HOMILY SUN 28 – A Your Kingdom Come (Isaiah 25:6-10a; Psalm 23; Philippians 4:10-14, 19-20; Matthew 22:1-14) ***************************************************************** “May Your Kingdom Come, But Not Yet.” That is the title of Oblate theologian and spiritual writer Ron Rolheiser’s recent article in Catholic newspapers. It resonates very much with the situation in the readings today – resistance […]

HOMILY WEEK 27 06 – Year II Hearing and Keeping the Word of God (Ga 3:22-29; Ps 105; Lk 11:27-28) ********************************************** In a way, all three readings today are about the Word of God. The first reading has a unique way of saying all of creation is under the bondage of original sin – “scripture […]

HOMILY WEEK 27 05 – Year II Holding Nothing Back: Optional Memorial of St. John Leonardi (Gal 3:6-14; Ps 111; Lk 11:15-26) ******************************************* “After Jesus had cast out a demon…” This Gospel passage seems to refer to Mary Magdalene, out of whom Jesus had cast seven demons. Visionary Ann Catherine Emerich claims after Jesus had […]

HOMILY WEEK 27 04 – Year II Faith Expressed Through Prayer (Ga 3:1-5; Lk 1:69-75; Lk 11:5-13) *************************************** There is a saying, “Pray as if everything depended on God; work as if everything depended on you.” That saying resonates with the readings today, inviting us to place our faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection, and […]

HOMILY WEEK 27 03 – Year II The Freshness of Our Faith: Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary (Ga 2:1-2,7-14; Ps 117; Lk 11:1-4) ***************************************** The movie Risen imparts to the viewer a glimpse of the freshness and hopeful newness the resurrection of Jesus brought to the early disciples, and to the whole world […]

HOMILY WEEK 27 02 – Year II Respect for Life, Conversion and Contemplation: Optional Memorial of Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher (Gal 1:13-34; Ps 139; Lk 10:38-42) ******************************************** Today’s liturgy provides us with a triple-header, much like in the world of baseball. Three major themes emerge from the readings that invite us to respect all life, enter […]

HOMILY WEEK 27 01 – Year II A Church of Good Samaritans – Loving as Jesus Loved (Gal 1:6-12; Ps 11; Lk 10:25-37) *************************************************** As participants in a course at the Tantur Ecumenical Centre in Jerusalem, we attended a Sabbath service, then we were invited to share a Sabbath meal in the home of a […]

HOMILY SUNDAY 27-A The Vineyard Given to Others (Isaiah 5:1-7; Psalm 80; Philippians 4:6-9; Matthew 21:33-43 ***************************************************** How are you responding to God’s call to build up his kingdom here on earth? Cherish the greatest gift of all – the Kingdom of God. Live in it and never lose it. I once began a strawberry […]

HOMILY WEEK 26 06 – Year II Humble Faith, Repentance and Awe (Job 42:1-17; Ps 119; Luke 10:17-24) ************************************************ “When you are dead, you do not know that you are dead – all of the pain is felt by others left behind. The same thing happens when you are stupid.” That cryptic saying, and the […]

HOMILY WEEK 26 02 – Year II Believing in Angels: Memorial of the Guardian Angels (Exodus 23:20-23; Ps 91; Mt 18:1-5, 10) ****************************************** A young boy asked his parents to be alone with his newly born baby sister. The parents listened in and heard him say to his little sister, “Quick, tell me what God […]