2C Sunday homily - Water changed into wine (19 January 2025)

 

2C SUNDAY HOMILY, JOHN 2:1-11, JANUARY 19, 2025

1. STORY

One day while sitting at a well, John overheard three mothers speaking about their sons.  The first mother praised her son as he could recite many poems from memory.  The second mother praised her son because he could sing beautifully.  The third mother said nothing.  After their heavy buckets were full and they prepared to carry them home, the three sons appeared.  The first son continued to recite poems, the second son continued to sing songs, while the third son helped his mother carry her buckets.  When the mothers asked John what he thought about the three sons, he replied that he saw only one son, the one who helped his mother.  Jesus helped his mother  Mary.  Jesus was a true son.

 

2. GOSPEL, JOHN 2:1-11

A. THEY HAVE NO WINE.

Mary noticed that the wine had run out at the wedding banquet.  She knew that something had to be done so as to make it a successful gathering. 

B. DO WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU.

Mary knew the only one who could help in this matter was Jesus.  At his mother’s request, he solved the problem by changing water into wine.

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

A. OUR PROBLEMS.

Most people are bothered by some kind of a problem.  One may be in poor health, another may have money problems, still another may be unhappy with life.  One may have trouble with family members, dislike their work, or be lonely.  The list of problems is long. 

B. JESUS CAN HELP US.

Just as Jesus helped at the marriage banquet, so Jesus can help us in our lives. 

i) Jesus can help us by his TEACHINGS through the Church or through the bible.  He can tell us what we should do and not to do.  He can teach about the purpose and goal of life.  Listen to the word of Jesus.  

ii) Jesus can give us the STRENGTH through the Eucharist to live through difficulties.  He can give us the strength to do what is right and the strength to resist temptations in life.  Receive the Eucharist at every Mass you attend. 

iii) Jesus, by his EXAMPLE, can help us to accept life as it is, to accept suffering and unhappiness as he did.  Pray daily to Jesus for the help to do his will as he did the will of God.

 

4. CONCLUSION

The true son was the one who helped his mother carry the water buckets home.  Jesus helped Mary by changing water into wine.  Jesus helps us solve our problems by his teachings through the Church and the bible.  He gives us strength by the Eucharist to do what is right and resist temptations.  Jesus helps us by his good example to accept the suffering we have and the difficulties we encounter.  We thank Jesus for being our helper.  We ask him to give us the strength to help others.

 

C, Sunday homily - The Baptism of the Lord (12 January 2025)

 

TOPIC: THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD

C, SUNDAY HOMILY, LUKE 3:15-16, 21-22, JANUARY 12, 2025

 1. STORY

Mary, a non-Christian, attended a Catholic school.  Although she liked to discuss religion with the priests and sisters, she had no desire to be baptized.  One day, when she was in form five, she went to one of the priests and asked to be baptized.  Surprised by this change in her attitude, he asked what changed her mind about baptism.  She said that it was the good example of the priests and sisters.  By their words and actions, they showed the love of God.  She was eventually baptized and considered the date of her baptism more important than her birthday.  God had changed her life.

 

2. GOSPEL, LUKE 3:15-16, 21-22

A. THE HOLY SPIRIT DESCENDED UPON HIM

When Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the river Jordan, Jesus received the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus was given the power to carry out his mission of preaching the gospel and saving the people. 

B. YOU ARE MY BELOVED SON. WITH YOU I AM WELL PLEASED.

Jesus came to us to do the will of his father thus making him pleasing to his father.  Obedience to the father’s will was extremely important to Jesus.  He did not come to do his own will.

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

A. THE GIFTS WE RECEIVE AT BAPTISM

At baptism we receive the following four gifts.

i) We become adopted children of God the Father.  We can call him, “Our Father.”

ii) Jesus becomes our brother who cares for us and has come to save us. 

iii) The Holy Spirit becomes our guide.  We become temples of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. 

iv) We become members of the family of God, the Catholic Church.  We have the right to receive the sacraments from the Church. 

B. WE STRIVE TO BECOME PLEASING TO GOD.  We become pleasing to God by obeying his will. 

i) We love God by trusting him, praying to him, and obeying his commandments. 

ii) We love our neighbor by being kind, helpful, and forgiving towards them.  We avoid hurting them by what we say and do.

iii) We love ourselves by caring for our spiritual and physical health.  We try to eat properly, get enough rest, do some exercise, and do not overwork.  We pray daily, attend Sunday Mass, receive Holy Communion, and make a good confession several times each year.

 

4. CONCLUSION

Mary, because of the good example of the priests and nuns in her school, was moved by God to be baptized.  This event changed her life.  When Jesus was baptized, he received the gift and power of the Holy Spirit to preach the gospel and to save us.  By his life of obedience, he was pleasing to his Father.  At our baptism we became adopted children of the Father, Jesus became our brother, the Holy Spirit became our guide, and we became members of the family of God, the Catholic Church.  By doing God’s will, we, like Jesus, become pleasing to our Father.  We thank God for the gift of baptism.  We pray for the strength to be obedient to God.

 

Homily - Epiphany of the Lord (Sunday homily 05 January 2025) Helping others to find Jesus

 

EPIPHANY OF THE LORD - Sunday Homily, Matthew 2:1-12, January 5 2025 

1) STORY

One day John’s family asked me to go to the hospital to anoint him as John was very sick.  He was in Room 1 on the first floor.  Several weeks later around 8PM, I received a call from the family asking me to visit John as he was in a critical condition.  I immediately went to the hospital looking for John in Room 1 on the first floor.  To my great surprise, he was not there.  The nurse told me via an intercom to try the tenth floor.  I went to Room 1 on the tenth floor to discover it was a baby’s ward.  I was now lost with no phone and no family contact number.  Then my “star” appeared in the form of a nurse.  The nurse in the baby’s ward was willing to help me.  She guessed he was in Block C and we were in Block A.  She asked for permission to go through Block B to get to Block C where I finally found John thanks to her kindness.  She was my “star” leading me to my goal.

 

2) GOSPEL: MATTHEW 2:1-12

i. THE MAGI: The Magi, wise men from the East, were looking for the newborn king of the Jews.  They needed help to find the new king. 

ii. THE STAR: “They saw his star and wanted to do him homage.”  The star led them to Bethlehem where they found the new born king of the Jews, Jesus.

 

3) APPLICATION TO LIFE

i) MODERN MAGI: There are many people searching for happiness, peace, a purpose in life and how to live a meaningful life.  Though they may not be aware of it, they are searching for God who alone can give them the desires of their heart. 

ii) MODERN STARS: People need help to find God just as the Magi needed help to find Jesus, and I needed the help of a nurse to find John.  God has sent us to be like stars leading people to Jesus.  We do this by our kindness towards others, by our willingness to help them, and the example of living a good life.  We have the power and responsibility to lead others to Jesus.

 

4) CONCLUSION

Just as I needed a star to help me find John and the Magi need the help of a star to find Jesus, so too, do those looking for peace, joy and happiness need help in their search for these precious gifts.  We are modern stars helping by leading them to Jesus who alone can give them peace, joy, and happiness.

Homily - C Sunday homily (29 December 2024) The Holy Family

 

C SUNDAY HOMILY, LUKE 2:41-52, DECEMBER 29, 2024

1. STORY

A famous American writer, Mark Twain, once said, “When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around.  When I got to be 21, I was surprised how much my father had learned in seven years.  By the time I reached 35, I had to admit that my Dad was one of the cleverest men I had known.”  His father did not change.  It was he who changed as he grew older and wiser.  It took him many years to see how intelligent his father was.

 

2. GOSPEL, LUKE 2:41-52

A. GOD WAS NUMBER ONE

God was number one in the Holy Family.  “Each year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover.”  It was a long and difficult trip through hilly country from their home in Nazareth to get to Jerusalem. 

B. JESUS OBEYED HIS PARENTS

Though he was God, Jesus obeyed his parents.  “He went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them.”  Mary was a caring mother.  “His mother kept all these things in her heart.”

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

A. MAKE GOD NUMBER ONE IN YOUR FAMILY 

i) If at all possible, put up a cross in your home and also hang a holy picture or two.

ii) Start your day with a short prayer asking God to bless and protect you and your family during the day.  End your day thanking God for caring for you and your family. 

iii) Regularly attend Sunday Mass and receive Holy Communion. 

B. WORK FOR FAMILY UNITY 

i) Respect every member of your family.  No one is perfect but all deserve your love.

ii) Forgive those who have offended you and ask for forgiveness if you have offended a family member. 

iii) Help out in doing housework.  Many hands make the work light.

 

4. CONCLUSION

It took the famous writer a very long time to realize how intelligent his father was and a long time to appreciate him.  The Holy Family made God number one in their life.  Jesus obeyed his parents, and Mary was a caring wife and loving mother.  We must help our family to make God number one in our life.  We must respect, love, and help each family member.  We thank Jesus for his instruction and ask him to help us to be caring, loving, forgiving, and helpful members of our family.  We pray that our family will follow the example of the Holy Family.

Homily - 4C Advent, Sunday homily (22 December 2024) Elizabeth praises Mary

 

4C ADVENT SUNDAY HOMILY, LUKE 1:39-45, December 22, 2024

1. STORY

Mary was an unhappy young woman mainly due to pressure at work.  To relax, she enjoyed running in the park.  One day, when she was very unhappy while running in the park, an elderly man whom she often saw walking there said to her, “You are very good, you are very fast.”  Though she knew that she was not very good or fast in running, the compliment, that word of praise, lifted up her spirits.  She felt a lot better and was determined to keep up this habit.  A word of praise is very important.

 

2. GOSPEL, LUKE 1:39-45

A. MARY VISITS ELIZABETH

Mary did three things when she visited her cousin, Elizabeth.

i) She showed concern for Elizabeth by making the long journey to see her.

ii) She brought joy to Elizabeth as “The infant in her womb leaped for joy.”

iii) Mary was a model of faith as “She believed what was spoken to her.” 

B. ELIZABETH PRAISES MARY

Elizabeth praised Mary three times.  “Blessed are you among women, blessed is the fruit of your womb, and blessed are you who believed.”

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

A. WHO NEEDS TO BE PRAISED

There are many people who are unhappy, sad and hopeless and seeing no reason for living, they want to quit their journey.  These and many others can be helped by a word of praise. 

B. PRAISE GOD

God does not need our praise, but we need to praise God for his greatness, goodness, and kindness.  We praise God in our prayers such as in the prayer “Glory be to God.”  We praise God at each Mass we attend. 

C. PRAISE PEOPLE

We are all children of God.  We all have good points and we also have bad points.  We make an effort to see the good points in others.  We praise them by saying “good or very good.”  We say “congratulations or well done.”  We say “I appreciate your effort, or you have improved a great deal.”  Such actions on our part bring joy and happiness to others.  A little effort on our part brings hope and strength to others.  It is better to praise than to criticize.

 

4. CONCLUSION

The unhappy young woman was helped by the word of praise given to her by the elderly man.  Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth to show concern for her cousin.  Elizabeth praised Mary for being chosen to be God’s mother, for bearing Christ, and for her great faith.  We have the ability and responsibility to praise God our creator.  Though God does not need our praise, we need to praise God.  We have the opportunity and power to praise others.  Just saying “well done” makes people happy.  We thank Jesus for his instruction and ask him to help us praise God and people.  It is better to praise people than to criticize them.

Homily - 3C Advent, Sunday homily (15 December 2024) How to prepare for Christ's coming

 

3C ADVENT SUNDAY HOMILY, LUKE 3:10-18, DECEMBER 15, 2024 

1. STORY

Just before Christmas, Ann was in the hospital for an operation.  Her family visited her and gave her beautiful flowers and gifts.  Her friends sent her many lovely Christmas cards.  In the same room was another patient, Mary.  Ann noticed that Mary had no visitors, no gifts, no flowers, and no Christmas cards.  One of the nurses gave Mary a small Christmas tree.  Both got along very well.  Ann wanted to give Mary a gift but found all of her gifts too precious.  She was unwilling to part with any of them.  The day before Christmas as Mary was about to leave the hospital, she wished Ann a very happy Christmas and gave Ann her only gift, the small Christmas tree.  When Mary had left, Ann thought how wonderful Mary was as Mary had something that Ann did not have.  Mary had a generous heart.

 

2. GOSPEL, LUKE 3:10-18

A. WHAT SHOULD WE DO? When John the Baptist told of the coming of the Savior, the people asked him what should they do to prepare for this great event.

 

B. JOHN THE BAPTIST’S REPLY. 

i) The Baptist told the people that they must be GENEROUS. 

ii) He told the tax collectors that they must be HONEST.

iii) He told the soldiers that they must be RESPECTFUL.

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

We must follow the Baptist’s advice as we prepare for the coming of Jesus at Christmas.

A. BE GENEROUS.  The Baptist tells the people that if they have two coats, they should give one away to someone who has no coat.  We have been blessed materially and spiritually.  Be generous by praying for a sick person, calling a lonely person, and helping the St. Vincent de Paul Society. 

B. BE HONEST.  The tax collectors were tempted to be greedy and cheated the people.  We are honest to God when we give him some of our time in daily prayer.  We are honest to people by realizing that they, though they are weak, are trying their best to be good.  We must be kind, forgiving, and patient. 

C. BE RESPECTFUL.  The soldiers were tempted to use their position to treat people in a disrespectful way.  We must be respectful to our parents, the elderly, and our teachers.  We treat people with respect by what we say and do, such as giving up a seat to the elderly on the bus.  We must be respectful to all as we are all children of God.

 

4. CONCLUSION

Ann was blessed with many material things but did not have a generous heart.  Mary had few material blessings but was blessed with something more important as she had a generous heart.  John the Baptist tells us how to prepare for the coming of Christ at Christmas by being generous, honest, and respectful.  We ask Jesus for his help to prepare well for his coming at Christmas.

Homily - 2C Advent, Sunday homily (08 December 2024) Prepare the way of the Lord

 

2C ADVENT SUNDAY HOMILY, LUKE 3:1-6, DECEMBER 8, 2024 

1. STORY

John, who knew no English, was on his way from Hong Kong to begin a new job as a cook in London.  At the airport he was told that the direct flight took about 12 hours.  After boarding the plane, he was amazed when the plane landed after an hour and a half.  He knew something was wrong.  To his great amazement, he was told that he was not in London but in Manila.  Unknowingly, he boarded the wrong plane.  He had to make a big change.  He then had to get off the plane, return to Hong Kong and on the next day, get on a plane to London.  To repent means to change.

 

2. GOSPEL LUKE 3:1-6

A. PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE LORD

In the gospel John tells us what we must do and how to do it.  First, what must we do?  We must “prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” 

B. REPENT FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS

Second, John tells us how we must prepare the way for the Lord.  We must repent for the forgiveness of sins.

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

i) ADVENT, A TIME TO PREPARE FOR THE COMING OF JESUS

Jesus wishes to come to us in a special way at Christmas.  What makes this difficult for Jesus?  Sin in our lives makes this difficult.  Sins are like large rocks in a road which make it difficult to walk on the road or for a car to travel on the road.  The rocks in our heart may be anger, destructive criticism, hatred, pride, or selfishness.  This is what the Baptist means to make straight the paths. 

B. REPENT FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS

The Baptist tells us how to prepare for the coming of Jesus.  We must repent which means that we must make changes in our lives.  We must change anger into kindness, destructive criticism into praise, hatred into love, pride into humility, and selfishness into generosity.  To change we must rely on God’s help.

Here are three suggestions for you to do during Advent.

i) Make every effort to make a good confession.

ii) Put up a Christmas crib in your home to remind you and others that we are preparing for the celebration of the birthday of Jesus. 

iii) Invite a relative or a friend to Christmas Mass.

 

4. CONCLUSION

John got on the wrong plane.  He had to change and get on the right plane to get to London.  To repent means to change our bad habits into good habits.  The Baptist tells us what we must do.  We must prepare for the coming of Jesus.  The Baptist tells us how to do this.  He tells us we must repent by changing our bad habits into good habits.  During Advent make a good confession, put up a Christmas crib in your home, and invite a relative or a friend to Christmas Mass.  We thank Jesus for sending us John the Baptist.  We ask Jesus to help us make changes in our lives and to prepare well for Christmas.