SOLEMNITY OF THE ANNUNCIATION Birthing Jesus into the World in Imitation of Mary (Isaiah 7:10-14, 8:10d; Ps 40; Heb 10:4-10; Lk 1:26-28) ************************************************* Sr. Connie Piska UJ of Edmonton gave me a gift she made for my priestly ordination in 1974 that still hangs on a wall in the bathroom so that I see it […]
Category: Homilies
HOMILY SATURDAY of EASTER WEEK On Being Missionary Disciples (Acts 4:13-21; Ps 118; Mk 16:9-15) ********************************************** Two themes continue to dominate the readings after Easter: faith in the Risen Lord, and the commission to go and proclaim the Good News. These two themes synchronize precisely with two dominant themes of the papacy of Pope Francis: […]
Resurrection
HOMILY – FRIDAY of EASTER WEEK Grace Like a Spider’s Thread: (Acts 4:1-12; Ps 118; Jn 21:1-14) ************************************** Pope Francis states that to be a missionary disciple is to first have a personal encounter with Jesus, and then to share that encounter with others. The Gospel today recounts the third appearance of the Risen Lord […]
Missionary Disciples
HOMILY THURSDAY of EASTER WEEK On Being Missionary Disciples (Acts 3:11-26; Ps 8; Lk 24:35-48) ********************************************* Pope Francis has repeatedly stated that he wants a church of missionary disciples. The gospel for today could serve as a manual for how to be missionary disciples: faith; repentance; forgiveness; redemptive suffering; understanding the bible, and witnessing. First, […]
Emmaus
‘HOMILY WEDNESDAY of EASTER WEEK The Resurrection: Believe, Experience and Share (Acts 3:1-10; Ps 105; Lk 24:13-35) *********************************************** After the celebration of a Triduum and participating in an addiction’s awareness workshop, a participant shared she had become aware for the first time that Jesus was truly alive and present in her life. He was now […]
Grieving
HOMILY TUESDAY of EASTER WEEK From Stuck in Grief to Good Grieving (Acts 2:36-41; Ps 33; Jn 20:11-18) ************************************************ “Go to my brothers and say to them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” “Go” and “Say” – two words that apply also to us. These words […]
Witnessing
HOMILY MONDAY OCTAVE OF EASTER – Year II On Being Spirit-Filled Witnesses (Acts 2:14-23; Ps 6; Mt 28:8-15) ********************************************* “People of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem … listen to what I say!” (Acts 2:14) These words of St. Peter, and indeed the whole book of Acts, are an invitation to us to also […]
Easter Sunday
HOMILY EASTER SUNDAY YEAR B Experiencing Eternal Life through Faith, Forgiveness, Healing and Grieving (Acts 10:34, 37-43; Ps 118; Col 3:1-4/1 Cor 5:6-8; John 20:1-18) ************************************************************ “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.” We have every reason to rejoice and be glad, because through the resurrection of Jesus, […]
New Life Through the Cross
EASTER VIGIL YEAR B Experiencing New Life Through the Cross (Romans 6:3-11; Mark 16:1-8) ***************************************** Two confirmed bachelors were sitting and talking about cooking. One said that he had a fancy cookbook but never did much with it. When asked why by the other, he replied because every recipe started the same way – “Take […]
Good Friday
GOOD FRIDAY HOMILY Choose Jesus’ New Way of Life (Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Ps 31; Heb 4:14-16; 5:7-9; Jn 18:1-19:42) ******************************************************* In the movie The Passion of Christ, Jesus, beaten, bloodied and half dead, meets his mother and tells her simply, “Behold, I am making all things new.” This is the shocking reality of faith – it […]
