HOMILY WEEK 21 03 – Year I Called to Unite Heaven and Earth: Feast of St. Bartholomew (Rev 21:9b-14; Ps 145; Jn 1:45-51) ******************************************** A somewhat forgetful preacher at a wedding was an ardent fisherman.  He asked the groom, “Do you promise to love, honor, and cherish this woman?” “I do,” said the groom meekly. […]

HOMILY WEEK 21 02 – Year II Standing Firm and Holding Fast: Optional Memorial of St. Rose of Lima (2 Thes 2:1-3,14-17; Ps 96; Mt 23:23-26) **************************************** There is a legend about St. Francis who when asked what he would do if Jesus was coming that day, replied that he would keep on hoeing in […]

HOMILY WEEK 21 01 – Year II Love to Affirm; Courage to Correct; Faith to Praise Memorial of the Queenship of Mary (2 Thes 1:1-5, 11-12; Ps 96; Mt 23:13-22) ****************************************************** As worshippers leave the Holy Family Cathedral in Orange, CA, they are artistically reminded to Be Doers of the Word by a mural done […]

HOMILY SUNDAY 21-C Living in the Kingdom (Isaiah 66:18-21; Psalm 117; Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13; Lk 13:22-30) ************************************************************* A nervous reader one Sunday ended her reading with the words, “This is the end of the world,” to which the congregation dutifully replied, “Thanks be to God.” “Lord, will only a few be saved?” is a question […]

HOMILY WEEK 20 06 – Year II  Dwellings of Humble Faith: Memorial of St. Bernard of Clairvaux (Ezk 43:1-7; Ps 85; Mt 23:1-12) ************************************** “Mortal, this is the place of my throne and the place for the soles of my feet, where I will reside among the people of Israel forever.” Weaving the first reading […]

HOMILY WEEK 20 05 – Year II Optional Memorial of St. John Eudes (Ezk 37:1-14; Ps 107; Mt 22:34-40) ********************************** The reflection from The Word Among Us for today begins with the sentence, “Breathe into these slain that they may come to life.” It continues to ask if one has heard of free-diving? A swimmer […]

HOMILY WEEK 20 04 – Year II Wearing the Wedding Garment:  (Ezk 36:23-28; Ps 51; Mt 22:1-14) ************************************************************* Have you ever felt out of place because you were not dressed right for a particular occasion? Today’s readings invite us to put on the garments of profound repentance, deep faith and genuine love. In the gospel, […]

HOMILY WEEK 20 03 – Year II On Being Good Shepherds in the Kingdom of God (Ezk 34:1-11; Ps 23; Mt 20:1-16) ************************************************ Did you know that by our baptism, we are shepherd-kings, called to help shepherd God’s people? The readings today challenge us to deeper caring and greater openness to the mystery of how […]

HOMILY WEEK 20 02 – Year II Humble Honesty – Key to the Kingdom: Optional Memorial of St. Stephen of Hungary (Ezk 28:1-10; Dt 32; Mt 19:23-30) ******************************************* Danny’s wife called me at two am, asking desperately if he could come to see me. Apparently depressed despite being on anti-depressants, unable to sleep despite taking […]

HOMILY FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION Mary, Model of Virtues (Rev 11:19a; 12:1-6a;10; Ps 45;1 Cor 15:20-26; Lk 1:39-56) ******************************************************* Today we celebrate the solemnity of the assumption of Mary into heaven – a good occasion to reflect on the role of Mary in our lives. If, as papal preacher Fr. Cantalemessa claims, imitation of Mary […]