ADVENT SUNDAY 4 – C Living the Advent Wreath (Micah 5:2-5; Psalm 80; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45) ************************************************** On this fourth Sunday of Advent, the advent wreath coincides with the readings as an invitation to live the deeper meaning of the wreath, that is, living lives full of faith, hope, love and joy. For some, […]

HOMILY ADVENT DECEMBER 21 – Year II Faith, Forgiveness, Healing and Joy: Optional Memorial of St. Peter Canisius (Zeph 3:14-18; Ps 33; Lk 1:39-45) ******************************************* “The Lord has taken away the judgements against you, he has turned away your enemies.” Those words, a repeat of the first reading from the third Sunday of Advent, along […]

ADVENT HOMILY DECEMBER 20 – Year II Prophecy Fulfilled – Mary’s Fiat – God is With Us (Is 7:10-8:10; Ps 24; Lk 1:26-38) ************************************************ How accurate do you think you would be in predicting events seven hundred years into the future? The readings today, about prophecy fulfilled in Mary, encourage us to be like her […]

ADVENT HOMILY DECEMBER 19th Humble Faith, Barrenness, Hope and Relational Justice (Judges 13:2-25; Ps 71; Lk 1:5-25) *********************************************** Have you ever experienced a time in your life when you were powerless, came up empty, felt like your hands were tied behind your back? The readings today give us hope that God can work marvels of […]

HOMILY ADVENT DECEMBER 18th Prophecy Fulfilled: God is With Us (Jer 23:5-8; Ps 72; Mt 1:18-24) *********************************************** Do you have a friend whose word you can trust totally? Today’s readings can be a reminder of the rock-solid foundation of our faith, based on the fulfillment of all the Old Testament prophecies about Jesus Christ. In […]

HOMILY ADVENT DEC 17th The Blessing of Our Genealogies (Gen 49:8-10; Ps 72; Mt 1:1-17) *************************************** Are there any skeletons in your family’s closet? Today’s readings can help us relax and trust that God can work marvels even with a less than holy family tree. Today we read the opening lines of Matthew’s Gospel—the first […]

HOMILY ADVENT WEEK 03 01 – Year II Responding to Prophecy with Authority: Ferial (Num 24:2-27; Ps 25; Mt 21:23-27) ********************************************* How much authority do you exercise? Today’s readings invite us to speak out with faith and exercise our authority as baptized believers in Jesus. In the first reading from Numbers, the prophet Balaam twice […]

HOMILY ADVENT SUNDAY 3-C Joyful, Transformative Love (Zephaniah 3:14-18; Isaiah 12; Phil 4:4-7; Luke 3:10-18) ************************************************************ What happens when you put a piece of paper in a glass of water? Nothing really – the paper simply gets soaked and soggy. What happens when you hold a piece of paper over a lit candle?  Transformation – […]

HOMILY ADVENT WEEK 02 06 – Year II Being Elijah for Others: Memorial of St. John of the Cross (Sirach 48:1-11; Ps 80; Mt 17:10-13) ************************************** Do you see yourself as a prophet? The readings today invite us to be both Elijah and John the Baptist for others. Both the first reading from Sirach and […]

HOMILY WEEK 02 05 – Year II Following the Lord with Faith and Fidelity: Memorial of St. Lucy (Is 48:17-19; Ps 1; Mt 11:16-19) ************************************************** “Oh, that you had paid attention to my commandments!” Today’s readings invite us to respond to God’s unconditional covenant love for us by following God’s ways with greater faith and […]