A Shoot Shall Come Out (Is 11:1-10; Ps 72; Lk 10:21-24) **************************************** There is a bumper sticker that reads, “If you want peace, work for justice.” The powerful readings for day two of the first week of Advent inspire us to adapt it to become, “If you want peace, justice and joy in your life, […]
Category: Homilies
HOMILY ADVENT SUNDAY 01 – C
Celebrate a Triple-Header (Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm 25; 1 Thes 3:12-4:2; Luke 21:25-28, 34-36) ************************************************************ In the world of baseball, a triple-header is when two teams play three games against each other in succession over a few days. That sporting event pales in comparison with the liturgical triple-header that is involved in the season of Advent […]
HOMILY WEEK 34 03 – YR II
Worship and Witness (Rev 15:1-4; Ps 98; Lk 21:12-19) *************************************** During this last week of the liturgical year, the readings continue an apocalyptic theme, as well as two scenes – a heavenly one and an earthly one and the connection between the two. The opening prayer provides the underlying message: Pray to see what must […]
HOMILY WEEK 34 02 – Yr II
Carpe Diem (Rev 14:14-19; Ps 96; Lk 21:5-11) ********************************** A message offered us by the movie Dead Poet’s Societyis to Carpe Diem– to grasp the day, to make the most of our time each day. Our liturgy today in this final week of ordinary time encourages us to make all our time here on earth […]
HOMILY WEEK 34 01 – Yr II
Giving All to Christ (Rev 14:1-5; Ps 24; Lk 21:1-4) ********************************* The message of the gospel today is to put our complete faith in Christ; to surrender to him totally. It is interesting that in one translation, Jesus looked up and sawor watched rich people put donations into the treasury, but he noticedthe poor widow […]
HOMILY CHRIST THE KING SUNDAY B
Christ the Servant King (Daniel 7:13-14; Psalm 93; Rev 1:5-8; John 18:33-37) ********************************************************** A wife heard her husband come back into the house not too long after he had left. She said, “Hon, I thought you were going to your lodge meeting.” “It was postponed,” He replied, “The wife of the Grand Exalted Invincible Supreme […]
HOMILY WEEK 33 06 – Yr II
The Transfiguration and Resurrection Memorial: St Andrew Dung-Lac and Companions (Rev 11:4-12; Ps 144; Lk 20:27-40) ********************************************** During a course I once took on addiction’s awareness, I found out only two out of twenty-three participants actually believed in the resurrection. All the others were into reincarnation. A friend tells me her niece seemed to also […]
HOMILY WEEK 33 05 – Yr II
The Word of God (Rev 10:8-11; Ps 119; Lk 19:45-48) ********************************* The Law of the Lord is sweet, like honey to the mouth. A message that can be drawn from the readings today is to pray more contemplatively, to focus on the Word of God. According to Robert Barron, the Messiah had four distinct roles: […]
HOMILY WEEK 33 04 – Yr II
Victorious in Christ – Memorial: St. Cecilia (Rev 5:1-10; Ps 149; Lk 19:41-44) ****************************************** Recall your experience of winning an event of any kind, the feelings involved of being on the winning side and the way those feelings return when we remember the event, like Canada winning Olympic gold. I remember the highway I was […]
HOMILY WEEK 33 03 – Yr II
Memorial: Presentation of Mary (Rev 4:1-11; Ps 150; Lk 19:11-28) *********************************** This memorial of the Presentation of Mary is a commemoration of 543 dedication of the basilica St. Mary the New in Jerusalem. In 1585 this memorial spread to the Western Church. An apocryphal account tells us of Joachim and Anna bringing Mary as a […]
