HOMLY WEEK 07 02 – Year I Childlike Trust in God: Optional Memorial of St. Peter Damian (Sir 2:1-11; Ps 37; Mk 9:30-37) *************************************** A young man asked his friends if they believed he could push a wheelbarrow on a high wire over Niagara Falls. They of course said no so he did it. Then […]

HOMILY WEEK 07 01 – Year I (Sir 1:1-10; Ps 93; Mk 9:14-29) ************************************* Would you like to have a stronger, more powerful faith? Consider doing a monthly poustinia in which you fast, and pray the prayer of the father in the Gospel today: “I believe, help my unbelief!” It is noteworthy that Matthew begins […]

SUNDAY 07 – A Be Holy as God is Holy (Lev 19:1-2, 17-18; Ps 103; 1 Cor 3:16-23; Mt 5:38-48) ******************************************************** The message of the readings today is to go far beyond the faith and piety of the cowboy. We are to be holy as God is holy. The book of Leviticus is very clear […]

HOMILY WEEK 06 06 – Year I (Heb 11:1-7; Ps 145; Mk 9:2-13) ********************************* How strong is your faith? Can it lead you on a personal journey of healing and transformation that will help change the world? The first reading highlights the importance of faith in our lives. There is actually a pattern to faith: […]

HOMILY WEEK 06 05 – Year I Following Jesus through a Personal Paschal Mystyer: Optional Memorial of the Seven Founders of the Servite Order (Gen 11:1-9; Ps 33; Mk 8:34-38) ****************************************************** “Happy the people the Lord has chosen to be his own” and “Take up your cross and follow me.” These two quotes pretty well […]

HOMILY WEEK 06 04 – Year I Transformative Faith (Gen 9:1-13; Ps 102; Mk 8:27-33) *********************************** When in the Holy Land in 2013 for a sabbatical, our group of priests found our way to northeastern Galilee, to Caesarea Philippi. There, we experienced the thrill of standing where Jesus once stood, and reflected on his message […]

WEEK 06 03 – Year I Faith that Transforms; A Love that Heals (Gen 8:6-22; Ps 116; Mk 8:22-26) ******************************************* Have you ever participated in a trust walk? The readings today invite us to place our complete trust in Jesus, experience his unconditional love, and become a new creation. Youth ministers sometimes blindfold participants and […]

HOMILY WEEK 06 02 – Year I A Paradigm Shift of Faith: Memorial of Saints Cyril and Methodius (Gen 6:5-10; Ps 29; Mk 8:14-21) **************************************************** Have you ever experienced a paradigm shift? A paradigm shift is a movement away from one way of seeing reality, thinking or acting, to an entirely new way of seeing […]

WEEK 06 01 – Year I Mastering Sin and Fostering an Attitude of Gratitude (Gen 4:1-25; Ps 50; Mk 8:11-13) ***************************************************** “Sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.” (Genesis 4:7) The readings today invite us to turn to God for the spiritual help and healing we […]

HOMILY SUNDAY 6-A Living and Loving Wisely (Sirach 15:15-20; Ps 119; 1 Cor 2:6-10; Mt 5:17-37) *************************************************** “It is part of spiritual wisdom to be able to see the eagle in the egg; butterfly in the caterpillar; saint in the sinner.” This quote from Sr. Joan Chittister, OSB, noted spiritual writer and speaker, leads into […]