ADVENT HOMILY DECEMBER 20 – Year II Prophecy Fulfilled – Mary’s Fiat – God is With Us (Is 7:10-8:10; Ps 24; Lk 1:26-38) ************************************************ How accurate do you think you would be in predicting events seven hundred years into the future? The readings today, about prophecy fulfilled in Mary, encourage us to be like her […]

ADVENT HOMILY DECEMBER 19th Humble Faith, Barrenness, Hope and Relational Justice (Jdgs 13:2-25; Ps 71; Lk 1:5-25) *********************************************** Have you ever experienced a time in your life when you were powerless, came up empty, felt like your hands were tied behind your back? The readings today give us hope that God can work marvels of […]

HOMILY ADVENT DECEMBER 18th Prophecy Fulfilled: God is With Us (Jer 23:5-8; Ps 72; Mt 1:18-24) *********************************************** Do you have a friend whose word you can trust totally? Today’s readings can be a reminder of the rock-solid foundation of our faith, based on the fulfillment of all the Old Testament prophecies about Jesus Christ. In […]

HOMILY ADVENT SUNDAY 3-B Believe, Change, Rejoice (Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11; Luke 1; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28) **************************************************************** Bro. Loreth, OMI, was strong man and great baker as a young Oblate brother, but in old age became quite cantankerous, especially when asked to do something that he didn’t want to do, or go somewhere […]

HOMILY ADVENT WEEK 02 06 – Year II Being Elijah for Others: (Sirach 48:1-11; Ps 80; Mt 17:10-13) ************************************** Do you see yourself as a prophet? The readings today invite us to be both Elijah and John the Baptist for others. Both the first reading from Sirach and the gospel focus on Elijah. Elijah was […]

HOMILY WEEK 02 05 – Year II Following the Lord with Faith and Fidelity: (Is 48:17-19; Ps 1; Mt 11:16-19) ************************************************** “Oh, that you had paid attention to my commandments!” Today’s readings invite us to respond to God’s unconditional covenant love for us by following God’s ways with greater faith and fidelity so we can […]

HOMILY WEEK 02 04 – Year II From Exile to a New Creation: Memorial of St. John of the Cross (Is 41:13-20; Ps 145; Mt 11:11-15) **************************************** “The hand of the Lord has done this.” This sentence, from the prophecy of Isaiah in the first reading, can be taken in two ways. Ultimately, its deepest […]

HOMILYADVENT WEEK 02 03 – Year II Faith, Forgiveness, Healing and Rest: Memorial of St. Lucy (Is 40:25-31; Ps 103; Mt 11:28-30) ******************************************* How strong is your faith? The readings today invite us to have a strong faith in God experienced through forgiveness, healing and rest. The first reading from Isaiah and Psalm 103 tell […]

HOMILY ADVENT WEEK 02 02 – Year II Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe: National Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples (Rev 11:19, 12:1-10; Judith 13; Lk 1:39-47) ******************************************************* There are two options for the first reading on this Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The richness and appropriateness of the second option […]

ADVENT WEEK 02 01 – Year II Tee Pee Spirituality and Healing: Optional Memorial of St. Damasus I (Is 35:1-10; Ps 85; Lk 5:17-26) ************************************ A man told a psychiatrist that he suffered from nightmares – sometimes he dreamt he was a teepee, other times he was a wigwam. When he asked what his problem […]