Homilies

Allow me the privilege to first note that on Monday, Memorial Day, we will prayerfully acknowledge those who over the years have given their lives in defense of freedom here and around the world and pray for those who mourn them. Last November the end of World War I was raised up and next week we will gratefully recall the 75th anniversary of the courageous storming of Normandy beaches which resulted in the end of World War II. Since then many others have sacrificed their lives with the same motivation: defend freedom for us all. There was a poem composed in the early days of World War I which honors those who made the ultimate sacrifice entitled ‘For the Fallen’. (Robert Laurence Binyon) One stirring verse reads: ‘They shall not…

This is Good Shepherd Sunday. What image comes to mind when you think of a shepherd; probably a pleasant one. Green pastures, gentle breezes, sheep grazing peacefully on the hillside; or shepherds kneeling at the manger before the baby Jesus. The fact is that the life of a shepherd was hardly comfortable or easy, and often not peaceful. Shepherds in the semi-arid lands of the Middle East lived and still live tough lives. They stayed with the animals day and night, enduring the odors and weather and dust. They had to be ever alert to dangers from predators, storms and rustlers. And they had to be ever mindful of the inattentive wandering sheep that so easily could get lost or in trouble. To be a shepherd was and is hard…

Happy Easter. He is risen! Saint John Paul II declared the 2nd Sunday of Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday. This weekend the Church encourages us to trust in the love and mercy of Jesus. Trust in God is the antidote to fear, to doubt, to worry and to loneliness because God’s mercy is unlimited. In the gospel we read about Thomas, who is often referred to as doubting Thomas. In a way it is a bad rap. We all grieve and doubt and wonder, especially when we experience loss. Thomas had lost the great man he had followed for some three years. He had seen Jesus cruelly punished without reason and a painful death on the cross. Thomas felt the loss of Jesus and tried to make sense out of…

Thank you for praying with us this Psalm and Passion Sunday. It begins with a joyful procession welcoming our Lord and ends with the closed tomb. Next Sunday when we celebrate Easter that joy will return multiplied. The Passion of our Lord just proclaimed which is from the Gospel of Luke this year should be our focus all this Holy Week as we walk with Jesus to the cross and beyond. One way to do so is to ponder the actions of Jesus and the others who played pivotal roles and reflect on which of them we relate to with our own lives. ​There are so many interesting people who can prick our consciences. There are the people who sang, blessed is the king who comes, and only days later…

When I was growing up there was a retort: ‘sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me.’ I remember defending myself with it after being called a shrimp for being short and four eyes for wearing glasses. The fact is that the statement is not really true. Names can hurt. Sticks and stones can hurt physically for a while, but names, words used hurtfully or carelessly, insults, put downs, bullying sting inwardly and we remember them for a long time. For some reason we tend to retain the negative people say about or to us more than the encouraging words. Words nowadays have become weapons, our stones. It has lessened civility in our government and weakened respect in personal relationships. People earn good livings attacking…

Today is Laetare Sunday, Rejoice Sunday. In anticipation of the joy of Easter and Christ’s victory over sin and death, we wear rose vestments, a sign of life. Yet Lent is not yet over and the penitential call to conversion continues in our readings. Their joyful theme is God’s invitation to forgiveness to which we are called to answer. In the first reading, the Lord said to Joshua: “Today I have removed the reproach of Egypt from you.” God’s mercy was theirs. St. Paul in the 2nd reading teaches that “God has reconciled us in Christ, not counting our transgressions.” The psalm response catches the invitation: “Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.” There is much about which we can rejoice today but we must first decide to taste…

There is reassurance in the truth of our psalm response: ‘the Lord is kind and merciful.’ That reassurance ought to encourage us as we continue our Lenten journey to live more fruitful lives. The fruits we ought to seek are those twelve fruits of the Holy Spirits: charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control and chastity. How much better would our lives and that of society be if these were the goals we sought to live every day. These are not easy to live which is why the truth that the Lord is kind and merciful is so encouraging. The parable of the fig tree in today’s gospel is one that is easy to understand. Scholars tell us that when a fig tree is planted it…

Have you ever said something and then regretted it, been embarrassed even ashamed? I have. As the founding father Benjamin Franklin once said, ‘From the slip of the foot you may soon recover, but a slip of the tongue you may never get over.’ On the other hand has someone ever said something to you which so moved you, uplifted you and encouraged you because it was so sensitive and caring? I have experienced that as well. We reveal so much about ourselves and others reveal so much about themselves by not only what we do or not do, but by what we say and do not say. Sirach in our first reading states it clearly: ‘Praise no one before he speaks, for it is then that people are tested.’…

This Gospel from the Sermon on the Plain and its message are just that – plain, direct, clear. ‘Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you; bless those who curse you; pray for those who mistreat you; turn the other cheek; be merciful, stop judging, give, forgive. Do to others as you would have them do to you’. All of these are good guides for all of us whatever our vocations or stage in life. The seriousness of Jesus’ teaching is reflected in the fearsome reminder: ‘for the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you’. That ought to give us all pause. Scholars tell us that a measure was used to parcel out grain; those who Jesus was speaking to would have understood the…