FR REMI HOMILIES/REFLECTIONS AND SERMONS

Reflection/Homily for Thursday of the 34th Week in Ordinary Time.  Feast of St. Andrew (Apostle) 30th November 2023 Romans 10:9-18. Psalm 19:2-3,4-5. Matthew 4:18-22.  St. Andrew, the brother of St. Peter was a native of the town of Bethsaida in Galilee and a fisherman by profession. Being first a disciple of St. John the Baptist, according to St. John's Gospel, he later joined Jesus and also brought Simon his brother to Jesus. According to today's Gospel, Andrew was among the very first disciples of Jesus to be called to become Apostles. He was called together with his brother, Peter. In calling them, Jesus promised to make them fishers of men (cf.Matt.4:19). Immediately, they left their nets and followed him (Jesus)" (Matt.4:20). It is most probably they don't know what they were in for in following Jesus, but we can say that the immediacy of their response could save as an example of how to perceive true treasure in the ne life that our Lord is giving to us Christia...

REFLECTION/HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE 34TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR 1 29TH NOVEMBER 2023 Daniel 5:1-6,13-14, 16-17,23-28; Daniel 3; Luke 21:12-19 Holy things/persons must be treated Holy Two days ago, we saw how King Nebuchadnezzar, after conquering Jerusalem, attempted to force it to reject the worship of God and embrace the worship of the Babylonian gods. The people of Jerusalem were God’s own people. By subjecting them to such religious injustice, King Nebuchadnezzar was desecrating holy persons. Thanks to the Grace of God in Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah by which they were able to withstand and overcome such taboo. In today’s first reading, King Belshazzar of Babylon became guilty of the sin of his Father, Nebuchadnezzar. He too desecrated what is holy. The vessels of gold and of silver which Nebuchadnezzar looted from the temple in Jerusalem was turned into mere cups for the feasting of King Belshazzar together with his lords, wives and concubines. Nebuchadnezzar abused...

REFLECTION/HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF THE 34TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR 1 28TH NOVEMBER 2023 Daniel 2:31-45; Daniel 3; Luke 21:5-11 The Redeeming Power of Persevering Faith Today’s first reading presents us the victory of persevering faith. In the first reading of yesterday, we saw how King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquered Jerusalem. As is typical of every war, the conqueror takes possession of the conquered territory. The conqueror will also take back with it, the finest possessions of the conquered territory both in terms of human and material resources. Thus, yesterday, King Nebuchadnezzar said to Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch: “bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility, youths without blemish, handsome and skilful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding, learning and competent to serve in the king’s palace…” That was how Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah found themselves in the palace of the king of Babylon. To ensure holistic co...

REFLECTION/HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE 34TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR 1 27TH NOVEMBER 2023 Daniel 1:1-6, 8-20; Daniel 3; Luke 21:1-4 The Sacrifice of the Poor In today’s gospel, Jesus evaluated the offerings of the people. His criteria for evaluation is very much different from that of men. Jesus is not concerned about the size of the offering but the intention of the giver. It is the giver’s intention that gives meaning to the offering; size can be deceptive. The poor widow is said to have given more because out of her poverty, she put in all the living that she had. What an act of great love! Her offering was more sacrificial than that of the rich who gave more in quantity but less in percentage. Since she made more sacrifice, she actually loved more. It is the greatness of her love that Jesus actually commended. It is not the case that size of our offering does not matter. When love is our motivating force, size becomes secondary. If this poor widow had more, she would have given more...

Reflection/Homily for the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ King of the Universe Year A 26TH November 2023 Ezekiel 34:11-12,15-17. Psalm 23:1-2a,2b-3,5,6. 1 Corinthians 15:20-26,28. Matthew 25:31-46. Theme: A King Who Saves. The Solemnity of Christ the King is the grand summary of the entire Christ-saving mystery. This Solemnity brings the liturgical to a close. During the year, we have celebrated the mysteries of the life of our Lord. Now, in the end, we contemplate Christ in his glorious state as the king of all creation and of our souls, minds, and wills. The Catholic Church has established this celebration to remind this our modern age of its supernatural destiny. This idea was echoed by Pope Pius XI in 1925. Both the first reading and the Gospel speak of separating sheep from goats. It is a distinction used by God, who has only one criterion: how we love others. In the first reading, prophet Ezekiel was called by God to instruct and console the Jewish exiles in Babylonia. This ex...

REFLECTION/HOMILY FOR SATURDAY OF THE 33RD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR 1 25TH NOVEMBER 2023 1Maccabees 6:1-13; Ps.9; Luke 20:27-40 The Defeat and End of Evil Who says that evil triumphs over good, that light will not emanate at the end of the tunnel, that the suffering of the just will know no end? Who says that the might of man will not turn into weakness? Since Monday this week, the first reading has been presenting us with the suffering of the just under King Antiochus. This king wanted to replace the God of Israel by forcing the people into idolatry. He subdued the people and erected idols on the altar in Jerusalem, a sign of mockery against the God of Israel. He slaughtered anyone who refused to bend to his wills and caprices; he grew powerful by his own strength and must have said to himself “might is right”. In today’s first reading, the strength of man was brought to naught. The one who promised to keep alive anyone who obeys him became too weak to live; the one who thought that...

REFLECTION/HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE 33RD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR 1 24TH NOVEMBER 2023 1Maccabees 4:36-37, 52-59; 1Chron.29; Luke 19:45-48 Cleanse the Temple in its Entirety The temple was the center of life for the Jews. It was their pride and their heritage. It gave them that exclusive feeling that they are the people of God. It was one reason and place that could gather all the people together. When Jesus mourned their admiration of the temple it was not because the temple itself bore no significance but because the people’s worship was not authentic. It is the inauthenticity of their worship that is displayed in today’s gospel reading. Since the temple could bring together the entire people, some saw it as an opportunity to sell their goods. They must have thought to themselves that there is no other better place to access many customers than in the temple. Their sense of worship was distorted by economic gains. Many Christians, having come across Jesus’ reaction, tend to think t...