HOMILY LENT WEEK 02 04 – Year II Living the Theological Virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity: (Jer 17:5-10; Ps 1: Lk 16:19-31) *************************************************** The parish of St. Albert, Alberta, for its anniversary celebration some years ago, chose the theme “Rooted in Faith, Living with Hope, Growing in Love.” That theme fits today’s readings, inviting […]

HOMILY WEEK 02 03 – Year II Faith, Suffering and Service (Jer18:18-20; Ps 31; Mt 20:17-28) ************************************* Activist Daniel Berrigan once stated that before deciding to follow Jesus, we should consider how good we look on wood! The message from today’s readings is simple and straightforward: following Jesus will involve suffering and service. This is […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 02 02 – Year II The Making of a Lenten Stew: Optional Memorial of St. Gregory of Narek (Is 1:10-31; Ps 50; Mt 23:1-12) ******************************************* The readings today make a good stew. A stew includes some main ingredients, such as meat, potatoes, carrots, peas, garlic, and onion, and lots of spices. Then […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 02 01 – Year II Giving and Receiving – Gospel Karma: (Dan 9:3-10; Ps 79; Lk 6:36-38) ************************************************ The last line of today’s gospel (the measure we give is the measure we get) seems like a throw-away line, but in a homily for today, Ron Rolheiser pointed out the importance of this […]

HOMILY LENT SUNDAY 02 – B Lent, A Journey of Transformation (Genesis 22:1-2, 9-13, 15-18; Psalm 116; Romans 8:31b-35, 37; Mark 9:2-10) **************************************************************** A couple married for 25 years were also celebrating their 60th birthday.  During the celebration a fairy appeared and said that because they had been such a loving couple all those years, […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 01 06 – Year II 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 he was singing about probably does not speak to the kingdom that Jesus teaches us about, he was right – […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 01 05 – Year II Repentance, Reconciliation, Righteousness, and Restored Relationships: Optional Memorial of St. Polycarp (Ezk 18:21-28; Ps 130; Mt 5:20-26) *********************************************************** Five words starting with “R” sum up the readings for today: Repentance leads to Reconciliation which leads to Righteousness that in the end results in Restored Relationships. Sinners who […]

HOMILY – FEAST OF THE CHAIR OF ST PETER 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 Christ commentary on this feast, early Roman Christians celebrated a feast in honour of their departed loved ones on […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 01 03 – Year II Repent, Believe and Heal: Optional Memorial of St. Peter Damian (Jonah 3:1-10; Ps 51; Lk 11:29-32) ***************************************** The people of Nineveh — proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth. (Jonah 3:5)  Today’s readings proclaim a clear message – believe and repent, […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 01 02 – Year II God’s Will 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 […]