FR REMI HOMILIES/REFLECTIONS AND SERMONS

HOMILY FOR SATURDAY OF THE TWENTY-FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR II (AUGUST 31, 2024) 1Cor.1:26-31; Ps.33; Matthew 25:14-30 Work to make Heaven Someone once said that there are two categories of people who cannot make heaven: those who cannot love and those who cannot work. In the gospel, Jesus tells a parable about a man who entrusted different quantity of talents to his servants. I find this very striking! The master entrusted ALL servants with talents. Talents here are abilities which become productive and fruitful when put into use. God has not created anyone without a talent (an ability). It therefore means that no one is incapable of giving or contributing to the building of God’s kingdom; no one is incapable of working (at least in one way or the other). God has made us to be working agents; when we fail to work, we negate the purpose of our creation. Does this say something to those who horde things for their generations yet unborn? God will never stop creating people with a

 HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE TWENTY-FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR II (AUGUST 30, 2024) 1Cor.1:17-25; Ps.33; Matthew 25:1-13 True Wisdom In today’s gospel, we are presented with another parable about the kingdom of God. This parable of the ten bridesmaids teaches us that the way we live our lives is the way we prepare for the kingdom of God. In this parable, notice that the five wise maidens were not called wise because they took extra oil, rather, it is because they were wise that was why they took extra oil. The extra oil was a consequence of their wisdom. This same analysis is applies to the foolish maidens. And so, the bridegroom says “I do not know you” to the foolish maidens not because they had no extra oil but because they lacked wisdom to guide them generally. From today's gospel, let us learn the meaning of true wisdom. Often times wisdom is misunderstood as being crafty or cunning in relating with others. It is also sometimes perceived as being able to get away with wron

HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE TWENTY-FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR II (BEHEADING OF JOHN THE BAPTIST - AUGUST 29, 2024) Jer.1:17-19; Ps.71; Mark 6:17:29 Witnessing beyond your comfort zone Today we celebrate the memorial of the passion/beheading of John the Baptist. When we remember that this John the Baptist was the cousin of Jesus Christ, we may once again ask that pertinent question: “where is God when bad things happen to good people”. The answer to this question lies in understanding what Divine connection entails. If you are connected to the President, you will most likely never experience poverty. Likewise, if we are connected to Jesus, we will definitely not experience that which Jesus is opposed to: Condemnation. The beheading of John the Baptist was not a condemnation but a spring board into the glory of heaven. St. Mark puts the story of John’s martyrdom between two important events in the mission of Jesus’ disciples: their departure for mission (6:7-13) and their return fr

HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE TWENTY-FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR II (ST. AUGUSTINE - AUGUST 28, 2024) 2Thess.3:6-10.16-18; Ps.128; Matthew 23:27-32 Every Sinner has a Future and every Saint has a Past Yesterday, while we were reflecting on the life of St. Monica, we mentioned the waywardness of her son Augustine in the earlier years of his life. The conversion of Augustine was the only prayer request of the mother; and when this was granted, Monica felt fulfilled in life. When we realized that Augustine’s conversion came when he was 33, we understand that nothing is impossible for God to do. Ordinarily at 33, people find it very difficult to change their habits, even when they may want to. Therefore, the conversion of St. Augustine consoles us in our weaknesses that “it is not over yet; God can still do something”. Take up the courage, approach the confessional and allow God’s spirit to do the rest. Augustine’s conversion also teaches us how we are to return to God. Conversion is n

HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF THE TWENTY-FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR II (ST. MONICA - AUGUST 27, 2024) 1Thess.2:1-8; Ps.139; Matthew 23:23-26 Committed to improving others Today, we celebrate the memorial of a virtuous woman, St. Monica. She is virtuous because all her life was committed to improving others; first her husband and then her son (Augustine). At 20, she was married to Patricius, a pagan official at Tagaste (North Africa) who had a violent temper and dissolute pagan habits. He caused Monica great suffering and made it difficult for their three children to be given Christian education. Monica believed that he can be better and so she remained committed to prayer and admonitions. After 18 years of marriage, Patricus finally embraced the faith and died shortly. Augustine, the eldest son, was a harder nut to crack. He was ensnared by the Manichaean heresy and lived an immoral life. Monica prayerfully cried and cried for the conversion of her son. It was only after 15 years of ard

HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE TWENTY-FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR II (AUGUST 26, 2024) 2Thess.1:1-5.11-12; Ps.96; Matthew 23:13-22 Hinder no one! Jesus reprimanded the Scribes and the Pharisees in today’s gospel reading for constituting a barrier to the people from authentic worship. They did this by drifting the attention of the people from what really matters to ephemeral things. This is the exact effect of every false teaching or bad advice. So, today, Jesus spells out the fate of those who cause others to do what is wrong. There seem to be this discomfort that one experiences when he/she sees someone else doing rightly what he/she does wrongly. This discomfort can be utilized in a positive way by learning from the other person how to act rightly. On the other hand, one may be tempted to lure the other person into embracing his/her misdeeds. By so doing, the deceived person will no longer be a source of discomfort since he/she has been brought to wrong too. In as much as Jesus speak

HOMILY FOR SATURDAY OF THE TWENTIETH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR II (ST. BARTHOLOMEW - AUGUST 24, 2024) Rev.21:9b-14; Ps.145; John 1:45-51 The Power of Testimony Today we celebrate the feast of St. Bartholomew, an apostle of Jesus Christ who is referred to as Nathanael in today’s gospel. A greater part of the first chapter of the gospel of St. John records the testimony of John the Baptist about the Messiah and how he pointed out the Messiah when He finally came. John pointed the Messiah to two of his disciples (Andrew is one of them). Andrew, in turn, testified of this discovery to Simon his brother. Phillip found the Lord and could not keep it to himself. He too testified to Nathanael, whom we celebrate today. The beginning of Bartholomew’s new life in Christ was the acceptance of the testimony of Philip despite the surprise that the expected Messiah is a Nazarene. Testimony remains a remarkable means of bringing people to Jesus. No one can grow in the Christian life if he/she does n