Homily stories

4 Dec 2011

Second Sunday of Advent, Cycle B

Straightening things out

My husband forgave my cousin for something I know hurt him very deeply. I am glad to have the example of both these people in my life. They heard the voice crying in the wilderness.

27 Nov 2011

First Sunday of Advent, Cycle B

The spirit awakened

FOR THOSE OF US who have a hard time heeding Jesus' advice to stay awake, particularly during Mass, today's liturgy might just capture our attention--and keep us on our toes.

27 Nov 2011

First Sunday of Advent, Cycle B

Think quick!

When I was a kid all the guys in my neighborhood played a kind of game--or was it a form of torture?--called "Think quick!"

27 Nov 2011

First Sunday of Advent, Cycle B

No Doz and espresso

Like so many others before and after me, when I was in college I discovered the power of caffeine. I could stay up all night and prepare for an exam. With my photographic memory it was just a matter of going over the material enough times to imprint it in my brain.

20 Nov 2011

Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Cycle A

It's the least you can do

THE READING from Matthew 25 in this weekend's gospel contains what could be a mission statement for Christianity: "Whatever you did for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me." It has everything you need to know to be Christian: belief in Jesus, seeing his presence in the most vulnerable and in need, and responding to them (and therefore him).

20 Nov 2011

Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Cycle A

Setting your wrongs right

Out of Howard Hawks' epic Western Red River comes one of the great lines of filmdom, spoken by Walter Brennan to John Wayne: "You was wrong, Mr. Dunson." As you can imagine, the Duke's character, Mr. Dunson, isn't used to anyone telling him he's wrong.

20 Nov 2011

Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Cycle A

Checkmate

I can't remember when I learned how to play chess. I wonder if children today are learning the game. To them, with PlayStations in hand, chess must seem incredibly quaint, old-fashioned, and slow.

13 Nov 2011

Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

Share your master's joy

IN THE COMEDY Last Holiday, Georgia Burns, played by Queen Latifah, is a quiet, dutiful, churchgoing woman who faithfully executes her duties as a clerk in a local department store all the while dreaming of being a chef. She is timid and restrained and rarely steps out of her comfort zone.

13 Nov 2011

Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

In god's absence

I had a friend whose father worked a lot of evenings and also traveled a lot for his job. He once told me, "I was always relieved when I heard Dad's footstep on the stairs coming up to our apartment.

13 Nov 2011

Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

On not always being nice

Working in my dad's grocery store as a teen, I was taught that the customer is always right and to smile at them no matter what. One day as I was at the cash register, a stranger asked me for change for a $20 bill and then a ten and then a five. I was responding with my dazzling smile when my brother slammed the register drawer shut.