HOMILY WEEK 25 01 – Year I Builders of a New Temple: Memorial of Saints Andrew Kim Tae-gon and Companions (Korean Martyrs) (Ezra 1:1-6; Ps 126; Lk 8:16-18) ************************************************************ Do you see yourself as a builder? We are about rebuilding the reign of God. The first reading is all about the return of the exiles […]

HOMILY SUNDAY 25-B Faith Expressed through Humble Selfless Service (Wisdom 2:12, 17-20; Psalm 54; James 3:16 – 4:3; Mk 9:30-37) *********************************************************** In the movie “Forest Gump”, Forest reacts to his childhood sweetheart’s rejection by running across America. He draws media attention and followers who think he has some cause, some wisdom, for them. Some run […]

HOMILY WEEK 24 06 – Year I Listening To, and Keeping the Word of God (1 Tim 6:13-16; Ps100; Lk 8:4-15) ******************************************* The first reading and gospel today combine to give us a critical message: keep the commandment, and hear and keep the Word of God. There is a very interesting and intriguing peculiarity in […]

HOMILY WEEK 24 05 – Year I Birthing the Kingdom: Optional Memorial of St. Robert Bellarmine (1 Tim 6:2-12; Ps 49; Lk 8:1-3) ******************************************* Have you ever had the experience of a line of scripture you have read many times before, suddenly take on a whole new meaning? That was my experience with today’s readings […]

HOMILY WEEK 24 04 – Year I Love, Faith, Purity, Repentance and Forgiveness: Memorial of Saints Cornelius and Cyprian (1 Tm 4:12-16; Ps 111; Lk 7:36-50) ********************************************* Five key words describe and sum up the readings today: love, faith, purity, repentance and forgiveness. In the first reading, St. Paul provides interesting advice to a young […]

HOMILY WEEK 24 03 – Year I Memorial: Our Lady of Sorrows Mary – Model of Compassion and Redemptive Suffering (Heb 5:7-9; Ps 31; Lk 2:33-35 or Jn 19:25-27) ************************************************** A lady at a table in front of me in an airport restaurant noticed my cross and starting apologizing profusely for her coarse language. I […]

EXULTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS Look, Love and Live (Numbers 21:4-9/ Philippians 2:6-11; Psalm 78; John 3:13-17) ******************************************************* Do you know the origin of the symbol on a medical alert bracelet? The readings today provide the answer. A message provided by these readings is very simple and clear: Look to Jesus; love as he did, […]

HOMILY WEEK 24 01 – Year I Humble Faith Expressed through Prayer and Caring: Memorial of St. John Chrysostom (1 Tm 2:1-7; Ps 18; Lk 7:1-10) ********************************************** Can you imagine Jesus saying, “Not even in the Catholic Church have I found such faith!” Would that shock you, or would you find it thought provoking? The […]

HOMILY SUNDAY 24 – B The Cross as Redemptive Suffering (Isaiah 50:5-9; James 2:114-18; Mark 8:27-35) *************************************************** A woman back from shopping was showing her husband an expensive dress she had purchased. When he asked her why she bought a dress she did not really need, she replied that she couldn’t resist the temptation. Her […]

HOMILY WEEK 23 06 – Year I The Word of God as a Foundation (1 Tim 1:15-17; Ps 113; Lk 6:43-49) ******************************************* Recently, a young couple gave me a gift of a plaque that read, “Sometimes you just have to bow your head, say a prayer and weather the storm.” That saying fits the gospel […]