HOMILY ADVENT WEEK 03 01 – Year II Responding to Prophecy with Authority: Ferial (Num 24:2-27; Ps 25; Mt 21:23-27) ********************************************* How much authority do you exercise? Today’s readings invite us to speak out with faith and exercise our authority as baptized believers in Jesus. In the first reading from Numbers, the prophet Balaam twice […]
Joyful, Transformative Love
HOMILY ADVENT SUNDAY 3-C Joyful, Transformative Love (Zephaniah 3:14-18; Isaiah 12; Phil 4:4-7; Luke 3:10-18) ************************************************************ What happens when you put a piece of paper in a glass of water? Nothing really – the paper simply gets soaked and soggy. What happens when you hold a piece of paper over a lit candle? Transformation – […]
St. John of the Cross
HOMILY ADVENT WEEK 02 06 – Year II Being Elijah for Others: Memorial of St. John of the Cross (Sirach 48:1-11; Ps 80; Mt 17:10-13) ************************************** Do you see yourself as a prophet? The readings today invite us to be both Elijah and John the Baptist for others. Both the first reading from Sirach and […]
St. Lucy
HOMILY WEEK 02 05 – Year II Following the Lord with Faith and Fidelity: Memorial of St. Lucy (Is 48:17-19; Ps 1; Mt 11:16-19) ************************************************** “Oh, that you had paid attention to my commandments!” Today’s readings invite us to respond to God’s unconditional covenant love for us by following God’s ways with greater faith and […]
Our Lady of Guadalupe
HOMILY ADVENT WEEK 03 01 – Year I Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and National Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples (Rev 11:19, 12:1-10/Zech 2:10-13; Judith 13; Lk 1:39-47) ******************************************************* There are two options for the first reading on this Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The richness and appropriateness of the […]
GOOD NEWS – AURORA PROGRAM – REGISTER NOW! The Star of the North offers a faith formation program called Aurora Living open to Christians willing to engage in the inner work of integrating contemplative prayer and social practice. The program is now into its fourth year, and we’ve been privileged to have folks from all different professions, […]
St. Damasus I
HOMILY ADVENT WEEK 02 03 – Year II Faith, Forgiveness, Healing and Rest: Memorial of St. Damasus I (Is 40:25-31; Ps 103; Mt 11:28-30) ******************************************* How strong is your faith? The readings today invite us to have a strong faith in God experienced through forgiveness, healing and rest. The first reading from Isaiah and Psalm […]
Our Lady of Loretto
HOMILY ADVENT WEEK 02 02 – Year II God as Loving Father and Good Shepherd: Optional Memorial of Our Lady of Loretto (Is 40:1-11; Ps 96; Mt 18:12-14) ************************************************ There’s nothing like a parable to illustrate a spiritual point in a new way, or to offer new insight to a familiar point. Jesus used these […]
SOLEMNITY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
SOLEMNITY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Balancing Devotion to, with Imitation of, Mary (Gen 3:9-20; Ps 98; Eph 1:3-12; Lk 1:26-38) ********************************************************** In November – December of 2016 and again in 2018, I was chaplain for a group of pilgrims to the Holy Land and was privileged to preside at the Eucharist commemorating this feast of […]
Hope
HOMILY ADVENT SUN 2-C Repent, and Be a People of Hope (Baruch 5:1-9; Psalm 126; Phil 1:3-6, 8-11; Luke 3:1-6) ************************************************************* Joe was amazed at how his friend Bob treated his wife during a visit at their house. Bob hugged his wife when she came home from shopping, thanked her for all she did, complimented […]
