In the Missal we used before this present one there was a prayer we prayed that summed up the meaning this feast of Pentecost. We prayed’ and that we might live no longer for ourselves but for him he sent the Holy Spirit from your Father as his first gift to those who believe, to complete his work on earth and bring us to the fullness of grace. (more…)
Archive for the ‘Homily’ Category
Homily – May 19, 2013
Sunday, May 19th, 2013Homily – May 12, 2013
Sunday, May 12th, 2013You notice we have three stained glass windows from the old church here, representing the Resurrection, the Ascension and Pentecost. Scripture scholars tell us that Christ’s resurrection, his Ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit are all part of the Easter event. The church has separated them in order to allow us to contemplate the meaning of two aspects of a single, indivisible event; Christ’s rising from the dead. (more…)
Homily – May 5, 2013
Sunday, May 5th, 2013If I were to give this sermon a title it would be ‘God spare us from the righteous.’ I’ve been reading a couple of novels recently about the time of Cromwell and Thomas More and Henry the 8th. They were harsh and cruel times in which to live. If you didn’t toe the line with whoever had religious authority at the time and stuck to your convictions you were either hanged or burned at the stake. You had Protestants killing Catholics and Catholics killing Protestants and both of them killing the Anabaptists all in the name of true religion. The intolerance found in the histories of world religions is amazing, both Christian and non- Christian. Everyone thought their way was the only way and any other way was to be mercilessly stamped out. The same is true in our own times. Religious fanaticism is alive and well in our day. There are people who are willing to destroy the lives of others convinced they are doing God’s will, convinced they are giving God glory. (more…)
The Hard Commandment – Homily – April 28, 2013
Sunday, April 28th, 2013The context for today’s gospel is the Last Supper. Jesus had just finished washing the feet of his apostles. It is after this act of service, a service done by slaves to guests who entered a home, that Jesus gives this new commandment to all of us. In the Old Testament Moses gave the people the commandment, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your mind and you shall love your neighbour as yourself.” In the time of Moses ‘neighbour’ meant family or tribe. Strangers were not included. Jesus adds to this ancient commandment the words, “love one another as I have loved you.” We know that Jesus’ love for us brought his to death on the cross. (more…)
Homily – April 20, 2013
Sunday, April 21st, 2013Let’s imagine you are a good living Jew, living in the city of Antioch. As a Jew you would be an outsider in the city. Your only friends would be other Jews. Your faith told you to avoid, as much as possible, any contact or dealings with the Gentiles, neighbours who worshiped the gods of the Romans or Greeks. (more…)
Founded by St. Paul of the Cross, every Passionist takes a special vow to spend his or her energies in promoting remembrance of the sufferings of Jesus, the memory of the Cross, and reflection of the meaning of the Cross for the world.
