20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Isaiah 56:1, 6-7 Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8 Romans 11:13-15, 29-32 Matthew 15:21-28 Jesus moved on to the region of Tyre and Sidon.  This might have seemed surprising to the Jews.  Tyre and Sidon was considered pagan territory and thus unclean by the Jews.  It is there that …

Continue reading ‘20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily’ »

A Voice Crying Out in the Desert

Last week it was the situation in North Korea that was the headlines on the news.  Then came the white nationalist activity in Charlottesville, VA.  Yesterday brought a car driving through a crowd of people in Barcelona Spain.  Today (August 18th) there has been a stabbing in Turku Finland with two dad and six wounded. …

Continue reading ‘A Voice Crying Out in the Desert’ »

Korea & the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A 1 Kings 19:9a, 11-13a Psalm 85:9, 10, 11-12, 13-14 Romans 9:1-5 Matthew 14:22-33 Jesus’ disciples found themselves a few miles offshore “being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it.”  They faced a great storm.  I know that I might feel fear in such a …

Continue reading ‘Korea & the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily’ »

Conflict and the “Joy of the Gospel”

I have been reading Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel) for the last couple of weeks (I read slowly as I reflect over the text).  I just read paragraph 227 and was deeply struck by it.  I think it is very relevant today as we watch conflicts between individuals, political parties, nations, and religions.  …

Continue reading ‘Conflict and the “Joy of the Gospel”’ »

Feast of The Transfiguration – Homily, Year A

The 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 does in prayer.  Today is different.  We are giving a vivid description of what happens …

Continue reading ‘Feast of The Transfiguration – Homily, Year A’ »

A Saint for the Eucharist

This week our calendar of saints has included saints who were founders of religious orders.  On Monday, July 31st, we celebrated the Memorial of St. Ignatius of Loyola who founded the Jesuit order (S.J., who run McQuaid high school in Rochester).  Tuesday, August 1st was the Memorial of St. Alphonsus Liguori who founded the Redemptorists …

Continue reading ‘A Saint for the Eucharist’ »