LENT SUN 5-C The Woman Caught in Adultery (Isaiah 43:16-21; Psalm 126; Phil 3:8-14; John 8:1-11) ******************************************************* Have you heard of the nun who wanted to join a curling team? In discussing what position she should play, the team remembered what Jesus taught, “Let the one without sin cast the first stone,” so they let […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 04 06 Transcending Justice in Jesus (Jer 11:18-20; Ps 7; Jn 7:4—53) ************************************* Have you ever had an attitude problem? Today’s liturgy invites us to have an open attitude towards Jesus and to accept him into our lives as the Messiah. In the first reading, Jeremiah continues the Old Testament refrain of […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 04 05 Faith Sees the Bigger Picture (Wis 2:1-22; Ps 34; Jn 7:1-30) ************************************* The two sides of a beautiful tapestry can serve as a metaphor for our lives of faith in God’s presence and power working in our lives. God turns everything to the good for those who love God. Looking […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 04 04 Living Faith (Ex 32:7-14; Ps 106; Jn 5:18-47) **************************************** Nikos Kazantzakis, the great Greek writer, tells a story of an elderly monk he once met on Mount Athos. Kazantsakis, still young and full of curiosity, was questioning this monk and asked him:  “Do you still wrestle with the devil?” “No,” […]

HOMILY WEEK 04 02 On Being Open to the Newness of Faith (Ezk 47:1-12; Ps 46; Jn 5:1-16) ************************************ In the busyness of preparing for giving presentations at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress one year, I neglected to water the plants before leaving. Upon my return, I was shocked to see our pepper plant […]

LENT SUNDAY 04 – C The Loving Father and Two Lost Sons (Joshua 5:9, 10-12; Psalm 34; 2 Cor 5:17-21; Lk 15:1-3; 11-32) ************************************************************ Take a minute to think of all that you have done wrong in your life. What punishment do you think you deserve from God? Be an ambassador of reconciliation. Forgive as […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 03 06 Responding to a Relational God (Hos 5:15-6:6; Ps 51; Lk 18:9-14) **************************************** Have you ever tried to earn anyone’s love? The readings today invite us to respond to a relational God through humble honesty, trusting repentance and grateful service. The tendency to try to earn someone’s love is a rather […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 03 05 Walking With God (Hos 14:1-9; Ps 81; Mk 12:28-34) ********************************* A lady confessed she was guilty of the sin of narcissism. When asked by the confessor what that meant, she replied she was totally centered on herself, spent all her time on her make-up, hair, nails, looking in the mirror, […]

HOMILY WEEK 03 04 Willing or Willful – our Choice (Jer 7:23-28; Ps 95; Lk 11:14-23) *********************************** The late Gerald May wrote a book entitled Will and Spirit. In it he speaks of the gift of free will we have been given by God he claims is one of our most precious attributes as human […]

HOMILY WEEK 03 03 Life, Law and Love (Dt 4:1-9; Ps 147; Mt 5:17-19) ********************************* Keep the law – and live in the Reign of God. In the first reading today, Moses reminds the people of the law as pure gift revealing the mind and the will of God. Keeping the law diligently assures them […]