HOMILY SUN 16 – B Balancing Action and Contemplation (Jeremiah 23:1-6; Psalm 23; Ephesians 2:13-18; Mark 6:30-34) ************************************************************* Anne Louise Mahoney, in a commentary in the Living With Christ one year, made this claim: “All we have to do is listen to Jesus and follow him.” That is the message of the readings today: Listen […]

HOMILY WEEK 15 06 – Year I Following Jesus Through Persecution and Suffering (Ex 12:37-42; Ps 136; Mt 12:14-21) **************************************************** Liturgists involved in choosing the readings for the Eucharist try to establish a connection between especially the first reading and the gospel. It takes a little digging, but there are many mini-themes connecting today’s readings. […]

HOMILY WEEKDAY 15 05 – Year I Living the Law of Love (Ex 11:10-12:14; Ps 116; Mt 12:1-8) ***************************************************** A nervous priest was performing a wedding ceremony, and accidently began the nuptial blessing with the words, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do!” The critical words uttered by Jesus in the gospel today, […]

HOMILY WEEK 15 04 – Year I Jesus’ Cross and Yoke: Memorial of St. Bonaventure (Ex 3:13-20; Ps 105; Mt 11:28-30) *************************************** Fr. Bertrand OMI was a veteran missionary at La Loche First Nations community in northern Saskatchewan. He had been a boxer as a youth, was a barber, ran a dog team and spoke […]

HOMILY WEEK 15 03 – Year I All is Given to the Simple: Optional Memorial of St. Camillus de Lellis (Ex 3:1-6, 9-12; Ps 103; Mt 11:25-27) **************************************** What do the burning bush of Moses and a retreat have in common? May I suggest that both involve encountering God through fearless, humble faith? A retreat […]

HOMILY WEEK 15 02 – Year I Repent and Believe in the Good News – Optional Memorial: St. Henry (Exodus 2:1-15; Psalm 69; Matthew 11:20-24) *********************************************************** A dishonest painter cheated by thinning paint with water to paint a church. As long as it didn’t rain right away, he thought, he would be okay. That night […]

HOMILY WEEK 15 01 – Year I Putting Jesus First (Ex 1:8-22; Ps 124; Mt 10:34-11:1) ************************************** Late Fr. Mike McCaffery was a beloved diocesan priest from Edmonton on whom the city leaned to be their voice for special occasions. He presided at the wedding of Wayne Gretzky, and was called on to preside over […]

HOMILY SUNDAY 15 – B On Being Missionary Disciples (Amos 7:12-15; Eph 1:3-14; Mk 6:7-13) ************************************************* A young boy, after being baptised, was crying on his way home in the family car. His parents could not understand, as this should have been a happy occasion for them all. Finally, they were able to get the […]

HOMILY WEEK 14 06 – Year I To Love as God Loves (Gen 49:29-50:26; Ps 105; Mt 10:24-33) ***************************************** A theologian, when asked how simple he could make the Christian message, responded promptly: “Jesus loves me, this I know, because the bible tells me so.” He then added, “That little song I learned as a […]

HOMILY WEEK 14 05 – Year I When Life is Hard, Faith Runs Deeper: Optional Memorial of St Augustine Zhao Rong and Companions (Gen 46:1-7,28-30; Ps 37; Mt 10:16-23) ******************************************************* John Allen Jr., Globe and Mail correspondent to the Vatican, is working on his latest book. It will be on the persecution of Christians around […]