HOMILY SUNDAY ADVENT 3-A Unwavering Joyful Faith (Isaiah 35:1-6, 10; Psalm 146; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11) *************************************************************** “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” Pray for unwavering faith in Jesus that expresses itself in love and joy. The first reading exposes why John the Baptist would even […]

HOMILY ADVENT WEEK 02 06 – Year II Being Elijah for Others: Memorial of St. John of the Cross (Sirach 48:1-11; Ps 80; Mt 17:10-13) ************************************** Do you see yourself as a prophet? The readings today invite us to be both Elijah and John the Baptist for others. Both the first reading from Sirach and […]

HOMILY WEEK 02 05 – Year II Following the Way of the Lord with Faith and Fidelity: Memorial of St. Lucy (Is 48:17-19; Ps 1; Mt 11:16-19) ************************************************** “Oh, that you had paid attention to my commandments!” Today’s readings and memorial of St. Lucy invite us to respond to God’s unconditional covenant love for us […]

HOMILY ADVENT WEEK 02 04 – Year II Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Rev 11:19, 12:1-10; Judith 13; Lk 1:39-47) ********************************************** There are two options for the first reading on this Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The richness and appropriateness of the second option from Revelations makes for an easy decision. The whole […]

HOMILYADVENT WEEK 02 03 – Year II Faith, Forgiveness, Healing and Rest: Optional Memorial of St. Damasus (Is 40:25-31; Ps 103; Mt 11:28-30) ******************************************* How strong is your faith? The readings today invite us into a strong faith in God experienced through forgiveness, healing and rest. The first reading from Isaiah and Psalm 103 tell […]

HOMILY ADVENT WEEK 02 02 – Year II God as Loving Father and Good Shepherd (Is 40:1-11; Ps 96; Mt 18:12-14) ************************************************ There’s nothing like a parable to illustrate a spiritual point in a new way, or to offer new insight to a familiar point. Jesus used these short stories drawn from everyday life to […]

SOLEMNITY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Balancing Devotion with Imitation (Gen 3:9-20; Ps 98; Eph 1:3-12; Lk 1:26-38) ********************************************************** A husband asked his wife why she had purchased an expensive dress after she had told him she was only going window shopping. She replied that she did go window shopping and when she saw that beautiful […]

HOMILY ADVENT SUNDAY 02 A Truly New World Order (Isaiah 11:1-10; Romans 15:4-9; Matthew 3:1-12) *********************************************** There is a triple level of prophecy in the readings today. First, Isaiah prophecies about a new world order that will be ushered in by a child. Then in the Gospel, Matthew has Isaiah prophesying about John the Baptist, […]

HOMILY ADVENT WEEK 01 06 – Year II Isaiah’s Offering of Hope and Healing: Memorial of St. Ambrose (Is 30:19-26; Ps 147; Mt 9:35 – 10:8) **************************************************** Are you shocked at the number of drug-related deaths due to the opioid crisis in our society today? Could that be an indication of a deeper spiritual malaise, […]

HOMILY ADVENT WEEK 01 05 – Year I Seeing with the Eyes of Faith: Optional Memorial of St. Nicholas (Isaiah 29:17-24; Ps 27; Mt 9:27-31) ************************************ “Do you see what I see?” This line from a familiar Christmas Carol, along with today’s readings, invite us to see Jesus with the eyes of faith, and come […]