HOMILY WEEK 25 01 – Year I Builders of a New Temple: Optional Memorial of Saints Cosmos and Damian (Ezra 1:1-6; Ps 126; Lk 8:16-18) ************************************************************ Do you see yourself as a builder? We are about rebuilding the reign of God. The first reading is all about the return of the exiles to their homeland […]
Grace of God
HOMILY SUNDAY 25 – A Workers in the Vineyard and God’s Grace (Isaiah 55:6-9; Psalm 145; Philippians 1:20-24, 27; Matthew 20:1-16) ************************************************************* The Belly family was after their dad to move to the country and buy an acreage, which he finally did. But from the day they got there, every one of the family complained […]
St. Padre Pio
HOMILY WEEK 24 06 – Year I Listening To, and Keeping the Word of God: Memorial of St. Pius of Pietrelcina (1 Tim 6:13-16; Ps100; Lk 8:4-15) ******************************************* The first reading and gospel today combine to give us a critical message: keep the commandment, and hear and keep the Word of God. There is a […]
Kingdom of God
HOMILY WEEK 24 05 – Year I Birthing the Kingdom (1 Tim 6:2-12; Ps 49; Lk 8:1-3) ******************************************* Have you ever had the experience of a line of scripture you have read many times before, suddenly take on a whole new meaning? That was my experience with today’s readings and the following words: “Take hold […]
St Matthew
HOMILY WEEK 24 04 – Year I Unity, Community and a Spirituality of Letting Go: Feast of St. Matthew (Eph 4:1-7, 11-13; Ps 19; Mt 9:9-13) *********************************************** How have you responded to the words of Jesus, “Come, follow me,” addressed to you? The readings today, on this feast of St. Matthew, offers us three interrelated […]
St. Andrew Kim Tae-gōn, St. Palu Chōng Ha-sang and Companions
HOMILY WEEK 24 03 – Year I Revelation, Resistance and Vindication: Memorial of St. Andrew Kim Tae-gōn, St. Palu Chōng Ha-sang and Companions (1 Tm 3:14-16; Ps 111; Lk 7:31-35) ******************************************** Three words capture the essence of today’s readings: revelation, resistance and vindication. These three words also offer us a clear message: we are to […]
St. Januarius
HOMILY WEEK 24 02 – Year I Holy Compassion: Optional Memorial of St. Januarius (1 Tm 3:1-13; Ps 101; Lk 7:11-17) ******************************************* Today’s readings, present us with a miracle to ponder and appreciate, and a clear, simple double message to absorb and live: be holy and compassionate, or in the words of the psalm, “walk with […]
Humble Faith
HOMILY WEEK 24 01 – Year I Humble Faith Expressed through Prayer and Caring (1 Tm 2:1-7; Ps 18; Lk 7:1-10) ********************************************** Can you imagine Jesus saying, “Not even in the Catholic Church have I found such faith!” Would that shock you, or would you find it thought provoking? The readings today, and the memorial […]
Learning to Forgive
HOMILY SUNDAY 24 – A Learning To Forgive (Sirach 27:30-28:7; Psalm 103; Romans 14:7-9; Matthew 18:21-25) ****************************************************************** What would happen if God treated us the way we think we deserve to be treated? Forgiveness is the core of following Jesus. The gospel today is a lesson on the meaning of forgiveness. Jesus’ reply can mean […]
HOMILY WEEK 23 06 – Year I The Word of God as a Foundation: Memorial of Saints Cornelius and Cyprian (1 Tim 1:15-17; Ps 113; Lk 6:43-49) ******************************************* Recently, a young couple gave me a gift of a plaque that read, “Sometimes you just have to bow your head, say a prayer and weather the […]
