HOMILY WEEK 20 05 – Year II The Oxygen of Faith: Optional Memorial of St. Rose of Lima (Ezk 37:1-14; Ps 107; Mt 22:34-40) ********************************** The reflection from The Word Among Us for today begins with the sentence, “Breathe into these slain that they may come to life.” It continues to ask if one has […]
Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary
HOMILY WEEK 20 04 – Year II Wearing the Wedding Garment: Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Ezk 36:23-28; Ps 51; Mt 22:1-14) ************************************************************* Have you ever felt out of place because you were not dressed right for a particular occasion? Today’s readings invite us to put on the garments of profound […]
Pope St. Pius X
HOMILY WEEK 20 03 – Year II On Being Good Shepherds in the Kingdom of God: Memorial of St. Pius X (Ezk 34:1-11; Ps 23; Mt 20:1-16) ************************************************ Did you know that by our baptism, we are shepherd-kings, called to help shepherd God’s people? The readings today challenge us to deeper caring and greater openness […]
St. Bernard of Clairvaux
HOMILY WEEK 20 02 – Year II Humble Honesty – Key to the Kingdom: Memorial of St. Bernard of Clairvaux (Ezk 28:1-10; Dt 32; Mt 19:23-30) ******************************************* Danny’s wife called me at two am, asking desperately if he could come to see me. Apparently depressed despite being on anti-depressants, unable to sleep despite taking sleeping […]
St. John Eudes
HOMILY WEEK 20 01 – Year II Trusting Surrender: Optional Memorial of St. John Eudes (Ezk 24:15-24; Dt 32; Mt 19:16-22) ****************************************************** “Made a decision to turn our lives and our wills over to the care of God as we understood God.” That simple statement (Step 3 of the 12 Step program), I submit, captures […]
Bread of Life
HOMILY SUNDAY 20 – B Be Mature and Wise: Believe and Love (Proverbs 9:1-6; Psalm 34; Ephesians 5:15-20; John 6:51-58) ******************************************************** Usually, the readings for each Sunday are chosen by the liturgists to at least have a connection between the first reading and the Gospel. The second reading is kind of an add-on most often. […]
Childlikeness
HOMILY WEEK 19 06 – Year II Repentant Childlikeness (Ezk 18:1-10,13,30-32; Ps 51; Mt 19:13-15) ********************************************** A comment I once made to a sister who works in a day-care center about the innocent and trusting nature of children brought an instant negative reaction – she insisted children are utterly dependent, more so than innocent and […]
St Stephen of Hungary
HOMILY WEEK 19 05 – Year II Chosen to Live an Iconic Ideal: Optional Memorial of St. Stephen of Hungary (Ezk 16:1-15,60,63; Is 12; Mt 19:3-12) ******************************************* A wanderer visiting Bro. Anthony noticed a beautiful manuscript in his cell. He stole it and took it to a book vendor to sell it. The vendor replied […]
Assumption of Mary
HOMILY FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION Mary, Model of Virtues (Rev 11:19a; 12:1-6a;10; Ps 45;1 Cor 15:20-26; Lk 1:39-56) ******************************************************* Today we celebrate the solemnity of the assumption of Mary into heaven – a good occasion to reflect on the role of Mary in our lives. If, as papal preacher Fr. Cantalemessa claims, imitation of Mary […]
St. Maximilian Kolbe
HOMILY WEEK 19 03 – Year II Faith, Forgiveness, Healing, Glory and the Kingdom of God: Optional Memorial of St. Maximilian Kolbe (Ezk 9:1-7; 10:18-22; Ps 113; Mt 18:15-20) ********************************************************* Five words and their inter-relationship that capture the essence of the readings today are faith, forgiveness, healing, glory and the kingdom of God. Faith in […]
