HOMILY WEEK 34 04 – Year I Grounded in Strong, Confident Faith (Dan 6:11-28; Dan 3; Lk 21:20-28) ****************************************** How strong is your faith? What difference is it making in your life? The readings today invite us to pray for a faith in Jesus Christ that will allow us to weather any storm and stand […]

HOMILY WEEK 34 03 – Year I Bless and Praise God Forever (Dan 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28; Dan 3; Lk 21:12-19) ************************************************* Last century, there was a great ecclesiological debate in the Vatican to decide which was the greatest male religious order in the world. They were all gathered – Jesuits, Dominicans, Franciscans, Redemptorists, Oblates […]

HOMILY WEEK 34 02 – Year I Temple Glory or Glorious Kingdom? (Dan 2:3, 9-30, 31-45; Dan 3; Lk 21:5-11) ******************************************* Did you know that Meghan Markle was the most googled woman in the world as of her engagement to Prince Harry? Could that be because kingdoms, royalty, palaces and temples hold out the hope […]

HOMILY WEEK 34 01 – Year I Giving God Glory and Praise at all Times: Optional Memorial of St Catherine of Alexandria (Dan 1:1-20; Dn 3:52-56; Lk 21:1-4) **************************************** When Bad Things Happen to Good People is a book written by Rabbi Kuschner, appropriate for the readings today inviting us to trust God totally in […]

HOMILY SUNDAY 34 – C Christ the King (2 Samuel 5:1-3; Colossians 1:12-20; Luke 23:35-43) ****************************************************** Have you ever met a king or a queen? Believe, repent, and let Jesus be your Lord and King, the center of your life. When Cast C of the International Singing Group Up With People was touring Belgium in […]

HOMILY WEEK 33 06 – Year I Reconciliation – Sign of the Resurrection: Optional Memorial of St. Clement I (1 Macc 6:1-13; Ps 9; Lk 20:27-40) ********************************************** A farmer confessed he had stolen some hay. The priest asked how much he had taken, as he had to know that before giving him a penance and […]

HOMILY WEEK 33 05 – Year I Living Temples of the Word: Memorial of St. Cecilia (1 Macc 4:36-37; 52-59; Ps29; Luke 19:45-48) ******************************************** When was the last time you were spellbound by someone’s words? Today’s liturgy extends a double invitation to us: not just to be “spellbound” by the words of Jesus, but to […]

HOMILY WEEK 33 04 – Year I (Homily 02) Faith as Courage, Fidelity and Surrender: Memorial of the Presentation of Mary (1 Macc 2:15-29; Ps 50; Lk 19:41-44) ********************************************** Nicky Gumble, in the Alpha Program, recounts the possibly true story of a young man in the Thirties who asked his friends if they believed he […]

HOMILY WEEK 33 03 – Year I Faith, Hope and Love (2 Macc 7:1-31; Ps 17; Lk 19:11-28) ***************************************** Some years ago, the St. Albert parish celebrated their 150th anniversary with a year-long series of speakers and events. I was invited to conduct a parish mission as part of that series, and was impressed by […]

HOMILY WEEK 33 02 – Year I “Carpe Diem.” Seizing the day, like Zacchaeus” (2 Mac 6:18-31; Ps 3; Lk 19:1-10 ************************************************** “Carpe Diem.” “Seize the day.” This saying, made famous by the movie The Dead Poets’ Society, fits the readings today, inviting us to deeper faith, more genuine repentance, and boldly living out our […]