HOMILY SUNDAY 05 – YEAR A Be Salt and Light to the World (Isaiah 58:7-10; Ps 111; 1 Cor 2:1-5; Mt 5:13-16) *********************************************** “Let your light shine” is one of the teachings of the Christopher Leadership course on effective speaking. It could also well be the message of the Gospel for today’s celebration of the […]

HOMILY WEEK 04 05 – Year II David and John the Baptist: Model of Repentance and Faith (Eccles 47:2-13; Ps 17; Mk 6:14-29) ******************************************************** Repent, heal and realize our dignity is a message from the readings today. Ben Sirach, in the first reading, extols and exalts David, in spite of the fact that he committed […]

HOMILY WEEK 04 04 – Year II Our Royal, Missionary Mandate: Memorial of St. Paul Miki and Companions (1 Kg 2:1-12; 1 Chron 29; Mk 6:7-13 ******************************************** While travelling as a university student with Cast C of the international singing group Up With Peoplein 1969, we performed for King Beaudoin and Queen Fabiola of Belgium […]

HOMILY WEEK 04 03 – Year II Truly Trusting or Taking Offence? Memorial of St. Agatha (2 Sam 24:2-17; Ps 32; Mk 6:1-6) ************************************** “They took offense at him.” (Mark 6:3) Today’s readings present us with a choice – to truly trust in Jesus or to end up, in one form or another, taking offense […]

HOMILY WEEK 04 01 – Year II On Not Throwing Stones: Optional Memorial of St. Blaise (2 Sam 15:13 – 16:13; Ps 3; Mk 5:1-200 *********************************************** A vain king who lived in a glass palace and loved hording, kept on buying more and more thrones and storing them in his attic. Finally, one day they […]

HOMILY YEARS ABC The Presentation of the Lord (Malachi 3:1-4; Psalm 24; Heb 2:10-18; Lk 2:22-24) ****************************************************** A traveller in Africa tells this story of passing through a drought-stricken area and being followed by a small, emaciated, hungry, shy boy who came out of the bush. Whenever the traveller stopped, the boy stopped also. Finally, […]

HOMILY WEEK 03 06 – Year II With Jesus in Our Boats (2 Sam 12:1-17; Ps 51; Mk 4:35-41) ******************************************** Have you ever prayed with your emotions? Have faith in Jesus and in the power of prayer. Today’s familiar account of Jesus calming the storm highlights the fear and lack of faith of the disciples, […]

HOMILY WEEK 03 05 – Year II Faith Like A Mustard Seed: Memorial of St John Bosco (2 Sam 11:1-17; Ps 51; Mk 4:26-34) ************************************* The Gospel for today features the parable of the mustard seed. Bishop Robert Barron starts us off with this reflection: How does God tend to work? From the very small […]

HOMILY WEEK 03 03 – Year II Stories of Unconditional Love: (2 Sam 7:1-17; Ps 89; Mk 4:1-20) ********************************************************** Today’s liturgy offers us two stories of unconditional love to ponder: a covenant relationship, and the prodigality of God’s Word, both inviting us to be open to the Word of God and live it out in […]