Homily - 3B Lent Sunday homily (03 March 2024) Jesus cleans the temple

 

3B LENT HOMILY, JOHN 2:13-25, MARCH 3, 2024 

1. STORY

One of the most beautiful and important churches in the Holy Land is the Church of the Annunciation located in Nazareth.  The church commemorates the Angel Gabriel informing Mary she was chosen to be the mother of Jesus.  Nazareth is also the town where Jesus lived for 30 years before he began his public ministry.  A few years ago, a troubled family entered the church and set off a dozen firecrackers during a crowded worship service.  The congregation became furious at the family for doing something so disrespectful in such a sacred place.  A church is a house of pray and worship and certain activities are prohibited.

 

2. GOSPEL, JOHN 2:13-25

A. TAKE THESE THINGS OUT OF HERE.

In Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple and was very unhappy at what he saw.  He ordered those out of the temple who were doing business such as selling oxen and sheep and the money changers.  These activities made his Father’s house a marketplace. 

B. MY FATHER’S HOUSE.

Jesus knew that the temple was the house of his Father.  It was a sacred place, a house for pray and worship.  It must only be used for this purpose.

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

A. TAKE THESE THINGS OUT OF HERE.

Because of our baptism, we became adopted children of

God our Father, brothers and sisters of Jesus, and temples of the Holy Spirit.  Lent is a good time to reflect on what we should try to remove from our lives.  Here are three vices to consider. 

i) Anger hurts others and ourselves.  It must be replaced by respect.

ii) Hatred is not loving others.  It must be replaced by forgiveness as Jesus teaches us in the Our Father. 

iii) Selfishness is the act of thinking about and acting only for ourselves and neglecting the needs of others.  It must be replaced by generosity. 

B. WE ARE TEMPLES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

We must remember that we are temples of the Holy Spirit, we are sacred persons.  Here are three suggestions for Lent.

i) Be respectful of others in our thoughts by remembering that we are children of God.  We do this by our words of praise and comfort to others and by our actions such as listening attentively when one speaks. 

ii) Be forgiving of others who may have offended us.  Remember Jesus forgives us and has taught us to forgive others.

iii) Be generous towards others by giving them your time, talents, and your material help.  Such ways of dealing with people will make them happy.  When we make people happy, we also gain happiness.

 

4. CONCLUSION

It was very disrespectful and improper to set off firecrackers in the church.  Jesus removed those from the temple who were making it a market place by selling ox and sheep and the money changers.  We are the temples of the Holy Spirit.  We must remove from our lives unfit attitudes and actions such as anger, hatred, and selfishness.  We must respect others, forgive others, and be generous towards others.  We are temples of the Holy Spirit.

Homily - 2B Lent Sunday homily (25 February 2024) The Transfiguration, Jesus our treasure

 

2B LENT HOMILY, THE TRANSFIGURATION, MARK 9:2-10, FEBRUARY 25, 2024 

1. STORY

A very rich man gave a large and beautiful house as a gift to a group of nuns.  The house was full of beautiful furniture, rugs, and lovely paintings.  The nun superior decided to have some of the paintings cleaned thinking that they were just ordinary paintings.  The cleaning company informed the superior that they would be willing to buy a few of the paintings for a generous amount of money.  The superior asked the advice of an expert, and to her great surprise, was informed that two of the paintings were masterpieces worth millions of dollars.  The nuns did not realize the great treasures they possessed.   We do not realize the great treasure we have in Jesus.

 

2. GOSPEL: MARK 9:2-10

A. HIS CLOTHES BECAME DAZZLING WHITE.

Jesus took three disciples up a mountain and wanted them to know that he was not only a man but also God.  He did this by changing his appearance and his clothes became dazzling white. 

B. THIS IS MY BELOVED SON.  LISTEN TO HIM.

The three disciples heard a voice, the voice of God the Father, saying that Jesus was his beloved son and they must listen to him.

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

A. JESUS IS OUR TREASURE.

Jesus wishes us to know him better.  He is not only a man; he is also God.  Here are a few examples of why Jesus is our treasure.

i) He is the light of the world helping us to see what is right and what is wrong.  He helps us to stay on the right path in this complex world.  He guides us to our final home. 

ii) Jesus is the bread of life.  We know the importance of good food for our health.  Jesus gives us the Eucharist for our spiritual health and strength. 

iii) Jesus is the good shepherd protecting us from the many evils in the world.  He protects us from the people who would lead us into sin.  During Lent we should try to know Jesus better as he is our treasure. 

B. WE MUST LISTEN TO JESUS.

When we visit a doctor or attend a class, we listen to the advice of the doctor or the teacher’s instructions as it will help us.  Jesus gives us good advice on how to live as children of God and how to act as his disciples.  He helps us to learn what we do not know, and he corrects us when we do not think correctly.  Jesus speaks to us in the following ways. 

i) When we pray and ask for guidance, Jesus speaks to us. 

ii) When we attend Mass and listen to the readings and the homily, Jesus speaks to us. 

iii) When we read the bible and spiritual books, Jesus speaks to us.   During Lent, make every effort to shut out the noises of the world and listen carefully to what Jesus has to say to us.  His advice will help us to live happier lives.

 

4. CONCLUSION

Just as the nun was amazed by the value of the paintings, so too were the disciples surprised to learn that Jesus was not only a man but is also God.  They were told of the importance of listening to Jesus. During this Lent, please do the following. 

1) Take home a Lenten box and help the poor with your donation. 

2) Make a good confession. 

 

Homily - 1B Lent Sunday homily (18 February 2024) Repent and believe in the Gospel

 

1B LENT SUNDAY HOMILY, MARK 1:12-15, FEBRUARY 18, 2024 

1. STORY

After his death, John was refused entry into heaven because of his poor record during life.  However, the angel of heaven’s gate gave him a chance to enter.  He must go back to earth and discover what would make God most happy.  He went back to earth and returned with a drop of a martyr’s blood.  The angel said that God was pleased but there was something even more pleasing to him.  He must try again.  The second time John brought back a drop of sweat of the brow of a missioner, but the angel said he could try one more time.  For the third time and final time, John brought back a drop of the tear of a repentant sinner.  The angel agreed that this was the gift most pleasing to God and permitted him to enter heaven.  God is truly happy when a sinner repents.

 

2. GOSPEL: MARK 1:12-15

A. JESUS TELLS US TO REPENT.

Jesus tells us that we must repent.  Repentance means to change our thinking, our heart, and our actions. 

B. JESUS TELLS US TO BELIEVE IN THE GOSPEL.

Jesus tells us that we must accept the gospel.  The gospel is the good news that Jesus came to teach us.  The core of the gospel is love.  We must love God, our neighbor, and ourselves.

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

Here are three changes we can begin to make during Lent.

A. CHANGE OUR MINDS.

Jesus wants us to place God as the number one priority in our life.  Even though there are many important things in our life such as a home, a job, money, good health, and a good family, we must remember that God is our number one priority.  When Jesus was asked what was the greatest commandment, he said, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Mt. 22:37). 

B. CHANGE OUR HEARTS.

Jesus wants us to have a forgiving heart.  Many people have been offended and find it hard to forgive others.  Jesus teaches us in the Our Father, “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us” (Mt.6:12). We should forgive those who have offended us.

 

C. CHANGE OUR ACTIONS.

Jesus wants us to be kind towards others in our speech.  It is very easy to be angry and hurt others by what we say and how we say it.  St. Paul reminds us “No foul language should come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for needed edification, that it may impart grace to those who hear it” (Ep.4:29).  We should be kind toward others in our speech.

 

4. CONCLUSION

During this Lent, please try to do the following.

i) Help the poor by taking home the Lenten donation boxes. 

ii) Attend the Stations of the Cross. 

iii) Make a good confession.

iv) Attend the parish retreat.  We ask Jesus to help us repent and believe in the Gospel.

Homily - 6B Sunday homily (11 February 2024) Christ cured the leper

 

6B, SUNDAY HOMILY, MARK 1:40-45, FEBRUARY 11, 2024 

1. STORY

On a cold winter day, an elderly man was waiting for a ride across a small river.  Several horsemen came riding by.  He let the first and second one pass by without saying a word.  Finally, the old man caught the last rider’s eye and asked for help.  The rider agreed and helped the man onto the horse.  The rider not only helped the man across the river but he also took the man home.  The rider asked the elderly man why he let several riders pass by but waited for him to ask for help.  The elderly man said, “I looked into the eyes of others and knew they would not help, but I looked into your eyes and saw kindness and compassion.  I knew you would help me.”  The rider thanked the elderly man.  That man, Thomas Jefferson, the American president, turned his horse around and returned to the White House.  He followed Christ’s example.

 

2. GOSPEL, MARK 1:40-45

A. THE LEPER ASKED JESUS FOR HELP.

The leper knelt down and begged for help.  “If you wish, you can make me clean.”  This sickness had a profound effect on his life as it separated him from his family, from his friends, and from God. 

B. JESUS CURED THE LEPER.

Jesus, moved with pity, said, “I do want to. Be made clean.”  The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean.  The cure changed the man’s life as he could be reunited with his family, with his friends, and with God.

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

A. WE ASK JESUS FOR HELP.

We ask Jesus for forgiveness when we participate at Mass.  We ask at the beginning of Mass, “May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins.”  We ask during the Gloria, “Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.”  We ask when reciting the Our Father, “forgive us our trespasses.”  We ask when praying, “Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.  Sin separates us from God, our friends, and our family. 

B. JESUS FORGIVES US. 

i) Jesus helps us in two major ways.  First, at baptism when all of our sins are forgiven.  Our souls are clean in the sight of God.  Second, when Jesus forgives us through the sacrament of confession or reconciliation.  This helps us to understand the importance of this sacrament.  We are united with God, our friends, and our family.

ii) The cured leper was so happy with this gift and so grateful for what Jesus had done that he “he spread the report abroad,” and told others.  We, too, should thank Jesus and tell others about what he does for us and in our lives.

 

4. CONCLUSION

In the story the elderly man asked and received help from the merciful and compassionate man, President Jefferson.  In the gospel the leper asked and received a cure from the merciful and compassionate Jesus.  The cure changed his life as he was reunited with his God, friends, and family.  We constantly receive forgiveness for our sins from Jesus, especially through the sacrament of confession.  As the cured leper spread the good news about Jesus, we should thank Jesus and tell others what a blessing it is to know Jesus.

 

Homily - 5B Sunday homily (04 February 2024) You are important

 

5B SUNDAY HOMILY, MATTHEW 5:13-16, February 4, 2024

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. I t 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 place 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. 

i) 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.  

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

iii) 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.

Homily - 4B Sunday homily (28 January 2024) Jesus taught and cured

 

4B SUNDAY HOMILY, MARK 1:21-28, JANUARY 28, 2024 

1. STORY

John, (Lobsang Tsering) a 36-year-old Tibetan emergency doctor, was in an ambulance with a Tibetan nurse responding to a request for help.  The ambulance stopped when the crew saw a Han Chinese man holding his son who was in desperate need to help.  When they helped the pair into the ambulance, they suddenly found themselves surrounded by an angry mob demanding the boy.  Though the rioters smashed the windows and jumped into the vehicle and battered the doctor on the head, the jaw, and back with stones and clubs, the doctor refused to hand over the boy.  The heroic doctor saved the life of the little boy.

 

2. GOSPEL, MARK 1:21-28

A. JESUS TAUGHT

i) It was the custom of Jesus that he would teach in the synagogue on the Sabbath, the day of rest.

ii) Jesus was a powerful teacher as the people were astonished by his teaching.  He was much different from the other teachers. 

B. JESUS CURED

i) In the synagogue, there was a sick man with an unclean spirit.

ii) Jesus took pity on him and cured him with just one command, “Come out of him.”

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

A. TODAY, JESUS CONTINUES TO TEACH US.

i) Jesus teaches us at every Mass we attend when we hear the scriptures and the homily.

ii) When the Pope or our bishop speaks, Jesus teaches us.

iii) When we read the bible, Jesus teaches us.

iv) When people like our parents or good wise friends give us advice, Jesus teaches us.  We should listen attentively to Jesus. 

B. TODAY, JESUS CURES US.

Jesus cured a man with an unclean spirit. Jesus cured his spirit.

i) Jesus cures those who are hopeless and those who see life as useless with no chance of joy and happiness.  He puts hope into their lives.

ii) Jesus cures those who have sinned and see no chance of forgiveness.  Jesus forgives them.

iii) Jesus heals those who have hate in their lives.  He loves them.  Just as the doctor was willing to suffer to save the boy, Jesus died on the cross to save us, to give us hope, forgiveness, and love.

 

4. CONCLUSION

The young doctor protected and saved the boy even though he had to suffer in doing so.  Jesus taught the people and cured the man who was troubled in spirit.  Today Jesus continues his work of teaching and curing the sick.  He speaks to us at Mass, through our Pope and bishop, through the bible, and through good friends.  Jesus cures our heart by giving us hope, forgiveness, and love.  We thank him for all his help and ask for an increase in faith in him.