Fr Tom’s Homilies
Pentecost Sunday: “The only great tragedy in life, is not to become a saint” Air gets everywhere – it fills our lungs, our rooms, our homes, and the whole world. What a fitting image it is, therefore, for the Holy Spirit, the “Breath of God” who fills all creation and gives to it the gifts … [Read more…]
The Ascension of Jesus means a New Life for Us It’s not really proper to say that Jesus came back to life on Easter, in a way similar to Lazarus, when Jesus raised him. Jesus didn’t just come back to life; He began a new way of life as the Firstborn from the dead. Nor … [Read more…]
The Saint Benedict – Saint Francis Option How should the Church in the West face what is seen as a rising tide of secularity often antagonistic to religion? One solution which has been suggested recently is called the “Benedict Option”. What does it require? It demands withdrawal and consolidation. If the Church is to survive … [Read more…]
You have reached your destination! When people want to make a journey by car these days to go somewhere they have not been to before, they usually use a satellite navigation system. All we have to do is to obey the instructions and turn right or turn left when we are told to do so. … [Read more…]
Fourth Sunday of Easter: Knowing the Shepherd’s Voice The voice of the Shepherd is at the heart of the Church. On this Sunday the whole Church prays that all men and women will be receptive to His voice. We pray that those whom He calls to religious life, the priesthood and married life will be … [Read more…]
The two disciples were on their way home, talking and debating about the recent events, since they were quite baffled by the things they had witnessed during their stay in Jerusalem for the great solemnities. A stranger overtakes them, asks what they are discussing, it surprises them that he knows nothing of what has happened, a … [Read more…]
When someone we love dies, in a sense it feels like we have been abandoned. This sense happens because you shared your heart and mind with them, and you do so with an ease and joy that would seem to last forever. But now we have to continue living without them. And there will be … [Read more…]
How does the resurrection of Jesus make a difference for us? You might think that the answer is obvious but not for all. Some will say, “So what? Even if Jesus was raised from the dead, what has that got to do with you and me.” Salvation is probably not a word very much talked … [Read more…]
Together with Jesus, we enter Holy Week at Jerusalem. As Jesus and the disciples made their unique entry into Jerusalem, a festive and agitated crowd gathered to see the spectacle. Some people threw down their clothes, while others hacked down palm branches to spread before Jesus. Religious acclamations were shouted out. Yet, not long after, … [Read more…]
There is more to life than being well fed and having family, friends and nice things. If our life in this world never progresses beyond what we can touch and see, we might be described as people in their graves. Now, these graves might seem to be quite comfortable, but just ask Lazarus how comfortable … [Read more…]