HOMILY – SOLEMNITY OF ST. JOSEPH Ushering in the Realm of Faith and Loving Grace (2 Sam 7:4-16; Ps 89; Rm 4:13-22; Mt 1:16-24/Lk 2:41-51)) ********************************************************** Have you ever been embarrassed by taking something totally of out context? The readings today, as well as the solemnity of St. Joseph, are best understood within the context […]

WEEKDAY LENT 02 05 – Year II Resisting Repentance (Gen 37:3-28; Ps 105; Mt 21:33-46) ******************************************* The poet, Robert Frost, wrote these memorable words: “Something there is that does not love a wall; that sends the groundswell under it.” There is something in human nature that does not love goodness; that resists it and seeks […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 02 04 – Year II Living the Theological Virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity: Optional Memorial of St. Patrick (Jer 17:5-10; Ps 1: Lk 16:19-31) *************************************************** The parish of St. Albert, Alberta, for its anniversary celebration some years ago, chose the theme “Rooted in Faith, Living with Hope, Growing in Love.” That […]

HOMILY WEEK 02 03 – Year II Faith, Suffering and Service (Jer18:18-20; Ps 31; Mt 20:17-28) ************************************* Activist Daniel Berrigan once stated that before deciding to follow Jesus, we should consider how good we look on wood! The message from today’s readings is simple and straightforward: following Jesus will involve suffering and service. This is […]

HOMILY LENT SUNDAY 02-C The Transfiguration of Jesus (Gn 15:5-12, 17-18; Ps 26:1, 7-9, 13-14; Phil 3:17-4:1; Lk 9:28-36) ************************************************************* Have you ever had a mountaintop experience? Do you want to know the way to have one? Follow Jesus through the Cross to glory. Everybody wants to feel happy, to have that high, mountain-top feeling. […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 01 06 – Year II Seeking the Kingdom of Love (Dt 26:16-19; Ps 119; Mt 5:43-48) ************************************************ Years ago, the Beatles sang, “All you need is love.” Although the kind of love he was singing about probably does not speak to the kingdom that Jesus teaches us about, he was right – […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 01 05 – Year II Repentance, Reconciliation, Righteousness, and Restored Relationships (Ezk 18:21-28; Ps 130; Mt 5:20-26) *********************************************************** Five words starting with “R” sum up the readings for today: Repentance leads to Reconciliation which leads to Righteousness that in the end results in Restored Relationships. Sinners who repent and become righteous (in […]

HOMILY WEEK 01 04 – Year II On Faith, Prayer and Living the Golden Rule (Esther 14:1-14; Ps 138; Mt 7:7-12) ******************************************** Two young brothers, staying at their grandparents’ house overnight, were saying their night prayers – one quietly, the other shouting out his desire for a new bike as loud as he could. The […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 01 03 – Year II Repent, Believe and Heal: Optional Memorial of St. Frances of Rome (Jon 3:1-10; Ps 51; Lk 11:29-32) ***************************************** The people of Nineveh — proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth. (Jonah 3:5)  Today’s readings proclaim a clear message – believe and […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 01 02 – Year II A Non-rescuing God and Our Faith as a Witness (Is 55:10-11; Ps 34; Mt 6:7-15) *************************************************** A question that many people continually ask and wonder about is why there is so much suffering in the world if God is good and all-powerful. In fact, the first reading […]