Category: Homilies

The message Fr Jim hears both from today’s readings as well as from the life of St Teresa of Avila is to go “back to the basics.” For St Paul, it is opening our eyes to the God who is all around us. For Jesus, it is cleaning our hearts from the inside by caring for others. For St Teresa, it is bringing herself (and her order) back to a simple focus on God. What, Fr Jim wonders, will going “back to the basics” be for us today?

Today’s Readings

I am not ashamed of the Gospel. It is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.
ROM 1:16-25

“But as to what is within, give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you.”
LK 11:37-41

Fr Ed notes that October is “respect – and celebrate – life month.  Today’s readings are all about honoring the sacredness of every moment of every person’s life – rich or poor, resident or alien, younger or older. It’s the perfect day to celebrate Harriet Lewandowski’s 100^th birthday.  Happy birthday Harriet!

Today’s Readings

Naaman went down and plunged into the Jordan seven times at the word of Elisha, the man of God. His flesh became again like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean of his leprosy.
2 KGS 5:14-17

This saying is trustworthy: If we have died with him we shall also live with him.
2 TM 2:8-13

And one of [the lepers], realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. 
LK 17:11-19

Jonah discovers that God’s is willing to forgive any who repent – even, Fr Jim notes, if they’re our worst enemies.  Jesus points out in today’s gospel that God expects us, too, to forgive generously – even when we’d rather not. 

Today’s Readings

Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry that God did not carry out the evil he threatened against Nineveh… [Then the LORD asked Jonah:] “Should I not be concerned over Nineveh, the great city in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons?”
JON 4:1-11

“Father … forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us.”
LK 11:1-4

Fr Tony recounts the story of a nun who tells her superior, St Teresa of Avila, about a vision she was experiencing that made her want to stay the whole day in the chapel. “That’s nice,” St Teresa points out, “but you still have to peel the potatoes tonight.” As St Teresa understood, we are called to be both “Mary” and “Martha.” Listening and doing go together.

Today’s Readings

When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way, he repented of the evil that he had threatened to do to them; he did not carry it out.
JON 3:1-10

“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”
LK 10:38-42

Fr Peter points out that, like the priest and the Levite in today’s gospel, many still pass by those in need – sometimes even those in life-threatening need. How will we respond the next time we see someone in need? Will we move on? Or will we stop – struck by the fact our neighbor in need bears the face of Jesus – and offer our help?

Today’s Readings

This is the word of the LORD that came to Jonah, son of Amittai:”Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and preach against it; their wickedness has come up before me.” But Jonah made ready to flee to Tarshish away from the LORD.
JON 1:1–2:1-2, 11

“And who is my neighbor?”
LK 10:25-37

Fr Jim points out that at some point we may all, like Habakkuk, wonder if God is listening. But God does not abandon Habakkuk, and he will not abandon us. His grace is always ready to provide the help we need in time to face any situation – if we have faith.

Today’s Readings

How long, O LORD?  I cry for help but you do not listen… Then the LORD answered me and said… [Help] will surely come, it will not be late… The just one, because of his faith, shall live.
HAB 1:2-3; 2:2-4

God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. 
2 TM 1:6-8, 13-14

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” 
LK 17:5-10

 

Fr Jim recounts the likely apocryphal story of St Francis’ taming the Wolf of Gubbio. What is not apocryphal, however, is that St Francis could see and honor the presence of God in all things. Animals, plants, the elements, the sun and moon – and even death – were his brothers and sisters. He calls upon us to honor and cherish them as our brother and sisters, too.

Today’s Readings

“Justice is with the Lord, our God.”
BAR 1:15-22

“Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”
LK 10:13-16

Jesus commissions 72 disciples in today’s gospel. Like the 72, Fr Tony points out, Jesus commissions us to bring God’s peace, faith and healing to ourselves and to all that we meet on our journey to the kingdom.

Today’s Readings

[Ezra] read out of the book [of the law of Moses] from daybreak until midday, in the presence of the men, the women, and those children old enough to understand.
NEH 8:1-4A, 5-6, 7B-12

Jesus appointed seventy-two other disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit.
LK 10:1-12

 

Fr Peter points out that it’s not only in today’s readings that we meet angels “guarding” us but in many other places throughout Scripture (e.g. Dan 10:21, Acts 12:1-10, Ps 34;6-7 and Heb 1:14).  Their ubiquitious  presence is a sign of God’s constant love and care for us.  We are his precious children – no matter what our ages.

Today’s Readings

Thus says the LORD: “See, I am sending an angel before you, to guard you on the way and bring you to the place I have prepared.”
EX 23:20-23

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.”
MT 18:1-5, 10

St Thérèse of Lisieux, Fr Ed points out, is like the Jews in today’s first reading to whom those of every nation cling because they have heard that God is with them.  She is popular because her “little way” takes the complexity out of being with God:  “We look at God and he looks at us.”

Today’s Readings

“Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”
ZEC 8:20-23

When the disciples James and John saw [that the Samaritans would not welcome them] they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?”
LK 9:51-56