My homily for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B, as preached during the live-streamed 9.30am Mass from Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hamilton.

The readings proclaimed were Isaiah 53:10-11; Hebrews 4:14-16; Mark 10:35-45.

"The understanding of power and authority displayed by the disciples of Jesus in today's Gospel is at odds with that named by Jesus. The Messiah is sent not to wield earthly power and control, but to become open to the sufferings and trials of all. As disciples of Jesus, we are called to embrace Jesus' understanding of power and authority as firmly rooted in the embrace of suffering and trials, not control and prestige."

My homily for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B, as preached during the live-streamed 9.30am Mass from Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hamilton.

The readings proclaimed were Wisdom 7:7-11; Hebrews 4:12-13; Mark 10:17-30.

"To truly follow Jesus, we are called to a radical trust in God and God's providence, being prepared to give up those things that provide security in this life in preference for security in the next. Are we able to make that choice? Or, like the young man in today's Gospel, do we walk away sad?"

My homily for the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B, as preached during the live-streamed 9.30am Mass from Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hamilton.

The readings proclaimed were Numbers 11:25-29; James 5:1-6; Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48.

"God works as God does, and our task is to recognise where God is at work rather than think that God only works within our expectations. God calls us to be open to God's work, not restricting our understanding of God's work to only that which suits us."

My homily for the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B, as preached during the live-streamed 9.30am Mass from Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hamilton.

The readings proclaimed were Wisdom 2:12, 17-20; James 3:16-4:3; Mark 9:30-37.

"Jesus challenges the understanding of 'Messiah' held by his disciples by placing a child before them, overthrowing and subverting the entire social strata of his time. Doing so reminds his disciples - and us - that following Jesus is not about position or honour, but about ensuring the Reign of God, as God intends it, comes to be."

My homily for Perpetual Day of Remembrance Sunday 2021, as preached during the live-streamed 9.30am Mass from Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hamilton.

The readings proclaimed were Ezekiel 37:1-14; Romans 14:7-9; Luke 7:46-56.

My homily for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B, preached during the live-streamed 9.30am Mass from Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hamilton.

The readings proclaimed were Isaiah 35:4-7; James 2:1-5; Mark 7:31-37.

"The prayer of Jesus - "Ephphatha!" or "Be opened!" - is not just about a healing of physical limitations as we hear about in today's Gospel. It is also a prayer of Jesus for us, that those things that stop or hinder us from hearing God speak to us, through the person of Jesus, through the Scriptures, through the tradition of the Church, might be removed so we sing God's praises in faith."

My homily for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B, preached during the live-streamed 9.30am Mass from Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hamilton.

The readings proclaimed were Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8; James 1:17-18, 21-22, 27; Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23.

"Jesus reminds those who hear him - and that includes us - that the Torah cannot be reduced to mere external ritual observance. The Torah, a gift from God, was meant to show God's people how to live in right relationship with God and with other human beings. Everything that God has revealed to us since - culminating in the very person of Jesus - must be seen in the same way: as a means of ensuring our hearts are changed, aligned to God and God's ways, rather than imposing empty external observances. God's plan of salvation for humanity requires a change of heart!"

My homily for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B, preached during the live-streamed 9.30am Mass from Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hamilton.

The readings proclaimed were Joshua 24:1-2, 15-18; Ephesians 5:21-32; John 6:60-69.

"To whom shall we go? The response of Peter to Jesus is as relevant today as it was then. When confronted with 'other idols' are we prepared to commit ourselves to Jesus, and all Jesus teaches, in the hope for eternal life? Can we embrace all of what Jesus has come to reveal, or is that language, that demand, 'intolerable'?"

My homily for the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary as preached during the live-streamed 9.30am Mass from Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hamilton.

The readings proclaimed were Apocalypse 11:19, 12:1-6, 10; 1 Corinthians 15:20-26; Luke 1:39-56.

"Having received God's promise to her via the angel Gabriel, Mary sets out to visit Elizabeth, where Mary's faith in God's promise is confirmed. In light of that confirmation, Mary raises her voice in praise of God. We, too, are called to have faith in God's promise to humankind and to raise our voices with Mary in praise of God, the faithful One.

My homily for the Solemnity of St Mary of the Cross (Mary Mackillop) as preached during the live-streamed 9.30am Mass from Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hamilton.

The readings proclaimed were 1 Kings 17:8-16; Colossians 3:12-17; Matthew 6:25-34.

"Rely on the providence of God in all things, putting God's kingdom - God's agenda - before anything that might distract from working for God's kingdom and God's justice. As St Mary did, so we are called to do.