LENT WEEKDAY 03 – 02 Mature Faith as Fidelity and Forgiveness (Dan 3:25-43; Ps 25; Mt 18:21-35) ************************************** Do you find it hard to trust in God and to forgive? Both readings today take us to the core of the gospel, which is mature faith as fidelity and forgiveness. We are invited to trust in […]

FEAST 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 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 every […]

LENT SUN 03-C (Homily 01) The Barren Fig Tree (Exodus 3:1-8a, 13-15; Psalm 103; 1 Cor 19:1-6, 10-12; Lk 13:1-9) ********************************************************* Are you familiar with the term First Responders?They are generous individuals in many communities who have had special training to be the first on the scene of a tragedy or accident. They know what […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 02 06 Two Kinds of Lostness (Micah 7:14-20; Ps 103; Lk 15:1-32) *********************************** Have you ever felt lost in sin, struggling with false pride, alienated from God, others and even yourself? There is a close link between the readings today, all inviting us to come to God for both forgiveness and healing. […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 02 05 A Choice of Two Tracks (Gen 37:3-28; Ps 105; Mt 21:33-46) ***************************************** Joe Walsh, former member of the Eagles, sings in his signature song “One Day at a Time,” of his life at one time being like riding on a “runaway train heading for the end of the line.” Today’s […]

WEEK 02 04 Pray for Peace; Work for Justice (Jer 17:5-10; Ps 1; Lk 16:19-31) ********************************** Have you ever seen the bumper sticker “If you want peace, work for justice?” The readings today present us with a tweaked version: “If you want to live in joyful serenity, pray for peace and work for justice.” The […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 02 03 Lessons from the Word (Jer 18:18-20; Ps 31; Mt 20:17-28) ************************************** The Word of God today offers us four lessons for life, two from the Old Testament, and two from the Gospel: Forgive, trust, accept suffering like Jesus, and serve. In the first reading, people are planning evil against Jeremiah, […]

  HOMILY – SOLEMNITY OF ST. JOSEPH (2 Sam 7:4-16; Ps 89; Rm 4:13-22; Mt 1:16-24/Lk 2:41-51)) ********************************************************** We are all familiar with Mariology. How familiar are we with Josephology? Today’s solemnity of St. Joseph is an occasion to explore some of that Josephology, with its message for men especially – to be humble, obedient, […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 02 01 Seeing the Light (Dan 9:3-10; Ps 79; Lk 6:36-38) **************************************** We do not see light – we see by light. The closest we come to actually seeing light is through a prism or a rainbow that displays the beauty of light. Today, I can’t resist looking at the readings once […]

HOMILY LENT SUNDAY 02 – C Citizens of Heaven (Gen 15:5-12, 17-18; Ps 26:1-14; Phil 3:17-4:1; Lk 9:28-36) ******************************************************** For those who succeed in obtaining Canadian citizenship, it is a joyous occasion. It takes place at Rideau Hall in the presence of the governor general and usually makes the CBC National News that night. According […]