Category: Homilies

Those who had witnessed Jesus raising the widow’s son in today’s gospel conclude that “God has visited his people.” Fr Jim points out that God is always visiting his people – no less now that in the time of Jesus or Moses or Abraham.  How, Fr Jim wonders, will we respond to God’s visit to us today?

Today’s Readings

A bishop must be irreproachable, married only once, temperate, self-controlled, decent, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not aggressive, but gentle, not contentious, not a lover of money.
1 TM 3:1-13

“God has visited his people.”
LK 7:11-17

The Jews of first century Palestine generally viewed the Romans as oppressors rather than friends. Yet, everyone liked and respected the Roman centurion in today’s gospel – including Jesus. Fr Tony points out that, as we repeat the centurion’s words just before we receive the Eucharist, we should remember God calls us to embrace all – even those who are very different from us.

Today’s Readings

There is one God. There is also one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as ransom for all.
1 TM 2:1-8

“I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof… But say the word and let my servant be healed.”
LK 7:1-10

All three of today’s readings are about forgiveness.  Fr Jim tells his own version of the “Prodigal Son” story about accidentally ruining his father’s favorite fork, and how much joy he felt in hearing his father say “I forgive you.” Who, he wonders, do we know who would love to hear those words from us?

Today’s Readings

The LORD relented in the punishment he had threatened to inflict on his people.
EX 32:7-11, 13-14

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Of these I am the foremost. But for that reason I was mercifully treated,
1 TM 1:12-17

“There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.”
LK 15:1-32 

Fr Jim points out that amazing things can happen if we are open to God’s grace.  Like St. Paul in today’s first reading, Anwar Sadat came to a dramatic change of heart – from pursuing violence and hatred with Israel to pursuing peace and friendship.  And, like St Paul, responding to God’s grace ultimately cost him his life. May we, like them, have the courage to respond to God’s grace – no matter what the cost.

Today’s Readings

I am grateful to him who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me trustworthy… I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and an arrogant man.
1 TM 1:1-2, 12-14

“Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.”
LK 6:39-42

 

Fr Ed believes the answer to the question Rodney King posed, “Can we all get along?” is a resounding yes. In fact, not only can we “get along,” we can do good to those who hate us – but only if we, as St Paul points out in today’s first reading, remain firmly rooted in Jesus.

Today’s Readings

Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another.
COL 3:12-17

“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”
LK 6:27-38

Fr Jim tells the story of Elizabeth Laird, the “hug lady” of Fort Hood, who for 12 years greeted deploying and returning soldiers with a hug.  The soldiers stood in line to receive that hug. Like the hug lady, Christ, as St Paul writes to the Colossians, waits for us at the right hand of God to give us a “hug” –  a hug so deep and so filled with love that it turns all our hurt into joy.

Today’s Readings

Seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
COL 3:1-11

“Blessed are you who are poor … who are now hungry … [and] now weeping… Rejoice and leap for joy on that day!”
LK 6:20-26

Fr Ed points out that, like the disciples in today’s gospel, Jesus calls each of us to himself. We, too, are to go forth as his messengers.  It doesn’t matter that we don’t feel up to the task – as Peter and the others surely felt. Jesus only asks us to come to himself. God will provide the rest.

Today’s Readings

As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him, rooted in him and built upon him.
COL 2:6-15

[After Jesus] spent the night in prayer to God … he called his disciples to himself.
LK 6:12-19

St Paul points out in today’s first reading that our suffering allow us to participate in the suffering of Christ – if we join our suffering to his. St Peter Claver, Fr Jim observes, understood the value of joining our suffering with the suffering of Jesus.  The more than 300,000 men, women and children Peter baptized and ministered to over his lifetime worked and died as slaves. They lost their lives, yet through Peter Claver’s efforts, they also found them.  We may not be Peter Claver. Yet, even the smallest kindness we offer to someone who is suffering is of inestimable value – if we offer it in union with Jesus.

Today’s Readings

I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his body, the church.
COL 1:24 – 2:3 (New Living Translation)

God is my safety and my glory.
PS 62:6-7, 9

“I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?”
LK 6:6-11

Jesus tells us that God must come first in today’s Gospel.  God, Fr Tony points out, doesn’t just want a little bit of us, he wants all of us. Can we love God the same way Jesus loves him – with total commitment?  Fr Tony discovered that when we pray as St Francis of Assisi prayed, “my God and my all,” we, too, may find ourselves doing things for God we never thought we could do.

Today’s Readings

Who can know God’s counsel, or who can conceive what the LORD intends?
WIS 9:13-18B

I am sending [Onesimus] …. to you … that you might have him back forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a brother.
PHMN 9-10, 12-17

“If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.”
LK 14:25-33

 

Fr Jim points out that while there certainly are times for penance and fasting, this is not one of them. Like the disciples in today’s gospel, we too, have Jesus with us. He is here – on our altar. This is the time to rejoice: to “come with joy into the presence of the Lord.”

Today’s Readings

Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
COL 1:15-20

Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.
PS 100:1B-2, 3, 4, 5

The scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, “The disciples of John the Baptist fast often and offer prayers, and the disciples of the Pharisees do the same; but yours eat and drink.” Jesus answered them, “Can you make the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?
LK 5:33-39