On Being Church (Isaiah 22:15, 19-23; Psalm 138; Romans 11:33-36; Matthew 16:13-20) ************************************************************* Here is a quiz for you. CH – – CH: What’s missing? The answer is “U” “R”. Without you, the Church is incomplete. The Gospel today speaks not only of who Jesus is for us, but also of who we are for […]
Category: Homilies
HOMILY WEEK 20 06 – Year I
Be humble and Walk the Talk (Ruth 2:1-17; Ps 128; Mt 23:1-12) ************************************* “Do what they teach you, but not what they do, because they do not practice what they teach.” The gospel today is inviting us to be humble, and to be persons of integrity living our faith – to “walk the talk.” I […]
HOMILY WEEK 20 05 – Year I
WEEKDAY 20 05 Going Beyond the Law (Ruth 1:1-22; Ps 146; Mt 22:34-4-) ***************************** Keep it simple, sweetheart! We are probably more accustomed to a less flattering version of that saying, but I prefer this version that is much more positive. It also applies to the teaching of Jesus when asked which was the greatest […]
FEAST OF ST BARTHOLOMEW – Week 20 02
Disciples Evangelizing for the Kingdom (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. “Okay,” said the minister to the bride, “Reel him in.” Casting a […]
HOMILY WEEK 20 03 – St. Rose of Lima
The Kingdom of God as a Ball Game (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 questioned my spiritual director about the value of going to confession, […]
MEMORIAL: THE QUEENSHIP OF MARY – Weekday 20 02
Humble Faith and Spiritual Warfare (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 experience elicited some very interesting responses such as “Awesome, life-changing, beyond words, humbling.” […]
HOMILY SUNDAY 20 A
HOMILY SUNDAY 20 – A Check That Attitude (Isaiah 56:1, 6-7; Psalm 67; Romans 11:13-15; 29-32; Matthew 15:21-28) ************************************************************* A pious man complained to a rabbi that after years of praying and laboring long and hard for the Lord, he realized he was still just an ordinary man. The rabbi replied that the realization he […]
HOMILY Week 19 05
WEEKDAY 19 05 Eunuchs on a Healing Journey for the Kingdom of God (Jos 24:1-13;Ps 136; Mt 19:3-12) *********************************************** The first reading today seems to miss a few other groups that the Israelis had to face upon entering the promised land: the Gigabytes and the Terrabytes! Each reading today holds a key message for us: […]
HOMILY 20 04
HOMILY WEEKDAY 19 – 04 Our Own Exodus Journey and Paschal Mystery Experience (Jos 3:7-17; Ps 114; Mt 18:21-19:1) **************************************************** One day, Louis, a tall Cree recovering alcoholic, came into my office and shared his story with me: a drunk for years, sobriety, joining AA, a dry drunk for four years, organizing Round-ups and chairing […]
WEEK 18 06
WEEK 18 06 Our Mustard Seed Faith (Dt 6:4-13; Ps 18:2-51; Mt 17:14-20) **************************************** On a recent pilgrimage to the Holy Land trip, I noticed a Jewish man wrap a coil of leather around his arm and proceed to pray in a corner of the airport, as his wife and children waited. Then at the […]
