THE CULTURE OF SERVICE AND SACRIFICE

Readings: Isaiah 53:10-11; Psalm 33; Hebrews 4:14-16; Mark 10:35-45.  A week ago, I was at the priestly ordination of my Oblates brothers and before the Mass, I was marveled at the commitment, service and sacrifice of some parishioners towards the success of this event. I had the feeling that this culture were gradually going into […]

THE CHRISTOCENTRIC ASPECT OF TRINITY

HOMILY FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF THE HOLY TRINITY, YEAR C. Readings: Proverbs 8:22-31; Psalm 8; Romans 5:1-5 and John 16:12-15. The solemnity of the Holy Trinity is the greatest mystery of our faith and fundamental to Christian faith. This doctrine causes great curiosity among Christians as to the appropriate understanding of how God is, how […]

MARY, MODEL OF ALL MOTHERS.

HOMILY FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF MARY, MOTHER OF GOD: Readings: Numbers: 6:22-27; Psalm 67; Galatians 4:4-7 and Luke 2:16-21 The 2012 publication of the Roman Daily Missal gives a beautiful summary of today’s Liturgy. First, we celebrate the first day of the year; then we think of the circumcision of Jesus, that took place eight […]

The Path from Deception to Truth

According to a popular TedTalk, “On a given day, we’re lied to from 10 to 200 times.” It’s upsetting to imagine being lied to 200 times in a day. But what is more upsetting is to realize that we may have a lying problem ourselves. Multiple studies have found the average person lies more than […]

CHRIST WAS BORN FOR ALL

HOMILY FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD. Readings: Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72; Ephesians 3:2-3. 5-6 and Matthew 2:1-12. “All nations on earth shall fall prostrate before you, O Lord” (Psalm 72:11). Today we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord. Epiphany is from the Greek word, epipháneia, which simply means manifestation, and in […]

IS THERE SALVATION OUTSIDE THE CHURCH?

HOMILY FOR TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR C. Readings: Isaiah 66:18-21; Psalm 117; Hebrew 12:5-7.11-13 and Luke 13:22-30. A famous expression from the writings of Saint Cyprian of Carthage goes thus: “Outside the Church there is no salvation.” It is an axiom to indicate that the Church is necessary for salvation. Does this necessarily […]

THE JOY THAT COMES WITH LIGHT

HOMILY FOR THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT (LAETARE SUNDAY), YEAR A. Readings: 1 Samuel 16:1.6-7.10-13; Psalm 23; Ephesians 5:8-14 and John 9:1-41. Traditionally, the fourth Sunday of Lent calls us to rejoice as the Latin verb ‘Laetare’ indicates, similar to the third Sunday of Advent’s Gaudete. The entrance antiphon goes thus: “Rejoice, Jerusalem, and all […]

The Path from Cutting to Healing

While cutting is on the rise, self-mutilation or self-harm has been occurring since biblical times. The issue with cutting is that it is becoming prevalent amongst adolescents – even Christians. According to Mental Health America, “Research indicates that self-injury occurs in approximately as many as 4% of adults in the United States. Rates are higher […]

NEITHER DO I CONDEMN YOU

HOMILY FOR THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT, YEAR C. Readings: Isaiah 43:16-21; Psalm 126; Philippians 3:8-14 and John 8:1-11. There was a tweet sometime last month by Harachi, expressing a rite in her culture that makes a woman run mad if she cheats in marriage. While the family of the man insisted that the rite […]

GOD’S JUSTICE AND THE CRY OF THE POOR.

HOMILY FOR THIRTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR C (MISSION SUNDAY). Readings: Sirach 25:12-14.16-18; Psalm 34; 2Timothy 4:6-8.16-18 and Luke 18:9-14. We are in a society where justice has been submerged, oppression and intimidation keep rising as barriers has been set for a greater proportion of the people to access it. Many have been denied […]

THE NATURE OF GOD AND THE BEST COMMUNITY

SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY, YEAR A. Readings: Exodus 34:4-6, 8-9; Responsorial: Daniel 3:52-56; 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 and John 3:16-18. In those days, religious divisions came from conflicting beliefs about God, rather than any conflict between theism and atheism. This division has caused many to look keenly to the nature of God. Among the […]

THE LAW OF GOD AND THE HEART OF MAN

Readings Deuteronomy 4:1-2.6-8; Psalm 15; James 1:17-18.21-27 and Mark 7:1-8.14-15.21-23.  It is obvious covid-19 has taught us many life lessons, one of which is the importance of proper hygiene. Although we seem to be relaxed at the moment, the practice of constantly washing and sanitizing our hands have come to stay in our society due […]