HOMILY WEEK 24 06 – Week II On Being Rich Soil for the Word of God: Optional Memorial of St. Hildegard of Bingen (1 Cor 15:35-50; Ps 56; Lk 8:4-15) ******************************************* “Regnum Dei Intra Vos” is Latin for “the kingdom of heaven is among you.” That is my episcopal motto as an archbishop, taken from […]

HOMILY WEEK 24 05 – Year II The Power of Resurrection – Good News of the Kingdom: Memorial of Saints Cornelius and Cyprian (1 Cor 15:12-20; Ps 17; Lk 8:1-3) ***************************************************** Can you imagine a walking band of missionaries of about twenty persons going around the countryside? Today, we are invited to experience and proclaim […]

HOMILY WEEK 24 04 – Year II Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows (Heb 5:7-9; Ps 31; Lk 2:33-35 or Jn 19:25-27) ************************************************** A lady at a table in front of me in an airport restaurant, who had been swearing profusely, noticed my cross and starting apologizing profusely for her coarse language. I replied that […]

FEAST of the EXULTATION of the HOLY CROSS Look, Love and Live (Numbers 21:4-9; Psalm 78; Philippians 2:6-11; John 3:13-17) **************************************************** Do you know the origin of the symbol on a medical alert bracelet? The readings today provide the answer. A message provided by these readings is very simple and clear: Look to Jesus; love […]

WEEK 24 02 – Year II Being like Jesus in the Body of Christ: Memorial of St John Chrysostom (1 Cor 12:12-31; Ps 100; Lk 7:11-17) ****************************************** If one member suffers, all suffer together. If one member is honored, all rejoice together. The readings today invite us to be like Christ in the Body of […]

HOMILY WEEK 24 01- Year II A Eucharistic Faith that Heals: Optional Feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary (1 Cor 11:17-33; Ps 40; Lk 7:1-10) ******************************************* Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed. The readings today invite […]

HOMILY SUNDAY 24-C A Study of Contrasts (Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14; Psalm 51; 1 Timothy 1:12-17; Luke 15:1-32) ************************************************************** “The tax collectors and sinners were all seeking the company of Jesus to hear what he had to say.” This striking phrase describing the actions of the tax collectors and sinners opens a Gospel account that takes […]

HOMILY WEEK 23 06 – Year II Founded on Doing God’s Will: Our Lady’s Saturday (1 Cor 10:14-22; Ps 116; Lk 6:43-49) *********************************************** How strong is the foundation of your life? Today’s readings invite us to make the Word of God and doing God’s will the foundation of our life of faith. In the gospel, […]

HOMILY WEEK 23 05 – Year II Journeying into Greater Self-Awareness: Optional Memorial of St. Peter Claver (1 Cor 9:16-27; Ps 83; Lk 6:39-42) *************************************** “You are who you are – what are you afraid of?” Franciscan Father Richard Rohr started a retreat for our Oblate community years ago with the startling statement, which along […]

FEAST of the NATIVITY OF MARY – WEEK 23 04 – Year II Trust and Transformation (Rm 8:28-30/Micah 5:2-5; Ps 13; Mt 1:1-23) ********************************************* Have you had to make a difficult decision lately and felt very alone? Have you ever wondered where was God in a particular painful situation? The readings on this feast of […]