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Homily for the 3rd Sunday in Lent, March 11, 2023

In the gospel of John, perhaps more than anywhere else in the Bible, every single word is laden with symbolism and chosen carefully to evoke other significant, grace-filled events. The mention of a well tells those familiar with Holy Scripture that, today, the Lord is looking for a romantic encounter with our soul. Rebekah was chosen as Isaac’s bride at a well (cf. Genesis 24:15-65) and Zipporah as Moses’ wife at a well in the land of Midian. (cf. Exodus 2: 16-21). It is safe to say that the Lord Jesus is keenly aware of the real state of our soul, while we

by Fr. Dino Vanin March 16, 2023

Homilies

Homily for the 2nd Sunday in Lent, March 4, 2023

The only way this narrative of the Transfiguration of Jesus becomes relevant to us is by considering ourselves as members of the Body of Christ, as one with him. If this were not also “our Transfiguration” it would be just a simple recollection of a wonderful, distant event that took place 2000 years ago. The preface of today’s Holy Mass indicates clearly that any mention of the Transfiguration is done to help us overcome the huge scandal, the massive obstacle of the cross, i.e. of suffering, ours and of others. Marathon runners are painfully aware of “hitting th

by Fr. Dino Vanin March 9, 2023March 9, 2023

Homilies

Homily for the 1st Sunday in Lent, February 26, 2023

At least once a year, we need to overhaul our relationship with Christ Jesus and make sure that we return to the right path to heaven if we had strayed and had become unheedful of the inspirations of the Holy Spirit. This spiritual overhaul is strictly the work of the Holy Spirit as it is the Holy Spirit the divine Agent of Baptism. The Holy Spirit descended in bodily form as a dove on Jesus after he was baptized by John in the Jordan River; and it is the Holy Spirit who anoints us sons and daughter of God the Father at our Baptism. Those present at Jesus’ baptis

by Fr. Dino Vanin February 28, 2023March 3, 2023

Homilies, Uncategorized

Homily for the 7th Sunday in Ordinal Time, February 19, 2023

You have heard what Jesus just told us. Now, perhaps more than at any other time, the obvious question might be: Should we take him seriously? At Mass, usually we give the Gospel our undivided attention, but only for a short time, and provided that the homily is half-way decent. After that, life’s routine, pressing issues, unresolved situations, fatigue, boredom, reoccurring dreams, a lot of things push even the best, more challenging statements of the Gospel in the hazy background of the mind. However, this time it must be different if nothing else becaus

by Fr. Dino Vanin February 24, 2023February 24, 2023

Homilies

Homily for the 6th Sunday in Ordinal Time, February 12, 2023

These two long pages of the gospel can be summarized thusly: “if you are dissatisfied with people and situations, a lot depends on you and on your inner disposition.” Hence, to achieve lasting changes in people and situations, we ought to begin by changing our inner attitude. And, to do that, with the help of the Holy Spirit, we must acquire some fundamental virtues. To drive this point home, Jesus uses strong, shocking, incisive, compelling words, because any changes we decide to make in our heart can be made only after we have a thorough knowledge of what goes

by Fr. Dino Vanin February 16, 2023

Homilies

Homily for the 5th Sunday in Ordinal Time, February 5, 2023

Today’s gospel passage offers two vivid images that Jesus must have picked up from his Mom, as well as from the simple, daily life of his village of Nazareth. Salt and light. In ancient time, salt made life better, more livable, and oil lamps extended activities otherwise hindered at sundown. Mary, together with the other housewives of Nazareth used salt to preserve dried fish, sheep and goat meat, and olives. Naturally, they put salt in many of their dishes and in the dough, they were kneading. As they prepared the bread, the young girls from the village were se

by Fr. Dino Vanin February 9, 2023

Homilies

Homily for the 4th Sunday in Ordinal Time, January 29th, 2023

Do we want to be on the team Jesus is coaching? Before we answer that question, which seems a no-brainer, let us pause to see if we have what it takes to make his team. Jesus picks exclusively those with the highest spiritual IQ. What is it? Well, let us see, first, what it is not. We are heading for Super Bowl Sunday. Lots of teams started out, back in August of last year, dreaming of coming up with the right combination of skillful players on offence, defense, and special team to win it all. However, to make it on Jesus’ team we must not be the most skilled

by Fr. Dino Vanin January 31, 2023February 2, 2023

Homilies

Homily for the 3rd Sunday in Ordinal Time, January 22nd, 2023

Today’s readings are clearly about light: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone. Isaiah 9:1 The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen." Matthew 4:16 The passage from Isaiah refers to the solemn promise made by God to King David that his kingdom will be established forever; and the second one refers to the keeping of that promise in Jesus Christ, the “Son of God” but also the “Son of David” as, historical

by Fr. Dino Vanin January 26, 2023

Homilies

Homily for the 2nd Sunday in Ordinal Time, January 15th, 2023

“Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” What images does this familiar phrase evoke in our minds and hearts? Maybe we just feel some of the contained solemnity that is in the air around Holy Communion time. But, instead, we might just allow these words of John the Baptist to float by us without striking any chord of our heart. It might fall in the same category of our familiarity with the Crucifix: the horror, the tragic, excruciating death fading away due to extended or repeated exposure to our gaze. But can we really afford to be de

by Fr. Dino Vanin January 21, 2023

Homilies

Homily for the Epiphany, January 8th, 2023

The story of the three kings from the East, bringing gifts to baby Jesus in Bethlehem, is one that we all remember from childhood. Even now it conjures up exotic images of courage, open mindedness, and faith. But, for a moment, let us strip it of its glamor and romanticism. This we ought to do to change from being mere spectators which we become whenever we are reluctant to get in the thick of things, to become active participants as the Word of God is actualized and lived by us in this liturgy of the Epiphany. Those three kings represent both the new influx of b

by Fr. Dino Vanin January 12, 2023