Fr. Anthony Ekpunobi, C.M.
Fr. Anthony
Ekpunobi, C.M.
HOMILY EXCERPT
Today’s readings call out attention on the need to focus on this bigger picture rather than on the particulars. The people that crossed over to Capernaum looking for Jesus Christ were motivated by material gain. Jesus Christ confirmed this when he clearly told them:I tell you most solemnly, you are not looking for me because you have seen the signs but because you had all the bread you wanted to eat. This is the human state when concentration is on the immediate need.
Summary of Key Points
NO HOMILY FOR THIS WEEK AND NEXT WEEK
The importance of the bigger picture: The homily emphasizes the significance of focusing on the larger, overarching perspective in life rather than being confined to immediate needs and desires.
Materialism and short-term satisfaction: It highlights the human tendency to concentrate on instant gratification, as depicted in the story of people seeking Jesus for material gains.
Long-term spiritual fulfillment: The gospel reading encourages working towards eternal life and seeking the spiritual nourishment offered by Jesus Christ, emphasizing the enduring satisfaction that comes from faith.
Rejecting the old life and embracing truth: The second reading invites listeners to let go of their past lives, marred by fleeting desires, and instead embrace the truth found in Christ as the bread of life.
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Msgr. Joseph Pellegrino
Msgr. Pellegrino
HOMILY EXCERPT
When we think of leaders, we naturally tend to think about those in the highest echelons of authority: the Holy Father, the leaders of the Church, the president, the leaders of governments throughout the world. But leadership does not stop here.
- Through the sacrament of marriage, husbands and wives assume the responsibility of leading their spouses and their children to God.
- Through the sacrament of Holy Orders, deacons, priests and bishops assume the responsibility of leading in word and sacrament.
- By the grace of the sacrament of confirmation we are all given the responsibility of being leaders in the Church.
Summary of Key Points
The context of Jeremiah’s prophecy: Msgr. Pellegrino’s homily focuses on the historical background of Jeremiah’s writings, emphasizing the prophet’s opposition to faithless leaders and his prediction of a future righteous king.
Biblical justice: The homily explores the concept of biblical justice, highlighting its depth and connection to a way of life that reflects God’s presence and integrity.
Qualities of a good leader: Drawing from the readings, Msgr. Pellegrino identifies two essential qualities of a leader: the ability to unite people in truth, as St. Paul suggests, and a balance between strength and compassion, as seen in Jesus Christ.
Leadership in various contexts: The homily discusses different forms of leadership, including that of spouses in marriage, ordained clergy, and all confirmed Catholics, emphasizing the responsibilities each role entails.
Importance of prayer and support: Msgr. Pellegrino highlights the need for prayer and support within the community, particularly for married couples, single parents, and priests, as they navigate their respective leadership roles.
Emulating Christ’s leadership: The homily encourages leaders to follow Christ’s example by being both strong and compassionate, asking themselves what Jesus would do in challenging situations and relying on the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
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Msgr. Charles Pope
Msgr. Charles Pope
Msgr. Charles Pope
Four Teachings on Personal Prayer – A Homily for the 16th Sunday of the Year - Community in Mission
Community in Mission
HOMILY EXCERPT
Jesus made prayer a priority.Scripture says of Him,But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed(Luke 5:16). Scripture also speaks of Him rising early to pray (Mark 1:35), praying late into the night (Matt 14:23), praying all night long (Luke 6:12), and praying in the mountains (Matt 14:23) and other deserted places.
Understanding prayer as rest helps us to understand why prayer must be a priority in our lives.If we are going to engage in the work to which God has called us, we need to be replenished and refreshed daily by spending time with Him.
Summary of Key Points
As Jesus listens, He urges them (perhaps because they are so overjoyed) to come away and rest awhile,for they have labored long. In so doing, Jesus also teaches us about prayer. Let’s consider four teachings on prayer that are evident in today’s Gospel.
I. The Practice of Praise-Filled Prayer
II. The Peace of Personal Prayer
III. The Primacy of Prioritized Prayer
IV. The Power of Pious Prayer
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Bishop John Louis
Bishop John Louis
Homilies of Bishop John LouisHOMILY EXCERPT
When the leaders God had chosen to shepherd his people had failed, his prophet Jeremiah proclaimed that the disappointing shepherds would be rejected and God would raise up new and faithful shepherds. Among the then future shepherds, a descendant of King David would stand out (cf. today’s first reading). Jesus Christ is the promised outstanding shepherd. Thus, he is referred to as the Good Shepherd (John 10:1-18).
Summary of Key Points
The shepherd as a leadership metaphor: The homily discusses the significance of the shepherd metaphor in the context of Israelite history and the qualities associated with it, such as courage, selflessness, vigilance, love, and care.
Jesus as the Good Shepherd: Bishop Louis highlights how Jesus Christ embodies these shepherd qualities and serves as a model for church leaders.
Qualities of church leaders: The homily emphasizes five key qualities that bishops, priests, and deacons should possess to be effective and faithful shepherds: fearless courage, selfless sacrifice, patient love, caring provision, and constant vigilance.
Support for church leaders: Bishop Louis encourages the community to pray for their church leaders, acknowledging the challenges and demands of their roles, to help them fulfill their mission and be rewarded by Jesus, the Good Shepherd.
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Fr. Michael Chua
Fr. Michael Chua
michaelckw.blogspot.comHOMILY EXCERPT
Shepherds need to know the Lord, to love Him, before they can radiate His love contagiously to others who hunger and thirst for the Lord. Without prayer, without a relationship with Christ, mission and ministry could easily descend into activism and clericalism – when the minister forgets, that he has been sent by another and that he serves at the pleasure of another instead of his own.
Summary of Key Points
Understanding clericalism: The homily defines clericalism as the exaggerated importance given to clergy, leading to a power imbalance between clergy and laity, and discusses how both groups can be guilty of it.
Clericalism in the modern context: The speaker questions whether priests are accused of clericalism based on their ordination and fidelity to Church teachings and if democratization or abandoning Church laws would solve the issue.
The need for good shepherds: Emphasizing the Church’s need for compassionate and dedicated leaders, the homily highlights the importance of distinguishing between good and bad shepherds, as seen in the Scriptures.
Christ-centered leadership: The speaker points to Jesus as the model for good shepherds, highlighting the need for prayer and a strong relationship with Christ to avoid clericalism and focus on serving God’s will instead of personal ambitions.
Blurring lines between clergy and laity: The speaker discusses a form of clericalism where priests assume duties of the laity and vice versa, leading to a role reversal that may undermine the unique roles of each.
Disobedience and pastoral reasons: The homily addresses the issue of using “pastoral reasons” to justify disobedience to Church authority, which may actually be based on personal preferences rather than genuine concern for the flock.
Clericalism in liturgy: The speaker acknowledges the danger of clericalism in worship when the priest’s creativity and preferences overshadow the centrality of Christ in the liturgy.
Reflections on being addressed as “father”: The homily concludes with personal reflections on the meaning of being addressed as “father,” which serves as a reminder of the spiritual responsibility and anonymity that comes with priesthood.
Archived homily from 2021
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Fr. Vincent Hawkswell
Fr. Vincent Hawkswell
The B.C. CatholicHOMILY EXCERPT
I retired as a pastor in 2015, when I was 73. Since then, I have continued teaching, hearing confessions, saying Mass, and “filling in” for other pastors. Now that I am almost 82, I can testify that being a pastor (Latin for “shepherd”) is not easy!
Summary of Key Points
The nature of shepherds and sheep: The homily describes the Biblical imagery of shepherds leading and protecting their sheep, as well as the foolishness of sheep when left without proper guidance.
Archbishop Carney’s motto: The focus shifts to Archbishop Carney’s episcopal motto, “To preserve the unity,” which emphasizes the importance of maintaining unity within the Church.
The role of the Pope: The homily highlights the Pope’s role as the first servant of unity and the significance of submission to the supreme pontiff to avoid schism within the Church.
The dangers of dissent: Fr. Hawkswell warns against maintaining personal opinions in opposition to Church teachings, as it can lead to division and reliance on human wisdom instead of trusting in Christ.
A call for unity: The homily concludes with a call for unity within the Church, quoting St. Paul’s plea for agreement and harmony among believers.
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Fr. Tommy Lane
Fr. Tommy Lane
HOMILY EXCERPT
I have heard it said that “mental health begins with serving others and mental illness begins with serving ourselves.” (Quotation from Fr. Slavko R.I.P. of Medjugorje who had a Ph.D. in psychology.)
Perhaps another way of saying this is that by helping others we improve our mental health. After serving others we also need to look after ourselves, so in our Gospel (Mark 6:30-34) Jesus wanted his disciples to rest after they had served others.
Summary of Key Points
Serving others and mental health: The homily begins by discussing the idea that serving others contributes to improved mental health, while focusing solely on oneself can lead to mental illness.
Old Testament shepherds and leadership: Fr. Lane examines the failure of Old Testament kings, or shepherds, who prioritized their own interests over those of their people. This is contrasted with the promise of a wise, true king in Jesus.
Jesus as a servant leader: The Gospel reading presents Jesus as a leader who serves others, demonstrating love and compassion for his disciples and the people around him.
The importance of love and unity in the Eucharist: The homily emphasizes that the Eucharist should be a reflection of Jesus’ love and sacrifice, encouraging participants to care for one another and foster a sense of unity within the community.
Lessons from the Corinthians: The homily discusses the early practices of the Corinthians, highlighting the importance of inclusivity and the dangers of prioritizing the wealthy over the less fortunate in the context of Eucharistic celebrations.
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Fr. John Kavanaugh, S.J.
Fr. John
Kavanaugh, S.J.
HOMILY EXCERPT
Our own days have been marked by reports of shepherds who have abused our young. The headlines sadden and outrage.
But lesser sins of the shepherds are known as well. Some Catholics have felt lost after leaving the confessionals of the past. Others have had their rosaries ridiculed, their piety chided, their childhood beliefs passed off as superstition. Mature and gifted laity have reported the strange experience of being treated like children or—in the case of women—like nonentities. Others have found their faith tried by perfunctory Eucharists, meandering homilies, and gripes about money.
Summary of Key Points
The “boy-o” archetype: The passage introduces the term “boy-o,” used to describe a type of priest who is self-serving, demanding, and unapproachable. This type of priest can cause division, humiliation, and doubt within a parish.
Comparison to Jeremiah’s criticism: The author connects the concept of the “boy-o” to Jeremiah’s criticism of shepherds who neglect their flock, emphasizing the responsibility of leaders to prioritize the well-being of their community.
Relevance to contemporary issues: The passage acknowledges contemporary issues within the Catholic Church, such as abuse scandals and insensitive treatment of laypeople, as further examples of the negative impact of self-serving leaders.
The example of Christ: In contrast to the “boy-o” archetype, the passage presents Christ as a compassionate leader who is gentle with his followers and focused on reconciliation and peace.
The message of the Church: The passage emphasizes the importance of remembering the true purpose of the Church, which is to promote unity, peace, and reconciliation through the teachings and example of Christ.
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Bishop Frank Schuster
Bishop Frank Schuster
HOMILY EXCERPT
How do we grow closer in our relationship with Jesus? How do we deepen our relationship with our Good Shepherd? Jesus gives his disciples excellent advice that we should pay attention to.
Jesus says, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” In a culture that values work over leisure, it is good to be reminded by our Lord that leisure is in fact important. We need to build in breaks during our day when we can find a quiet room with no one around and just breathe. We also need to have a Sabbath day every week just to rest and pray like we are doing today. We also need a few days here or there, or a few weeks every year if we are blessed to do so, to simply get away to a place we can recharge. Vacations are important.
Summary of Key Points
The importance of discernment in choosing shepherds: Bishop Schuster emphasizes the need to be discerning in choosing who we follow, as many people in positions of power or influence may not have our best interests at heart. Only Jesus can be the true Good Shepherd.
The value of leisure and rest: Bishop Schuster highlights Jesus’ advice to take breaks and find quiet moments to recharge, which is important for maintaining mental and spiritual health.
Two types of vacations: Bishop Schuster differentiates between vacations as a means of escape and those as opportunities for recreation and self-reflection. It encourages planning vacations that allow for spiritual growth and deeper connection with God.
Finding balance: Bishop Schuster suggests that while there is nothing inherently wrong with vacations that provide temporary escape, it is also important to find balance by incorporating vacations that promote self-reflection and spiritual growth.
The pitfalls of a culture of escapism: Bishop Schuster highlights the dangers of a culture that encourages “vacating,” or escaping from the demands of daily life through activities like excessive consumption of alcohol, media, or video games. This can lead to spiritual emptiness and a disconnection from God and others.
The importance of recreation and reflection: In contrast, engaging in recreational activities that allow for reflection and spiritual growth, such as attending church, spending time with loved ones, and finding quiet moments for prayer and contemplation, can lead to a deeper understanding of oneself and one’s relationship with God.
Self-evaluation of one’s vocation: Bishop Schuster encourages readers to regularly assess their lives, considering whether they are focusing on escaping or on growing in their understanding of themselves and their calling.
The role of personal “deserted places”: Jesus’ advice to find a quiet place for rest and prayer emphasizes the importance of creating personal spaces for spiritual growth and reflection, away from the noise and distractions of the world.
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Father Bob Warren, SA
Father Bob Warren, SA
Franciscan Friars of the AtonementHOMILY EXCERPT
How do we deal with interruptions, especially from people we hardly know or do not even like? People who may need only a smile or a touch? Everywhere we go we see people like sheep without a shepherd: some will be lost in hatred, some in cynicism, some in fear.
In spite of our own shortcomings, our own weakness, will we allow ourselves to be used? Will we interrupt our busy lives long enough to let them know that no matter what, God cares just by showing them that we care? Can we be extensions of Christ? When dealing with others, can your motto be the words of consecration of the mass: this is My body, given for you.
Summary of Key Points
Interruptions as a part of life: The passage emphasizes that interruptions and unexpected events are a common part of the human experience, affecting everyone at some point. Some interruptions can be minor, while others can have a significant impact on one’s life.
Jesus’ response to interruptions: When faced with an unexpected crowd interrupting his planned time of rest, Jesus responded with pity and compassion, recognizing their need for guidance and support. He willingly set aside his own needs to teach and care for the people.
Prioritizing compassion over tradition: Jesus often prioritized love, compassion, and the well-being of people over strict adherence to tradition or institutional norms, which sometimes led to conflict with those in power.
Extending compassion to others: The passage challenges readers to consider how they respond to interruptions in their own lives, particularly when they involve people in need. It encourages them to follow Jesus’ example by extending love and compassion to others, even when it is inconvenient or challenging.
Being extensions of Christ: By prioritizing love and compassion in their interactions with others, Christians can serve as extensions of Christ, demonstrating God’s care and concern for all people.
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