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.

 

C, The Holy Trinity homily (15 June 2025)

 

C, THE HOLY TRINITY HOMILY, JOHN 16:12-15, JUNE 15, 2025

 

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

i) 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.

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

iii) 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.

 

Pentecost homily - The Holy Spirit, God's invisible power (08 June 2025)

 

PENTECOST HOMILY, JOHN 20:19-23, June 8, 2025 

1. STORY

John’s business was selling balloons at an amusement park. One day a boy approached him and was fascinated by the different colored balloons.  Accidentally, a red balloon slipped out of John’s hand and rose up into the sky.  The boy asked John if he released a black colored balloon would it also go up.  John explained to the boy that the color of the

balloon was not important.  What was important was the air inside of the balloon that made it rise.  What is important for us is not the color of our skin but the Holy Spirit in our heart.

 

2. GOSPEL, JOHN 20:19-23

A) RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT

After his resurrection while visiting the apostles, Jesus gave them the gift of the Holy Spirit, “He breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.” In our first reading, Acts 2:1-11, the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles like a wind, “Suddenly from up in the sky there came a noise like a strong, driving wind” which is invisible and also fire, Tongues of fire appeared,” which is a sign of God’s presence in the Bible.  So, the Holy Spirit is God’s invisible power in us.

B) AS HE FATHER HAS SENT ME SO I SEND YOU

Jesus has given us the Holy Spirit because he has a task we must carry out, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”  Just as in our first reading, Acts 2:1-11, the apostles preached the gospel, so too does Jesus want us to do the same.

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

A) THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

There are many invisible powers in our life.

Wind can move a sail boat, electricity can produce light in a light bulb, and radio waves make the mobile phone possible. The Holy Spirit, God’s invisible power, can guide us on our life’s journey, teach us the truth and comfort us in our sorrow.  This same Spirit gives us the courage and ability to preach the gospel.

B) Sharing the gospel

Just as a thirsty person needs water, a hungry person needs food and sick person needs health, so too do we need Jesus.  Jesus is the living water, the bread of life and the physician who can heal us.  Because there are so many spiritually needy persons, Jesus wants us to tell others that he is the source of peace, happiness and eternal life.

 

4. CONCLUSION

Just as a balloon rises because of the air inside it, so too are we able to rise, do good things.  Jesus has given us the Holy Spirit, God’s invisible power, so that we have the courage and ability to preach the gospel, tell others that Jesus is the source of happiness, peace and eternal happiness.

C Ascension homily - Jesus was taken up to heaven (01 June 2025)

 

C, ASCENSION HOMILY, LUKE 24:46-53, JUNE 1, 2025 

1. STORY

John was traveling on a mountain road when he found a precious stone in a stream.  The next day he met another traveler, Peter, who was hungry and asked for some food.  When John opened his bag to get the food, Peter noticed the precious stone and asked for it.  To Peter’s great surprise, John gave him the jewel.  Peter left rejoicing at his good fortune.  The next day Peter came back and returned the stone to John.  He asked John for something more valuable than the stone.  He wanted to know John’s secret that enabled him to give up the stone.  John answered that his secret was his belief in heaven and that every good deed he performed on earth brought him one step closer to his goal.  Heaven was far more important than the precious diamond.

 

2. GOSPEL, LUKE 24:46-53

A. JESUS SUFFERED AND ROSE FROM THE DEAD

i) We know that Jesus suffered on the cross as a sign of his love for us and to save us.

ii) We know that after three days he rose from the dead and gave us the greatest gift to eternal life.

iii) We know that Jesus helped people during his life. 

B. HE WAS TAKEN UP INTO HEAVEN

After Jesus finished his work on earth and trained his followers to continue his work, he ascended into heaven.  He did not abandon us but continues to care, support, and love us in heaven where he sits at the right hand of God the Father.  He is preparing a place for us to be with him forever.

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

A. OUR LIFE ON EARTH 

i) Through our baptism, we have been called to carry on the work that Jesus started.

ii) Just as Jesus helped the poor, the sick, and the hungry, we must try our best to help those in need.

iii) We are called to preach the good news to others by our words and actions.  We share with them that Jesus is the source of our happiness and peace.  He alone can give us the gift of eternal happiness. 

B. WE WILL BE TAKEN UP TO HEAVEN.

i) Just as Jesus was taken to heaven, we will also be taken to heaven.  Heaven is our final home where we will enjoy eternal happiness with God.  It is a pure gift from God.

ii) Though we can in no way earn heaven, Jesus through our baptism, expects us to do good as he did.

a) We do this by praying to God for help and thanking him for his goodness to us.

b) We are kind, respectful, comforting, forgiving, grateful and encouraging to others by our words and deeds.

iii) We care for our health by eating properly, exercising, and getting enough rest.

 

4. CONCLUSION

i) John considered heaven more valuable than a precious diamond.

ii) After living a life of service, Jesus died on the cross, rose from the dead, and was taken to heaven.

iii) We have been called through baptism to follow the example of Jesus by helping others as he did.  We too will be taken to heaven as Jesus was.  We will live with him forever in eternal happiness.  We thank Jesus for giving us the great gift of heaven and ask for the strength to live as he did by loving and helping others.