HOMILY WEEK 08 04 – Year I The Healing of Bartimaeus – Faith, Healing and Following Jesus: Memorial of Saint Justin (Sirach 42:15-25; Ps 33; Mk 10:46-52) ****************************************************** “Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’” The gospel today invites to have […]

HOMILY – FEAST OF THE VISITATION (Zeph 3:14-18/Rm 12:9-16; Is 12; Lk 1:39-56) *************************************************** In his book, Mary – Mirror of the Church, former papal preacher Ranaiero Cantalamessa, OFM Cap., offers beautiful insights into role of Mary in the Church. In his writings, Cantalamessa invites us to make imitation of Mary our priority. He calls […]

HOMILY WEEK 08 02 – Year I Keep My Commandments (Sir 35:1-15; Ps 50; Mk 10:28-31) ******************************************* Yesterday’s gospel was about the attachment of the rich young man to his wealth, and the need for detachment, leaving all to follow Christ. Today the Gospel presents us with the disciples who have left everything, and wonder […]

HOMILY WEEK 08 01 – Year I Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church (Gen 3:9-15,20/Acts 1:12-14; Judith 13:18-20; Jn 19:25-27) *********************************************************** Take a moment to think of your mother. What thoughts come to mind, and what feelings flood your heart? Hopefully gratitude, warmth, tenderness, affection for her virtues, and compassion for […]

HOMLY WEEK 07 02 – Year I Childlike Trust in God: Optional Memorial of St. Peter Damian (Sir 2:1-11; Ps 37; Mk 9:30-37) *************************************** A young man asked his friends if they believed he could push a wheelbarrow on a high wire over Niagara Falls. They of course said no so he did it. Then […]

HOMILY WEEK 07 01 – Year I (Sir 1:1-10; Ps 93; Mk 9:14-29) ************************************* Would you like to have a stronger, more powerful faith? Consider doing a monthly poustinia in which you fast, and pray the prayer of the father in the Gospel today: “I believe, help my unbelief!” It is noteworthy that Matthew begins […]

SUNDAY 07 – A Be Holy as God is Holy (Lev 19:1-2, 17-18; Ps 103; 1 Cor 3:16-23; Mt 5:38-48) ******************************************************** The message of the readings today is to go far beyond the faith and piety of the cowboy. We are to be holy as God is holy. The book of Leviticus is very clear […]

HOMILY WEEK 06 06 – Year I (Heb 11:1-7; Ps 145; Mk 9:2-13) ********************************* How strong is your faith? Can it lead you on a personal journey of healing and transformation that will help change the world? The first reading highlights the importance of faith in our lives. There is actually a pattern to faith: […]

HOMILY WEEK 06 05 – Year I Following Jesus through a Personal Paschal Mystyer: Optional Memorial of the Seven Founders of the Servite Order (Gen 11:1-9; Ps 33; Mk 8:34-38) ****************************************************** “Happy the people the Lord has chosen to be his own” and “Take up your cross and follow me.” These two quotes pretty well […]

HOMILY WEEK 06 04 – Year I Transformative Faith (Gen 9:1-13; Ps 102; Mk 8:27-33) *********************************** When in the Holy Land in 2013 for a sabbatical, our group of priests found our way to northeastern Galilee, to Caesarea Philippi. There, we experienced the thrill of standing where Jesus once stood, and reflected on his message […]