HOMILY EASTER SEASON WEEK 02 02 Returning To Our Roots (Acts 4:32-37; Ps 93; Jn 3:7-15) ***************************************** Faith and Fellowship are two words expressing the essence of today’s liturgy. On this Tuesday of the second week of the Easter season, we are invited to deepen our faith in Jesus as crucified Messiah and Risen Lord, […]

SOLEMNITY OF THE ANNUNCIATION Birthing Jesus into the World in Imitation of Mary (Isaiah 7:10-14, 8:10d; Ps 40; Heb 10:4-10; Lk 1:26-28) ************************************************* Sr. Connie Piska UJ of Edmonton gave me a gift she made for my priestly ordination in 1974 that still hangs on a wall in the bathroom so that I see it […]

HOMILY SATURDAY of EASTER WEEK On Being Missionary Disciples (Acts 4:13-21; Ps 118; Mk 16:9-15) ********************************************** Two themes continue to dominate the readings after Easter: faith in the Risen Lord, and the commission to go and proclaim the Good News. These two themes synchronize precisely with two dominant themes of the papacy of Pope Francis: […]

HOMILY – FRIDAY of EASTER WEEK Grace Like a Spider’s Thread: (Acts 4:1-12; Ps 118; Jn 21:1-14) ************************************** Pope Francis states that to be a missionary disciple is to first have a personal encounter with Jesus, and then to share that encounter with others. The Gospel today recounts the third appearance of the Risen Lord […]

HOMILY THURSDAY of EASTER WEEK On Being Missionary Disciples (Acts 3:11-26; Ps 8; Lk 24:35-48) ********************************************* Pope Francis has repeatedly stated that he wants a church of missionary disciples. The gospel for today could serve as a manual for how to be missionary disciples: faith; repentance; forgiveness; redemptive suffering; understanding the bible, and witnessing. First, […]

‘HOMILY WEDNESDAY of EASTER WEEK The Resurrection: Believe, Experience and Share (Acts 3:1-10; Ps 105; Lk 24:13-35) *********************************************** After the celebration of a Triduum and participating in an addiction’s awareness workshop, a participant shared she had become aware for the first time that Jesus was truly alive and present in her life. He was now […]

HOMILY TUESDAY of EASTER WEEK From Stuck in Grief to Good Grieving (Acts 2:36-41; Ps 33; Jn 20:11-18) ************************************************ “Go to my brothers and say to them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” “Go” and “Say” – two words that apply also to us. These words […]

HOMILY MONDAY OCTAVE OF EASTER – Year II On Being Spirit-Filled Witnesses (Acts 2:14-23; Ps 6; Mt 28:8-15) ********************************************* “People of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem … listen to what I say!” (Acts 2:14) These words of St. Peter, and indeed the whole book of Acts, are an invitation to us to also […]

HOMILY EASTER SUNDAY YEAR B Experiencing Eternal Life through Faith, Forgiveness, Healing and Grieving (Acts 10:34, 37-43; Ps 118; Col 3:1-4/1 Cor 5:6-8; John 20:1-18) ************************************************************ “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.” We have every reason to rejoice and be glad, because through the resurrection of Jesus, […]

EASTER VIGIL YEAR B Experiencing New Life Through the Cross (Romans 6:3-11; Mark 16:1-8) ***************************************** Two confirmed bachelors were sitting and talking about cooking. One said that he had a fancy cookbook but never did much with it. When asked why by the other, he replied because every recipe started the same way – “Take […]