18C Sunday homily (03 August 2025) Greed

 

18C Sunday Homily, Luke 12:13-21, August 3, 2025

By Fr. Vincent Corbelli, MM 

1.  STORY

A landowner informed his servant that he would share some of his vast land with his servant.  He could have as much as he wanted and had from sunrise to sunset to encircle as much land as he desired.  He had to be back home by sunset.  Overjoyed, he planned to run as fast as possible and acquire as much as possible.  At noon, he began the return trip.  As sunset he reached home.  He was so exhausted that he fell to the ground and died.  All his newly acquired land was useless.  It does not pay to be greedy. 

 

2. GOSPEL, Luke 12:13-21

A) The gospel tells us of a greedy man who stored up treasures for himself.  Because of his vast wealth, he planned to rest, eat, drink and be merry.  But God had other plans for him as he died that night.

B) Another type of man is one who is rich in what matters to God.  God wants us to use our wealth not for ourselves but in a prudent way.  He wants us to be generous. 

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE 

A) A greedy person is like a child who likes candy and is willing only to eat candy.  This is detrimental to his health.  He must change his ways so as to be healthy.  Greed makes us blind to things that are important to God. 

B) A generous person remembers three things:

i) God comes first.  We must give God the love and respect he deserves.  We must go to Mass, pray, and stay close to him.

ii) We must help those in need.  We must share our wealth with those less fortunate.

iii) We must take care of our health and not work so hard that we deprive ourselves of sleep, proper food and relaxation.

 

4. CONCLUSION

Wealth is a blessing from God which must be used wisely.  A greedy person thinks only of himself.  Wealth becomes his master.  A generous person uses his wealth wisely.  He remembers God, his neighbor and himself.  Wealth becomes his servant.

 

17C Sunday homily (27 July 2025) Prayers

 

17C Sunday Homily, Luke 11:1-13, July 27, 2025

By Fr. Vincent Corbelli, MM

 

1. STORY

A pastor saw John come to church each day at noon.  John would stay for only a few minutes and then would leave.  Wondering what he could do in such a short time, the pastor asked John what he did.  John told the pastor he would enter the church and say, “Jesus, this is John.”  He would wait for a minute and leave knowing that Jesus heard him.  John was hospitalized but was always happy.  When asked why he was happy, he replied that his friend visited him daily.  Though John had few visitors, he asked who his friend was.  John replied that his friend visited him at noon, would stand at the foot of his bed, and would say, “John, this is Jesus” and would then leave.  John knew that praying was speaking with Jesus. 

 

2. GOSPEL, Luke 11:1-13

A) In the Our Father, Jesus teaches us to ask for our daily bread, which is necessary for our body and teaches us to ask for forgiveness, which is necessary for our soul.

B) Jesus teaches, in the story of a friend looking for help, that we must persevere in prayer.

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

A) We must pray for the food that we need to live.  We must pray for the Eucharist which is the spiritual food that our soul needs.  We receive forgiveness through the wonderful sacrament of penance.  It is necessary for us to periodically go to confession.

B) We need help each day and we must pray each day.  When you get up, say “Jesus, please help me and my family today.”  At night say three Hail Mary’s: one for your family, one for the sick, needy or deceased, and one for yourself.

 

4. CONCLUSION

Praying to Jesus brings happiness into our lives. It takes only a few minutes to ask for God’s help each day.

16C Sunday homily (20 July 2025) Work and Play

 

16C Sunday Homily, Luke 10:38-42, July 20, 2025

By: Fr. Vincent Corbelli, MM

 

STORY 

There was an elderly man who used his rowboat to ferry people across a small river.  The work “work” was written on one of the oars and “pray” on the other oar.  One day a young man got in the boat and noticed the oars with the two words.  He commented to the elderly man that in today’s world what was important was “work.”  “Pray” was not necessary.  The elderly man said nothing but used only the oar marked work to row the boat.  The result was that the small boat only went in a circle making no progress toward the other shore.  The young man learned that to get to his goal both “work” and “pray” were necessary.

 

2) GOSPEL, Luke 10:38-42

A. Martha was a wonderful host seeing to all the needs of her guest, Jesus.  She prepared a meal and made Jesus feel right at home.  However, she was upset with her sister Mary for not helping her in her work.

B. Mary was not idle.  She was listening very attentively to every word spoken by Jesus.  She was listening to the words of life.  Jesus informed Martha that what Mary was doing was very important, and it should not be taken from her.

 

3) APPLICATION TO LIFE

A. Work is important  

It provides us with our livelihood.  We should do our work whether in the factory, office, school, or home with care and responsibility.  We should respect our superiors and co-workers and work in a spirit of cooperation to get the job done.

B. Pray

We always need God’s help to get the job done so we must pray.  Here are some suggestions on how to pray in our busy lives:

i) When you awake pray, “Jesus, please help me and my family during today.  “Before going to bed pray, “Thank you Jesus for helping me and my family too.”

ii) Say one Hail Mary or Our Father for yourself, one for your family, and one for a sick or needy person.  If time permits, you could say the rosary, attend Mass or read the bible.

 

4) CONCLUSION

As two oars were needed to reach the goal and Jesus appreciated both Martha’s and Mary’s role when he visited them, so we, too, must remember that to reach our goal of a happy life and heaven, we must both work and pray.

15C Sunday homily (13 July 2025) Love your neighbor

 

15C Sunday Homily, Luke 10:25-37, July 13, 2025

By Fr. Vincent Corbelli, MM

 

STORY

A four-year-old boy, whose next-door neighbor was an elderly man who had recently lost his wife, upon seeing the man cry, went over to the old man’s yard and climbed on his lap. hen he returned home, his mother asked him what he said to the neighbor.  He answered, “Nothing. I just helped him cry.”

 

GOSPEL, Luke 10:25-37

A) The story of the Good Samaritan tells of a traveler who was robbed, stripped, beaten and left for dead by robbers.  He was a man in desperate need of help.

B) Three people saw him and two just looked at him but offered no help.  The third person, a Samaritan, had compassion on him and stopped to help him.  He cared for his wounds, took him to an inn, and paid for the expenses of his stay at the inn.

 

APPLICATION TO LIFE

A) There are many people who are in need, just like the wounded traveler.  I have selected three examples: the lonely, the depressed and those unhappy in life.  You may know such a person.

B) We, like the child in the story, have the ability and opportunity to help.  What can you do?  You can start by praying for that person.  You can say a kind word to him/her.  You could give that person a phone call to say that you are thinking about him/her.  You might send a note to say hello.

 

CONCLUSION

Jesus tells us the great commandment is to love God, your neighbor, and yourself.  Ask Jesus to give you the strength to carry out this command.

14C Sunday homily (06 July 2025) Peace to this household

 

14C Sunday Homily, Luke 10:1-9, July 06, 2025

By Fr. Vincent Corbelli, MM

 

STORY 

A man returned to his parked car after shopping to find a note in the front seat which read Dear Sir/Madam: I was about to steal your car when I noticed the bumper sticker on your car, “Peace Be With You.”  This made me think.  If I steal your car, you will have no peace.  I also will have no peace for doing such a thing, as this is my first attempt to steal someone’s car.  So, I have decided not to steal your car.  Peace be with you.  Please remember next time to lock your car.  Signed: A would-be car thief.

 

GOSPEL, Luke 10:1-9

A) Jesus tells us that “the harvest is abundant but the laborers are few.”  He traveled throughout the country of Galilee and found many sick, blind, and hungry persons.  He also had only a few friends, called disciples, to help him.

B) Jesus sent out disciples and told them to visit the people and when they entered a house to greet them with the expression, “Peace to this household.”  He wanted people to have peace in their homes and in their lives.

 

APPLICATION TO LIFE 

A) Everyone is important.  For example, if we take up a collection now to help the poor and you give one dollar, it seems like a small amount.  But, if everyone gives a dollar, that would amount to about $400, which is not a small amount.  The second thing to remember is that we all have the ability to bring some peace into the lives of others. 

B) One thing we can do to bring peace to others is to forgive those who may have wronged you or have hurt you in some way.  By saying “I forgive you”, you will bring peace to others.  Another thing we can do is to be kind when we speak to others.  People need this gentleness which also brings them peace. 

 

CONCLUSION

This would-be thief brought peace into the car owner’s life. Jesus and his disciples brought peace to others.  Jesus wants us to do the same.  Everyone is important and we all have the ability to help Jesus bring peace to all.

 

Feast of St Peter and Paul homily (29 June 2025)

 

FEAST OF ST PETER AND PAUL HOMILY, MATT. 16:13-19, JUNE 29, 2025 

STORY

One day Fr. John, a missioner, met a poor elderly lady and helped her by giving her some food and clothes.  She was happy to receive this help and at the same time very surprised that the missioner was so kind to her.  She asked him why he was so kind.  He replied that it was a person named Jesus who instructed him to be helpful and kind to people and to tell people how much he loved them.   She then asked him where this Jesus lived.  He told her that Jesus lived on earth 2,000 years ago.  His answer really took her by surprise and she responded by asking why it took so long for her to know about Jesus and how much he loved people seeing that he lived so long ago.  There are still several billion people who have not heard about Jesus and so do not know that he loves them. 

 

GOSPEL, MATTHEW 16: 13-19

A) I ENTRUST TO YOU THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM

St. Peter was a fisherman who followed Jesus' call to follow him.  He preached the gospel and was made leader of the group of twelve.  He preached in Rome when he died as a martyr around AD 64.  Jesus gave him the keys of the kingdom as a sign of his special power in the Church. 

B) THROUGH MY PREACHING ALL NATIONS MIGHT HEAR THE GOSPEL

St. Paul was a devout Jew who persecuted the Church.  Then one day Jesus appeared to him and his life changed, he became a great missioner.  He travelled to many cities with one purpose in mind, to tell people that Jesus loved them.  He encouraged them to become followers of Jesus.  He too preached in Rome and like St. Peter was martyred around AD 64.

 

APPLICATION TO LIFE

Jesus wished us to follow the examples of St. Peter and St. Paul, to become missioners in our daily lives.  Here are three suggestions to help you be a missioner.

1. PRAY

Select a person, a relative, friend, a colleague or a classmate who has never heard of Jesus or one, who though baptized, has left following Jesus and say one Hail Mary each day for that person's conversion to Jesus.  Do this every day even if it takes many years before the conversion.

2. LEARN

Learn more about Jesus.  He is the way to heaven, he tells us the truth about right and wrong and he gives us eternal life.  He is the living bread come down from heaven to give us spiritual strength, the good shepherd who protects us as we journey along in life.  Jesus is the source of our peace, happiness and joy.

3. SHARE

If you ask people if they are looking for Jesus, they would say no or be puzzled by your question. But if you ask them are they looking for peace and happiness in their lives, most if not all would say yes. We can share with them that it is not material goods, pleasure, fame or power that will give them what they truly want. It is Jesus who is the source of peace, happiness and joy. This is what we can share with people.                                                                      

 

CONCLUSION

The poor elderly lady in the story was happy to receive the missioner’s help and to learn that Jesus loved her.  St. Peter and St. Paul, both great missioners, helped people and told them that Jesus loves them and wishes to give them peace, happiness and eternal life.  We are missioners and follow the example of these two great missionary saints by our prayers, learning more about Jesus and sharing this good news with others.

 

C, The Body and Blood of Christ (22 June 2025)

 

C, THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST HOMILY, LUKE 9:11-17 JUNE 22, 2025

1. STORY

John was a popular teacher who at Christmas received gifts from his students.  Each Christmas when he received a gift of a long thin box, he knew it was a tie.  He would put it into a drawer without opening it.  Over the years, he accumulated many such boxes.  One day when he was preparing to attend a wedding, he took out one of the gifts looking for a tie to wear.  When he opened one of the boxes, he was shocked to find not a tie but a very valuable watch.  What looked like an ordinary tie box turned out to be something very special.  Jesus ate many ordinary meals withy people.  However, there was one meal that was not ordinary, the Last Supper, when he changed bread and wine into his Body and Blood.

 

2. GOSPEL, LUKE 9:11-17

A) A LARGE CROWD OF HUNGRY PEOPLE

i) People enjoyed listening to Jesus’s preaching and receiving his help.

ii) One such day a large crowd had been with Jesus all day and in the evening they were hungry.

iii) As they were in a deserted place, it would be difficult for them to buy food.

iv) The disciples asked Jesus to send them away so that they could find food for themselves. 

B) JESUS FEEDS THE HUNGRY PEOPLE

i) Jesus asked if there was any food available.

ii) There were five loaves and two fish at hand.

iii) After Jesus blessed this food he told the disciples to pass out the food.

iv) There was enough food to feed over 5,000 people with 12 baskets of food left over.

v) Jesus had the power to multiply bread. 

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

A) TODAY THERE ARE MANY HUNGRY PEOPLE

i) Today there are many physically and spiritually hungry people.

ii) Spiritually hungry people are unhappy, not at peace, not sure of the purpose of life, and do not have the strength to change for the better.

iii) Jesus has the power to spiritually feed these people. 

B) THE EUCHARIST, THE BREAD OF LIFE

i) Just as Jesus had the power to multiply bread, he had the power to change bread and wine into his Body and Blood.

ii) He gave this power to priests through the Church.

iii) How blessed we are being able to receive this wonderful gift at Mass.

We should take every effort to receive the Eucharist at each Mass we attend.  Through this gift, Jesus gives us strength to live a happy and peaceful life.

 

4. CONCLUSION

i) John was very surprised, when looking for a tie, he found a valuable watch.  Jesus ate many ordinary meals.  However, there was one very special meal, the Last Supper, when he changed bread and wine into the Body and Blood.

ii) Jesus multiplied five loaves of bread and two fish making it possible to feed over 5,000 people.

iii) Through the Eucharist, Jesus gives us spiritual strength to be happy and at peace.  We thank Jesus for this precious gift of spiritual food.  We should receive the Eucharist at every Mass we attend.