Fr Tom’s Homilies
It’s easy to be kind and loving towards those whom we like, to our family and friends, to those who are good to us. All this comes naturally. But Jesus expects much more of His followers. In today’s Gospel Jesus tells us to love our enemies, to be good to those who harm us, to … [Read more…]
There is a difference between building a home and building a house. There is a difference between being faithful to a spouse and simply staying married to the same person. There is a difference between being a good driver and never having an accident. There is a similar difference between upholding laws and fulfilling the … [Read more…]
Doctors warn that too much salt is not healthy. Yet salt is a necessary thing and salt brings out the flavor of the food we are eating. Likewise, in winter everything can seem gloomy and dull on those endless gray days. But when the sunny summer days arrive we enjoy the light of the sun … [Read more…]
Saint Luke begins and ends his nativity narrative in the temple. The temple in Jerusalem was a huge complex set of buildings with hundreds of people living in many of these buildings. The Main building of this complex was of course the temple proper. This was a large tall rectangular building which was divided by … [Read more…]
My father, Joe Huff was a firefighter for 34 years in the City of Binghamton, NY. From time to time he would take part in “mock-up” exercises involving burning structures with a team of fire-fighters. Inside a building there would be thick smoke, pitch darkness and extreme heat. They would edge their way around the … [Read more…]
It is to the Old Testament that we must look to begin to understand Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. The lamb occupies an important place in the story of the people of Israel. In the first few pages of their sacred text we encounter Abel, son … [Read more…]
For the early Christians, the thought that their Lord had Himself undergone baptism was disturbing, embarrassing and even scandalous. Did the spotless Lamb, the Holy One of God, really acknowledge that He was truly united with sinful humanity by submitting to an act of ritual purification? Why did the Son of God in human … [Read more…]
At Midnight the song of the Angels is heard praising God and announcing peace. Above the sky heaven’s glory had come down to the darkness of earth’s night. In this heavenly light the angelic hosts the shepherds were told of a sign lying in a manger, and they went to see the Child and they … [Read more…]
Today’s readings remind us just how unholy some families can be; even royal ones. We should not be surprised that King Herod massacred innocent children. He was so ruthless and domineering in his own family that he ended up killing three of his sons as well his wife Mariamne. And many of the kings whom … [Read more…]
The Sacrament of Christ’s Incarnation and Birth By St. Peter Chrysologus (406-450) A virgin conceived, bore a son, and yet remained a virgin. This is no natural occurrence, but a visible sacrament or sign of God’s divine power. It is a unique event, not like any other events. Christ’s birth was not a necessity, but … [Read more…]