Abiding in friendship and in God: Saints Basil and Gregory (1 Jn 2:22-28; Ps 98; Jn 1:19-28) ******************************************** Can you think of a friendship that changed your life? The reading today from 1 John, and the memorial of St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen, invite us into an always deeper and more intimate […]
HOMILY MARY MOTHER OF GOD – YEAR C
Children of God – Adopted and Redeemed (Num 6:22-27; Ps 67; Gal 4:4-7; Lk 2:16-21) ********************************************* A young Jewish girl told her teacher one day that her cat had kittens, and they were all Fascist kittens. The teacher was impressed by this story and called one of Hitler’s generals to come and hear the little […]
HOMILY OCTAVE OF CHRISTMAS DAY 07 – DECEMBER 31st
Living as Children of God with Joyful Faith (1 Jn 2:18-21; Ps 95(96); Jn1:1-18) ********************************************* Suppose you were given cold stone tablets with rules written on them to hold for a while – how would you respond and how would you feel? Then suppose you were given a new-born baby wrapped in soft blankets and […]
HOMILY – FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY Year C
Faith in Jesus and Love for Others (1 Samuel 1:11, 20-22, 24-28; Psalm 84; 1 John 3:1-2, 21-24; Luke 2:41-52) ************************************************************ Traditionally, the Sunday within the octave of Christmas is the Feast of the Holy Family. This feast offers us an opportunity to reflect on the nature and importance of family life for us all. […]
HOMILY DECEMBER 29th
Walking as Jesus Walked (1 Jn 2:3-11; Ps 96; Lk 2:22-35) ********************************************** The Word Among Ushas an interesting commentary on today’s gospel that with some adaptation will make up this homily. It begins with the quote, “The parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord,” and continues with the […]
HOMILY – FEAST OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS
Light in the Darkness (1 Jn 1:2-2:2; Ps 124; Mt 2:13-18) ********************************************** St. John, whose feast we celebrated yesterday, begins the readings today with the proclamation that God is light and in him there is no darkness. Those who repent and receive the forgiveness of Jesus will have communion with each other, and also walk […]
HOMILY – FEAST OF ST. JOHN
Making Visible the Invisible (1 Jn 1:1-4; Ps 97; Jn 20:2-8) ***************************************** When a bishop is named, the tradition is to have the ordination on a feast day. So strong is that tradition that I, at the insistence of the nuncio, was ordained on August 29th, the feast of the beheading of John the Baptist! […]
HOMILY FEAST OF ST STEPHEN
Living Calvary In Slow Motion (Acts 6:8-10; Ps 31; Mt 10:17-22) **************************************** A well-known theologian, Deitrich Bonhoeffer, once said:Grace is free, but not cheap. This statement resonates with a song the International singing group Up With Peoplesang as part of their show: Freedom isn’t Free. These two phrases seem to fit this feast of St. […]
HOMILY CHRISTMAS DAY YEAR C
A New World Order (Isaiah 52:7-10; Psalm 98; Hebrews 1:1-6; John 1:1-18) ****************************************************** At least one American presidential candidate has run for office on the campaign promise that if elected he would bring about a new world order. Haughty dreams and high hopes notwithstanding, I think it goes without saying that no mere president, let […]
HOMILY CHRISTMAS EVE – YEAR C 2018
Be Light For The World (Isaiah 9:2-4, 6-7; Psalm 96; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-16) ********************************************************* Fr. Rene Fumoleau OMI in the NWT recounts a trip by truck one night with an elder. The elder compared believing in God to driving a car at night. One sets out to a destination unable to see further than […]
