HOMILY WEEK 02 03 – Year II Balancing Mercy and Faith, Law and Love (1 Sm 17:32-51; Ps 144; Mk 3:1-6) ****************************************************** Why was Goliath so surprised when David struck him with a stone from his sling? Such a thing had never entered his head before! The readings today provide us with three distinct yet […]

HOMILY WEEK 02 02 – Year II Placing our Faith in Christ as Kyrios-Lord: (1 Sm 16:1-13; Ps 89; Mk 2:23-28) *************************************** The late Serge LeClerc, former gang leader who had a conversion experience while incarcerated, became a motivational speaker. In one of his talks, he shared how he was always looking for identity, and […]

HOMILY WEEK 02 01 – Year II Understanding Three Spiritual Themes: Memorial of St. Anthony, Abbot (1 Sam 15:16-23; Ps 50; Mk 2:18-22) ********************************************** Three significant themes run through the readings today, inviting us to pay attention to them, learn from them and let them strengthen our faith in Jesus as the center of our […]

HOMILY SUNDAY 02 – YEAR C Marriage and a New Creation (Isaiah 62:1-5; Psalm 96; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; John 2:1-12) ********************************************************* One year, on December 30th, a wedding took place in the northern Manitoba community of Lac Brochet. A young couple decided it was time for them to make a lifelong commitment before God in […]

HOMILY WEEK 01 06 – Year II The Call of Levi – Gratuitous Grace (1 Sm 9:1-19; Ps 21; Mk 2:13-17) ************************************************************ The Word Among Us offers this reflection for today’s liturgy: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus and his disciples are eating in the courtyard of Levis’ house. But his […]

HOMILY WEEK 01 05 – Year II New Life through Faith, Forgiveness and Healing (1 Sm 8:4-22; Ps 89; Mk 2:1-12) ******************************************************* There is a saying, “People get the government they deserve.” That saying applies to the readings and memorial liturgy today. We are invited to place our faith in Jesus, the true king of […]

HOMILY WEEK 01 04 – Year II Humble Faith and Trust: Optional Memorial of St. Hilary (1 Sam 4:1-11; Ps 44; Mk 1:40-45) ************************************* Have you ever wondered, “Where is God?” when something bad happened to you? The readings today provide us with a simple, clear and important message: Be humble and trust in God […]

HOMILY WEEK 01 03 – Year II Doing the Will of God: Memorial of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys (1 Sam 3:1-20; Ps 40; Mk 1:29-39) ********************************* There are many Markan characteristics in this gospel: Jesus goes out of the synagogue; he takes four disciples with him; he goes into a home; he heals Peter’s mother-in-law; he […]

WEEK 01 02 – Year II A Sacred Spiritual Spiral (1 Sam 1:9-20; 1 Sam 2; Mk 1:21-28) **************************************** How would you take the air out of a glass? Would you use a vacuum pump? Or simply fill the glass with water, and the air would be pushed out. In a similar way, the readings […]

HOMILY WEEK 01 01 – Year II Vocations as Call and Response (1 Sam 1:1-8; Ps 116; Mk 1:14-20) ************************************** After his Baptism and the temptation in the desert, Jesus begins to preach in Galilee, so what we read today might have been his first sermon. That sermon serves as a summary statement of his […]