WEEK 21 01 Living Faith (1 Thes 1:1-10; Ps 149; Mt 23:13-22) *************************************** The problem of addicts is not that they think they are worms, nor that they think they are special. Their problem is that they think they are very special worms! This cute saying actually fits in with today’s liturgy. Usually, liturgists aim […]

HOMILY SUNDAY 21 – C By Fr. Alfred Groleau OMI at the Foyer Lacombe Chapel (Isaiah 66:18-21; Psalm 117; Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13; Lk 13:22-30) ************************************************************* It is good to remember that St. Luke situates Jesus on his journey back to Jerusalem. This journey covers the second half of his Gospel. It tells us that Jesus […]

HOMILY WEEK 20 06 – Year I Called to Unite Heaven and Earth: Feast of St. Bartholomew (Rev 21:9b-14; Ps 145; Jn 1:45-51) ******************************************** A somewhat forgetful preacher at a wedding was an ardent fisherman.  He asked the groom, “Do you promise to love, honor, and cherish this woman?” “I do,” said the groom meekly. […]

HOMILY WEEKDAY 20 05 – Year I Going Beyond the Law: Optional Memorial of St. Rose of Lima (Ruth 1:1-22; Ps 146; Mt 22:34-40) ******************************************** Keep it simple, sweetheart! We are probably more accustomed to a less flattering version of that saying, but I prefer this more positive rendering. It also applies to the teaching […]

HOMILY WEEK 20 04 – Year I Stop Sinning and Start Loving: Memorial of the Queenship of Mary (Judges 11:29-39; Ps 40; Mt 22:1-14) ********************************************** The readings for today’s memorial of the Queenship of Mary (there are optional readings from the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary) provide us with a challenge: how are we […]

HOMILY WEEK 20 03 – Year I Playing Ball in the Kingdom of God: Memorial of St Pius X (Judges 9:6-15; Ps 21; Mt 20:1-16) ***************************************** Have you ever resented someone else’s good fortune? The gospel today invites us to look at reality from a deeper, broader faith perspective. As a young scholastic, I once […]

HOMILY WEEK 20 02 – Year I Humble Faith and Spiritual Warfare: Memorial of St. Bernard of Clairvaux (Judges 6:11-24; Ps 85; Mt 19:23-30) *************************************************** August 21, 2017, was a memorable day for millions of people in North America as they witnessed a solar eclipse – total for some and partial for many more. That […]

HOMILY WEEK 20 01- Year I Our Journey into Deeper Healing: Memorial of St John Eudes (Judges 2:11-19; Ps 106; Mt 19:16-22) ************************************************* Where are we at on our healing journey? The readings today fit the two stages of spiritual growth described by St. John of the Cross – the Dark Night of the Senses, […]

HOMILY SUNDAY 20 – C Treaty Making and Covenant Living (Jeremiah 38:1-2, 4-6, 8-10; Psalm 40; Hebrews 12:1-4; Luke 12:49-53) **************************************************************** On the anniversary of Treaty # 10, there was a large gathering in Brochet, Manitoba, to celebrate the occasion. That occasion raises the questions, “What is the greatest treaty of all?” Our celebration today […]

HOMILY WEEK 19 06 – Year I Faith – Beyond Happiness to Joy (Jos 24:14-29; Ps 16; Mt 19:13-15) *************************************** Some time ago I learned of the book The Happiness Trap, a title that intrigued me, as I am contemplating writing a book on the theme of joy as a follow-up to my latest book […]