Homily - 2A Lent Sunday homily (05 March 2023) The Transfiguration

 

TOPIC: THE TRANSFIGURATION

1) STORY

While living in Rome, I took a visitor to see the beautiful St. Peter’s Basilica, a church I had often visited.  As we walked through the church, I pointed out the huge marble statues of the saints which were situated about 100 feet above the floor.  I lamented not being able to read the names at the base of the statues.  The visitor told me that one was the statue of St. Francis, another was St. Dominic, etc.  I was amazed and  asked how it was possible to see the names which were so far away.  He answered that the glasses he was wearing permitted him to see objects which were near and those which were far.  He could see things I was not able to see because of his eye glasses.

2) GOSPEL, MATTHEW 17:1-9

A) JESUS HELPS THE APOSTLES

Jesus led the three disciples up a high mountain and he was transfigured before them.  “His face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light.”  He wanted to teach them that he was not only a man but was also God.

B) THE APOSTLES

The apostles were able to see that Jesus was no ordinary man.  He was also God.  They were able to hear the Father’s words.  “This is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased.  Listen to him.”

 

3) APPLICATION TO LIFE

A) JESUS HELPS US TO KNOW HIM BETTER

We can consider Lent as a time when Jesus takes up to a mountain. Though we cannot see Jesus as the apostles did, he is in our midst as he is present in his Church, in the bible, the Church’s teachings, and in the lives of holy people.

B) WE SEE AND HEAR JESUS.

We see Jesus when we see a priest celebrating Mass, when we read the bible, or attend the Stations of the Cross.  We see him when we help a poor, sick, or an unhappy person.  Jesus has said that when you help others, you are helping him.  We hear Jesus when we listen to the Mass homily, the words of the bishop, or the cry for help of someone in need.

 

4) CONCLUSION

The eye glasses helped the visitor to see the names of the saints in St. Peter’s Basilica.  Jesus helped the apostles to see that he was not only man but also God and that he was the Father’s beloved Son.  They should listen to him.  During Lent Jesus also helps us to see that he is both God and man.  We should listen to him.

 

Homily - 1A Lent Sunday homily (26 February 2023) Reject temptations

 

TOPIC: REJECT TEMPTATIONS

1. STORY

Two friends, David and John, went out to eat at a buffet lunch.  Both were amazed at the amount and variety of delicious food.  They filled their plates and after finishing went for a second helping.  Though they were both full, David decided to eat despite of John’s warning of the consequences of stuffing himself.  He succumbed to the temptation and took his third helping resulting in his getting sick.  He learned the hard way the important lesson − for your own good, resist temptations.

 

2. GOSPEL, MATTHEW 4:1-11

A) JESUS IS TEMPTED

The devil tempted Jesus three times:

i) Jesus was asked to change rocks into bread.

ii) Jesus was asked to jump from the temple.

iii) Jesus was asked to worship the devil.

B) JESUS REJECTS THE TEMPTATIONS

Jesus rejected the three temptations. 

i) He rejected bread which represents a desire for material goods by living a very simple life.

ii) He refused to jump from the temple which represents a desire for fame as he was a very humble person.

iii) He rejected to worship the devil which represents a desire for power by obeying the will of God.

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

A) WE ARE TEMPTED

Here are some examples of our temptations.

i) We are tempted to lose faith in God when our prayers for help are not answered. 

ii) We are tempted not to be kind and helpful to our family, friends and co-workers when they are not good to us.

iii) We are tempted to spend too much time on TV, computers, mobile phones, sports, and entertainment.

B) WE MUST RESIST TEMPTATIONS

Here are a few suggestions on how to strengthen our will to resist temptations.

i) Make a good confession during Lent. 

ii) Attend a retreat if at all possible. 

iii) Use one of the Lenten (mite) boxes to help the poor by donating some of your money. 

iv) Make the Stations of the Cross in church or at home.

v) Read the Bible, a spiritual book, or the Catholic newspaper.

 

4. CONCLUSION

We learned from the story that we help ourselves by resisting temptations.  Jesus resisted the temptations for the desire for material goods, fame, and power.  We resist the many temptations in our lives by going to confession, attending a retreat, helping the poor, making the Stations of the Cross, and doing spiritual reading.  A good Lent leads to a joyful Easter.

Homily - 7A Sunday in Ordinary Time (19 February 2023) Love your neighbor and your enemy

 

TOPIC: LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AND YOUR ENEMY

1. STORY

Archbishop Dominic Tang (1908­1995) was a Jesuit priest who was given a dangerous assignment when asked to become the bishop of Canton.  In 1958 at the age of 50, he was sent to prison by the Communist government.  He remained there for 22 years.  During this time he never received a letter from relatives or friends.  In 17 years he never received a bar of soap, and he always slept on a wooden plank.  Despite all of his sufferings and hardships, he could say: “Love the Church and love the country.”   He lived the command of Jesus to love our neighbor and to love our country.

2. GOSPEL, MATTHEW 5:38­48

A) LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AND LOVE YOUR ENEMY

Jesus teaches us to love our neighbor, meaning those who love us, and also our enemies, meaning those who do not love us.  “For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?  Do not the tax collectors do the same?”  Jesus expects more from his disciples.

B)  BE PERFECT AS YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER IS PERFECT

Jesus wants us to follow the example of our heavenly father who “makes his sun shine on the bad and the good, and causes the rain to fall on the just and unjust.”  We are asked to love generously with our whole heart.

 

3) APPLICATION TO LIFE

A) LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR AND OUR ENEMY

i) We must respect others as they are created by God.

ii) We must be kind toward others by what we say.  Use words such as thank you, please, I am sorry, and excuse me.

iii) We must forgive others as Jesus forgives us.

B) BE PERFECT JUST AS YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER IS PERFECT

i) We must try our very best to be good to others though they might not be good to us. T his takes great effort and can only be done if we rely on God’s help. 

ii) We must not become discouraged and must ask for the gift of perseverance.   As it takes great effort to walk up a steep mountain, it takes great effort to be perfect.

 

4) CONCLUSION

Archbishop Dominic Tang lived the command of Jesus to love our neighbor and our enemy.  Jesus also lived the command to love those who are good to us and those who are not good to us.  We carry out the command of Jesus by being respectful, kind, and forgiving to all. We do this as best as we are able to and continue despite the difficulty of the command.

Homily - 6A Sunday in Ordinary Time (12 February 2023) Avoid anger

 

6A Homily, Matthew 5:17-37, February 12, 2023

1) STORY
Abraham Lincoln’s army general had some trouble with one of his officers and complained to the president.  Lincoln told him to write a sharp letter to the officer, which he did.  The general then showed the letter to Lincoln.  After praising the general for the strong letter, he asked the general what he planned to do with it.  A bit surprised at this question, the general said he was going to send it to the officer.  Lincoln advised him to tear it up and write another one now that his anger has passed.  The president said not to send a letter when written in anger.

2) GOSPEL, MATTHEW 5:17-37
A) TO BE ANGRY WITH YOUR BROTHER

The fact is that sometimes we are angry with God, with our family, neighbors and even with ourselves.

B) YOU WILL BE LIABLE TO JUDGMENT

Jesus teaches us that we will be punished for being angry. Certainly, one punishment will be that we will be unhappy.

3) APPLICATION TO LIFE
A) ANGER IN OUR LIVES

i) We are angry with God if he does not answer our prayers. We think he has forgotten us or does not care about our sufferings and problems.  It is useless to depend on him for help.  It is better to believe that he is powerless or does not exist.

ii) We are angry with our family, friends, co-workers, Catholics, and neighbors.  They have hurt us by their words or actions.  They have not come to our help when we are in need.   They have hurt our reputation by lying or exaggerating our weaknesses.

iii) We are even angry at ourselves because we have made stupid mistakes, have failed to achieve our goals, and because we are unhappy.

B) AVOID ANGER 

i) God loves us, cares for us, and wishes us to be happy.  He is wiser than we are.  He will give us strength to carry out his plan for us.  He will give us the wisdom to know what to do.  We must keep asking for his help and above all never abandon him.

ii) We must remember that others are weak, busy, and have to carry their own crosses.  Do not demand too much from them.  Be grateful for any help you receive from them.

iii) We must not demand too much from ourselves.  We will gradually continue to improve.  We must do our best and leave the rest to God.

4) CONCLUSION

Lincoln gave wise advice to the angry general.  Jesus teaches us that anger will result in serious consequences for us.  We must avoid anger toward God and our brothers.

Homily - 5A Sunday in Ordinary Time (05 February 2023) You are important

 

5A SUNDAY HOMILY, MATTHEW 5:13-16, February 5, 2023

1) STORY

As soon as a fierce tiger saw a person, he ate him.  The tiger promised a friend that he was going to change this bad habit.  If he saw a Catholic, he would not eat him.  However, a few days later he saw a Catholic and ate him, leaving only the lips.  When his friend reminded him of his promise not to eat Catholics, he replied that he smelled the man but could not find the smell of a Catholic except for his lips.  So he ate the man leaving only the lips saying that the man spoke like a Catholic but did not act like a Catholic.  He was a Catholic in name only.

 

2) GOSPEL: Matthew 5:13-16

A) YOU ARE SALT AND YOU ARE LIGHT

Salt and light were very important in the past and today.  Salt was used for preserving food, such as meat and fish, in the days when there were no refrigerators.  It is used to season food.  There were no electric lights in Jesus’ time so light from oil lamps was important for working, guiding people, and for safety reasons.

B) YOUR LIGHT MUST SHINE BEFORE OTHERS

For salt and light to be useful, they must be used.  Salt must be sprinkled on food to preserve and season it.  It is of no use if kept in a container. Light must be placed on a lampstand and not under a bushel as to help people see.

 

3) APPLICATION TO LIFE

A) YOU ARE IMPORTANT

Just as salt and light are important, so are you.  You are important to your family, to your friends, to your employer, to your church, and above all to Jesus.  You are brothers and sisters of Jesus, and you are his disciples.  For example, during Mass the following are important: the altar servers, lectors, choir and organist, ministers of Holy Communion and money collectors.  Jesus wants us to know that we are important.

B) YOUR ACTIONS ARE IMPORTANT

1) You are important to God our Father.  We must pray daily thanking and praising him and asking for help and for forgiveness.  We must go to Sunday Mass to hear his instructions and receive the Eucharist. 

2) We are important to others.  Use often the following words: thanks, please, excuse me, and I am sorry. 

3) You are important to yourself.  Make every effort to stay healthy by eating properly, getting enough rest, and learning to relax.

 

4) CONCLUSION

The tiger could tell a Catholic in name from a true Catholic.  Just as salt and light are important so are we important.  We must live as true Catholics in our daily lives by our prayer life, being good to others, and caring for our health.