Just a few words on the second reading of today’s Mass – this letter to the Hebrews. Scholars say this letter was not written to a major Christian community otherwise it would bear the name of the community as other letters did; Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, the Philippians and Galatians. Scholars claim it was written around the year 80, a time of pause between two great persecutions of the church. The first persecution was during the time of Nero in the year 64 and the next one was during the time of Domitian in the year 85. This community had memories of its leaders being put to death and the experience of suffering harsh treatment under the authorities of the time but they had not just resisted to the point of shedding blood. But they knew that their freedom of religion and their lives depended on the whim of people in power. The Christians faced restrictions and limitations on their freedom, never knowing when some bureaucrat would make their lives difficult. (more…)
Archive for the ‘Homily’ Category
Homily – Get Up and Walk
Sunday, August 22nd, 2010Homily – August 7
Sunday, August 8th, 2010Recently I read an article by a priest who told of his long and troubled journey to the priesthood. As part of his journey he spent a month working with Mother Teresa in her ‘house of the dying’ in Calcutta. He writes: “On the first morning I met Mother Teresa after Mass. She asked, ‘And what can I do for you?’ I asked her to pray for me. ‘What do you want me to pray for?’ I voiced the request I had borne for thousands of miles: ‘Pray that I have clarity.’” (more…)
Homily – August 1
Sunday, August 1st, 2010Maybe I’m dating myself but do you remember the movie Alfie and its theme song, ‘what’s it all about Alfie’? It’s a bit like the theme of our first reading, ‘what’s it all about, what do get for all our toil, for all our efforts, for all our blood sweat and tears, for all our sleepless nights? We leave it all to be enjoyed by another who did not toil for it. It doesn’t make sense. It’s just not fair but its life.’ (more…)
Homily – July 25
Sunday, July 25th, 2010Every religious tradition recognizes the importance of prayer, a time spent in the presence of the divine. Most people see themselves as poor prayers. They try to be still and bring their thanks and their troubles to God. Immediately they are bombarded with what we call ‘distractions’. They think of all the things they should be doing, the idea being that their time could be better well spent getting things done. Thoughts of their unworthiness trouble them, why would God be interested in me or care for me after all the things I’ve done? Memories of recent of past conflicts with family members or co workers come to mind and the feelings of anger and resentment resulting from such conflicts still bother them. The list could go on and on. (more…)
Homily – July 11
Sunday, July 11th, 2010After the parable of the Prodigal Son, this parable of the Good Samaritan is one of best known and most challenging parables of Jesus. (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.
