HOMILY WEEK 32 05 – Year I Faith and Readiness; Believe and Love: Optional Memorial of St. Elizabeth of Hungary (Wis 13:1-9; Ps 19; Lk 17:26-37) ********************************************* A nervous lector at the Sunday Eucharist ended her reading one day with the words, “This is the end of the world.” To which the congregation dutifully responded. […]

HOMILY WEEK 32 04 – Year I Living in the Reign: Optional Memorial of St. Margaret of Scotland (Wis 7:22-8:1; Ps 119; Lk 17:20-28) ********************************* Living in the Reign is the title of a retreat that I love to offer. It of course, alludes to living in the Kingdom of God here and now, the […]

HOMILY WEEK 32 03 – Year I Grateful Servants of the Kingdom: Memorial of St. Albert the Great (Wis 6:1-11; Ps 82; Lk 17:11-19) ************************************************** “Because as servants of the kingdom you did not rule rightly.” That quote from the first reading caught my attention for two reasons: one, it is the first time that […]

HOMILY WEEK 32 02 – Year I Living Our Human Longing Well (Wis 2:23-3:9; Ps 34; Lk 17:7-10) ****************************************** “God created us for incorruption.” That evocative statement from the Book of Wisdom, and the readings today, invite us to live our human longing well. Today’s first reading from Wisdom is one we are most likely […]

HOMILY WEEK 32 01 – Year I Called to Repent and to Forgive: (Wis 1:1-17; Ps 139; Lk 17:1-6) ************************************************** “If there is repentance, you must forgive.” Does this statement by Jesus in the gospel mean we don’t need to forgive a person if they don’t come to apologize? Today readings are an invitation to […]

HOMILY SUNDAY 32-A Be Ready – Live in the Kingdom (Wisdom 6:12-16; Psalm 63; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:1-13) ************************************************************* A priest was about to preside at the funeral of a notorious mafia criminal. His brother, a mafia boss, demanded the priest say only positive things about the dead man or their contribution to the […]

HOMILY WEEK 31 05 – Year I Joyfully Proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ: Memorial of Pope St. Leo the Great (Rm 15:14-21; Ps 98; Lk 16:1-8) **************************************************** Have you ever wondered what your life would be like without faith in Jesus Christ? Honest and open encounters with a Muslim woman and a Hindu […]

FEAST – DEDICATION OF ST JOHN LATERAN Temples of the Holy Spirit and Life-giving Water  (Ezk 47:1-12; Ps 46; Jn 2:13-22) ***************************************************** “Wherever this river flows, the waters shall be made fresh.” The readings today, and this feast of the dedication of St. John Lateran, invite us to drink of the living waters of God’s […]

HOMILY WEEK 31 03 -Year I The Commandments of Jesus (Rm 13:8-10; Ps 112; Lk 14:25-33) ******************************************* Isn’t it interesting how love and hate both figure in today’s readings? First, we are to love one another, and then in the gospel we are to hate our families! In the end, the message is simple: we […]

HOMILY WEEK 31 01 – YEAR I God’s Great Gift of Mercy: (Rm 11:29-36; Ps 69; Lk 14:12-14) *************************************** Have you ever received an unexpected gift that touched you deeply, and even had an effect on your life? The liturgy today invites us to reflect on gift-giving – God’s gifts to us, especially mercy, and […]