Temples of the Holy Spirit and Life-giving Water (Ezk 47:1-12; Ps 46; Jn 2:13-22) ***************************************************** Wherever this river flows, the waters shall be made fresh. The readings today, and this feast of the dedication of St. John Lateran, invite us to drink of the living waters of God’s love as temples of the Holy Spirit, […]
Category: Ordinary Time
HOMILY WEEK 31 03 – Yr I
The Commandments of Jesus (Rm 13:8-10; Ps 112; Lk 14:25-33) *********************************** Isn’t it interesting how love and hate both figure in today’s readings? First, we are to love one another, and then in the gospel we are to hate our families! In the end, the message is simple: we are to love God first and […]
HOMILY WEEK 28 01 – Yr I
Memorial: St. Marguerite d’Youville (Rm 1:1-7; Ps 98; LK 11:29-32) *********************************** In 1976, while heading home after an old-timer’s hockey game, I came across a fatal accident. A head-on collision had occurred between a drunk driver and a pickup truck of local youth. The latter was pinned in his vehicle on the highway, while the […]
HOMILY SUN 28-A
Wearing the Wedding Garment (Isaiah 25:6-10a; Psalm 23; Philippians 4:10-14, 19-20; Matthew 22:1-14) ***************************************************************** Imagine that Queen Elizabeth has decided to invite one person from each country in the Commonwealth to the wedding of Prince Harry, all expenses paid! It would be preposterous to think that the one Canadian chosen out of 35 million would […]
HOMILY WEEK 26 06 – Yr I: Our Lady of the Rosary
Faith, Repent, Serve: a recipe for joy (Bar 4:5-29; Ps 69; Lk 10:17-24) **************************************** When was the last time you felt a moment of pure joy? That probably doesn’t happen that often, partly because as Henri Nouwen wrote, in this life there is no such thing as a clear-cut pure joy, and as theologian Karl […]
HOMILY WEEKDAY 26 – 02 Yr I
Attraction, Not Promotion (Zech 8:20-23; Ps 87; Lk 9:51-56) *********************************** While I was in the Holy Land taking a course held at Tantur Ecumenical Institute, we were privileged to visit a Samaritan community and a Samaritan priest. He was adamant that they were the real Jews; that Abraham had come to Mt. Gerazim and […]
HOMILY Week 26 01 – Yr I
Memorial of the Guardian Angels (Exodus 23:20-23; Ps 91; Mt 18:1-5, 10) ****************************************** A young boy asked his parents to be alone with his newly born baby sister. The parents listened in and heard him say to his little sister, “Quick, tell me what God is really like. I’m starting to forget.” That little story, […]
HOMILY SUNDAY 26 – A
Kenosis and Doing the Will of the Father (Ezekiel 18:25-28; Psalm 25; Philippians 2:1-11; Matthew 21:28-32) A young, newly ordained missionary priest, full of energy and zeal and eager to begin ministry, was assigned to a small parish. Being by nature a “Mr. Fix-it’”, he got very involved from the start, using every idea he […]
HOMILY WEEK 25 02 – Yr I (North American Martyrs)
Taking up the Cross and Living Calvary in Slow Motion (Rev 7:9-17; Ps 124; 2 Cor 4:7-15; Lk 9:23-26) ********************************************************* The feast we celebrate today is a significant feast for the Canadian Church, evidenced by the fact that there are two readings plus the Gospel. We are honoring the eight martyrs of North America who […]
HOMILY WEEK 25 01 – YEAR A
Paying Attention and Listening (Ezra 1:1-6; Ps 126; Lk 8:16-18) ************************************** “To those who have, more will be given; and from those who do not have, even what they seem to have will be taken away.” Those paradoxical words of Jesus from the gospel today can be rather puzzling to us and seem rather unfair. […]
