HOMILY WEEK 20 02 – Year II Temples of the Holy Spirit and Humble Integrity Memorial – The Queenship of Mary (Ezk 43:1-7; Ps 85; Mt 23:1-12) **************************************************** The glory of the Lord entered the temple (Ezk 43:4). The readings for today (there are other options) invite us to be temples of the Holy Spirit, […]

HOMILY WEEKDAY 20 05 – Year II Be Humble and Walk the Talk: Memorial of St. Pius X (Ezk 43:1-7; Ps 85; Mt 23:1-12) *********************************** If a topic were to be given to this homily, emerging from the readings, it would be “Be Humble and Walk the Talk.” Once again in the Gospel, we see […]

HOMILY WEEK 20 04 – Year II Wearing the Wedding Garment:  Memorial of St. Bernard (Ezk 36:23-28; Ps 51; Mt 22:1-14) ************************************************************* Have you ever felt out of place because you were not dressed right for a particular occasion? Today’s readings invite us to put on the garments of profound repentance, deep faith and genuine […]

HOMILY WEEK 20 03 – Year II On Being Good Shepherds in the Kingdom of God: Optional Memorial of St. John Eudes (Ezk 34:1-11; Ps 23; Mt 20:1-16) ************************************************ Did you know that by our baptism, we are shepherd-kings, called to help shepherd God’s people? The readings today challenge us to deeper caring and greater […]

HOMILY WEEK 20 02 – Year II Humble Honesty – Key to the Kingdom (Ezk 28:1-10; Dt 32; Mt 19:23-30) ******************************************* Danny’s wife called me at two am, asking desperately if he could come to see me. Apparently depressed despite being on anti-depressants, unable to sleep despite taking sleeping pills, restless and grouchy, he was, […]

HOMILY WEEK 20 01 – Year II Trusting Surrender and the Rich Young Man (Ezk 24:15-24; Dt 32; Mt 19:16-22) ****************************************************** “Made a decision to turn our lives and our wills over to the care of God as we understood God.” That simple statement (Step 3 of the 12 Step program), I submit, captures the message […]

HOMILY SUNDAY 20 – A Pray for Faith; Claim your Healing (Isaiah 56:1, 6-7; Psalm 67; Romans 11:13-15; 29-32; Matthew 15:21-28) ************************************************************* Here is one person’s creative version of the Bible in 50 words: God made, Adam bit, Noak arked, Abraham split, Joseph ruled, Jacob fooled, bush talked, Moses balked, Pharoah plagued, people walked, sea […]

HOMILY FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION Mary, Model of Virtues (Rev 11:19a; 12:1-6a;10; Ps 45;1 Cor 15:20-26; Lk 1:39-56) ******************************************************* Today we celebrate the solemnity of the assumption of Mary into heaven – a good occasion to reflect on the role of Mary in our lives. If, as papal preacher Fr. Cantalemessa claims, imitation of Mary […]

HOMILY WEEK 19 05 – Year II Chosen to Live an Iconic Ideal: Memorial of St. Maximilian Kolbe (Ezk 16:1-15,60,63; Is 12; Mt 19:3-12) ******************************************* A wanderer visiting Bro. Anthony noticed a beautiful manuscript in his cell. He stole it and took it to a book vendor to sell it. The vendor replied he would […]

HOMILY WEEK 19 04 – Year II The Power of Forgiveness and The Power to Forgive: Optional Memorial of Saints Pontian and Hippolytus (Ezk 12:1-16;Ps 78; Mt 18:21-19:1) *************************************************** Robert, who had a few drinks at a business event, accidently struck and injured a young girl as he was driving through an intersection. Technically it […]