HOMILY WEEK 15 06 – Year I Following Jesus Through Persecution and Suffering Optional Memorial – St. Apollinaris (Ex 12:37-42; Ps 136; Mt 12:14-21) **************************************************** Liturgists involved in choosing the readings for the Eucharist try to establish a connection between especially the first reading and the gospel. It takes a little digging, but there are […]

HOMILY WEEKDAY 15 05 – Year I Living the Law of Love (Ex 11:10-12:14; Ps 116; Mt 12:1-8) ***************************************************** A nervous priest was performing a wedding ceremony, and accidently began the nuptial blessing with the words, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do!” The critical words uttered by Jesus in the gospel today, […]

HOMILY WEEK 15 04 – Year I Jesus’ Cross and Yoke (Ex 3:13-20; Ps 105; Mt 11:28-30) *************************************** Fr. Bertrand OMI was a veteran missionary at La Loche First Nations community in northern Saskatchewan. He had been a boxer as a youth, was a barber, ran a dog team and spoke fluent Dené. He was […]

HOMILY WEEK 15 03 – Year I All is Given to the Simple (Ex 3:1-6, 9-12; Ps 103; Mt 11:25-27) **************************************** What do the burning bush of Moses and a retreat have in common? May I suggest that both involve encountering God through fearless, humble faith? A retreat centre can be our mountain and our […]

HOMILY WEEK 15 02 – Year I Repent and Believe in the Good News – Optional Memorial: Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (Exodus 2:1-15; Psalm 69; Matthew 11:20-24) ********************************************* A dishonest painter cheated by thinning paint with water to paint a church. As long as it didn’t rain right away, he thought, he would be […]

HOMILY WEEK 15 01 – Year I Putting Jesus First (Ex 1:8-22; Ps 124; Mt 10:34-11:1) ************************************** Fr. Mike McCaffery is a beloved, more-or-less retired diocesan priest from Edmonton on whom Edmonton leans to be their voice for special occasions. He presided at the wedding of Wayne Gretzky, and was called on to preside over […]

HOMILY SUNDAY 15 C The Great Commandment and the Good Samaritan (Dt 30:10-14; Psalm 69 or 19; Col 1:15-20; Lk 10:25-37) ***************************************************** A mother sent her little girl to the store with strict orders to come straight back. When she was late returning, a worried mother asked her why. The girl responded she had stopped […]

WEEK 14 06 To Love as God Loves Optional Memorial: St. Henry II (Gen 49:29-50:26; Ps 105; Mt 10:24-33) ***************************************** A theologian, when asked how simple he could make the Christian message, responded promptly: “Jesus loves me, this I know, because the bible tells me so.” He then added, “That little song I learned as […]

HOMILY WEEK 14 05 – Year I When Life is Hard, Faith Runs Deeper (Gen 46:1-7,28-30; Ps 37; Mt 10:16-23) ********************************************** John Allen Jr., Globe and Mail correspondent to the Vatican, is working on his latest book. It will be on the persecution of Christians around the globe. That initiative fits today’s readings with their […]

WEEK 14 – 04 Go and Announce the Good News of Reconciliation Memorial: St. Benedict (Gen 44:18 – 45:5; Ps 105; Mt 10:7-15) ****************************************** David Wells, a well-known educator from England, spoke at the Los Angeles Religions Education Congress recently. His talk focused on the two words that begin today’s gospel: “Go” and “Announce.” His […]