HOMILY WEEK 02 06 – Year I Living in the Freedom of the Children of God (Heb 9:2-14; Ps 47; Mk 3:20-21) **************************************************** Amanda wrapped up an emotional talk at a Search weekend for youth by turning to towards me sitting close by, tears in her eyes, and asked a plaintive question, “I wonder if […]

HOMILY WEEK 02 05 – Year I Religion of the Heart: Optional Memorial of St. Vincent of Saragossa (Heb 8:6-13; Ps 85; Mk 3:13-19) ************************************************** “I will put my laws in their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” That sentence, and the […]

HOMILY WEEK 02 04 – Year I Living in an Intimate Covenant Relationship with God: Memorial of St. Agnes (Heb 7:25-8:6; Ps40; Mk 3:7-12) ****************************************************** A young man shared a dilemma with a friend. He was in love with two young women. One was a wonderful baker, and the other a wonderful poet, and he […]

HOMILY WEEK 02 03 – Year I Towards a More Peaceful, Pure Faith: Optional Memorial of St. Fabian (Heb 7:1-3,15-17; Ps 110; Mk 3:1-6) *********************************************** Which of the following statements resonates most deeply with you: Law and legalism, or love and relationships? The readings today invite us to deepen our faith in Jesus as Son […]

HOMILY WEEK 02 02 – Year I Covenants of Hope and Love (Heb 6:10-20; Ps 111; Mk 2:23-28) *************************************** “God is ever mindful of his covenant.” That sentence from today’s psalm, along with the first reading and gospel not as connected as usual, combine to invite us to be a people in a covenant relationship […]

HOMILY WEEK 02 01 – Year I New Wine of Eternal Life; Fresh Skins of Humble Obedience: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (Heb 5:1-10; Ps 110; Mk 2:18-22) *************************************** The superior of a religious community of women was on her death bed. One of the sisters, whose father found drinking a little brandy each […]

HOMILY SUNDAY 02 – B The Dynamics of Discipleship and Friendship (1 Samuel 3:3b-10, 19; Psalm 40; 1 Corinthians 6:13c-15a, 17-20; John 1:35-42) ***************************************************************** Four mothers were talking about their ordained sons. One proudly said her son was a bishop and everyone addressed him as “Your Excellency.” Another stated that her son was an archbishop, […]

HOMILY WEEK 01 06 – Year I Following Jesus (Heb 4:12-16; Ps 19; Mk 2:13-17) *********************************** “God accepts us as we are, but believes in whom we can become.” That quote from Sr. Teresita Kambeitz OSU, underlines the message from today’s readings: we are called to follow Jesus into a new life of mercy, grace […]

HOMILY WEEK 01 05 – Year I Faith, Forgiveness and Healing (Heb 4:1-11; Ps 78; Mk 2:1-12) ****************************************** Years ago, musician and songwriter Cary Landry came out with the hymn Lay Your Hands. One line in particular stands out: Let them bring your forgiveness and healing. The Gospel today on the healing of the paralytic […]

HOMILY WEEK 01 04 – Year I Torah and Temple, or Partners of Christ (Heb 3:7-14; Ps 95; Mk 1:40-45) ************************************************* Have you ever felt guilty for not picking up a hitch-hiker? Or not reaching out to a man seemingly lost in a parking lot? Today’s liturgy invites us to go far beyond the rubrics […]