HOMILY WEEK 24 03 – Year II Chosen as God’s Own: Memorial of Saints Cornelius and Cyprian (1 Cor 12:31-13:13; Ps 33; Lk 7:31-35) **************************************** St. Eugene de Mazenod, founder of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, traces his vocation as a priest, and eventually as a bishop, and finally, as a saint, to a conversion […]

HOMILY WEEK 24 02 – Year II Memorial: Our Lady of Sorrows (Heb 3:7-9; 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 replied that I had not heard it, but […]

HOMILY – FEAST OF THE EXULTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS Look, Love and Live (Numbers 21:4-9; Psalm 78; Philippians 2:6-11; 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 […]

HOMILY SUNDAY 24 – A Forgiving from the Heart (Sirach 27:30-28:7; Psalm 103; Romans 14:7-9; Matthew 18:21-25) ****************************************************************** “Forgiveness is unlocking the door to set someone free, and realizing that you were the prisoner!” (Max Lucado) Like a serial television show that continues a previous theme, the readings today continue to drive home the message […]

HOMILY WEEK 23 06 – Year II Founded on God’s Doing Will: Optional Memorial of the Most Holy Name of Mary (1 Cor 10:14-22; Ps 116; Lk 6:43-49) *********************************************** How strong is the foundation of your life? Today’s readings invite us to make the Word of God and doing God’s will the foundation of our […]

HOMILY WEEK 23 05 – Year II Journeying into Greater Self-Awareness (1 Cor 9:16-27; Ps 83; Lk 6:39-42) *************************************** “You are who you are – what are you afraid of?” Franciscan Father Richard Rohr started a retreat for our Oblate community years ago with the startling statement, which along with the gospel today, invites us […]

HOMILY WEEKDAY 23 04 – Year II The Heart of Christian Living (1 Cor 8:1b-7, 11-13; Ps 139; Lk 6:27-38) ************************************************************ A woman died and arrived at the Gates of Heaven.  Saint Peter told her she had to spell a word to get in. “Which word?” the woman asked. “Love,” he replied. The woman spelled […]

HOMILY WEEK 23 03 – Year II Living the Beatitudes: Optional Memorial of St. Peter Claver (1 Cor 7; Ps 45; Lk 6:20-26) ********************************************* The Beatitudes are the Magna Carta of Jesus’ teaching. Part of the Sermon on the Mount in both Matthew and Luke, they present Christ as the new Moses, building on the […]

FEAST – THE NATIVITY OF MARY Week 22 03 – Year II Trust and Transformation (Rm 8:28-30/Michah 5:2-5; Ps 13; Mt 1:1-23) ************************************* Have you had to make a difficult decision lately and felt very alone? Have you ever wondered where was God in a particular painful situation? The readings on this feast of the […]

HOMILY WEEK 23 01 – Year II Attitudinal Healing (1 Cor 5:1-8; Ps 5; Lk 6:6-11) ******************************* Has the cryptic statement, “Check that attitude” ever applied to you? The liturgy today invites us to be aware of and open to a transformation of attitudes, so we can help others heal in a similar way. The […]