HOMILY WEEK 04 02 On Being Open to the Newness of Faith (Ezk 47:1-12; Ps 46; Jn 5:1-16) ************************************ In the busyness of preparing for giving presentations at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress one year, I neglected to water the plants before leaving. Upon my return, I was shocked to see our pepper plant […]

LENT SUNDAY 04 – C The Loving Father and Two Lost Sons (Joshua 5:9, 10-12; Psalm 34; 2 Cor 5:17-21; Lk 15:1-3; 11-32) ************************************************************ Take a minute to think of all that you have done wrong in your life. What punishment do you think you deserve from God? Be an ambassador of reconciliation. Forgive as […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 03 06 Responding to a Relational God (Hos 5:15-6:6; Ps 51; Lk 18:9-14) **************************************** Have you ever tried to earn anyone’s love? The readings today invite us to respond to a relational God through humble honesty, trusting repentance and grateful service. The tendency to try to earn someone’s love is a rather […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 03 05 Walking With God (Hos 14:1-9; Ps 81; Mk 12:28-34) ********************************* A lady confessed she was guilty of the sin of narcissism. When asked by the confessor what that meant, she replied she was totally centered on herself, spent all her time on her make-up, hair, nails, looking in the mirror, […]

HOMILY WEEK 03 04 Willing or Willful – our Choice (Jer 7:23-28; Ps 95; Lk 11:14-23) *********************************** The late Gerald May wrote a book entitled Will and Spirit. In it he speaks of the gift of free will we have been given by God he claims is one of our most precious attributes as human […]

HOMILY WEEK 03 03 Life, Law and Love (Dt 4:1-9; Ps 147; Mt 5:17-19) ********************************* Keep the law – and live in the Reign of God. In the first reading today, Moses reminds the people of the law as pure gift revealing the mind and the will of God. Keeping the law diligently assures them […]

LENT WEEKDAY 03 – 02 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 to trust in […]

FEAST OF THE ANNUNCIATION Birthing Jesus into the World in Imitation of Mary (Isaiah 7:10-14, 8:10d; Ps 40; Heb 10:4-10; Lk 1:26-28) ************************************************* Sr. Connie Piska of Edmonton gave me a gift she made for my priestly ordination in 1974 that still hangs on a wall in the bathroom so that I see it every […]

LENT SUN 03-C (Homily 01) The Barren Fig Tree (Exodus 3:1-8a, 13-15; Psalm 103; 1 Cor 19:1-6, 10-12; Lk 13:1-9) ********************************************************* Are you familiar with the term First Responders?They are generous individuals in many communities who have had special training to be the first on the scene of a tragedy or accident. They know what […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 02 06 Two Kinds of Lostness (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, all inviting us to come to God for both forgiveness and healing. […]