HOMILY WEEK 34 01 – Year I Giving God Glory and Praise at all Times: Optional Memorial of St Catherine of Alexandria (Dan 1:1-20; Dn 3:52-56; Lk 21:1-4) **************************************** When Bad Things Happen to Good People is a book written by Rabbi Kuschner, appropriate for the readings today inviting us to trust God totally in […]

HOMILY SUNDAY 34 – C Christ the King (2 Samuel 5:1-3; Colossians 1:12-20; Luke 23:35-43) ****************************************************** Have you ever met a king or a queen? Believe, repent, and let Jesus be your Lord and King, the center of your life. When Cast C of the International Singing Group Up With People was touring Belgium in […]

HOMILY WEEK 33 06 – Year I Reconciliation – Sign of the Resurrection: Optional Memorial of St. Clement I (1 Macc 6:1-13; Ps 9; Lk 20:27-40) ********************************************** A farmer confessed he had stolen some hay. The priest asked how much he had taken, as he had to know that before giving him a penance and […]

HOMILY WEEK 33 05 – Year I Living Temples of the Word: Memorial of St. Cecilia (1 Macc 4:36-37; 52-59; Ps29; Luke 19:45-48) ******************************************** When was the last time you were spellbound by someone’s words? Today’s liturgy extends a double invitation to us: not just to be “spellbound” by the words of Jesus, but to […]

HOMILY WEEK 33 04 – Year I (Homily 02) Faith as Courage, Fidelity and Surrender: Memorial of the Presentation of Mary (1 Macc 2:15-29; Ps 50; Lk 19:41-44) ********************************************** Nicky Gumble, in the Alpha Program, recounts the possibly true story of a young man in the Thirties who asked his friends if they believed he […]

HOMILY WEEK 33 03 – Year I Faith, Hope and Love (2 Macc 7:1-31; Ps 17; Lk 19:11-28) ***************************************** Some years ago, the St. Albert parish celebrated their 150th anniversary with a year-long series of speakers and events. I was invited to conduct a parish mission as part of that series, and was impressed by […]

HOMILY WEEK 33 02 – Year I “Carpe Diem.” Seizing the day, like Zacchaeus” (2 Mac 6:18-31; Ps 3; Lk 19:1-10 ************************************************** “Carpe Diem.” “Seize the day.” This saying, made famous by the movie The Dead Poets’ Society, fits the readings today, inviting us to deeper faith, more genuine repentance, and boldly living out our […]

HOMILY WEEK 33 01 – Year I Being Faithful to a Covenant Relationship: Optional Memorial of the Dedication of the Basilicas of Saints Peter and Paul (Mac 1:1-64; Ps 119; Lk 18:35-43) ************************************************ We have probably all heard the saying, “There is more to this than meets the eye.” That statement applies to today’s readings […]

HOMILY SUNDAY 33 – C Beginning Well Leads to Ending Well  (Malachi 4:1-2; Psalm 98; 2 Thes 3:7-12; Lk 21:5-19) ************************************************** Rhonda was quite sure that by studying the Book of Revelation, she had figured out when the end of the world was going to happen. No amount of listening, dissuading and caution could dampen […]

HOMILY WEEK 32 06 – Year I Faith Expressed through Justice (Wis 18:14-16; 19:6-9; PS 105; LK 18:1-8) ************************************* What are you praying for? Today’s readings invite us into a stronger, trusting faith in Jesus, and to persevere in prayer. Bishop Robert Barron stresses that today’s Gospel exhorts us to pray with persistence. This command […]