HOMILY WEEK 20 01 – Year II Trusting Surrender and the Rich Young Man (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 the message […]

HOMILY SUNDAY 20 – A Pray for Faith; Claim your Healing (Isaiah 56:1, 6-7; Psalm 67; Romans 11:13-15; 29-32; Matthew 15:21-28) ************************************************************* Here is one person’s creative version of the Bible in 50 words: God made, Adam bit, Noak arked, Abraham split, Joseph ruled, Jacob fooled, bush talked, Moses balked, Pharoah plagued, people walked, sea […]

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 […]

HOMILY WEEK 19 05 – Year II Chosen to Live an Iconic Ideal: Memorial of St. Maximilian Kolbe (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 he would […]

HOMILY WEEK 19 04 – Year II The Power of Forgiveness and The Power to Forgive: Optional Memorial of Saints Pontian and Hippolytus (Ezk 12:1-16;Ps 78; Mt 18:21-19:1) *************************************************** Robert, who had a few drinks at a business event, accidently struck and injured a young girl as he was driving through an intersection. Technically it […]

HOMILY WEEK 19 03 – Year II Faith, Forgiveness, Healing, Glory and the Kingdom of God: Optional Memorial of St. Jane Frances de Chantal (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. […]

HOMILY WEEKDAY 19 02 – Year II Becoming Like a Child:Memorial of St. Clare (Ezk 2:8-3:4; Ps 119; Mt 18:1-5,10,12-14) ******************************************** A little trust game I like to play with children is to invite them to stand straight and stiff, arms at their side, and fall back into my arms. Some trusting ones promptly do […]

WEEK 19 01 – Year II Following and Serving Jesus: Feast of St Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr (2 Cor 9:6-10; Ps 112; Jn 12:24-26) ********************************************** Have you noticed that Jesus asked us to follow him much more often than to simply worship him? Today’s gospel is an example, inviting us to serve Jesus by following […]

HOMILY SUNDAY 19 – A Faith out of the Ordinary (1 Kings 19:9a, 11-13a; Psalm 85; Romans 9:1-5; Matthew 14:22-33) *********************************************************** Moses and Jesus were golfing one day. It turns out that Jesus is a great fan of Tiger Woods. Every time he made a good shot, Jesus would exclaim “Wow – just like Tiger […]

HOMILY WEEK 18 06 – Year II Faith like a Mustard Seed and Memorial of St Dominic   (Hab 1:12-2:4; Ps 9; Mt 17:14-20) ************************************************** To a non-swimmer, it seems incredible that a human body could float on water. Bodies are too heavy! When one stops to think of it, it seems incredible that a […]