Homilies

Homily for the 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, November 17, 2024

The reaction to the scary and ominous lines in this gospel passage (Mark 13:24-32) which is becoming of a true believer is found in Psalm 131:2: “Rather, I have stilled my soul, hushed it like a weaned child. Like a weaned child on its mother's lap, so is my soul within me.”  The graphic description of the final days of this world with the sun darkening, the moon not giving out its pale light anymore, and the stars hurtling down to earth, is only one additional element for us to place next to the many instances in which our heart is frightened and tension stea

Homilies

Homily for the 32nd Sunday of Ordinary Time, November 10, 2024

Looking back at my priestly ministry spanning over more than 52 years, I lost count of the many people who came and keep coming to me with a very heavy heart.  Invariably, they want me, as one of God’s ministers, to assure them that he has been monitoring all their sighs, accompanying them through their tragedies and collecting their tears in his divine bowl: My wanderings you have noted; are my tears not stored in your vial, recorded in your book? Psalm 56:9  Frankly, the most painful part of sitting there listening, has been and always is, their silent

Homilies

Homily for the 31st Sunday of Ordinary Time, November 3, 2024

Today’s reflection is all about the law that must guide our every thought, choice, action and reaction.  Today’s reflection is about the “rail” on which our life, in all its facets, is supposed to run.  The expert of the law double-checked with Jesus about it by asking: “Which is the first of all the commandments?” (cf. Mark 12:28-34)  It is called “Shema” because its first word is “hear,” “shema” in Hebrew.   It is like saying: “Forget about anything else. This is what must guide you, enlighten you, and help you make the right choices

Homilies

Homily for the 30th Sunday of Ordinary Time, October 27, 2024

This gospel passage (Mark 10:46-52) is the setting in which the promise made by God through the prophet Jeremiah in the 1st reading (Jer. 31:7-9) unfolds.   Jericho is an oasis with an abundance of vegetation and water. In it, life goes on easy, without major challenges.  However, Jesus is leaving Jericho with his disciples because his destination is Jerusalem. The way to Jerusalem is all uphill and steep and grueling.   Furthermore, humanly speaking, Jesus’ decision makes no sense at all.  It makes no sense also to the disciple

Homilies

Homily for the 29th Sunday of Ordinary Time, October 20, 2024

Today, we are asked to place in the special pink envelope the amount of dollars that our heart inspires us to donate to the work of the foreign missions.  However, having said that, I feel compelled to talk to you about the more serious and more demanding contributions that all Catholics ought to give, around the clock, 24/7 to fulfill their missionary obligations.  Whenever one in our family is seriously ill, or we find ourselves in a bind, financially, emotionally, mentally, we send toward heaven a steady stream of prayers and entreaties that come stra

Homilies

Homily for the 28th Sunday of Ordinary Time, October 13, 2024

Our first reaction must be: “I do not want my face to fall like the face of the rich, young man. I do not want to walk away from Jesus. I do not want to be sad (cf. Mark 10:21-22).  Now, to say the same thing in a positive form we would say: “I want to enter the Kingdom of God.”  Jesus again said to them in reply, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through (the) eye of (a) needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." Mark 10:24-25  And raising his eyes toward his disciples he sai

Homilies

Homily for the 27th Sunday of Ordinary Time, October 6, 2024

Today we have a chance to reflect on the main reason why the Catholic Church feels so strongly about Christian marriage.  The reason is that married Christian couples are called to be a most eloquent and visible reminder we have of the unfailing love of God for his people.  The total, free, faithful and fruitful love of husband and wife is the sign picked by God himself in the Old Testament to show to the chosen people of Israel how he will never fail in his love for them.  The total, free, faithful and fruitful love of husband and wife is also

Homilies

Homily for the 26th Sunday of Ordinary Time, September 29, 2024

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him; and I will raise him on the last day. John 6:44  Concerning salvation, we must never forget God’s absolute sovereignty. It is complete and foolish arrogance to attempt to circumvent it or to alter it.  Our God is in heaven; whatever God wills is done. Psalm 115:3  Clearly then, the first danger that we who are chosen must avoid is the presumption of trying to limit God’s favors and predilection only to the selected group to which we belong.  It is a hard lesson to learn for J

Homilies

Homily for the 25th Sunday of Ordinary Time, September 22, 2024

The lesson that Jesus wishes to teach us, today, is a life lesson, in the sense that it forces us to see where, instinctively, we place ourselves in the context of our relationship with God and our interaction with people.  Assuming that our relationship with God is correct, at least as far as it appears to us before a deeper, more direct reflection, it is already embarrassing and humbling to have come up with the different groups of people to whom we relate and with whom we interact.  “True loves:” it includes anyone within our very narrow circle of g

Homilies

Homily for the 24th Sunday of Ordinary Time, September 15, 2024

If we reflect on this gospel passage (Mark 8:27-35) without a clear concept of discipleship, we would be shocked and bewildered.  Simon Peter is extolled for the tremendous insight from above about the very nature of Jesus, Son of God and Son of Man and then, is chastised and reprimanded with blistering directness by Jesus. “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”  While still in shock, we might want to take this dramatic turn of events and apply it to ourselves.  In life there are ups and downs, unexpec