HOMILY LENT WEEK 03 03 – Year I The Nearness and Justice of God Fulfilled in Christ (Dt 4:1-9; Ps 147; Mt 5:17-19) ************************************************* We need to hear again the striking statement of Moses to the people, “What other nation has a god as near and as just as the Lord our God whenever we […]

HOMILY LENT WEEKDAY 03 02 – Year I Mature Faith as Fidelity and Forgiveness (Dan 3:25-43; Ps 25; Mt 18:21-35) ******************************************** Do you find it hard to trust in God and to forgive? Both readings today take us to the core of the gospel, which is mature faith as fidelity and forgiveness. We are invited […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 03 01 – Year I The Healing Power of Humble Faith Optional Memorial of St. John of God (2 Kg 5:1-15; Ps 42; Lk 4:24-30) *********************************** A little recovery joke fits today’s liturgy. The addict’s problem is not that he or she thinks, “I am very special.” Nor is it that he […]

HOMILY LENT SUNDAY 3 – B Living a Religion of the Heart (Exodus 20:1-17; Psalm 18; 1 Corinthians 1:18, 22-25; John 2:13-25) ********************************************************** An elderly lady was mailing an old family Bible to her brother in another part of the country. “Is there anything breakable in here?” asked the postal clerk. “Only the Ten Commandments,” […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 02 06 – Year I The Loving Father and Two Lost Sons (Micah 7:14-20; Ps 103; Lk 15:1-32) *********************************** Have you ever felt lost in sin, struggling with false pride, alienated from God, others and even yourself? There is a close link between the readings today, inviting us to come to God […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 02 05 – Year I A Choice of Two Tracks (Gen 37:3-28; Ps 105; Mt 21:33-46) ***************************************** Joe Walsh, former member of the Eagles, sings in his signature song “One Day at a Time” of his life at one time being like riding on a “runaway train heading for the end of […]

HOMILY WEEK 02 04 – Year I Pray for Peace; Work for Justice: Optional Memorial of St. Casimir (Jer 17:5-10; Ps 1; Lk 16:19-31) ********************************** Have you ever seen the bumper sticker “If you want peace, work for justice?” The readings today present us with a tweaked version: “If you want to live in joyful […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 02 03 – Year I Lessons from the Word (Jer 18:18-20; Ps 31; Mt 20:17-28) ********************************************** The Word of God today offers us four lessons for life, two from the Old Testament, and two from the Gospel: Forgive, trust, accept suffering like Jesus, and serve. In the first reading, people are planning […]

HOMILY WEEK 02 02 – Year I (Is 1:10-31; Ps 50; Mt 23:1-12) ********************************* Brother Tom Novak OMI of Winnipeg, makes social justice a main thrust of his ministry and was involved with a drama group called Just Theatre. They centred all their performances on an issue of justice. Today’s readings, using a little imagination, […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 02 01- Year I Seeing the Light (Dan 9:3-10; Ps 79; Lk 6:36-38) **************************************** We do not see light – we see by light. The closest we come to actually seeing light is through a prism or a rainbow that displays the beauty of light. Today, I can’t resist looking at the […]