WEEKDAY LENT 02 05 – Year II Resisting Repentance (Gen 37:3-28; Ps 105; Mt 21:33-46) ******************************************* The poet, Robert Frost, wrote these memorable words: “Something there is that does not love a wall; that sends the groundswell under it.” There is something in human nature that does not love goodness; that resists it and seeks […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 02 04 – Year II Living the Theological Virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity (Jer 17:5-10; Ps 1: Lk 16:19-31) *************************************************** The parish of St. Albert, Alberta, for its anniversary celebration some years ago, chose the theme “Rooted in Faith, Living with Hope, Growing in Love.” That theme fits todays readings inviting […]

HOMILY WEEK 02 03 – Year II Faith, Suffering and Service (Jer18:18-20; Ps 31; Mt 20:17-28) ************************************* Activist Daniel Berrigan once stated that before deciding to follow Jesus, we should consider how good we look on wood! The message from today’s readings is simple and straightforward: following Jesus will involve suffering and service. This is […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 02 02 – Year II The Making of a Lenten Stew (Is 1:10-31; Ps 50; Mt 23:1-12) ******************************************* The readings today make a good stew. A stew includes some main ingredients, such as meat, potatoes, carrots, peas, garlic, and onion, and lots of spices. Then it is slow cooked to perfection. The […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 02 01 – Year II Giving and Receiving – Gospel Karma: Optional Memorial of St. Frances of Rome (Dan 9:3-10; Ps 79; Lk 6:36-38) ************************************************ The last line of today’s gospel (the measure we give is the measure we get) seems like a throw-away line, but in a homily for today, Ron […]

HOMILY LENT SUNDAY 2 A The Transfiguration – To Glory Through the Cross (Genesis 12:1-4; Psalm 33; 2 Timothy 1:8b-10; Matthew 17:1-9) *********************************************************** A couple who had been married for 25 years were also celebrating their 60th birthdays.  During the celebration a fairy appeared and said that because they had been such a loving couple […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 02 06 – YEAR II On Being as Compassionate as God (Micah 7:14-15, 18-30; Ps 103; Lk 15:1-3, 11-32) *********************************************** When was the last time you saw a play? Today’s liturgy unfolds like a three-act play, inviting us to be as compassionate as our God is compassionate. The prophet Micah provides the […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 01 05 – Year II Repentance, Reconciliation, Righteousness, and Restored Relationships (Ezk 18:21-28; Ps 130; Mt 5:20-26) *********************************************************** Five words starting with “R” sum up the readings for today: Repentance leads to Reconciliation which leads to Righteousness that in the end results in Restored Relationships. Sinners who repent and become righteous (in […]

HOMILY WEEK 01 04 – Year II On Faith, Prayer and Living the Golden Rule (Esther 14:1-14; Ps 138; Mt 7:7-12) ******************************************** Two young brothers, staying at their grandparents’ house overnight, were saying their night prayers – one quietly, the other shouting out his desire for a new bike as loud as he could. The […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 01 03 – Year II Repent, Believe and Heal (Jon 3:1-10; Ps 51; Lk 11:29-32) ************************************** The people of Nineveh — proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth. (Jonah 3:5) Today’s readings proclaim a clear message – believe and repent, which coincides with the first words […]