Sunday, February 25, 2024

Homily: 2nd Sunday of Lent


This weekend we heard the famous biblical story of Abraham and his son Isaac, and the angel who stopped Abraham at the last minute from sacrificing his son as God had ordered. While this passage demonstrates Abraham’s unbelievable faith in God – it is a story whose ending is often missed.  An ending which turns this story upside down and changes how that culture – and we – need to see God so differently.  What is this surprise twist? And how does it impact our spiritual journey?  Check it out…

Click here for a podcast of the homily

Click here for the text of the homily

Click here for the readings of the day

Sunday, January 7, 2024

Homily: The Epiphany of the Lord

 

For the past 12 days we have heard the stories of the birth of Jesus Christ as God incarnate indeed good news of great joy all people.  So, on this Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord we celebrate Jesus revealed as the Christ Child to the magi, who arrive by the light of the star. Every year we listen to this well-known Gospel story of the journey of the magi who pay homage to the Christ Child. But today I invite you to just focus on two lines that appear in the Gospel. What are they?  Check it out because…as you will you see, any interaction with this Jesus the Christ, no matter where or how it happens, will change your own journey.

Click here for a podcast of the homily

Click here for the text of the homily

Click here for the readings of the day.

Sunday, December 31, 2023

Homily: Feast of the Holy Family

 

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family…and tomorrow the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. And I like the fact that this Feast comes hours before the Solemnity for it allows us to really look at how this God incarnate, born of the Blessed Virgin Mary…this Christ Child…this God who came into the world in a family that had its heart and its doors open to love – connects to our daily life and our families.  It was Pope Francis who reminded us that, “The family is important, as it is necessary for the survival of humanity. Without the family, the cultural survival of the human race would be at risk. The family. Whether we like it or not, is the foundation.”

In a society where all too often we can easily fall prey to the notion of separating the secular and the sacred, and we close our eyes to what is sacramental, what does it take to build that foundation?

Check it out…

Click here for a podcast of the homily

Click here for the text of the homily

Click here for the readings of the day


Saturday, December 23, 2023

Homily: 4th Sunday of Advent

 

With the calendar only providing us 3 full weeks of Advent, how have you been spending your time? What, perhaps have you been seeing…or feeling or doing differently? For Advent calls us to be conscious, awake, alert.  Advent calls us to be open to how Christ comes to us every day.  Advent calls for our participation by opening our eyes to our own brokenness and that of humanity.  For Christ is there…just waiting and wanting our active participation. This week’s Gospel provides us three points which may lead us to a better understanding of what we are called to do moving from this briefest 4th week of Advent into Christmas and the New Year.  What are they? Check it out….

Click here for a podcast of the homily

Click here for the text of the homily

Click here for the readings of the day


Saturday, December 9, 2023

Homily: 2nd Sunday of Advent


As we each walk through this season of Advent, we may just find ourselves in some form of wilderness, thirsting for peace, reconciliation and healing – and thus it’s a time we need to be alert, awake, watchful and vigilant to God’s presence. So, perhaps we take the lead from Isaiah where we spend time seeking how we can better “Prepare the way of the Lord”…of how we can look at the valleys, at the crookedness, and the rough places not just in the outside world, but also in our own hearts. What does that look like?  Check it out…

 

Click here for the podcast of the homily

Click here for the text of the homily

Click here for the readings of the day