Fr Tom’s Homilies
Walking with Jesus on the Water To the ancient people the seas represented chaos. Fishermen and sailors know all too well the sudden turmoil caused by rough waters. The movie The Perfect Storm shows dramatically why water is associated with chaos. Go in the ocean when the waves are a bit rough and you will be tossed … [Read more…]
Taking, Blessing, Breaking and Distributing Jesus had withdrawn to a deserted place where He could be away from the crowds. Yet, the crowds found and followed Him. Jesus always compassionate healed those who were sick. As evening approached, the disciples wanted to send the crowds away so they could buy food. Jesus however feeds the … [Read more…]
“Only You, Lord“ A woman found a lamp and as she examined it and a genie popped out. She asked him, “Do I get three wishes?” He responded, “Nope, I’m a one –wish genie. What will it be?” She pulled out a map and said, “I want these countries to stop fighting so we can … [Read more…]
What is the Kingdom of God? Today’s parables all start with a reference to the kingdom: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed…”; “the kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard…”; “the kingdom of heaven is like leaven…”. It would be something of an understatement to … [Read more…]
Where is the Seed Being Thrown? There is a story about a fussy vegetarian. This fussy vegetarian was never satisfied with any of the fruit or vegetables she bought. They were either too ripe or not ripe enough, too big or too small. She was never happy. Then one day she drove past a new store … [Read more…]
Am I a Child? What were these things the Father was hiding from the learned and the clever, those who were filled with themselves? What were these same things the Father thought fit to reveal to little children – those who were open to learning? Why did Jesus bless the Father for this seemingly peculiar … [Read more…]
Both Hearing and Listening to the Words of Jesus One of the pitfalls it’s easy to fall into, when we come to Mass every week, is that we can fail to pay attention to the meaning of the words of Jesus. They become familiar to us, like the words of a song we like, so … [Read more…]
The Twelfth Sunday of Ordinary: The Fear of the Lord It was 500 years before Christ and the Kingdom of Judah and its capital Jerusalem were terrified. The Babylonians were on the march. They had conquered all before them and they were heading towards Jerusalem. What should the King do? The king’s counselors advised him … [Read more…]
Corpus Christi The celebration of the feast of Corpus Christi began in the Thirteenth Century. It was originally promoted by religious women who had developed a strong devotion to the adoration of Christ truly present in the Blessed Sacrament. Pope Urban IV extended its observance to the whole Church and commissioned Saint Thomas Aquinas to … [Read more…]
Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity Knowledge of God has always gone hand in hand with knowledge of good morals. In fact they cannot really be divorced from each other. Only a good conscience enjoys that freedom to glimpse higher moral truths. We know this from the lives of our saints. The commandments given … [Read more…]