HOMILY SUNDAY 22 – C Strive to be Humble (Sirach 3:17-20, 28-29; Psalm 68; Heb 12:18-19, 22-24a; Luke 14:1, 7-14) ************************************************************ “Even the biggest ship needs a tug to move it out of the harbor” Strive to be humble, and let God’s power work in your life. Rarely do the readings focus so clearly on […]

HOMILY WEEK 21 06 – Year II Striking a Balance Between Prayer and Action: Memorial of St. Monica (1 Cor 1:26-31; Ps 33; Mt 25:14-30) ******************************************** Is contemplation incompatible with action? The readings today invite us to find a way to balance these two important and essential elements of Christian life. On the surface, the […]

WEEK 21 05 HOMILY – Year II Faith expressed through Love (1 Cor 1:17-25; Ps 33; Mt 25:1-13) ********************************************* For St. Paul, in the first reading, what is more important than even baptism? The answer is proclaiming the Gospel. He says he was not sent to baptize but to preach the Gospel, to entice everyone […]

HOMILY WEEK 21 04 – Year II Called to be Saints: Optional Memorial of St. Louis (1 Cor 1:1-9; Ps 145; Mt 24:42-51) ****************************************** Ovide Charlebois, first bishop of the Archdiocese of Keewatin-The Pas, claimed that one’s life would be wasted if it was not spent trying to be a saint. St. Paul, in today’s […]

HOMILY WEEK 21 04 – Year II Called to be Saints: Optional Memorial of St. Louis (1 Cor 1:1-9; Ps 145; Mt 24:42-51) ****************************************** Ovide Charlebois, first bishop of the Archdiocese of Keewatin-The Pas, claimed that one’s life would be wasted if it was not spent trying to be a saint. St. Paul, in today’s […]

HOMILY WEEK 21 03 – Year I Called to Unite Heaven and Earth: Feast of St. Bartholomew (Rev 21:9b-14; Ps 145; Jn 1:45-51) ******************************************** A somewhat forgetful preacher at a wedding was an ardent fisherman.  He asked the groom, “Do you promise to love, honor, and cherish this woman?” “I do,” said the groom meekly. […]

HOMILY WEEK 21 02 – Year II Standing Firm and Holding Fast: Optional Memorial of St. Rose of Lima (2 Thes 2:1-3,14-17; Ps 96; Mt 23:23-26) **************************************** There is a legend about St. Francis who when asked what he would do if Jesus was coming that day, replied that he would keep on hoeing in […]

HOMILY WEEK 21 01 – Year II Love to Affirm; Courage to Correct; Faith to Praise Memorial of the Queenship of Mary (2 Thes 1:1-5, 11-12; Ps 96; Mt 23:13-22) ****************************************************** As worshippers leave the Holy Family Cathedral in Orange, CA, they are artistically reminded to Be Doers of the Word by a mural done […]

HOMILY SUNDAY 21-C Living in the Kingdom (Isaiah 66:18-21; Psalm 117; Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13; Lk 13:22-30) ************************************************************* A nervous reader one Sunday ended her reading with the words, “This is the end of the world,” to which the congregation dutifully replied, “Thanks be to God.” “Lord, will only a few be saved?” is a question […]

HOMILY WEEK 20 06 – Year II  Dwellings of Humble Faith: Memorial of St. Bernard of Clairvaux (Ezk 43:1-7; Ps 85; Mt 23:1-12) ************************************** “Mortal, this is the place of my throne and the place for the soles of my feet, where I will reside among the people of Israel forever.” Weaving the first reading […]