HOMILY WEEK 16 03 We Have Seen the Lord: Feast of St. Mary Magdalene (Song of Songs 3:1-4a (or) 2 Cor 5:14-17; Ps 63; Jn 20:1-18) ****************************************************** There is an interesting convergence around this liturgical feast: recently, Sr. Teresita Kambeitz OSU offered a virtual retreat from Saskatoon hosted by our Star of the North Retreat […]

HOMILY WEEK 16 02 – Year II Doing the Will of God: Optional Memorial of St. Lawrence of Brindisi (Micah 7:14-20; Ps 85; Mt 12:46-50) *********************************************** “For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” The message for us today could not be clearer: to be close […]

HOMILY WEEK 16 01 – Year II Pilgrims of the Heart (Micah 6:1-4; 6-8; Ps 50; Ps 50; Mt 12:38-42) *********************************************** There are two foci in the readings today: the infidelity of Israel, and the unconditional love of God calling them back. The infidelity is expressed in interesting ways: they have created a controversy with […]

HOMILY SUNDAY 16 – A Living in the Reign of God (Wisdom 12:13, 16-19; Psalm 86; Romans 8:24-27; Matthew 13:24-43) ************************************************************ A French-Canadian preacher started his homily one Sunday this way: “Today we’re going to talk about the hell – what the hell it is; where the hell it is, and how the hell to […]

HOMILY WEEK 15 06 – Year II Relational, Transformative Justice (Micah 2:1-5; Ps 10; Mt 12:14-21) ****************************************** “He will proclaim justice to the Gentiles, and bring justice to victory.” This promise in the gospel of Matthew today puts our focus on justice as central to following Jesus and our faith life. That should not be […]

HOMILY WEEKDAY 15 05 – Year II Love over Law; Compassion over Compunction (Is 38:1-22:8; Is 38; Mt 12:1-8) ****************************************************** “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” That simple statement of Jesus in the gospel today invites us into deeper faith in him as God among us, and into a deeper understanding of what it means to […]

HOMILY WEEK 15 04 – Year II An Invitation Like None Other: Optional Memorial of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (Is 26:7-19; Ps 102; Mt 11:28-30) ************************************************* “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Some years ago, I received a similar invitation from […]

HOMILY WEEK 15 03 – Year II Humble Faith – Key to the Kingdom Memorial of St. Bonaventure (Isaiah 10:5-7; 13-16; Ps 94; Mt 11:25-27) ********************************************* “Even the biggest ship needs a tug to move it out of the harbor.” That statement resonates with the readings today proclaiming humility as the virtue opening up our […]

HOMILY WEEK 15 02 – Year II Transformative Faith and Repentance: Optional Memorial of St. Camillus de Lellis (Is 7:1-9; Ps 48; Mt 11:20-24) ********************************************** “Repent and believe – the kingdom of heaven is near.” That first sentence of Jesus in the Synoptic gospels is reflected in the readings today as an invitation to us […]

HOMILY WEEK 15 01 – YEAR II What God Really Wants, and Does Not Want, of Us: Optional Memorial of St. Henry (Is 1:10-17; Ps 50; Mt 10:34-11:1) ******************************************* At one point during his agony in the garden, Jesus utters a prayer that rings true for us in the light of today’s readings: “Father, not […]