Homily - Year C, The Body and Blood of Christ (June 19, 2022)

 

TOPIC: C, THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST

C. THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST HOMILY, LUKE 9:11-17 JUNE 19, 2022

 

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 with 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 preach 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 were 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.

 

 

Homily - Year C, Most Holy Trinity (June 12, 2022)

 

TOPIC C, THE HOLY TRINITY
C, THE HOLY TRINITY HOMILY, JOHN 16:12-15, JUNE 12, 2022

1. STORY

On their way to a buffet lunch, John and his friend were discussing and were puzzled by the doctrine of the Trinity.  They entered the restaurant and saw about 20 delicious dishes from which they could choose. They chose about 10 different kinds of food lamenting that their stomachs were not big enough to eat all the other dishes. John then thought as their stomachs were not able to eat all the delicious foods, their minds were not able to understand many doctrines of the Church, especially the one concerning the Trinity.

2. THE GOSPEL, JOHN 16:12-15
A. I HAVE MUCH MORE TO TELL YOU.

For three years Jesus taught the disciples many wonderful things about God, about life, and about heaven. He told them there was still much more they had to learn and that he would teach them through the Holy Spirit. “When he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth.”

B. THE THREE NAMES.

In this passage Jesus tells us about Himself, the Spirit, and about His Father. This has led the great minds of the Church to conclude that there is only one God but three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We call this doctrine the doctrine of the Holy Trinity.

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE
A. THE HOLY TRINITY.

i) We are blessed knowing something of this great doctrine. There is only one God but God is composed of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is only because Jesus taught us this that we know this great secret.

ii) In our prayers and in our liturgy, we use the prayer, “In the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

B. THE NEED FOR HUMILITY.

i) Although we have a wonderful mind, our knowledge is limited. There are many things we know but many more things we do not know.

a) We know that one candle can have a flame, heat, and light; but it remains one candle.

b) We know that water can be a solid, ice, a liquid, water, and steam; yet all are water. From all of this, we recognize the importance of humility which means we know some things but there are many things that we do not know.

C. THE NEED FOR UNITY.

The teaching of the Trinity helps us to know that the importance of unity for the Trinity is the model of unity. We must work to bring about unity in our family, in our Church, in our society, and in the world. How do we do this?

i) We PRAY for unity among all.

ii) We RESPECT others thought, we may or may not agree with their beliefs or actions.

iii) We use DIALOGUE and not violence to bring about unity.

4. CONCLUSION
a) John realized that as his stomach was limited in the amount of food he could eat, so too was his mind limited in how much he could understand.

b) Jesus told us that there was much more we had to learn, and the Holy Spirit will help us to find the truth.

c) Jesus taught us about the Father, himself, and his Spirit. This doctrine is known as the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. We must be humble knowing of our limitations and strive to bring about peace in our family, Church, society, and the world. We ask Jesus for his help.

Homily - Year C, Pentecost Sunday (June 05, 2022) The gift of the Holy Spirit

 

TOPIC: PENTECOST, THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
C, PENTECOST HOMILY, JOHN 20:19-23, JUNE 5, 2022

1. STORY
John was sitting comfortably in the plane ready to take off for a long trip over the ocean when the pilot announced a slight delay due to trouble with the plane's compass. The pilot then announced another delay explaining that the compass had to be replaced with a new one. Finally, the pilot announced the plane was ready to depart as the compass was in order. During this delay no one complained as all knew the importance of a compass to guide them during the long flight. The Holy Spirit is our compass guiding us during our long journey in life.

2. GOSPEL, JOHN 20:19-23
A. THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

When the resurrected Jesus visited the disciples for the first time after his resurrection, he gave them the gift of the Holy Spirit. "He breathed on them and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit.'"

B. JESUS GIVE THE DISCIPLES A MISSION.

Jesus not only gave the disciples a gift but he also gave them a mission, a task for them to do. He sent them out to preach the good news. "As the Father has sent me, so I send you."

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE
A. THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Jesus has given us the gift of the Holy Spirit both at our baptism and our confirmation. How does the Holy Spirit help us? 

i)  During our complicated journey in life, the Holy Spirit will help us to better understand the problems we meet and will help us make the right decisions. We must ask the Holy Spirit for his help.

ii) There are many voices we may hear giving us advice on how to act or how to solve a problem.  We must listen carefully to his guidance and obey it.
                     
B. JESUS HAS GIVEN US A MISSION.

Just as Jesus was sent by his father into this world to preach the good news of their salvation, so does Jesus send us out on the same mission.

i) Where shall we go? St. Pope John Paul II answers this question, "The world today is one great mission land, even in countries of longstanding Christian tradition." 
ii) How do we carry out this mission?

a) We must pray for the people we wish to evangelize.

b) We preach by our actions. We are kind, respectful, and caring towards others.

b) We share our message that for those who follow him, Jesus will bring them peace, happiness, and will give them eternal life.

4. CONCLUSION
i) John knew the importance of the plane's compass to guide them to their destination.
ii) Jesus gave the disciples the gift of the Holy Spirit and the mission to preach the good news about their salvation.

iii) We have also received the gift of the Holy Spirit and the mission to continue the work of sharing the good news about Jesus.