HOMILY WEEK 7 05 Marriage and Friendship (Sirach 6:5-17; Mk 10:1-12) ********************************* The readings today speak to us of marriage and friendship and the connection between the two. In so doing, they invite us to strive to be faithful friends to the Lord and to one another. In the Gospel, Jesus is confronted with the […]

HOMILY WEEK 07 04 Contemplative Prayer and Genuine Love (Sir 5:1-8; Ps 1; Mk 9:41-50) ****************************************** “I think I shall never see, a poem lovely as a tree.” That opening line from a famous poem by Joyce Kilmer serves as an inspiration to see a tree as a metaphor for the message of today’s readings: […]

HOMILY WEEK 07 03 Living and Loving in Jesus’ Name (Sir 4:11-19; Ps 119; Mk 9:38-40) ************************************** Years ago, I received the gift of a small book entitled “What’s In A Name?” It described the origin of the names of all the communities in my home province of Saskatchewan. It was enlightening, interesting and somehow even […]

HOMILY WEEK 07 02 Childlike Trust in God (Sir 2:1-11; Ps 37; Mk 9:30-37) *********************************** A young man asked his friends if they believed he could push a wheelbarrow on a high wire over Niagara Falls. They of course said no so he did it. Then he asked his friends if they believed he could […]

HOMILY WEEK 07 01 Poustinia – A Way to Fast and Pray (Sir 1:1-10; Ps 93; Mk 9:14-29) ************************************* Would you like to have a stronger, more powerful faith? Consider doing a monthly poustinia in which you fast, and pray the prayer of the troubled father in the Gospel today: “I believe, help my unbelief!” It is […]

HOMILY SUNDAY 7-C Give; Forgive, and Let Live (1 Sm 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-25; Psalm 103; 1 Cor 15:45-50; Lk 6:27-38) **************************************************************** Have you ever heard the statement, “I’ll forgive, but I won’t forget”? Or have you ever heard someone say in a loud, angry voice, “I’m NOT angry!”? Live the Law of Love: Forgive, […]

HOMILY WEEK 06 06 Faith to Die For – Memorial: St. Polycarp (Heb 11:1-7; Ps 145; Mk 9:2-13) ******************************************* How strong is your faith? Can it lead you on a personal journey of healing and transformation that will help change the world? The first reading highlights the importance of faith in our lives. There is […]

CHAIR OF ST PETER – FEAST Peter’s Amazing Faith (1 Pt 5:1-4; Ps 23; Mt 16:13-19) ********************************** This feast invites us to emulate Peter’s faith, fidelity and ministry. According to the Living With Christcommentary on this feast, early Roman Christians celebrated a feast in honour of their departed loved ones on this day, including their […]

HOMILY WEEK 06 04 Transformative Faith (Gen 9:1-13; Ps 102; Mk 8:27-33) *********************************** When in the Holy Land in 2013 for a sabbatical, our group of priests found our way to northeastern Galilee, to Caesarea Philippi. There, we experienced the thrill of standing where Jesus once stood, and reflected on his message to his disciples […]

HOMILY WEEK 06 03 Faith that Transforms; A Love that Heals (Gen 8:6-22; Ps 116; Mk 8:22-26) ******************************************* Have you ever participated in a trust walk? The readings today invite us to place our complete trust in Jesus, experience his unconditional love, and become a new creation. Youth ministers sometimes blindfold participants and have them […]