HOMILY SUNDAY 03 – YEAR A Repent, and Spread the Good News (Isaiah 9:1-4; Psalm 27; 1 Cor 1:10-13; 17-18; Mt 4:12-23) ***************************************************** As part of our training as facilitators in Morley, Alberta, for the Returning To Spirit program the facilitator, Mark Pizandawatc, had the participants close their eyes while he repeated the words: “Ever […]

HOMILY WEEK 02 06 – Year I Living in the Freedom of the Children of God: Memorial of St. Agnes (Heb 9:2-14; Ps 47; Mk 3:20-21) **************************************************** Amanda wrapped up an emotional talk at a Search weekend for youth by turning to towards me sitting close by, tears in her eyes, and asked a plaintive […]

HOMILY WEEK 02 05 – Year I Religion of the Heart: Optional Memorial of St. Fabian (Heb 8:6-13; Ps 85; Mk 3:13-19) ************************************************** “I will put my laws in their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” That sentence, and the readings today, […]

HOMILY WEEK 02 04 – Year I Living in an Intimate Covenant Relationship with God (Heb 7:25-8:6; Ps40; Mk 3:7-12) ****************************************************** A young man shared a dilemma with a friend. He was in love with two young women. One was a wonderful baker, and the other a wonderful poet, and he did not know which […]

HOMILY WEEK 02 03 – Year I Towards a More Peaceful, Pure Faith (Heb 7:1-3,15-17; Ps 110; Mk 3:1-6) *********************************************** Which of the following statements resonates most deeply with you: Law and legalism, or Love and relationships? The readings today invite us to deepen our faith in Jesus as Son of God and King of […]

HOMILY WEEK 02 02 – Year I Covenants of Hope and Love: Memorial of St. Anthony (Heb 6:10-20; Ps 111; Mk 2:23-28) *************************************** “God is ever mindful of his covenant.” That sentence from today’s psalm, along with the first reading and gospel not as connected as usual, combine to invite us to be a people […]

HOMILY WEEK 02 01 – Year I New Wine of Eternal Life; Fresh Skins of Humble Obedience (Heb 5:1-10; Ps 110; Mk 2:18-22) ****************************************************** The superior of a religious community of women was on her death bed. One of the sisters, whose father found drinking a little brandy each night helped him sleep, started putting […]

HOMILY SUNDAY 02 – Year A Redeemed by Jesus; Healed by the Spirit (Isaiah 49:3, 5-6; Psalm 40; 1Cor 1:1-3; John 1:29-34) ******************************************************** A farmer once went to confession to admit that he had stolen some hay. When the confessor told the culprit that he would have to know how much he had stolen before […]

HOMILY WEEK 01 06 – Year I Following Jesus (Heb 4:12-16; Ps 19; Mk 2:13-17) *********************************** “God accepts us as we are, but believes in whom we can become.” That quote from Sr. Teresita Kambeitz OSU, underlines the message from today’s readings: we are called to follow Jesus into a new life of mercy, grace […]

HOMILY WEEK 01 05 – Year I Faith, Forgiveness and Healing: Optional Memorial of St. Hilary (Heb 4:1-11; Ps 78; Mk 2:1-12) ****************************************** Years ago, musician and songwriter Cary Landry came out with the hymn Lay Your Hands. One line in particular stands out: Let them bring your forgiveness and healing. The Gospel today on […]