HOMILY WEEK 03 03 – Year II Loving Intimacy and Fulfilling the Law of Love: Optional Memorial of St. Turibius of Mogrovejo (Dt 4:1, 5-9; Ps 147; Mt 5:17-19) ********************************************* Two sentences sum up the message from today’s readings: “I have come, not to abolish but to fulfill” by Jesus in the gospel, and “What […]

HOMILY WEEK 03 02 – Year II Forgiveness and the Furnace of Resentment: (Dan 3:25-43; Ps 25; Mt 18:21-35) ********************************************* A lady confessed the sin of narcissism, of vanity to a priest. She claimed she was so beautiful that she was wasting countless hours admiring herself in the mirror, putting on make-up, neglecting her marriage […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 03 01 – Year II The Healing Power of Humility (2 Kg 5:1-15a; Ps 42; Lk 4:24-30) ******************************************* What comes first – faith or healing? Ordinarily, we would automatically think the answer would be faith, as often in the scriptures, Jesus would say things like “Your faith has saved you” or ask, […]

LENT SUN 03- C Letters from the Desert (Exodus 3:1-8a, 13-15; Psalm 103; 1 Cor 10:1-6, 10-12; Lk 13:1-9) ********************************************************* Many years ago, a well-known spiritual writer and mystic, Carlo Coretto, wrote a book entitled Letters from the Desert. It was quite popular when it came out, with its invitation to greater spiritual growth to […]

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 […]

WEEKDAY LENT 02 05 – Year II Resisting Repentance (Gen 37:3-28; Ps 105; Mt 21:33-46) ******************************************* The poet, Robert Frost, wrote these memorable words: “Something there is that does not love a wall; that sends the groundswell under it.” There is something in human nature that does not love goodness; that resists it and seeks […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 02 04 – Year II Living the Theological Virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity: Optional Memorial of St. Patrick (Jer 17:5-10; Ps 1: Lk 16:19-31) *************************************************** The parish of St. Albert, Alberta, for its anniversary celebration some years ago, chose the theme “Rooted in Faith, Living with Hope, Growing in Love.” That […]

HOMILY WEEK 02 03 – Year II Faith, Suffering and Service (Jer18:18-20; Ps 31; Mt 20:17-28) ************************************* Activist Daniel Berrigan once stated that before deciding to follow Jesus, we should consider how good we look on wood! The message from today’s readings is simple and straightforward: following Jesus will involve suffering and service. This is […]

HOMILY LENT SUNDAY 02-C The Transfiguration of Jesus (Gn 15:5-12, 17-18; Ps 26:1, 7-9, 13-14; Phil 3:17-4:1; Lk 9:28-36) ************************************************************* Have you ever had a mountaintop experience? Do you want to know the way to have one? Follow Jesus through the Cross to glory. Everybody wants to feel happy, to have that high, mountain-top feeling. […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 01 06 – Year II Seeking the Kingdom of Love (Dt 26:16-19; Ps 119; Mt 5:43-48) ************************************************ Years ago, the Beatles sang, “All you need is love.” Although the kind of love he was singing about probably does not speak to the kingdom that Jesus teaches us about, he was right – […]