HOMILY WEEK 28 02 – Year I Genuine Religion – an Inner Healing Journey of Faith: Memorial of St. Teresa of Jesus (Avila) (Rm 1:16-25; Ps 19; Lk 11:37-41) ********************************************** One of the best compliments I have ever received came from the late Verna Vandale, former director of Guadalupe House in Saskatoon. She once shared […]

HOMILY WEEK 28 01 -Year I On Being Thankful and Living with Gratitude: Optional Mass – Thanksgiving Day 2019 (Col 3:12-17; Ps 113; Mt 7:7-12) ***************************************** The remark “A grateful person is a happy person” was made on a panel show once, causing me to reflect on its truth ever since. That truth is especially […]

HOMILY SUNDAY 28-C Salvation Here and Now (2 Kings 5:14-17; Psalm 98; 2 Timothy 2:8-13; Luke 17:11-19) ************************************************************ There is an interplay in the readings today of humble faith, humility and gratitude. That interplay is also virtually a mini-course on prayer. In the second reading, St. Paul goes to the heart of the matter when […]

HOMILY WEEK 27 06 – Year I Listening and Obeying (Joel 3:12-21; Ps 97; Lk 11:27-28) *************************************** “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” That statement from Jesus in today’s gospel needs a bit of tweaking for our society today that is full of sound bites, news clips, fake […]

HOMILY WEEK 27 04 – Year I Persevering Prayer and Serving the Lord (Mal 3:13-20; Ps 1:1-4,6; Lk 11:5-13) *************************************************** A man and his wife are awakened at 3 o’clock in the morning by a loud pounding on the door. The man gets up and goes to the door where a drunken stranger, standing in […]

HOMILY WEEK 27 03 – Year I An Extreme Faith Makeover (Jonah 4:1-11; Ps 86; Lk 11:1-4) **************************************** “Extreme Makeover” shows on TV that involve the transformation of plain looking persons or run-down houses into a stunning display of poise and beauty all end with a “big reveal” of the finished product that impresses people. […]

HOMILY WEEK 27 02 – Year I Genuine Repentance and Mature Prayer (Jonah 3:1-10; Ps 129; Lk 10:38-42) ************************************************ Usually the liturgists who choose the readings for the Eucharist try to find a link or connection between the reading and the gospel. Not so today – the readings provide us with two very distinct messages […]

HOMILY WEEK 27 01 – Year I An Attitude of Faithful Obedience and Compassionate Caring: Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary (Jonah 1:1-2:1, 10; Jonah 2; Lk 10:25-37) ***************************************************************** Two priests in adjacent parishes, who were a bit competitive in their ministry, found themselves at a social gathering where they were expected to say […]

HOMILY SUN 27-C Faith that Hopes, Serves and Loves (Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4; Psalm 95; 2 Tim 1:6-8; 13-14; Luke 17:5-10) ************************************************************* A fellow was hiking in the mountains when he fell over a cliff. Halfway down the face of the mountain, he luckily managed to grab hold of a branch with both hands that stopped […]

HOMILY WEEK 26 06 – Year I Faith, Repent, Serve: a recipe for joy (Bar 4:5-29; Ps 69; Lk 10:17-24) ******************************************** When was the last time you felt a moment of pure joy? That probably doesn’t happen often, partly because as Henri Nouwen wrote, in this life there is no such thing as a clear-cut […]