HOMILY SUNDAY 24-C Celebrating God’s Merciful Love (Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14; Psalm 51; 1 Timothy 1:12-17; Luke 15:1-32) *********************************************************** We have just heard three parables proclaimed in the gospel. One definition of a parable is a story that teaches its truth in a hidden way to those who really want to learn it. Let me add […]

HOMILY WEEK 23 06 – Year I Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Numbers 21:4-9; Psalm 78; Philippians 2:6-11; John 3:13-17) **************************************************** Do you know the origin of the symbol on a medical alert bracelet? The readings today provide the answer. A message provided by these readings is very simple and clear: Look to Jesus; love […]

WEEKDAY HOMILY WEEK 23 05 – Year I Living The Great Commandment through Self-awareness Memorial of St. John Chrysostom (1 Tim 1:1-14; Ps 16; Lk 6:39-42) *************************************************** The readings today remind me of one of the most basic teachings of the bible: the Great Commandment given to us by Jesus. That is, to love God […]

HOMILY WEEK 23 04 – Year I God’s Chosen Ones: Mandate and Methodology: Optional Memorial of the Most Holy Name of Mary (Col 3:12-17; Ps 150; Lk 6:27-38) ************************************************ Do you belong to an organization, business or club? If you do, chances are your organization has a mission statement articulating its “raison-d’être”, its purpose, along […]

HOMILY WEEK 23 03 – Year I Renewal and Revelation (Col 3:1-11; Ps 145; Lk 6:20-26) ******************************************** If you’re green you grow, if you’re not, you rot! That rather striking statement carries a lot of truth and actually applies to today’s readings that invite us into a life-long process of renewal and transformation. St. Paul, […]

HOMILY WEEK 23 02 – Year I Staying Rooted in Jesus Christ (Col 2:6-16; Ps 145; Lk 6:12-19) ************************************************************ One of the many scenes of destruction portrayed on television during the wrath of Hurricane Irma was that of a homeowner watching and videoing the uprooting of a huge tree in her backyard. As the tree […]

HOMILY WEEK 23 01 – Year I Mining the Great Mystery – Christ in Us: Optional Memorial of St. Peter Claver (Col 1:24-2:3; Ps 62; Lk 6:6-11) ***************************************** As a 25thanniversary of priesthood initiative in 1994, I wrote a booklet on Indigenous ministry called “Northern Nuggets” that eventually morphed into the book Drumming From Withinpublished […]

HOMILY SUNDAY 23-C The Cost of Discipleship (Wisdom 9:13-18; Psalm 90; Philemon 9b-10, 12-17; Luke 14:25-33) ************************************************************** Are you a tourist, or disciple? Travelling with the crowd, or following Jesus? Take up your cross, let go of some detrimental attachments, and follow Jesus as a disciple. Today’s gospel dynamics are very interesting. A crowd is […]

HOMILY WEEK 22 06 – Year I Secure in Faith, Reaching Out in Love (Col 1:21-23; Ps 54; Lk 6:1-5) ********************************************** Have you seen the movie, March of the Penguins?If not, I would encourage you to do so. That movie, along with the readings today, encourage us to be secure in faith and reach out […]

HOMILY WEEK 22 05 – Year I New Wine, Fresh Skins; Old Wine, Mature Christianity (Col 1:15-20; Ps 100; Lk 5:33-39) ************************************************** Did you notice a puzzling dichotomy in the gospel? In one breath, Jesus seems to say he is like new wine needing fresh skins of faith, then claims old wine is better. What […]