HOMILY WEEK 24 01- Year II A Eucharistic Faith that Heals: Memorial of Saints Cornelius and Cyprian (1 Cor 11:17-33; Ps 40; Lk 7:1-10) ******************************************* Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.  The readings today invite us into a […]

HOMILY SUNDAY 24 – B The Cross as Redemptive Suffering (Isaiah 50:5-9; James 2:114-18; Mark 8:27-35) *************************************************** A woman back from shopping was showing her husband the expensive dress she had purchased. When he asked her why she bought a dress she did not really need, she replied that she couldn’t resist the temptation. Her […]

EXULTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS The Cross – Source of Life Through Faith and Repentance (Numbers 21:4-9; Psalm 78; Philippians 2:6-11; John 3:13-17) *********************************************************** There is much history behind today’s feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Legend has it that St. Helena, the mother of St. Augustine, discovered the True Cross in 326 […]

HOMILY WEEK 23 05 – Year II Journeying into Greater Self-Awareness: Memorial of St. John Chrysostom (1 Cor 9:16-27; Ps 83; Lk 6:39-42) *************************************** “You are, who you are, who you are – what are you afraid of?” Franciscan Father Richard Rohr started a retreat for our Oblate community years ago with the startling statement, […]

HOMILY WEEKDAY 23 04 – Year II The Heart of Christian Living: Optional Memorial of the Most Holy Name of Mary (1 Cor 8:1b-7, 11-13; Ps 139; Lk 6:27-38) ************************************************************ A woman died and arrived at the Gates of Heaven.  Saint Peter told her she had to spell a word to get in. “Which word?” […]

HOMILY WEEK 23 03 – Year II Living the Beatitudes (1 Cor 7:1-31; Ps 45; Lk 6:20-26) ********************************************* The Beatitudes are the Magna Carta of Jesus’ teaching. Part of the Sermon on the Mount in both Matthew and Luke, they present Christ as the new Moses, building on the Ten Commandments of the first Moses […]

HOMILY WEEDAY 23 02 – Year II Celebrating Who We Are (1 Cor 6:1-11; Ps 149; Lk 6:12-19) ************************************ The late Anthony de Mello, in The Song of the Bird, recounts this captivating story: A boy found an eagle’s egg and put it in a nest of a barnyard hen. The eaglet hatched with the […]

HOMILY WEEK 23 01 – Year II Attitudinal Healing: Optional Memorial of St. Peter Claver (1 Cor 5:1-8; Ps 5; Lk 6:6-11) ******************************* Has the cryptic statement, “Check that attitude” ever applied to you? The liturgy today invites us to be aware of and open to a transformation of attitudes, so we can help others […]

HOMILY SUNDAY 23 – B Genuine Faith Expressed through Unconditional Love (Isaiah 35:4-7; Psalm 146; James 2:1-5; Mark 7:31-17) ********************************************************** A Sunday school teacher asked her children, “Why is it necessary to be quiet in church?” One bright little girl replied, “Because people are sleeping.” Faith that expresses itself through love is true faith indeed. […]

HOMILY WEEK 22 06 – Year II Servants of Christ and Stewards of God’s Mysteries (1 Cor 4:6-15; Ps 145; Lk 6:1-5) ************************************************ “Think of us as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries.”  That line, from St. Paul in his letter to the Corinthians, provides us with a strong message and mandate: we […]