HOMILY WEEK 15 01 – Year I Putting Jesus First (Ex 1:8-22; Ps 124; Mt 10:34-11:1) ************************************** The late Fr. Mike McCaffery was a beloved diocesan priest from Edmonton on whom Edmonton leaned to be their voice for special occasions. He presided at the wedding of Wayne Gretzky, and was called on to preside over […]

HOMILY WEEK 14 06 – Year I To Love as God Loves: Memorial of St. Bonaventure (Gen 49:29-50:26; Ps 105; Mt 10:24-33) ***************************************** A theologian, when asked how simple he could make the Christian message, responded promptly: “Jesus loves me, this I know, because the bible tells me so.” He then added, “That little song […]

HOMILY SUNDAY 15-A Be Open to Transformation  (Isaiah 55:10-11; Psalm 65; Romans 8:18-23; Mt 13:1-23) ******************************************************* Some years ago, late at night and tired, Fr. Bob pointed out to Sandra, one of his parishioners, a difficulty with her career plans that left her angry and not speaking to him. Realizing that she was hurt, he […]

HOMILY WEEK 14 05 – Year I When Life is Hard, Faith Runs Deeper: Optional Memorial of St Camillus de Lellis (Gen 46:1-7,28-30; Ps 37; Mt 10:16-23) ******************************************************* John Allen Jr., Globe and Mail correspondent to the Vatican, is working on his latest book. It will be on the persecution of Christians around the globe. […]

HOMILY WEEK 14 04 – Year I Go and Announce the Good News of Reconciliation: Optional Memorial of St. Henry (Gen 44:18 – 45:5; Ps 105; Mt 10:7-15) ****************************************** David Wells, a well-known educator from England, spoke at the Los Angeles Religions Education Congress recently. His talk focused on the two words that begin today’s […]

HOMILY WEEK 14 03 – Year I Go to the Peripheries as Missionary Disciples (Gen 41:55-57; 42:5-24; Ps 33; Mt 10:1-7) ************************************************ “Go to the peripheries and to the marginalized.” “Reach out and touch the poor.” “Take on the smell of the sheep.” “I prefer a church that is messy.” Many people would recognize these […]

HOMILY WEEK 14 02 – Year I Wrestling with the Great Mystery: Memorial of St. Benedict (Gen 32:22-32; Ps 17; Mt 9:32-38) ************************************************************* Life is a mystery to be lived, not a problem to be solved. Today’s readings invite us to wrestle with the mystery of our faith and to follow Jesus more closely. An […]

HOMILY WEEK 14 01 – Year I Trust, Tithing, and Transformation: (Gen 28:10-22; Ps 91; Mt 9:18-26) **************************************** A hundred-dollar bill, a twenty-dollar bill and a Loony were having a serious conversation about life one day. The hundred-dollar bill said that it had a very good life – it had been on a few cruises […]

HOMILY SUNDAY 14 – YEAR A A Humble Non-Violent King (Zechariah 9:9-10; Psalm 145; Romans 8:9, 11-13; Matthew 11:25-30) ************************************************************* In the summer of 1969, Cast C of the international singing group Up With People performed for King Beaudoin and Queen Fabiola of Belgium in their jungle garden behind their palace. The cast members were […]

WEEK 13 06 – Year I On Being New Wineskins for Jesus’ New Wine (Gen 27:1-29; Ps 135; Mt 9:14-17) **************************************** Have you ever wondered about this passage that speaks of wine and wine skins? What is this newness that Jesus is talking about? The gospel today invites us to be open to the power […]