HOMILY WEEK 12 02 – Year I The Golden Rule and the Narrow Gate: Optional Memorial: St. Cyril of Alexandria (Gen 13:2-18; Ps 15; Mt 7:6-14) ************************************************* Two phrases from today’s gospel, “Golden Rule” and “Narrow Gate” call us to humble faith and sincere love. The Golden Rule is common to all the major religions […]

HOMILY WEEK 12 01 – Year I Faith: the Longest Journey to the Heart (Gen 12:1-9; Ps 33; Mt 7:1-5) ****************************************** “The longest journey of life is from the head to the heart.” This familiar saying provides the context for today’s liturgy and the readings inviting us not to judge others but rather to make […]

HOMILY SUNDAY 12 – A The Faith, Hope and Love Pattern (Jeremiah 20:10-13; Psalm 69; Romans 5:12-15; Mt 10:26-33) ********************************************************* The phrase “every hair on your head is counted” in today’s gospel arouses a bit of envy in me towards those who have a full head of hair. It is also a reminder of the […]

HOMILY SUNDAY 12 – C Being on a Mission – Solemnity of the Nativity of John the Baptist (Is 49:1-6; Ps 139; Acts 13:22-26; Lk 1:57-66, 80) ********************************************************** In 2003 I went shopping with Fr. Joe Jacek on a motorcycle in Meru, Kenya to purchase flip chart paper, personal toiletry, hot chocolate, and to get […]

HOMILY WEEK 11 05 – Year I    Priorities, Perception and Perseverance       (2 Cor 11:18-30; Ps 34: Mt 6:19-23) ****************************************************** Three words capture the essence of the readings for today’s liturgy: priorities, perception and perseverance. We are invited to make the kingdom of God the number one priority in our lives, to become more aware […]

HOMILY WEEK 11 04 – Year I Doing the Will of God: Optional Memorial of St. Thomas More (2 Cor 11:1-11; Ps 111; Mt 6:7-15) ***************************************** “The last temptation is the greatest treason: To do the right deed for the wrong reason.” Those words by T. S. Eliot can actually apply to our life of […]

HOMILY WEEK 11 03 – Year I The Biblical Faith Triad: Memorial of St. Aloysius Gonzaga (2 Cor 9:6-11; Ps 112; Mt 6:1-18) ********************************************************* Today’s readings actually bring to mind a humble biblical faith triad. This triad invites us to express our faith in Jesus by generous almsgiving, sincere prayer and humble self-care. Jesus in […]

HOMILY WEEK 11 02 – Year I Excelling in Faith: Forgiveness, Compassion and Generosity (2 Cor 8:1-9; Ps 146; Mt 5:43-48) ******************************************************* “You have heard it said, but I say to you …” With that simple statement, Jesus opens up a whole new way of being in this world for us – to make both […]

HOMILY WEEK 11 01 – Year I Going the Extra Mile: Optional Memorial of St. Romuald (2 Cor 6:1-10; Ps 98; Mt 5:38-42) *********************************** What do the readings today and the 12 Step program of Alcoholics Anonymous have in common? The answer in one word is “service” although expressed differently. For Jesus in the gospel, […]

HOMILY WEEK 10 06 – Year I Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Is 61:9-11; 1 Sm 2; Lk 2:41-51) ********************************************** “Without God, we cannot. Without us, God will not.” That statement by St. Augustine fits today’s memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, who models for us a life of deep faith lived […]