22C Sunday homily (31 August 2025) Be humble

 

22C Sunday Homily, Luke 14: 1, 7-14, August 31, 2025

By Fr. Vincent Corbelli, MM

 

1) STORY

There was a humble fisherman who earned a living by rowing people across a small river.  One day a proud philosopher asked to be taken over to the other side of the river.  During the trip the philosopher asked the fisherman if he knew how the sun, moon and stars worked.  The fisherman said no but knew that God made them and controlled them.  The philosopher sighed and lamented that the fisherman wasted a fourth of his life.  The philosopher then asked the fisherman if he knew about the life of their king.  He again replied no, but he knew that kings come and go and the real ruler of the world was God.  The philosopher said the fisherman had wasted half of his life.  Finally, the philosopher asked the fisherman if he knew the nature and whereabouts of God.  Again, he answered no but knew that God created, loved and cared for him.  The philosopher said that the fisherman had wasted two-thirds of his life.  Just then a storm approached and the philosopher’s face turned pale.  The fisherman asked him if he knew how to swim.  He replied no. T he fisherman sadly said the philosopher wasted his whole life.  This story helps to understand the proud man and the humble man.

 

2) GOSPEL, Luke 14:1, 7-14

A) The proud guest chose the place of honor at the meal only to be told to sit in a lower place as a more distinguished guest had arrived.  He was embarrassed.  One who exalts himself will be humbled.

B) The humble guest selected the least position and was invited to sit in a higher place.  He was honored.  The one who humbles himself will be exalted.

 

3) APPLICATION TO LIFE

A) The proud person thinks that he is better than others.  He has better education, better job and a bigger salary.  There is no need to improve.  He knows everything so he does not listen to the advice of others.

B) The humble person knows that he has good and bad qualities.  He looks to Jesus as his model, following him in helping, caring and encouraging others.  He must keep improving.  The humble person knows his knowledge is limited.  He must listen to Jesus, who is our teacher.  He knows that he must grow in wisdom.

 

4) CONCLUSION

Jesus wishes us to be humble so that we can become holier and wiser, thus becoming happier and more at peace.

21C Sunday homily (24 August 2025) Heaven is our home

 

21C Sunday Homily Luke 13:22-30, August 24, 2025

By Fr. Vincent Corbelli, MM

 

1) STORY

A widowed mother loved her four children very much.  She wanted them to be holy, healthy and happy.  She decided that the best way she could achieve this goal was to attend daily Mass for them.  This required great effort on her part.  Not only did she have heart trouble but she also had to walk up and down 300 steps to get to the church and return home each day.  After several years of attending daily Mass for her children, her doctor was amazed that her heart condition had improved.  He asked her what she had done over the past years resulting in her improved condition.  She told him about having to walk daily up and down 300 stairs on her way to church and back.  He now knew that this daily exercise was the cause of her improved health.  In helping her children, she helped herself.  This story shows us that this mother had a clear goal and a method, hard work, to achieve her goal.

 

2) GOSPEL, Luke 13:22-30

A) WHO WILL BE SAVED?

This question asked of Jesus reminds us that there is eternal life after death.  Life is like a journey and our final goal is heaven.  This is the meaning of being saved.  Are we clear about this goal?  Do we wish to achieve this goal of being saved?

B) ENTER BY THE NARROW DOOR  

Jesus tells us that to get into heaven we must enter by the narrow door.  This means we must make a great effort in our lives to reach heaven.  There is no room for laziness or indifference.

 

3) APPLICATION TO LIFE

A) MY GOAL IN LIFE

We must be clear about our goal in life.  We must resist other goals such as money, pleasure, fame and power.

B) ENTER BY THE NARROW GATE

We must take every effort to do the following three things.

i) Love God by daily prayer; attend Sunday Mass and periodic confession.

ii) Love our neighbor by kind words and generous, helpful actions.

iii) Love oneself by eating properly, exercising and getting enough rest. 

 

4) CONCLUSION

Our goal is heaven. Just as the mother in the story had a clear goal and hard work was her method to attain that goal, so we must make every effort to achieve our goal of getting to heaven by following the example of Jesus who loved God and neighbor.

20C Sunday homily (17 August 2025) Helping Jesus

 

20C Sunday Homily, Luke 12:49 -53, August 17, 2025 

1. STORY

While praying in the dilapidated chapel of San Damiano, Francis of Assisi heard a voice speak to him. “Francis, repair my church, which has fallen into disrepair.”  He began physically to repair the ruined building.  To pay for the church’s repair, he took cloth from his father’s warehouse without asking for his father’s permission.  As a result, his father was angry and had Francis arrested and brought to trial before the bishop.  Francis admitted his fault and returned his father’s money.  From that time on, he left his family to follow Jesus, to work for Jesus.

 

2. GOSPEL, Luke 12:49 -53

A) CHRIST HAS WORK TO DO

“I have come to set the world on fire.” Fire gives us light, warmth, and is useful in cooking and for cleaning.  Christ has come to purify us of our sins.  He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. He must continue this work today.

B) JESUS NEEDS HELPERS

“A father will be divided against his son.”  Jesus invited others to follow him as he invited Francis to follow him.  One leaves his family to follow Jesus but not because of disrespect for the family.  A person can leave his / her family and still have great love and concern for the family members.

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

A) WORK TO BE DONE

Many people are like a building in need of repair.  Just as the weather damages a building, so does life damage people.  Difficulties, failures, poor health, sin and poverty damage people.  Such people need the help of Jesus who has come to set the world on fire, to cleanse the world of sin. 

B) JESUS NEEDS OUR HELP

Just as Jesus asked Francis for help, he also asks for our help.  A person can repair a building, so we can help repair the body and soul of someone in need.  We do this when we are kind to others, forgiving and understanding, just as Jesus was.

 

4. CONCLUSION

Jesus asked Francis for help in building his Church.  He left his family while loving his family to work for Jesus.  Jesus asks us today to help others as he did.  For some, this means leaving their family.  For others, they help Jesus while still living with their family.  Let us help Jesus build the church, the family of God.

19C Sunday homily (10 August 2025) Be prepared

 

19C Sunday Homily, Luke 12:35-40, August 10, 2025

By Fr. Vincent Corbelli, MM

 

1. STORY

A ship sank with the only survivor, John.  He was able to swim to a nearby island and thus save himself.  To his great surprise, he was welcomed by the natives.  They had a tradition that one day a stranger would come, and they would make him king for one year.  Naturally, John was very happy to know that any reasonable request he made would be granted.  He asked what would happen after one year.  He learned that he would be sent to a nearby barren island where he would starve to death.  Though shocked when hearing this news, he knew what to do.  He had to prepare well for his future.  He commanded that boats be built to transport good soil, trees, grain for food, and lumber to build a home for him.  He then would be able to live comfortably after being king for one year.

 

2. GOSPEL, Luke 12:35 -40

A) Servants: Jesus tells the story about a master and his servants.  The servants must be ready for the master’s return.  “Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.”

B) Master: The master will reward the servants who are prepared.  “He will have them recline at the table and proceed to wait on them.”

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

A) The servants: We are servants, disciples of Jesus, with a task to perform.  We must love God, be good to others, and ourselves.  We must give time to God by going to Mass and praying daily.  We care for others by giving them our time, concern and being kind.  We are good to ourselves by caring for our spiritual and physical health.

B) Christ our Master: Christ is always with us, protecting, guiding, and caring for us.  He will give us peace of heart and strength to live as he lived.

 

4. CONCLUSION

John was vigilant and so he prepared well for his future.  We, the servants of Jesus, must be ready for his sudden return by faithfully carrying out our duties.  Jesus, our master, will reward us with peace of mind and eternal happiness.