SOLEMNITY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Balancing Devotion with Imitation (Gen 3:9-20; Ps 98; Eph 1:3-12; Lk 1:26-38) ********************************************************** A husband asked his wife why she had purchased an expensive dress after she had told him she was only going window shopping. She replied that she did go window shopping and when she saw that beautiful […]

HOMILY ADVENT SUNDAY 02 A Truly New World Order (Isaiah 11:1-10; Romans 15:4-9; Matthew 3:1-12) *********************************************** There is a triple level of prophecy in the readings today. First, Isaiah prophecies about a new world order that will be ushered in by a child. Then in the Gospel, Matthew has Isaiah prophesying about John the Baptist, […]

HOMILY ADVENT WEEK 01 06 – Year II Isaiah’s Offering of Hope and Healing: Memorial of St. Ambrose (Is 30:19-26; Ps 147; Mt 9:35 – 10:8) **************************************************** Are you shocked at the number of drug-related deaths due to the opioid crisis in our society today? Could that be an indication of a deeper spiritual malaise, […]

HOMILY ADVENT WEEK 01 05 – Year I Seeing with the Eyes of Faith: Optional Memorial of St. Nicholas (Isaiah 29:17-24; Ps 27; Mt 9:27-31) ************************************ “Do you see what I see?” This line from a familiar Christmas Carol, along with today’s readings, invite us to see Jesus with the eyes of faith, and come […]

HOMILY ADVENT WEEK 01 04 – Year II Humble and Obedient Faith in God (Isaiah 26:1-6; Ps 118; Mt 7:21, 24-27) *************************************************** “Only the ones who do the will of my Father in heaven will enter the kingdom of God.” Jesus could not be clearer or more direct than this teaching: “Not everyone who says […]

HOMILY ADVENT WEEK 01 03 – Year II Realized Eschatology and Abundant Grace: Optional Memorial of St. John Damascene (Is 25:6-10; Ps 23; Mt 15:29-37) ************************************************* Did you realize that we are actually to be immersed in realized eschatology? Christian life is all about both living in the graced reign of God here and now, […]

HOMILY ADVENT WEEK 01 02 – Year II The Healing Power of Advent: Memorial of St. Francis Xavier (Is 11:1-10; Ps 72; Lk 10:21-24) ********************************************** Have you ever compared your spiritual growth to the process of raising poinsettias? The readings today invite us to slow down this Advent, enter more deeply into contemplative silence, become […]

HOMILY ADVENT WEEK 01 01- Year A Faith in Jesus and the Inclusive Love of God (Is 4:2-6; Ps 122; Mt 8:5-11, 13) ********************************************** “Many will come from the east and the west and will recline … at the banquet in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 8:11). Today’s readings for this first weekday of Advent […]

HOMILY ADVENT SUNDAY 01 – A Best Practices for Advent (Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:37-44) ********************************************************** Happy New Year! That is a very appropriate greeting as we begin a new liturgical year. Something else that is quite appropriate at the beginning of a New Year is the making of New Year’s resolutions. […]