Homilies
30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Exodus 22:20-26 Psalm 18:2-3, 3-4, 47, 51 1 Thessalonians 1:5c-10 Matthew 22:34-40 October 29, 2017 Last week we heard how the Pharisees “plotted how they might entrap Jesus by asking him a question…
Read More29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Isaiah 45:1, 4-6 Psalm 96:1, 3, 4-5, 7-8, 9-10 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5 Matthew 22:15-21 Last week we heard Jesus tell a parable about a wedding banquet for the king’s son. There were many…
Read MoreHomily for October 2017 – Year of the Eucharist 1 Kings 19:9-13a Psalm 116:12-13, 15-16bc, 17-18 Romans 12:1-8 John 15:1-17 One of the phrases that Bishop Matano used in his pastoral letter proclaiming our Year of the Eucharist was to…
Read More28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Isaiah 25:6-10a Psalm 23;1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6 Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20 Matthew 22:1-14 Throughout our readings today we hear of feasts “of rich food and choice wines,” how the Lord will spread the table…
Read More27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Isaiah 5:1-7 Psalm 80:9, 12, 13-14, 15-16, 19-20 Philippians 4:6-9 Matthew 21:33-43 For the Israelites, the use of the image of the vineyard in relation to God was a familiar one. Isaiah speaks…
Read MoreIn today’s (Thursday, 26th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1 – Oct. 5, 2017) first reading from the Book of Nehemiah we hear how Ezra read to the people from the book of the law of Moses from daybreak to…
Read More26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Ezekiel 18:25-28 Psalm 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9 Philippians 2:1-11 Matthew 21:28-32 The man says to his two sons, “Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.” The statement is clear and simple. It…
Read MoreFeast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels Revelation 12:7-12a Psalm 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 4-5 John 1:47-51 September 29, 2016 Today is officially called the Feast of Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels. They are the three angels found by name in…
Read More25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Isaiah 55:6-9 Psalm 145:2-3, 8-9, 17-18 Philippians 1:20c-24, 27a Matthew 20:1-16a Paul says to the Philippians, “Christ will be magnified in my body” and “Only, conduct yourselves in a way worthy of the…
Read MoreHomily for September 2017 – Year of the Eucharist Joshua 3:1-13 Psalm 63:2, 3-4, 7-8, 8-9 1 Corinthians 11:23-29 Matthew 26:36-46 In encouraging people to come, I have been saying that tonight would include Exposition. We have Jesus present in…
Read More24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Sirach 27:30-28:7 Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12 Romans 14:7-9 Matthew 18:21-35 Jesus came to offer us “forgiveness” but forgiveness wasn’t “new” with Jesus. We see it in what Sirach writes, “Forgive you neighbor’s…
Read More23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Ezekiel 33:7-9 Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 Romans 13:8-10 Matthew 18:15-20 Today Jesus gives us guidance on how to respond if someone against us. It begins, as it should to avoid making a mountain…
Read More22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Jeremiah 20:7-9 Psalm 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9 Romans 12:1-2 Matthew 16:21-27 Last week Peter responded to Jesus’ question, “But who do you say that I am?” with “You are the Christ, the Son…
Read MoreThe Transfiguration of the Lord, Year A Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 Psalm 97:1-2, 5-6, 9-12 2 Peter 1:16-19 Matthew 17:1-9 There are times in the gospels when Jesus goes off alone to pray. Generally, we are not told of what Jesus…
Read More17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A 1 Kings 3:5:7-12 Psalm 119:57, 72, 76-77, 127-128, 129-130 Romans 8:28-30 Matthew 13:44-52 Jesus says, “The kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure” so valuable that one who finds it “sells all that…
Read More16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Wisdom 12:13, 16-19 Psalm 86:5-6, 9-10, 15-16 Romans 8:26-27 Matthew 13:24-43 Today Jesus speaks to us about weeding, a task common to many people. We are fortunate to have a couple of dedicated…
Read MoreThose of you who are regular readers of my blog might notice that the title of this article is “Some Thoughts on the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A” as compared to the normal title including the word “homily.”…
Read More14th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Zechariah 9:9-10 Psalm 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13-14 Romans 8:9, 11-13 Matthew 11:25-30 Giving praise to God is a recurring theme in today’s readings. Our reading from Zechariah calls us to “shout for joy.” …
Read More13th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A 2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16a Psalm 89:2-3, 16-17, 18-19 Romans 6:3-4, 8-11 Matthew 10:37-42 The Fourth Commandment tells us to “honor our father and mother” but today Jesus says, “Whoever loves father or mother…
Read MoreThe Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14b-16a Psalm 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 John 6:51-58 Moses speaks to the Israelites of how they were “afflicted with hunger” and God fed them “with manna, a food…
Read MoreThe Most Holy Trinity Exodus 34:4b-6, 8-9 Daniel 3:52-55 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 John 3:16-18 Last week we celebrated Pentecost and the gift of the Holy Spirit and that brought our Easter season to a close. That means we are now…
Read MorePentecost Acts 2:1-11 Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13 John 20:19-23 Our Easter Season draws to a close today with our celebration of Pentecost but we should never think of Pentecost as simply an end to…
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