FR REMI HOMILIES/REFLECTIONS AND SERMONS

Homily for the 7th of January (Before Epiphany) John 2:1-12 The Gospel of today's liturgy tells us: "On the third day, there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding" (JN 2:1-2).   This is a couple whom at their moment of joy and happiness thought it wise to invite the mother of Jesus, Jesus and his disciples to be part of the celebration. The couple didn't narrow their invitation only to the sorrowful times of their lives like some persons do, but also to the joyful times. They saw the value of having the company of Mary, Jesus and his disciples. Beloved in Christ, let's also decisively invite at all times Mary, Jesus and his disciples into our hearts, families and all worth not. It pays to have their company Many have rightly deposited that the purpose for which Jesus came to earth was to celebrate a marriage feast. He came for a wedding-"the wedding of Jesus and mankin

Homily for the 6th of January (Before Epiphany) 1 John 5:5-13;  Mark 1:7-11. In the first reading of today from the first letter of St. John. St John, guides us to answer the question on who can overcome the world? He says: Only the Man who believes that Jesus is the Son of God" (1Jn 5:5). By this believe or faith in Jesus Christ is demonstrated by testimony, witnessing and good deeds. For he says, Jesus Christ who came by water and blood, not with water only but by water and blood; with the Holy Spirit as another witness...there are three witnesses, the Spirit, the water and the blood and all thelree of them agree" (1jn 5:6-8). Many theologian have argued that the water refers to Jesus' divinty whereas his blood speaks of his humanity (two nature's of Christ). Hence, it is insufficient to cast our faith or believe simply by words on Jesus as the Son of God, rather by our deeds and good example demonstrate in conformity with the Holy Spirit our faith-witnessing to the

Homily for the 5th of January 1 John 3:11-21; John 1:43-51 In the first reading of today, St. John reiterates the act of love as the pre-eminent Christian virtue. He writes: "For this is the message you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another" (1 John 3:11). Come to think of it, the greatest act of love is not a kiss or embrace. After all, Judas betrayed the Lord with a kiss (Mt 26:49). But the cross is the greatest act of love. St. John tells us: "Let us love not in word or speech , but in truth and action" (1 John 3:18).  Dearest brothers and sisters in Christ, fine words will never take the place of fine deeds. Our love for one another must be shown in deeds and at the expense of self-denial and self-sacrifice. Remember,  action speaks louder than voice. Love is not mere talk and protestation, it is not mere sentiments. It must be evident in good deeds. We must imitate the love of Christ: "He laid down his life for us, and we ought to

Homily for the 4th of January 1 John 3:7-10; John 1: 35-42 What are you looking for? In the first reading of today, St. John in his first letter tells us: "Everyone who commits sin is a achild of the devil" (1John 3:8). Here, St. John speaks of mortal sin. He underscores: "Those who have been born of God do not sin, because God's seed abides in them; they cannot sin because they have been born of God. The children of God and the children of the devil are revealed in this way: all who do not do what is right not from God, nor are those who not love their brothers and sisters" (1John 3:9-10). Dearest friends in Christ, where do you belong? It is either we are children of God or of the devil. The word of God tells us in the Gospel of Matthew: "By their fruits we shall know them" (Mt 7:20). What kind of fruits do you bear? Remember, the purpose for which the Son of God was revealed was to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8).  The Gospel reading of

Homily for the 3rd of January  (The Most Holy Name of Jesus) 1 John 2:29-3:6;Jn.1:29-34 Dearest brothers and sisters in Christ, in the Gospel reading God today, we hear those beautiful words of John the Baptist declaring the identity of Jesus: “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” John 1:29. These familiar words of John the Baptist offer us a beautiful meditation. They are spoken every time we attend Mass when the priest holds up the Sacred Host. When John first spoke these words, the “Lamb of God,” was seen in a very ordinary way. The eyes of all present saw only an ordinary man approaching the scene. But the eyes of faith saw, rather, he who would give his life for the salvation of the world as the Sacrificial Lamb. When we look at the Sacred Host, as it is held up at Mass for all to see, we see Jesus, the Sacrificial Lamb, in an even more veiled way. We see, with our eyes, a piece of bread. But with the eyes of faith, we behold the Savior. The Sacrificial La

Homily for the 2nd of January  Memorial of Sts. Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen (Bishops and Doctors of the Church). 1 John 2:22-28; John 1:19-28. St. John in the First Reading tells us what it takes to be the antichrist different from the idea of the antichrist we are used to. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is the antichrist. We are not meant to look for an antichrist out there. We are created for God and any aspect of our ĺives that has not been illumined by the light of Christ is the antichrist. Since it is the source of sin and deception in our lives and our world. One of the things an antichrist will do is to claim to be the Christ so as to deceive people. John the Baptist in today's Gospel could have told the Jews that he is the Christ. But he said to them, "I am not the Christ" (John 1:20). He went further to tell them how insignificant he is before Christ, saying, "I baptise with water; but among you stands one whom you do not know, even he wh

Homily for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God Number 6:22-27; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:16-21 Dearest brothers and sister in Christ, Happy New Year to you all! As we continue to celebrate the birth of Jesus, we turn our attention today to his mother Mary, but we continue to focus on Jesus as well. We give various titles to Jesus such as Savior, Christ, Messiah, Lord, Son of Man, and each of these titles expresses an aspect of our understanding of Jesus. In the same way we give many titles to Our Lady – there is a long list of them in the Litany of Our Lady of Loreto – and the title we celebrate today, “Mother of God,” and the title “Blessed Virgin,” are the two oldest titles given to Our Lady. In one sense, the title Mother of God says more about Jesus than it does about Our Lady. That is why I said we continue to focus on Jesus today also. What does the title Mother of God say about Jesus? It means that the humanity and divinity of Jesus are united in Jesus. There is not a separate hu