HOMILY WEEK 19 05 – Year II Chosen to Live an Iconic Ideal: Optional Memorial of St. Stephen of Hungary (Ezk 16:1-15,60,63; Is 12; Mt 19:3-12) ******************************************* A wanderer visiting Bro. Anthony noticed a beautiful manuscript in his cell. He stole it and took it to a book vendor to sell it. The vendor replied […]
Assumption of Mary
HOMILY FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION Mary, Model of Virtues (Rev 11:19a; 12:1-6a;10; Ps 45;1 Cor 15:20-26; Lk 1:39-56) ******************************************************* Today we celebrate the solemnity of the assumption of Mary into heaven – a good occasion to reflect on the role of Mary in our lives. If, as papal preacher Fr. Cantalemessa claims, imitation of Mary […]
St. Maximilian Kolbe
HOMILY WEEK 19 03 – Year II Faith, Forgiveness, Healing, Glory and the Kingdom of God: Optional Memorial of St. Maximilian Kolbe (Ezk 9:1-7; 10:18-22; Ps 113; Mt 18:15-20) ********************************************************* Five words and their inter-relationship that capture the essence of the readings today are faith, forgiveness, healing, glory and the kingdom of God. Faith in […]
Saints Pontian and Hippolytus
HOMILY WEEKDAY 19 02 – Year II Becoming Like a Child: Optional Memorial of Saints Pontian and Hippolytus (Ezk 2:8-3:4; Ps 119; Mt 18:1-5,10,12-14) ********************************************************** A little trust game I liked to play with children is to invite them to stand straight and stiff, arms at their side, and fall back into my arms. Some […]
St. Jane Frances de Chantal
HOMILY WEEK 19 01 – Year II Learning to Listen – Lavishing Praise: Memorial of St. Jane Frances de Chantal (Ezk 1:2-5,24-28; Ps 148; Mt 17:22-27) ************************************** Have you ever heard God speak to you? Was your response one of praise? Today’s liturgy invites us to hone our ability to listen to God’s voice, and […]
Transformative Faith
HOMILY SUN 19-B Transformative Faith (1 Kg 19:4-8; PS 34; Eph 4:30-5:2; Jn 6:41-51) ************************************************ Have you ever heard the statement, “Some people are reacting against a God they have been taught wrongly about?” Faith in Jesus can transform our lives and lead us to experience God. Thomas Keating, renowned monk and spiritual writer, claims […]
St. Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr
HOMILY WEEK 18 06 – Year II A Spiritual Athlete: Feast of St Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr (2 Cor 9:6-10; Ps 112; Jn 12:24-26) ********************************************** Have you ever participated in a triathelon? Today’s gospel challenges us to do just that – participate in a spiritual triathelon of three activities: be a grain of wheat that […]
St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein)
HOMILY WEEK 18 05 – Year II Radical Discipleship and Redemptive Suffering: Optional Memorial of Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Nahum 1:15, 2:2, 3:1-7; Dt 32:35-41; Mt 16:24-28) ******************************************************* When asked to address a Christian Business Men’s Association breakfast just before Holy Week one year, I decided to speak about Radical Discipleship and Redemptive Suffering. […]
St. Dominic
HOMILY WEEK 18 04 – Year II Covenant Love: Memorial of St. Dominic (Jer 31:31-34; Ps 51; Mt 16:13-23) ************************************* Yearning for intimacy is one thing that God and humans have in common. For God, that was always expressed through covenant relationships. The liturgy today invites us into an ever-deepening covenant relationship with Jesus that […]
St. Sixtus II and Companions
HOMILY WEEK 18 03 – Year II Persistent Faith: Optional Memorial of St. Sixtus II and Companions (Jer 31:1-7; Jer 31:10-13; Mt 15:21-28) ******************************************************** There is a very significant faith process at work in the readings today, calling us to have humble and persistent faith in Jesus; to come to him for forgiveness and healing, […]
