HOMILY WEEK 19 03 – Year II Faith, Forgiveness, Healing, Glory and the Kingdom of God: Optional Memorial of St. Jane Frances de Chantal (Ezk 9:1-7; 10:18-22; Ps 113; Mt 18:15-20) ********************************************************* Five words and their inter-relationship that capture the essence of the readings today are faith, forgiveness, healing, glory and the kingdom of God. […]

HOMILY WEEKDAY 19 02 – Year II Becoming Like a Child:Memorial of St. Clare (Ezk 2:8-3:4; Ps 119; Mt 18:1-5,10,12-14) ******************************************** A little trust game I like to play with children is to invite them to stand straight and stiff, arms at their side, and fall back into my arms. Some trusting ones promptly do […]

WEEK 19 01 – Year II Following and Serving Jesus: Feast of St Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr (2 Cor 9:6-10; Ps 112; Jn 12:24-26) ********************************************** Have you noticed that Jesus asked us to follow him much more often than to simply worship him? Today’s gospel is an example, inviting us to serve Jesus by following […]

HOMILY SUNDAY 19 – A Faith out of the Ordinary (1 Kings 19:9a, 11-13a; Psalm 85; Romans 9:1-5; Matthew 14:22-33) *********************************************************** Moses and Jesus were golfing one day. It turns out that Jesus is a great fan of Tiger Woods. Every time he made a good shot, Jesus would exclaim “Wow – just like Tiger […]

HOMILY WEEK 18 06 – Year II Faith like a Mustard Seed and Memorial of St Dominic   (Hab 1:12-2:4; Ps 9; Mt 17:14-20) ************************************************** To a non-swimmer, it seems incredible that a human body could float on water. Bodies are too heavy! When one stops to think of it, it seems incredible that a […]

HOMILY WEEK 18 05 – Year II Radical Discipleship and Redemptive Suffering: Optional Memorial of St. Sixtus II and his Companions (Nahum 1:15, 2:2, 3:1-7; Dt 32:35-41; Mt 16:24-28) ******************************************************* When asked to address a Christian Business Men’s Association breakfast just before Holy Week one year, I decided to speak about Radical Discipleship and Redemptive […]

FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD Being Attentive to the Mystery (Dan 7:9-10/2 Pt 1:16-19, 13-14; Ps 97; Mt 17:1-9) ********************************************** “You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place.” Those words from St. Peter, a witness to the transfiguration, invite us to ponder this […]

HOMILY WEEK 18 02 – Year II Attitudes Underlying Actions Memorial of St. Jean Mary Vianney (Jer 30:1-2,12-15; Ps 102; Mt 15:1-2,10-14) ********************************************** “Check your attitude!” We may have been addressed that way sometime in our past, or perhaps we uttered those words ourselves. Today’s gospel invites us to do just that. In the first […]

HOMILY WEEK 18 01 – Year II The Power of Genuine Faith (Jer 28:1-17; Ps 119; Mt 14:13-21) ************************************ How strong is our faith? What difference is it making in your life? Today’s readings invite us to place our complete trust in Jesus, pray from the heart and come to him for healing. We can […]

HOMILY SUNDAY 18 – A The Multiplication of the Loaves (Isaiah 55:1-3; Psalm 145; Romans 8:35, 37-39; Mt 14:13-21) ************************************************************ A family was at a restaurant and the young boy offered to bless the meal. He thanked God and added that it would be even better if there were ice cream for desert. An older […]