Let’s try this scenario; a mother and father had a very bright son who was totally bored with school. He was coming up for graduation and was not interested in considering going on to university. He had no idea what career he wanted to follow; he felt he needed a break from years of schooling. This can be the case for many young people. So this young fellow travelled and saw the world. He felt he needed some space. His parents keep encouraging him to get his act together and make up his mind what he wanted to do. He kept putting his decision on the back burner of his life. When he finally got around to making up his mind he discovered that he was not qualified to get into the courses he wanted. His past studies were out of date and preference was given to younger students who were more up to date. His procrastinating came home to roost and the consequences of his earlier decisions caught up with him. Thankfully his parents had the wisdom not to say, ’we told you so.’ (more…)
Archive for the ‘Homily’ Category
Homily – March 3, 2013
Sunday, March 3rd, 2013Homily – February 24, 2013
Sunday, February 24th, 2013Back in November of 2010 a group from the parish went on a trip to the Holy Land. One of the places we visited was the mount of the transfiguration. It was an awesome place. Our bus took us up a winding, precarious mountain road. Half way up we had to get into smaller vehicles to reach the top of the mountain. There was a beautiful garden and a large church commemorating the event of today’s gospel. There were two small chapels attached to the church – one for Moses and one for Elijah. There were lookouts from which we could see for miles across the valleys below. (more…)
Homily – February 17, 2013
Sunday, February 17th, 2013I think we are all getting used to the idea that a Pope can resign. Pope Benedict made that brave choice this past week. He set a precedent. Being the Pope is not necessarily a lifelong job. Recognizing his physical and even mental limitations he admitted he didn’t have the strength to carry on. He was aware of the state of the church, especially the Vatican, in the final years of Pope John Paul 2 who was so diminished in mind and body and he didn’t want to put us through that again. He made this brave and generous decision to step down for the good of the church. No future Pope can be trapped into thinking being the Pope is a life time job. (more…)
Homily – February 10, 2013
Sunday, February 10th, 2013Today’s gospel has so many lessons to teach us. The words that strike me the most are ‘we’ve have worked all night long but have caught nothing”. Peter and his fellow fisherman were hard working men with families to support. They will go home to their families emptied handed. We have no idea how often they worked through the night and pulled up empty nets. Fruitless labour can be so discouraging, so depressing, it can drain us of energy. (more…)
Homily – February 3, 2013
Sunday, February 3rd, 2013If you’ve ever been to a wedding you are certainly familiar with our second reading from St. Paul famous letter to the Corinthians and its beautiful yet demanding description of love. Love is such an easy word to say and such a demanding reality to live, whether inside or outside of marriage. Yet when all is said and done our lives will be judged on how we loved. Jesus tells us “whatever you do to one of these brothers and sisters of mine you do to me.” Our fidelity to Christ will not depend on where we stood on abortion or capital punishment, where we stood on birth control or married or women priests – the litmus test of our lives will be ‘did we love,’ especially did we love those who did not love us.
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.
