Seeking the Kingdom of Love (Dt 26:16-19; Ps 119; Mt 5:43-48) ******************************************* Years ago, John Lennon sang, “All you need is love.” Although the kind of love that he was singing about probably does not speak to the kingdom that Jesus teaches us about, he was right – life is all about love and love, […]
Category: Homilies
HOMILY LENT WEEK 01 05 – Yr II
Repentance, Reconciliation, Righteousness, Relationships (Ezk 18:21-28; Ps 130; Mt 5:20-26) ************************************************** Four “R” words sum up the readings for today: Repentance leads to reconciliation which leads to righteousness that in the end results in restored relationships. Sinners who repent and become righteous (in a right relationship with God, others, themselves and all of God’s creation) […]
HOMILY CHAIR OF ST PETER – FEAST
(1 Pt 5:1-4; Ps 23; Mt 16:13-19) ********************************** This is one of the rare moments when we can actually sing the “Gloria” during Lent. The reason is the feast of the Chair of St. Peter. This feast invites us to emulate Peter’s faith, fidelity and ministry. According to the Living With Christ commentary on this […]
HOMILY LENT WEEK 01 02 – Yr II
Will Power and the Power of God’s Word (Is 55:10-11; Ps 34;Mt 6:7-15) *************************************************** Will of God and Word of God – two expressions that capture the essence of today’s readings. They present us with a clear message: listen to God’s Word and strive to do God’s will. The first reading speaks eloquently about the […]
HOMILY LENT WEEK 01 01 – Yr II
Doing the Works of Mercy (Lev 19:1-18; Ps 19; Mt 25:31-46) ************************************* Did you know that today’s first reading contains the one sentence that Jesus used to give us a new commandment? The two readings combine to flesh out that command: be holy, love and care. In the first reading, God speaks to Moses and […]
HOMILY LENT SUNDAY 01 – B
Living Good News (Genesis 9:8-15; Psalm 25; 1 Peter 3:18-22; Mark 1:12-15 ) ********************************************************** Two movies speak to the readings today. The first, most obviously, would be Noah, which more or less literally portrays how Noah and his family are snatched out of a wicked world to hopefully begin anew, almost against Noah’s own worldview. […]
HOMILY ASH WEDNESDAY – Years ABC
Lent – a Time of Repentance and Healing (Joel 2:12-18; Psalm 51; 2Cor 5:20-6:2; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18) ********************************************************* A dishonest painter hired to paint a church building thinned his paint with water. As long as it didn’t rain he would be okay he thought. That night there was a rainstorm. He ran to the Church […]
HOMILY WEEK 06 01 – Yr II
Humility, Wisdom and Joy (James 1:1-11; Ps 119; Mk 8:11-13) ************************************** Humility, Wisdom and Joy. Those three words can be a profound seven-syllable mantra for contemplative prayer emerging from today’s readings. They provide us with a compelling message: Be humble, pray for wisdom and we will experience joy. Psalm 119 sets the tone, with its […]
HOMILY SUNDAY 06 – B
Holistic Healing (Leviticus 13:1-2, 45-46; Psalm 32; 1 Cor 10:23-11.1; Mark 1:40-45) **************************************************************** Fr. Lucien Larré, founder of Bosco homes for delinquent teenagers and well-known speaker and presenter of parish missions, shares an experience he had of a healing. A sister who had worked for him developed MS to the point where she was bedridden […]
HOMILY WEEK 05 04 Yr II
Humble Faith in Jesus – St. Josphine Bakhita (1 Kg 11:4-13; Ps 106; Mk 7:24-30) ************************************************* In today’s first reading, the famous King Solomon lost his mind in old age and fell into idolatry in an attempt to please his wives, even though God had appeared to him to chastise and try to correct him. […]
