Catholic Homilies

Homily for the 2nd Sunday of Advent Year B

catholichomilies@gmail.com (Catholic Homilies) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 18:14:00 +0000

Pope Benedict: Advent a time for honest self assessment

Commenting on this Sunday’s Gospel Pope Benedict spoke of Advent as the season of inner preparation for the coming of the Lord:

Dear brothers and sisters!

This Sunday marks the second stage of Advent. This period of the liturgical year highlights the two figures who played a prominent role in preparation for the historical coming of the Lord Jesus, the Virgin Mary and St. John the Baptist. In fact today’s Gospel of Mark focuses on the figure of the Baptist. Indeed it describes the personality and mission of the Precursor of Christ (cf. Mk 1.2 to 8). Beginning with his outward appearance, John is presented as a very ascetic figure dressed in camel skin, he feeds on locusts and wild honey, found in the desert of Judea (cf. Mk 1.6). Jesus himself once held him in contrast to those who "wear fine clothing” in the “royal palaces " (Mt 11.8). The style of John the Baptist was meant to call all Christians to choose a sober lifestyle, especially in preparation for the feast of Christmas, when the Lord - as Saint Paul would say - "became poor although he was rich, so that by his poverty you might become rich"(2 Cor 8.9).

With regard to the John’s mission, it was an extraordinary appeal to conversion: his baptism "is tied to a fiery invitation to a new way of thinking and acting, it is above all linked to the announcement of God's justice" (Jesus of Nazareth I, Milan 2007, p. 34) and the imminent appearance of the Messiah, defined as "he who is mightier than I" and who will "baptize with the Holy Spirit" (Mk 1,7.8). Therefore, John’s appeal goes far beyond and deeper than a call to a sober lifestyle: it is a call for inner change, starting with the recognition and confession of our sins. As we prepare for Christmas, it is important that we find time for self contemplation and carry out an honest assessment of our lives. May we be enlightened by a ray of the light that comes from Bethlehem, the light of He who is "the Greatest" and made himself small, he who is "the Strongest" but became weak.

All four Evangelists describe the preaching of John the Baptist referring to a passage from the prophet Isaiah: " A voice proclaims:In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God'"(Isaiah 40.3 ). Mark also adds a quote from another prophet, Malachi, who says: " Now I am sending my messenger— he will prepare the way before me " (Mk 1.2, see Mal 3.1). These references to the Old Testament Scriptures "speak of the saving intervention of God, coming out of his inscrutability to judge and save, we must open the door to Him, preparing the way" (Jesus of Nazareth, I, p. 35).

To the maternal intercession of Mary, the Virgin who awaits, we entrust our journey towards the Lord who comes, as we continue our journey of Advent to prepare our hearts and our lives for the coming of Emmanuel, God-with-us.

Homily for the 1st Sunday of Advent Year B

catholichomilies@gmail.com (Catholic Homilies) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 18:05:00 +0000

Source

Homily for the first Sunday of Advent - Year B - Mk. 13:33-37

by

Father Daniel Meynen

"Jesus said: «Take heed, watch; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning; lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Watch.» "

Homily:

"Jesus said: «Take heed, watch; for you do not know when the time will come.» "

As is true every year, the season of Advent that begins today is destined to prepare us for the coming of the Lord. This coming is that of his birth among us, about two thousand years ago. So we shall consecrate four weeks to disposing our soul and our body for the coming of the Lord Jesus: our soul, for the fruitful contemplation of the Mystery of the Birth of the Savior into the world; and our body, participating in the action of the soul, for worthily receiving the Savior of the world in his sacrament of the Eucharist, which is the Body of Christ!

This year the season of Advent opens with a passage from the gospel of Saint Mark, in which Jesus speaks of his second coming. There is nothing surprising in this, for the two comings of Christ, the first and the second, are closely linked: they constitute a whole, which is the Total Christ. The Total Christ is composed of Christ himself and all the elect of God, from the first to the last. Christ, who has already come to the earth, constitutes the first element of the Total Christ: he is the Head. When the last of the elect will have been incorporated into the Mystical Body of Christ, that is to say, when the final element of the Total Christ will have completed the whole Body of Christ, then Christ will return to the earth.

The Church today, like the Church yesterday, celebrates the birth of Jesus on December 25 each year. Now, scientists dispute this date and propose others. This shows that, if the Church celebrates the birth of Christ on December 25, it is doubtless not due to historical or scientific exactness, but rather because, with regard to everything involving the liturgy in general, the Church is guided by the Holy Spirit. Thus, regarding the second coming of Christ - this second coming linked in every way to the first - the Church can and must make these words of the Lord her own: "You do not know when the time will come."

" «It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch.» "

What a beautiful image of the Church! Jesus went to Heaven, as if he were on a long journey... On earth, he left disciples, the apostles, with Mary, his Mother. He gave to Peter, and to his successors, the authority needed to guide the men and women of good will toward the Kingdom of the Father! Each has received from the Lord his own task: one will be an apostle, another will be a teacher, yet another will be a healer, etc... But the doorkeeper, that is, Peter, is commanded to keep watch! Let us take note of this: it is a command. It is not a task that Peter has arrogated to himself: no, it is truly the Lord who told him to keep watch!

If Peter is charged with keeping watch for the return of the Lord, does this mean that other Christians do not have to do the same? No, certainly not. It is clear that all of us must watch and await the Lord: this is what we confess each time we recite the Creed. However, if Peter is charged with keeping watch for the return of the Lord, this means that no one has the right to say: "Here is Christ! There he is!" (Mt. 24:23) On the other hand, if one day it is Peter, or rather, one of his successors, who says this, then let us not hesitate to believe it! Also, let us pray in order that Peter might always be faithful to his mission, in order that one day we might hear, once again: "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" (Lk. 24:34)

" «Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning; lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Watch.» "

When Jesus warns us to not be asleep when he returns in his glory, this does not mean that we can never sleep... What is being referred to here is a sleep of the soul: we must avoid falling asleep spiritually. First, we must be careful not to fall into one grave sin or another, which would cause us to die spiritually, and thus to sleep with the sleep of spiritual death. Then, we must take care not to doze off: we must keep our soul in spiritual joy and chase away the deathly sadness of desolation. May the gifts of the Holy Spirit help us each day of our life to joyously serve Christ in his Church!

If there is a unique and inimitable model of awaiting the Lord, it is truly that of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary! She awaited the visit of the Archangel Gabriel and the birth of Jesus, her child; She awaited with the Apostles the coming of the Holy Spirit, and She still awaits, along with all the Church of Heaven, of Purgatory, and of the Earth, the Return of Christ in Glory! May we all, through Mary and with Her, be fervent disciples of Christ, happy and joyous when we welcome him today in holy communion, as we await to see him one day face to face! Amen!

Pope Benedict's homily on the final day of his visit to Benin

catholichomilies@gmail.com (Catholic Homilies) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 17:15:00 +0000

Dear Brother Bishops and Priests,
Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Following in the footsteps of my blessed predecessor Pope John Paul II, it is a great joy for me to visit for the second time this dear continent of Africa, coming among you, in Benin, to address to you a message of hope and of peace. I would like first of all to express my cordial gratitude to Archbishop Antoine Ganyé Cotonou, for his words of welcome and to greet the Bishops of Benin, as well as the Cardinals and Bishops from various African countries and from other continents. To all of you, dear brothers and sisters, who have come to this Mass celebrated by the Successor of Peter, I offer my warm greetings. I am thinking certainly of the faithful of Benin, but also of those from other French-speaking countries, such as Togo, Burkina Faso, Niger and others. Our Eucharistic celebration on the Solemnity of Christ the King is an occasion to give thank to God for the one hundred and fifty years that have passed since the beginnings of the evangelization of Benin; it is also an occasion to express our gratitude to him for the Second Special Assembly of the Synod of African Bishops which was held in Rome a few months ago.
The Gospel which we have just heard tells us that Jesus, the Son of Man, the ultimate judge of our lives, wished to appear as one who hungers and thirsts, as a stranger, as one of those who are naked, sick or imprisoned, ultimately, of those who suffer or are outcast; how we treat them will be taken as the way we treat Jesus himself. We do not see here a simple literary device, or a simple metaphor. Jesus’s entire existence is an example of it. He, the Son of God, became man, he shared our existence, even down to the smallest details, he became the servant of the least of his brothers and sisters. He who had nowhere to lay his head, was condemned to death on a cross. This is the King we celebrate!
Without a doubt this can appear a little disconcerting to us. Today, like two thousand years ago, accustomed to seeing the signs of royalty in success, power, money and ability, we find it hard to accept such a king, a king who makes himself the servant of the little ones, of the most humble, a king whose throne is a cross. And yet, the Scriptures tell us, in this is the glory of Christ revealed; it is in the humility of his earthly existence that he finds his power to judge the world. For him, to reign is to serve! And what he asks of us is to follow him along the way, to serve, to be attentive to the cry of the poor, the weak, the outcast. The baptized know that the decision to follow Christ can entail great sacrifices, at times even the sacrifice of one’s life. However, as Saint Paul reminds us, Christ has overcome death and he brings us with him in his resurrection. He introduces us to a new world, a world of freedom and joy. Today, so much still binds us to the world of the past, so many fears hold us prisoners and prevent us from living in freedom and happiness. Let us allow Christ to free us from the world of the past! Our faith in him, which frees us from all our fears and miseries, gives us access to a new world, a world where justice and truth are not a byword, a world of interior freedom and of peace with ourselves, with our neighbours and with God. This is the gift God gave us at our baptism!
“Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Mt 25:34). Let us receive this word of blessing which the Son of Man will, on the Day of Judgement, address to those who have recognized his presence in the lowliest of their brethren, with a heart free and full of the love of the Lord! Brothers and sisters, the words of the Gospel are truly words of hope, because the King of the universe has drawn near to us, the servant of the least and lowliest. Here I would like to greet with affection all those persons who are suffering, those who are sick, those affected by AIDS or by other illnesses, to all those forgotten by society. Have courage! The Pope is close to you in his thoughts and prayers. Have courage! Jesus wanted to identify himself with the poor, with the sick; he wanted to share your suffering and to see you as his brothers and sisters, to free you from every affliction, from all suffering. Every sick person, every poor person deserves our respect and our love because, through them, God shows us the way to heaven.
This morning, I invite you once again to rejoice with me. One hundred and fifty years ago the cross of Christ was raised in your country, and the Gospel was proclaimed for the first time. Today, we give thanks to God for the work accomplished by the missionaries, by the “apostolic workers” who first came from among you or from distant lands, bishops, priests, men and women religious, catechists, all those who, both yesterday and today, enabled the growth of the faith in Jesus Christ on the African continent. I honour here the memory of the venerable Cardinal Bernardin Gantin, an example of faith and of wisdom for Benin and for the entire African continent.
Dear brothers and sisters, everyone who has received this marvellous gift of faith, this gift of an encounter with the risen Lord, feels in turn the need to proclaim it to others. The Church exists to proclaim this Good News! And this duty is always urgent! After 150 years, many are those who have not heard the message of salvation in Christ! Many, too, are those who are hesitant to open their hearts to the word of God! Many are those whose faith is weak, whose way of thinking, habits and lifestyle do not know the reality of the Gospel, and who think that seeking selfish satisfaction, easy gain or power is the ultimate goal of human life. With enthusiasm, be ardent witnesses of the faith which you have received! Make the loving face of the Saviour shine in every place, in particular before the young, who search for reasons to live and hope in a difficult world!
The Church in Benin has received much from her missionaries: she must in turn carry this message of hope to people who do not know or who no longer know the Lord Jesus. Dear brothers and sisters, I ask you to be concerned for evangelization in your country, and among the peoples of your continent and the whole world. The recent Synod of Bishops for Africa stated this in no uncertain terms: the man of hope, the Christian, cannot be uninterested in his brothers and sisters. This would be completely opposed to the example of Jesus. The Christian is a tireless builder of communion, peace and solidarity - gifts which Jesus himself has given us. By being faithful to him, we will cooperate in the realization of God’s plan of salvation for humanity.
Dear brothers and sisters, I urge you, therefore, to strengthen your faith in Jesus Christ, to be authentically converted to him. He alone gives us the true life and can liberate us for all our fears and sluggishness, from all our anguish. Rediscover the roots of your existence in the baptism which you received and which makes you children of God! May Jesus Christ give you strength to live as Christians and to find ways to transmit generously to new generations what you have received from your fathers in faith! AKLUNƆ NI KƆN FƐNU TƆN LƐ DO MI JI [Fon: May the Lord fill you with his graces!]

[in English]
On this feast day, we rejoice together in the reign of Christ the King over the whole world. He is the one who removes all that hinders reconciliation, justice and peace. We are reminded that true royalty does not consist in a show of power, but in the humility of service; not in the oppression of the weak, but in the ability to protect them and to lead them to life in abundance (cf. Jn 10:10). Christ reigns from the Cross and, with his arms open wide, he embraces all the peoples of the world and draws them into unity. Through the Cross, he breaks down the walls of division, he reconciles us with each other and with the Father. We pray today for the people of Africa, that all may be able to live in justice, peace and the joy of the Kingdom of God (cf. Rom 14:17). With these sentiments I affectionately greet all the English-speaking faithful who have come from Ghana and Nigeria and neighbouring countries. May God bless all of you!

Homily for Christ the King Year A

catholichomilies@gmail.com (Catholic Homilies) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 17:04:00 +0000

When prisoners are visited.....

Photo

Homily by Fr. Richard Gibbons,
Knock, Co. Mayo.

Thanks to Midwest Radio for permission to publish the homily.

Homily re the Vatican Embassy Closure

catholichomilies@gmail.com (Catholic Homilies) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

A Mayo priest has called on Mass-goers to write to the Taoiseach Enda Kenny over the government’s decision to close the Irish Embassy in the Vatican.

Curate in Knock Fr. Richard gibbons this morning spoke to Mass-goers in his homily about the decision and why he feels it is a backwards step for the government and the country.

He encouraged people to write to the Taoiseach and outline why the government show row back on their decision.

It was announced recently by the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore that the government were to close embassies in East Timor and the Vatican in a cost-cutting exercise.

Listen the the audio homily HERE

Talents and Mission

catholichomilies@gmail.com (Catholic Homilies) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 09:36:00 +0000

"God summons every man to life and bestows on him a talent, while entrusting him with a mission", which is charity. Those were Pope Benedict XVI’s words before the Angelus in St Peter’s Square. The Pope reminded those gathered on Sunday that "Charity is the fundamental good that no one can fail to make use of and without which all the other gifts are in vain” before adding that only “by practicing charity, can we also take part in the joy of our Lord.”

During his address the Holy Father also underlined the fact that because our earthly existence is marked by impermanence our life should be lived as a “pilgrimage” and we should keep our eyes fixed on the ultimate goal, the God who created us.

Recalling Sunday’s Gospel Pope Benedict also continued on the theme of charity noting that it was our mission to use our talents for the good of others.

“In today’s Gospel, the parable of the talents, Jesus invites us to reflect with gratitude on the gifts we have received and to use them wisely for the growth of God’s Kingdom. May his words summon us to an ever deeper conversion of mind and heart, and a more effective solidarity in the service of all our brothers and sisters. “

Homily for the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

catholichomilies@gmail.com (Catholic Homilies) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 21:51:00 +0000

Sunday of week 32 of Ordinary Time

Commentary on Wisdom 6:12-16; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:1-13

THE APPROACHING END of the liturgical year regularly brings the usual warnings about being prepared. We know that in the very early Church the Christians believed that Christ’s Second Coming and therefore the end of the world would come very soon, even in their lifetime. By the time the gospels were put in written form, however, this began to seem less likely. Does that mean that the warnings about readiness can be put aside? Because, for the most of us, it is presumably purely academic to wonder when the end of our universe or of our planet will take place. We are not likely to be around when it happens.
What is much more practical, however, is the end of our own world, the end of our own time here on earth. That is anything but an academic consideration. That is the one reality of our future that we can be absolutely certain about. And we know very well – although we often prefer not to think about it – that it can happen at any time and in any place. Today’s readings bring us face to face with this reality, this fact. They ask us the question: Am I ready? And they imply consideration of a second question: How can I be ready?
The ten bridesmaids
In today’s passage from Matthew, Jesus tells a parable, partially an allegory, about something which would be very familiar to his Palestinian readers – a village marriage. Apparently ten girls would be asked to accompany the bride as she awaited the arrival of the bridegroom. The problem was that they had no idea when the bridegroom would turn up and, when it got dark, they would need to have lighted lamps. If the bride’s companions were caught unawares, if they were not around when the bridegroom came, they could be locked out or left behind.
Imagery drawn from marriage was a traditional way to describe the relationship between God and his people. When asked why his disciples, unlike those of John the Baptist, did not fast, Jesus replied: “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?” (Matthew 9:15). And, a few weeks back, on the 28th Sunday, we saw Jesus tell the parable of the guests invited to the marriage feast of a father’s son.
The ten virgins represent disciples of Jesus, as they await his coming. On the basis of what happens later on, five are described as wise or sensible and five as foolish. Their wisdom here consists in their taking prudent steps to do what they need to do in order to come face to face with their Lord.
However, the bridegroom is long in coming. The early expectation of the Second Coming has not been realised. All – both the sensible ones who brought a sufficient supply of oil as well as those who did not – “grow drowsy and fall asleep”. Thus it seems that being fully awake at every single moment is not the point but rather the overall readiness when the time comes to respond.
God of surprises
Then, right in the middle of the night, the cry goes up, “The bridegroom is here! Go out to meet him!” Our God is a God of surprises. You never know how or when he is going to appear. For some, it is a long-awaited and long-desired announcement; for others, it creates alarm. For those well stocked with the oil of loving service to their brothers and sisters, the cry is one that fills them with joy and anticipation. One thinks of Paul saying, “For me to live is Christ, to die is gain… Which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am pressed between the two. My desire is to die and be with Christ, for that is far better” (Philippians 1:21-23).
For those who have squandered the gifts they have been given, the announcement fills them with dread. We might feel that the “wise” virgins were rather selfish in refusing to share their oil with the “foolish” in such a critical situation. However, the parables of Jesus normally are making one point taken from some common experience of daily life. The focus is on that one point and other details are not part of it. Another example might be the parable of the dishonest steward who falsified all his employer’s accounts so that he could make sure of future employment for himself. Jesus, who was obviously not condoning this man’s behaviour, only used it as an example of how even a bad person can take prudent steps to guarantee his future.
We can also say in the context of today’s parable that the “oil” of loving service is not strictly speaking transferable to others. Our preparedness to meet the Lord is something that is ultimately only our responsibility. No one can say “Yes” to Christ on my behalf. (Therefore, those baptised in infancy also have at some stage to say “Yes”, on the basis of their own faith, to Jesus as their Lord.) So, while the foolish virgins went off to make up for lost and wasted time, “those who were ready” went into the wedding hall and “the door was closed”. All are invited, but not all get inside. All are called but few are among the chosen ones. This is not due to any partiality on the bridegroom’s part but because of the tardiness of some in responding to the invitation. The closed door means that access to Jesus is not automatic or to be altogether taken for granted. And that is precisely the warning in today’s readings.
“I do not know you”
The foolish virgins eventually get back with their necessary supplies of oil and find the door shut in their face. “Lord, Lord, open the door for us.” In reply, they hear the most terrible words God could speak to us: “I am sorry, I do not know who you are. I invited you to be part of my wedding but you have never been with me. You have been asleep or you have been going your own way.”

In an emergency there are some things we can borrow from others at short notice. But to be ready to meet Jesus, to have fully accepted his Gospel vision as part of our life, to walk hand in hand with him is not something we can suddenly wake up to and say, “Give it to me now!” By then, it is just too late. Let us pray, then, today for that wisdom which knows where the real secrets of life and success are. The First Reading tells us to be constantly on the watch for Lady Wisdom. “Watch for her early and you will have no trouble; you will find her sitting at your gates.” Not only that, “she herself walks about looking for those who are worthy of her and graciously shows herself to them as they go, in every thought of theirs coming to meet them.”
The truly wise person is the one who has not waited until “some time in the future” to make Jesus fully part of their life. For quite a number of Christians it seems that setting up a career and making money are more important priorities than making the Gospel a major part of their lives. It is a risky investment. If there ever was a blue chip for life, it is Jesus and the way of life he offers us in the Gospel. So many pass it up. They are indeed foolish virgins.
The only way
The truly wise person builds his life on Jesus as the Way, on Jesus as Truth and Life, not only for the future but for here and now. The Gospel, understood and adopted, is the only programme that can guarantee fulfilment and happiness right away. The others all depend on an uncertain future.

Such a wise person lives each day in the light of Jesus’ vision. Such people find him in the most ordinary experiences of daily living – in the people they meet, in the events that take place, in the situations in which they meet, in the events that take place, in the situations in which they find themselves. Jesus is no stranger to them. He can bring many surprises but he is never unexpected. When they eventually hear the final call, “Get up! the Master is coming!”, they are not worried. They are happy and more than ready to meet an old friend face to face.
It is not a question of taking a gamble on making a last-minute confession on your deathbed. A surprising number of people do not die in their beds. It is a question rather of what I plan to do this very day and every day. There is absolutely no better way to prepare for the final call than, first, to put it completely out of one’s head, and, second, to learn to spend each and every day in the company of Jesus. “I am with you always.”
There are two short prayers which we may find useful to be said at any time as we go through our day:
“Lord, grant that all my thoughts, intentions, actions and responses may be directed solely to your love and service this day.”
“Help me, Lord, to seek, to find, and to respond to you in every person and every experience of this day.”
If these prayers really reflect the fabric of my daily living, then let the bridegroom come when he will – I am ready. Instead of knocking at his door, I will find that he comes to knock at mine. “I [Jesus] stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20). Today he is certainly going to knock at my door. Will I be in when he comes?

Read the readings HERE

Commentary from Living Space

homily for the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

catholichomilies@gmail.com (Catholic Homilies) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 21:38:00 +0000

Read the readings HERE

Homily by Fr. Stephen Farragher,
St. Patrick's Church, Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo.

Thanks to Midwest Irish Radio for permission
to publish the homily.

Homily for Mission Sunday 2011

catholichomilies@gmail.com (Catholic Homilies) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 23:00:00 +0000

Homily by Fr. Bertie O'Mahoney, Church of our Lady and St. John, Carrigaline. Co, Cork.

Thanks to RTE for permission to publish the homily.

Homily for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

catholichomilies@gmail.com (Catholic Homilies) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 11:14:00 +0000

"Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar
and to God what belongs to God."

Read the readings HERE

Thanks to Midwest Radio for permission to publish the homily.

Homily from St. Patrick's Church, Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo, Ireland.

Homily for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

catholichomilies@gmail.com (Catholic Homilies) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 22:19:00 +0000

Isaiah 25:6-10; Philippians 4:12-14; Matthew 22:1-14

Do you remember how last week God lovingly prepared a vineyard on a fertile hillside? He dug the soil, cleared it of stones, and planted choice vines … built a tower, .. and dug a press…(Isaiah). What care God took! In fact God said: What could I have done for my vineyard that I have not done?

This week God lovingly prepares a marriage feast: a banquet of rich food, a banquet of fine wines, of food rich and juicy, of fine strained wines (Isaiah). What a feast! …my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, everything is ready (Matthew).

Note that: Everything is ready! The vineyard is ready for the harvest and the feast is ready for the guests - and so God sends his servants.

Incredibly the tenants of the vineyard seized the servants: thrashed one, killed another and stoned a third. Those who were invited to the feast ignored the servants and some even thrashed and killed them.

Last week God asked for what was rightfully his and found himself rejected; this week he offers what is rightfully his to those he loves and finds himself contemptuously spurned.

Last week he was disobeyed; this week he is humiliated.

The marriage feast, of course, is the kingdom of heaven. The servants are the prophets, the greatest of whom is Jesus, and those who were invited are the Chosen people, represented particularly by their leaders.

The disconcerting question which baffles us is 'Why would they refuse?' Why would people so comprehensively, so completely and maliciously refuse to enter the Kingdom so lovingly prepared for them?

The Scriptures are littered, so to speak, with the sad memory of those who failed for all sorts of reasons to enter the Kingdom, beginning with Lucifer, the angel of light, and his demons.

The elder son in the parable of the prodigal son would not enter the feast because his pride was stung by his father's generosity to his wayward brother. It becomes clear that his relationship with the father had always been that of slave, rather than son. And since he was the more obedient 'slave' he felt he was worth more.

The five foolish virgins failed to enter because they had not taken the Kingdom seriously enough. They had not adequately appreciated the greatness of the gift and so had not adequately prepared. The door was shut in their faces.

The householder just fell asleep and the judgment which unexpectedly sneaked up on him like a thief, found him not ready.

Fornicators (those having sex outside marriage), adulterers (those having sex with someone else's husband or wife) or practising homosexuals, were found unfit for the Kingdom.

Those who hear the word of God but do not keep it will not be recognised by the Lord and will not gain entry into the Kingdom. When they knock on the door they will hear the Lord say, 'I do not know you.'

The goats, those who showed no love or mercy towards their neighbour, and consequently showed no love towards God, will be cast out into the darkness and not be permitted to enter the Kingdom.

Those who will not wear the wedding garment, in other words, those who lack the necessary dispositions for entering heaven will be cast out.

The busy, those preoccupied with worldly concerns, those who build their houses on the shifting materialistic sands of power, pleasure or possessions, who worship money rather than God, who try to 'save' their lives rather than 'losing' them in the service of the Lord are not worthy of the Lord and cannot enter the Kingdom.

Let us remember that the invitation God gives us is to the king's feast. We are invited to a wonderful communion with God and with each other. The Sunday Eucharist we celebrate on earth is a rehearsal for this eternal banquet. That is why it is so important. It is here, at each Mass, that we are slowly transformed and sanctified for the moment we are called to take our seats at the marriage feast in heaven. It is here, at each Mass, that we are strengthened to live the kind of life God looks for in us.

When we refuse God who has prepared a place for us in his house he does not punish us, we punish ourselves. We miss out on all he has made ready for us. We miss out on the 'party', the feast and have to spend eternity outside the Father's house, in the dark. That would be hell, wouldn't it?

Homily by Fr. John Speekman
Homilies From Australia

Homily for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

catholichomilies@gmail.com (Catholic Homilies) — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 21:32:00 +0000

Homily by Mgr Brendan Byrne, Church of the Most Holy Rosary, Tullow, Co. Carlow, Ireland.

The Congress Bell
Thanks to RTE for permission to publish the homily.

Gospel for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

catholichomilies@gmail.com (Catholic Homilies) — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 21:22:00 +0000

Homily for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

catholichomilies@gmail.com (Catholic Homilies) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 22:23:00 +0000

You are the vineyard. Yes, you! And me!

Isaiah 5:1-7; Philippians 4:6-9; Matthew 21:33-43

A vineyard wakes to new life in Spring. Tiny buds appear on the bare branches and before long the whole vineyard is a blaze of delicate green soaking up sunlight and air. Deep in the soil the roots drink in the rain and search for the minerals needed to form the rich fruit of the harvest. The vineyard belongs to the Master. It is to his glory that it yields a bountiful harvest.

You are the vineyard. Yes, you! And me!

One day the Master will send his servants, the angels, to gather in the produce of the vineyard. That will be a day of intense joy for some and a day of shame for others.

Yes, we are the Master's vineyard. And the vine he wishes to grow in us is Christ, his Son. This is the harvest he desires to find in us on that day. To put it simply we must 'bear' Christ in ourselves; Jesus must become himself in us so that all may become one in him. What a wonderful thought!

Through Baptism Jesus was 'planted' in us. Through the other Sacraments (Confirmation, Eucharist, Holy Orders, Matrimony, Anointing of the Sick) his life, his presence, is strengthened in us. Through Reconciliation we are restored to this life should it be weakened or destroyed by sin. The Master has thought of everything and he looks forward to the harvest.

Still there is more we can do: prayer, penance, almsgiving, fasting, spiritual reading, service of neighbour, evangelisation of our culture. The tenant's work is never done.

In the time remaining I wish to be very practical and offer you an implement, a 'gardening tool', for your work in the vineyard. It is a Bible.

Not so long ago Pope Benedict said '…I would like in particular to recall and recommend the ancient tradition of "Lectio divina": "the diligent reading of Sacred Scripture accompanied by prayer …" If it is effectively promoted, this practice will bring to the Church -- I am convinced of it -- a new spiritual springtime.

Prayer is real 'labouring in the vineyard' and lectio divina is a form of prayer as powerful as it is simple. It is a really good shovel.

Without prejudicing any other form of prayer I'll try to give a glimpse, just a glimpse, of this ancient method of prayer which, coincidentally, solves many of the problems associated with daily prayer - like the question of distractions, routine, what do I do? what do I say? - and so on.

Continue reading HERE

Homily for the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

catholichomilies@gmail.com (Catholic Homilies) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 21:41:00 +0000

Think better of it!

Gospel for the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

catholichomilies@gmail.com (Catholic Homilies) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 21:30:00 +0000

Read the readings HERE

Gospel for the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

catholichomilies@gmail.com (Catholic Homilies) — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 16:26:00 +0000

Gospel for the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (mp3)

Read the readings HERE

Homily for the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

catholichomilies@gmail.com (Catholic Homilies) — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 15:57:00 +0000

"You too go into my vineyard."

Homily from Augustinians, Dublin, Ireland.

Homily for the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

catholichomilies@gmail.com (Catholic Homilies) — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 16:32:00 +0000

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year A
Isaiah 55:6-9; Philippians 1:20-24.27; Matthew 20:1-16

Last week the Gospel laid bare for us the roots of forgiveness. We discovered that it is difficult and, most often, impossible, for us to forgive others when we haven’t yet appreciated how much we ourselves have been forgiven. This week the Gospel is about goodness, about generosity. We discover that it is difficult to be generous to others when we haven’t yet appreciated how much we ourselves have been given.

Last week, the servant who was forgiven a huge debt could not find it in himself to forgive his brother servant a small debt. Somehow he had missed the experience of being forgiven which is where we learn to forgive others.

This week the servant who was given a full day’s work and a full wage is jealous of his brother because he has missed the experience of being generously treated himself. It is from the knowledge of generosity bestowed upon us that we learn to be generous with others.

We can be like those servants who worked hard all day - and we have - we have laboured hard. All those Masses we’ve offered - our Reconciliations - our prayers - our donations to the needy - our forgiveness of those who hurt us - our faithfulness in marriage - sacrifices for the kids. We have been faithful and we have laboured hard.

Trouble is, bit by bit, we can come to believe we deserve more than others. When God is generous to the sinner, especially one who has hurt us, we can come to resent it. Deathbed repentance is not always popular with us Christians. We resent his generosity to others because we fail to see his generosity towards ourselves. So we envy others - their popularity, good looks, intelligence, possessions, their partners in marriage, their fame - and we say: 'How come they got all that? How come God seems to have given them more than me? Surely I deserve more?'

OK, so why is it that in the 1st Eucharistic Prayer of the Mass we pray: Do not consider what we truly deserve … ? In other words: Do not give me what I truly deserve ….

On the one hand 'Surely I deserve more'; on the other hand, 'Do not give me what I truly deserve.'

What’s going on here?

Surely I deserve more! The fact is, however hard we’ve worked, we have really done nothing more than our duty and all that we have received is pure gift; we have deserved none of it.

Joshua 24:13 reminds us: I gave you a land where you never toiled, you live in towns you never built; you eat now from vineyards and olivegroves you never planted. We would do well, as a matter of fact, to thank God for the great gifts he has given us which enable us to serve him in the first place!

Do not give me what I truly deserve! The true Christian can see what he truly deserves and asks God not to give it to him, so let’s not ask God for justice or we’re all 'gonners'. Let’s ask for mercy, forgiveness and generosity and then let’s be merciful, forgiving and generous to others.

At the end of last week I mentioned that if you have a problem forgiving, pray for the gift of forgiveness, and make an inventory of all that God, and others, have had to forgive you for.

At the end of this week I advise that if you suffer from jealousy, make an inventory of everything God, and others, have given you, and you will find it much easier to be generous with others.

Homily from Homilies from Australia by Fr. John Speekman

Improving Preaching

catholichomilies@gmail.com (Catholic Homilies) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 19:27:00 +0000

St. John Chrysostom

In what should be good news for many Catholic Americans, the U.S. bishops have launched an effort to improve the homilies delivered each Sunday in the nation’s 18,000 parishes. A team of committees has begun work on a 50-page document authorized by the bishops at their spring meeting this year, and expect to complete it within a year (see story, Page 4).

Whether the effort will accomplish its lofty goal remains to be seen, and certainly will take years to bear real fruit. But it is a welcome acknowledgement that, first, Catholic homilies too often are poorly-delivered and lacking in content or relevance, and, second, that those seven or so minutes a week are critically important in adult catechesis and faith formation — unfortunately it is usually the sole opportunity a pastor has to engage his flock.
‘The Church in America is faced with the challenge of recapturing the Catholic vision of reality and presenting it in an engaging and imaginative way.’

It also ties in neatly with Pope Benedict XVI’s renewed emphasis on new evangelization, or revitalizing the life of faith in parts of the world like ours where the Gospel already has been preached but has lost its energy. Next year representatives of the world’s bishops will be gathering in Rome to address the topic, and a Vatican office for new evangelization is gradually taking shape.

In an address to U.S. bishops during his visit to the United States in 2008, the pope emphasized the importance of improved preaching: “I believe that the Church in America, at this point in her history, is faced with the challenge of recapturing the Catholic vision of reality and presenting it, in an engaging and imaginative way, to a society which markets any number of recipes for human fulfillment. I think in particular of our need to speak to the hearts of young people, who, despite their constant exposure to messages contrary to the Gospel, continue to thirst for authenticity, goodness and truth. Much remains to be done, particularly on the level of preaching and catechesis in parishes and schools,” he said, “if the new evangelization is to bear fruit for the renewal of ecclesial life in America.”

Many Church historians, including the bishops’ conference president, New York Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan, make a point of noting that periods of genuine renewal in the Church are also characterized by a revival of good preaching.

For clerics, whose ministry is intimately connected to preaching, that knowledge should evoke a sober sense of responsibility to make the most of every single moment at the pulpit during the Sunday liturgy.

But Catholics in the pew, whatever their current state of engagement with their faith, also should feel a stirring of conscience. To be Christian means, in whatever walk or stage of life, to be a missionary and, in the words of St. Peter, to “always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope.”

continued HERE

Homily for the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

catholichomilies@gmail.com (Catholic Homilies) — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 23:03:00 +0000

Homily from St. Peter's Cathedral, Belfast, N. Ireland.

Gospel for the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

catholichomilies@gmail.com (Catholic Homilies) — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 23:00:00 +0000

Read the readings HERE

Gospel for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

catholichomilies@gmail.com (Catholic Homilies) — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 22:02:00 +0000

Homily for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

catholichomilies@gmail.com (Catholic Homilies) — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 21:33:00 +0000

Read the reading HERE

Homily by Fr. Liam Merrigan, St. Peter and St. Paul Church, Monasterevin, Co. Kildare.
Thanks to RTE for kind permission to publish the homily.

Homily for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

catholichomilies@gmail.com (Catholic Homilies) — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 20:38:00 +0000

READ THE READINGS HERE