HOMILY WEEK 08 05 – Year I Forgiveness – Fruit of Faith (Sirach 44:1, 8-13; Ps 149; Mark 11:11-25) ************************************************ Why is it impossible to starve in a desert? One can always eat the sand which is under our feet! The readings today provide us with a spiritual sandwich that is all about faith and […]

HOMILY WEEK 08 04 – Year I The Healing of Bartimaeus: Faith, Healing and Following Jesus Optional Memorial of Saint Augustine of Canterbury (Sirach 42:15-25; Ps 33; Mk 10:46-52) ****************************************************** “Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’” The gospel today invites […]

HOMILY WEEK 08 03 – Year I Following Jesus Through Sacrifice and Service: Optional Memorial of St. Philip Neri (Sirach 36:1-22; Ps 79; Mk 10:32-45) ************************************** “Jesus and the disciples were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them.” The readings today invite us to follow Jesus through sacrifice […]

HOMILY WEEK 08 02 – Year I Keep My Commandments: Optional Memorial of Pope St. Gregory the Great (Sir 35:1-15; Ps 50; Mk 10:28-31) ******************************************* Yesterday’s gospel was about the attachment of the rich young man to his wealth, and the need for detachment, leaving all to follow Christ. Today the Gospel presents us with […]

HOMILY WEEK 08 01 – Year I Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church (Gen 3:9-15,20; Judith 13:18-20; Jn 19:25-27) *********************************************************** Take a moment to think of your mother. What thoughts come to mind, and what feelings flood your heart? Hopefully gratitude, warmth, tenderness, affection for her virtues, and compassion for her […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 01 02 – Year I The Word That Transforms: Optional Memorial of St. Polycarp (Is 55:10-11; Ps 34; Mt 6:7-15) ****************************************** “My word shall not return empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” This phrase spoken to the world by […]

HOMILY WEEK 06 02 – Year I A Paradigm Shift of Faith (Gen 6:5-10; Ps 29; Mk 8:14-21) **************************************************** Have you ever experienced a paradigm shift? A paradigm shift is a movement away from one way of seeing reality, thinking or acting, to an entirely new way of seeing reality, thinking or acting. For those […]

HOMILY WEEK 06 01 – Year I Mastering Sin and Fostering an Attitude of Gratitude (Gen 4:1-25; Ps 50; Mk 8:11-13) ***************************************************** “Sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.” (Genesis 4:7) The readings today invite us to turn to God for the spiritual help and healing […]

HOMILY SUNDAY 06 – B Living in Faith and Freedom (Leviticus 13:1-2, 45-46; Psalm 32; 1 Cor 10:23-11.1; Mark 1:40-45) **************************************************************** Some years ago, there was an item in the news about a nurse who was very upset towards the government. She had returned from tending to those suffering from Ebola in Africa, and although […]

HOMILY WEEK 05 06 – Year I Responding to Love with Love (Gn 3:9-24; Ps 90; Mk 8:1-10) ************************************** Many years ago, the Beatles sang a song, “All You Need Is Love.” That song resonates with the readings for today, which remind us of the depth of God’s love for us, and our call to […]