1:12-14; Judith 13:18-20; Jn 19:25-27) *********************************************************** Take a moment to think of your mother. What thoughts come to mind, and what feelings flood your heart? Hopefully gratitude, warmth, tenderness, affection for her virtues, and compassion for […]
Pentecost
HOMILY PENTECOST SUNDAY – YEAR A Living the Paschal Mystery as a Personal Pentecost (Acts 2:1-11; Psalm 104; 1 Cor 12:3-7, 12-13; John 20:19-23) ******************************************************* A missionary in China was approached by an elder who told him, “Reverend Father, I have no trouble understanding God the Father, and I have no trouble understanding God the […]
St Augustine of Canterbury
HOMILY EASTER SEASON WEEK 07 06 – Year I The Teachings of St. Paul and Marriage Encounter: Optional Memorial of St. Augustine of Canterbury (Acts 28:16-20; Ps 11; Jn 21:20-25) ************************************************** At one point during a marriage encounter weekend, couples are asked to focus on their spouse’s most endearing quality. Having heard the first reading, […]
St. Philip Neri
HOMILY EASTER SEASON WEEK 07 05 – Year I On Love as Faith, Forgiveness and Following: Optional Memorial of St. Philip Neri (Acts 24:27, 25:13-21; Ps 103; Jn 21:15-19) ************************************************** The readings today would fit well a feast for Peter and Paul, as they feature these two pillars of the early church. The readings also […]
St. Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi
HOMILY EASTER SEASON WEEK 07 04 – Year I Loving Intimacy: Optional Memorial of St. Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi (Acts 22:30 – 23:11; Ps 16; Jn 17:20-26) ********************************************* Are you yearning for intimacy? Believe in God’s love for you, and strive to be one with others. Most people, even if not that conscious of it, […]
Blessed Louis-Zéphirin Moreau
HOMILY EASTER SEASON WEEK 07 03 – Year I Important Words of Departure: Optional Memorial of Blessed Louis-Zéphirin Moreau and World Day of Prayer for the Church in China (Acts 20:28-38; Ps 68; Jn 17:11-19) ************************************************** When someone is leaving us whom we know we will never see again, or dying, we tend to hang […]
St. Paul
HOMILY EASTER SEASON WEEK 07 02 – Year I St. Paul – a Model Missionary: (Acts 20:17-27; Ps 68; Jn 17:1-11) ********************************************** What does it mean to be a model missionary? St Paul, in today’s readings, is our model. A captive to the Spirit, he spent his life testifying to the Good News of the […]