HOMILY LENT WEEK 05 03 – Year I Glory and Praise; Worship and Blessing (Dan 3:13-95; Dan 3; Jn 8:31-42) ******************************************** Many parishes are familiar with the hymnbook Glory and Praise that came out many years ago. That title, the psalm response and readings today combine to provide us with a clear message centred on […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 05 02 – Year I Finding New Life in Jesus: Optional Memorial of St. Turibius of Mogrovejo (Nm 21:4-9; Ps 102; Jn 8:21-30) ************************************* Ordinarily, liturgists try to find a first reading that connects with the gospel for the day. That connection today is very clear and invites us to put our […]

HOMILY WEEK 05 01 (Year I) The Mystery of Forgiveness and Non-violent Love (Dan 13:1-64; Ps 23; Jn 8:1-11) ****************************************** When we act like God, we get to feel like God. To forgive from the heart is to act like God, and to get to share in God’s serenity, inner freedom and even joy. In […]

HOMILY LENT SUNDAY 05 – B The New Passover in Jesus (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ps 51; Hebrew 5:7-9; John 12:20-23) ***************************************************** “Jesus became the source of eternal salvation for all who believe in him.” That one sentence from the Letter to the Hebrews in today’s readings best expresses the message of this celebration: we are invited […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 04 06 – Year I Transcending Justice in Jesus (Jer 11:18-20; Ps 7; Jn 7:4—53) **************************************** Have you ever had an attitude problem? Today’s liturgy invites us to have an open attitude towards Jesus and to accept him into our lives as the Messiah. In the first reading, Jeremiah continues the Old […]

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 […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 04 04 Year I Living Faith: Optional Memorial of St. Cyril of Jerusalem (Ex 32:7-14; Ps 106; Jn 5:18-47) **************************************** Nikos Kazantzakis, the great Greek writer, tells a story of an elderly monk he once met on Mount Athos. Kazantsakis, still young and full of curiosity, was questioning this monk and asked him:  […]

HOMILY WEEK 04 03 – Year I Trust in God; Believe in Jesus (Is 49:8-15; Ps 145; Jn 5:16-30) ************************************** “I will never forget you, my people. I have carved you on the palm of my hand… I will never leave you orphaned, I will never forget my own.” This familiar hymn by Carey Landry, […]

HOMILY WEEK 04 02 – Year I On Being Open to the Newness of Faith (Ezk 47:1-12; Ps 46; Jn 5:1-16) **************************************** In the busyness of preparing for giving presentations at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress one year, I neglected to water the plants before leaving. Upon my return, I was shocked to see […]

HOMILY LENT WEEK 04 01 – Year I Transformative Faith – Believing in Jesus and Living in Hope (Is 65:17-21; Ps 30; Jn 4:43-54) ****************************************************** When a lady was asked why she put in her will a request to be buried with a fork in her hand, her answer was because her mother always told […]