FEAST – DEDICATION OF ST JOHN LATERAN Temples of the Holy Spirit and Life-giving Water (Ezk 47:1-12; Ps 46; Jn 2:13-22) ***************************************************** “Wherever this river flows, the waters shall be made fresh.” The readings today, and this feast of the dedication of St. John Lateran, invite us to drink of the living waters of God’s […]

HOMILY WEEK 32 01 – Year I Called to Repent and to Forgive: (Wis 1:1-17; Ps 139; Lk 17:1-6) ************************************************** “If there is repentance, you must forgive.” Does this statement by Jesus in the gospel mean we don’t need to forgive a person if they don’t come to apologize? Today readings are an invitation to […]

HOMILY SUNDAY 32-B The Challenge of the Widow’s Mite (1 Kg 17:10-16; Psalm 146; Heb 9:24-28; Mk 12:38-44) ************************************************************* The readings today form a tight unit. They tell us who our God is, what God does for us, and describe two differing responses to God’s love: that of the scribes, and that of two widows. […]

HOMILY WEEK 31 06 – Year I Co-workers in Christ for Justice and Peace (Rm 16:3-9, 16, 22-27; Ps 145; Lk 16:9-15) *************************************************** “If you want peace, work for justice.” That bumper sticker is a reminder for us, as we approach Remembrance Day, to do our part to ensure peace and hopefully one day, see […]

HOMILY WEEK 31 05 – Year I Joyfully Proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ (Rm 15:14-21; Ps 98; Lk 16:1-8) **************************************************** Have you ever wondered what your life would be like without faith in Jesus Christ? Honest and open encounters with a Muslim woman and a Hindu computer programmer left me appreciating St. Paul’s […]

HOMILY WEEK 31 03 -Year I The Commandments of Jesus: Optional Memorial of St. Martin de Porres (Rm 13:8-10; Ps 112; Lk 14:25-33) *********************************** Isn’t it interesting how love and hate both figure in today’s readings? First, we are to love one another, and then in the gospel we are to hate our families! In […]

HOMILY – ALL SOUL’S DAY Living the Paschal Mystery (Job 19:1, 23-27; Ps 103; 1Cor 15:20-23; Jn 12:23-26) ***************************************************** “Life is a mystery to be lived, not a problem to be solved.” Both the readings and today’s commemoration of All Soul’s Day invite us to follow Jesus in living the Paschal Mystery. Jesus, in the […]

SOLEMNITY: ALL SAINTS DAY Living In the Reign as Servants and Children of God (Rev 7:2-4, 9-14; Ps 24; 1 Jn 3:1-3; Mt 5:1-12) ******************************************************** “It is heaven all the way to heaven.” This statement from St. Catherine of Sienna, and the All Saints Liturgy today, invite us to live in the reign of God […]

HOMILY SUNDAY 31 – B Living the Great Command (Dt 6:2-6; Psalm 18; Heb 7:23-28; Mk 12:28-34) ************************************************* A young girl was praying kneeling by her bed head bowed, reciting the alphabet. When asked by her mother why she was doing that, she replied sweetly she was praying but couldn’t think of what to say, […]