In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus says, "A Kingdom divided against itself cannot stand".  He could very well be speaking about creation after the fall.  In Genesis we hear how sin entered the world, and we see the effects of our parents' disobedience: separation, division, discord.  The Good News is that God sent His Son into the world to bring us unity -- with God, with each other, and with all of creation.  May all of us strive to maintain that bond of peace and unity that is ours through the gift of God's Holy Spirit.

(This is a short homily because after I gave it a priest translated it in Vietnamese for the congregation.  Also, 17 young people were confirmed during this liturgy)

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ.  The Eucharist is God's gift to humanity, and it brings us into communion with God.  God wants us to be one with Him, and this is possible through our union with Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit.  How to have union with Jesus?  By eating his Body and drinking his Blood.  That is why the Eucharist is Viaticum: food for the way.  May we return to this Living Food again and again so that we have life within us -- and eternal life at the end of the age.

(Starts with applause for Confirmation candidates.) (Bilingual homily).

We know a little about the mystery of God - as a Trinity of Persons -- because God has willed it thus.  God has been revealing Himself to His creation over time, and with the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh, we now know that God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  We are caught up in the love that is God, and thus we are to amplify that love in the world.

The Ascension of the Lord is only part of the mystery of what some call the "Christ event": the Incarnation, life, suffering, death, Resurrection and Ascension of  Jesus Christ.  We separate these aspects of our salvation and celebrate them at various times in the liturgical year so that we can reflect on them individually. 

In this homily, I describe the Ascension as it might have gone from the perspective of the Angels in heaven.  It's a little light-hearted, but it may help us to reflect more deeply on what it is we are celebrating.  Where Christ has gone, we hope to follow. 

In the First Letter of John, we hear, "It is not that we have loved God, rather God loves us"; and in the Gospel of John: "It is not you who have chosen me; I chose you...".  God takes the initiative in everything.  Before we were even born, God loved us through and through (Psalm 139).

Our love for God, therefore, is a response to His love for us.  Everything we do -- practicing our Faith, praying, serving others, etc. -- is an attempt to be like God in our actions and words.

Love one another, because God loves you.

(Short homily, as I cut out the part where I addressed the Confirmation candidates in the beginning.) 

I am the vine; you are the branches, says the Lord.  The operative word in the Gospel today is "remain".  Jesus tells us that we must remain in him as he remains in us.  We know that he remains in us because the Holy Spirit of God has been given to us.  We show that we remain in God by the way we live our life -- dedicated to loving our brothers and sisters, and serving God in the Church.

The readings all speak about repentance and forgiveness.  But isn't that one of the things on which we focus during the season of Lent?  Yes, but it is also a main part of our celebration of Easter, for forgiveness is bestowed upon us by God through the death and Resurrection of Jesus.  As we hear in the words of Consecration at Mass (over the chalice): "This is the cup of my Blood, which will be shed for you and for many, for the forgiveness of sins."  Let us seek forgiveness from God through our contrition, and let us share the Good News of repentance with all people.

Did Thomas really doubt what his fellow Apostles told him about Jesus' Resurrection?  Should he be known only by that one question that he had?  We should be grateful to Thomas, because we are actually a lot like him (with our questions and doubts today).  We should remember Thomas as one of the greatest disciples and apostles, having defended and preached the Faith fearlessly, and having giving his life for the Gospel as a martyr.

Jesus Christ is Risen!  He is truly risen from the dead!

In this brief homily, I talk about the lessons learned from St. John's account of the Passion of Jesus, as well as from the 1st reading, from the Prophet Isaiah.  Again, this is more than just "looking back" at what happened to someone 2000 years ago; the Passion and death of Jesus Christ is our salvation from sin and death.  As we honor and remember the events which led to Jesus' death on the cross, may we also do what he did -- serve our brothers and sisters in this world, even to the point of laying down our lives for others.