HOMILY WEEK 14 03 – Year II Our Call to be Contemplative, Missionary Disciples (Hosea 10:1-3,7-8,12; Ps 105; Mt 10:1-7) ************************************************** A Jewish businessman in Chicago sent his son to Israel for a year to absorb the culture. When the son returned, he said, “Papa, I had a great time in Israel. By the way, I converted to Christianity.” […]

HOMILY WEEK 14 02 – Year II Idol-free Living (Hosea 8:4-7, 11-13; Ps 115; Mt 9:32-38) ************************************** There is a sign at Fountain Park pool that says, “Keep this an idle-free zone.” Today, we are called to live in an idol-free zone; to trust the one true God with our lives, and to pray for […]

HOMILY WEEK 14 01- Year II Birthing Newness Through Faith and Covenant Love: Optional Memorial of St. Maria Goretti (Hos 2:14-16,19-20; Ps 145; Matt 9:18-26) ********************************************** Have faith in Jesus; touch the hem of his garment, receive healing and participate in a new creation. There is a relational progression in the readings today. In the […]

HOMILY SUNDAY 14 – A (Homily 01) Humble Faith in Jesus (Zechariah 9:9-10; Psalm 145; Romans 8:9, 11-13; Matthew 11:25-30) ************************************************************* A man took his dog out hunting ducks. Every time he shot a duck on a lake, the dog walked on the water to get it. Amazed, the man took a boastful friend along […]

HOMILY WEEK 13 06 – Year II New Wine – Fresh Skins: Optional Memorial of St. Elizabeth of Portugal (Amos 9:11-15; Ps 85; Mt 9:14-17) ******************************************* An elderly lady went to the bar every night and ordered a glass of whiskey and a drop of water.  Every night it was the same – a glass […]

HOMILY – FEAST OF ST. THOMAS, WEEK 13 03 – Year I Faith, Identity, Transformation and Mission (Eph 2:19-22; Ps 117; Jn 20:24-29) *********************************************************** A trip to Chenai, India, would not be complete without a visit to the tomb where tradition tells us St. Thomas is buried, after evangelizing and laying the foundations of the […]

HOMILY WEEK 13 04 – Year II Faith, Forgiveness and Deeper Healing (Amos 7:10-17; Ps 19; Mt 9:1-18) ********************************************* Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be paralyzed? The gospel today invites us to place our faith in Jesus and come to him for forgiveness and deeper healing. The paralyzed man in […]

HOMILY WEEK 13 03 – Year II Letting Justice Surge Like Water (Amos 5:14-24; Ps 50; Mt 8:28-34) ************************************** “Let justice flow like water, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” “If you want peace, work for justice.” Those two statements, the first from the Old Testament reading today, the latter a bumper sticker, invite us […]

HOMILY WEEK 13 02 – Year II Weathering Life’s Storms with Faith (Amos 3:1-8; 4:11-12; Ps 5; Mt 8:23-27) *************************************** Have you ever been caught in a storm while boating? Today’s readings invite us to trust that Jesus can help us weather any storm in our lives. I remember one incident years ago on Lac […]

HOMILY – SOLEMNITY of SAINTS PETER AND PAUL Apostles of Forgiveness and Evangelization (Acts 12:1-11; Ps 34; 2 Tim 4:6-8;17-18; Mt 16:13-19) *************************************************** Today’s solemnity invites us to reflect on two foundational figures of the early Church, to be inspired by them and to learn from them. St. Peter and St. Paul met only a […]