HOMILY WEEK 02 05 – Year II Sent to Proclaim Mercy and Heal: Memorial of St. Francis de Sales (1 Sam 24:2-21; Ps 57; Mk 3:13-19) ***************************************** Do you see yourself as an apostle? The readings today call us to an apostolic mission of proclaiming the Good News of God’s mercy, and to a healing […]

HOMILY WEEK 02 04 – Year II Friendship in the Lord and Healing in His Name (1 Sam 18:6 – 19:7; Ps 56; Mk 3:7-12) ************************************************ “True friends are like diamonds, precious and rare; False friends are like Autumn leaves, found everywhere.” That saying, seen on a poster at a treatment centre, touches on the […]

HOMILY WEEK 02 03 – Year II Balancing Mercy and Faith, Law and Love:  Memorial, St Vincent (1 Sm 1732-51; Ps 144; Mk 3:1-6) ****************************************************** Why was Goliath so surprised when David struck him with a stone from his sling? Such a thing had never entered his head before! The readings today, on this memorial […]

HOMILY WEEK 02 02 – Year II Placing our Faith in Christ as Kyrios-Lord: Memorial of St. Agnes (1 Sm 16:1-13; Ps 89; Mk 2:23-28) *************************************** The late Serge LeClerc, former gang leader who had a conversion experience while incarcerated, became a motivational speaker. In one of his talks, he shared how he was always […]

HOMILY WEEK 02 01 – Year II Understanding Three Spiritual Themes: Optional Memorial – St. Fabian (1 Sam 5:16-23; Ps 50; Mk 2:18-22) ********************************************** Three significant themes run through the readings today, inviting us to pay attention to them, learn from them and let them strengthen our faith in Jesus as the center of our […]

HOMILY SUNDAY 2-A Called to be Saints: New Life through Forgiveness and Healing (Isaiah 49:3, 5-6; Psalm 40; 1Cor 1:1-3; John 1:29-34) ************************************************************** One of the most well-known and popular hymns written by Carey Landry is the hymn entitled Lay Your Hands. The chorus in that hymn captures succinctly the two-fold mission of Jesus as […]

HOMILY WEEK 01 06 – Year II The Call of Levi – Gratuitous Grace (1 Sm 9:1-10; Ps 21; Mk 2:13-17) ************************************************************ The Word Among Us offers this reflection for today’s liturgy: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Today begins the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, and today’s Gospel is a […]

HOMILY WEEK 01 05 – Year II New Life through Faith, Forgiveness and Healing Memorial: St. Anthony, Abbot (1 Sm 8:4-22; Ps 89; Mk 2:1-12) ******************************************************* There is a saying, “People get the government they deserve.” That saying applies to the readings and memorial liturgy today. We are invited to place our faith in Jesus, […]

HOMILY WEEK 01 04 – Year II Humble Faith and Trust (1 Sam 4:1-11; Ps 44; Mk 1:40-45) ************************************* Have you ever wondered, “Where is God?” when something bad happened to you? The readings today provide us with a simple, clear and important message: Be humble and trust in God at all times and in […]

HOMILY WEEK 01 03 – YEAR II Living in Balance (1 Sam 3: Ps 40; Mk 1:29-39) ************************************** “I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” This sentence from Psalm 40 of today’s readings captures the message of the liturgy for us today – to balance prayer and […]