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 […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 04 05 – Week I Faith Sees the Bigger Picture (Wis 2:1-22; Ps 34; Jn 7:1-30) ************************************* The two sides of a beautiful tapestry can serve as a metaphor for our lives of faith in God’s presence and power working in our lives. God turns everything to the good for those who […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 04 04 Year I Living Faith: Optional Memorial of St. Turibius of Mogrovejo (Ex 32:7-14; Ps 106; Jn 5:18-47) ****************************************************************** Nikos Kazantzakis, the great Greek writer, tells a story of an elderly monk he once met on Mount Athos. Kazantsakis, still young and full of curiosity, was questioning this monk and asked him:  […]

HOMILY WEEK 04 03 – Year I Trust in God; Believe in Jesus (Is 49:8-15; Ps 145; Jn 5:16-30) ************************************** “I will never forget you, my people. I have carved you on the palm of my hand… I will never leave you orphaned; I will never forget my own.” This familiar hymn by Carey Landry, […]

HOMILY WEEK 04 02 – Year I On Being Open to the Newness of Faith (Ezk 47:1-12; Ps 46; Jn 5:1-16) **************************************** In the busyness of preparing for giving presentations at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress one year, I neglected to water the plants before leaving. Upon my return, I was shocked to see […]

HOMILY – SOLEMNITY OF ST. JOSEPH Ushering in the Realm of Faith and Loving Grace (2 Sam 7:4-16; Ps 89; Rm 4:13-22; Mt 1:16-24/Lk 2:41-51)) ********************************************************** Have you ever been embarrassed by taking something totally of out context? The readings today, as well as the solemnity of St. Joseph, are best understood within the context […]

HOMILY LENT SUNDAY 04 – A The Man Born Blind (1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a; Psalm 23; Eph 5:8-14; John 9:1-41) ************************************************************* A very curious girl was walking with her mother one dark summer night when the stars shimmered in the sky. The girl stared skyward silently for what seemed to her mother to be […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 03 06 – Year I Responding to a Relational God: Optional Memorial of St. Cyril of Jerusalem (Hos 5:15-6:6; Ps 51; Lk 18:9-14) **************************************** Have you ever tried to earn anyone’s love? The readings today invite us to respond to a relational God through humble honesty, trusting repentance and grateful service. The […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 03 05 – Year I Walking with God through Love: Optional Memorial of St. Patrick (Hos 14:1-9; Ps 81; Mk 12:28-34) **************************************** The liturgy today invites us to walk with God by keeping the commandments of Jesus and living out the disciplines of Lent. The scribe in the gospel wanted to go […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 03 04 – Year I Our Choice: Willing Belief or Willful Disobedience (Jer 7:23-28; Ps 95; Lk 11:14-23) ************************************************ The late Gerald May wrote a book entitled Will and Spirit. In it he claims the gift of free will that we have been given by God is one of our most precious […]