SOLEMNITY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Balancing Devotion to, with Imitation of, Mary (Gen 3:9-20; Ps 98; Eph 1:3-12; Lk 1:26-38) ********************************************************** In November – December of 2016 and again in 2018, I was chaplain for a group of pilgrims to the Holy Land, and was privileged to preside at the Eucharist commemorating this feast of […]
St. Ambrose
HOMILY ADVENT WEEK 01 04 – Year II Humble and Obedient Faith in God: Memorial of St. Ambrose (Isaiah 26:1-6; Ps 118; Mt 7:21, 24-27) *************************************************** “Only the ones who do the will of my Father in heaven will enter the kingdom of God.” Jesus could not be clearer or more direct than this teaching: […]
St. Nicholas
HOMILY ADVENT WEEK 01 03 – Year II Realized Eschatology and Abundant Grace: Optional Memorial of St. Nicolas (Is 25:6-10; Ps 23; Mt 15:29-37) ************************************************* Did you realize that we are actually to be immersed in realized eschatology? Christian life is all about both living in the graced reign of God here and now, while […]
Advent
HOMILY ADVENT WEEK 01 02 – Year II The Healing Power of Advent: (Is 11:1-10; Ps 72; Lk 10:21-24) ********************************************** Have you ever compared your spiritual growth to the process of raising poinsettias? The readings today invite us to slow down this Advent, enter more deeply into contemplative silence, become more aware of our inner […]
St John Damascene
HOMILY ADVENT WEEK 01 01- Year II Optional Memorial of St. John Damascene (Is 2:1-5; Ps 122; Mt 8:5-11, 13) ********************************************** “Many will come from the east and the west and will recline … at the banquet in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 8:11). Today’s readings for this first weekday of Advent invite us to […]
Advent Sunday 01
HOMILY ADVENT SUNDAY 01 – B Waiting with Faith (Isaiah 63:16-17, 64:1, 3-8; Psalm 80; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Mark 13:33-37) ***************************************************************** Two young boys were praying their night prayers, one silently and one very loud, shouting what he wanted for Christmas. The quiet child rebuked him, telling him that God was not deaf. The second […]
Parousia
HOMILY WEEK 34 06 – Year I Being Alert and Ready at all Times (Dan 7:15-27; Dan 3:8-87; Lk 21:34-36) ******************************************* An Oblate brother playing pool was asked what he would do if he knew the world was to end that day. He replied calmly that he would keep on playing pool. Obviously, he was […]
Jesus our King
HOMILY WEEK 34 05 – Year I Serving Jesus our King and Obeying His Word (Dan 7:1-14; Dan 3:75-81; Lk 21:29-33) *************************************************** Did you know that Prince Harry was 5th in line to the throne? Someday he might have been king of England and Meghan the queen! Perhaps not that surprising as apparently, according to […]
St Andrew
HOMILY Week 34 04 – Year I Feast of St Andrew: Kerygma and Didache (Rm 10:9-18; Ps 19; Mt 4:18-22) *************************************************** “If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your hearts that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” This message of Paul to the Romans succinctly […]
HOMILY WEEK 34 03 – Year I Bless and Praise God Forever (Dan 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28; Dan 3; Lk 21:12-19) ************************************************* There was once a great ecclesiological debate in the Vatican to decide which was the greatest male religious order in the world. They were all gathered – Jesuits, Dominicans, Franciscans, Redemptorists, Oblates of […]
