Traversing Emmaus

Homily for the Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, delivered in Our Lad  Star of the Sea Church, Gladstone, Qld.
 
"Mere creature of flesh... Remember the last things, and stop hating, remember dissolution and death, and live by the commandments. Remember the commandments, and do not bear your neighbour ill-will; remember the covenant of the Most High, and overlook the offence." (cf. Eccl 28).

"It is he who forgives all your guilt, who heals every one of your ills, who redeems your life from the grave, who crowns you with love and compassion." (cf. Ps 103).

"The life and death of each of us has its influence on others... [which is] why Christ both died and came to life: it was so that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living." (cf. Rom 14).

"His fellow servant fell at his feet and implored him, saying, 'Give me time and I will pay you.' But the other would not agree; [the others] went to their master and reported the whole affair to him. Then the master sent for him. 'You wicked servant,' he said 'I cancelled all that debt of yours when you appealed to me. Were you not bound, then, to have pity on your fellow servant just as I had pity on you?' And in his anger the master handed him over to the torturers till he should pay all his debt. And that is how my heavenly Father will deal with you unless you each forgive your brother from your heart." (cf. Mt 18).

Artwork: "Parable of the Wicked Servant" by Domenico Fetti, (c. 1620).

Homily for the Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, delivered in St Mary's Church, Buderim with Fr Isaac Falzon presiding.

"If a man nurses anger against another, can he then demand compassion from the Lord? Showing no pity for a man like himself, can he then plead for his own sins? Mere creature of flesh, he cherishes resentment; who will forgive him his sins; Remember the last things, and stop hating..." (cf. Eccl 27-28).

"His wrath will come to an end; he will not be angry for ever. He does not treat us according to our sins nor repay us according to our faults." (cf. Ps 103).

"... if we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord..." (cf. Rom 14).

"The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who decided to settle his accounts with his servants. When the reckoning began, they brought him a man who owed ten thousand talents; but he had no means of paying, so his master gave orders that he should be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, to meet the debt. At this, the servant threw himself down at his master’s feet. 'Give me time' he said 'and I will pay the whole sum.' And the servant’s master felt so sorry for him that he let him go and cancelled the debt..." (cf. Mt 18).

Artwork: a depiction of the salvific effect of forgiveness and healing in a person's life, generated using the Wonder app.

Homily for the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows, delivered in the children in one of our Catholic Primary Schools in Gladstone, Qld.

"I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, and who judged me faithful enough to call me into his service even though I used to be a blasphemer and did all I could to injure and discredit the faith. Mercy, however, was shown me, because until I became a believer I had been acting in ignorance; and the grace of our Lord filled me with faith and with the love that is in Christ Jesus." (cf. Tim 1).

"I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel, who even at night directs my heart. I keep the Lord ever in my sight: since he is at my right hand, I shall stand firm." (cf. Ps 16).

"Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. Seeing his mother and the disciple he loved standing near her, Jesus said to his mother, ‘Woman, this is your son.’ Then to the disciple he said, ‘This is your mother.’ And from that moment the disciple made a place for her in his home." (cf. Jn 19).

Artwork: an image of many children gathered around the Cross with Mary, generated using the Wonder app.

Homily for the Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, delivered in St Peter's Church, Caloundra, with Fr William Leo Aupito-Iuliano presiding.

"Resentment and anger, these are foul things, and both are found with the sinner. He who exacts vengeance will experience the vengeance of the Lord, who keeps strict account of sin. Forgive your neighbour the hurt he does you, and when you pray, your sins will be forgiven. If a man nurses anger against another, can he then demand compassion from the Lord?" (cf. Eccl 27:33).

"The Lord is kind and merciful: slow to anger, and rich in compassion." (cf. Ps 103).

"The life and death of each of us has its influence on others; if we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord..." (cf. Rom 14).

"Peter went up to Jesus and said, ‘Lord, how often must I forgive my brother if he wrongs me? As often as seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘Not seven, I tell you, but seventy-seven times." (cf. Mt 18).

Artwork: an image depicting the journey of forgiveness, generated using the Wonder app.

Homily for the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows, (Twenty-Third Week in Ordinary Time), presented in Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, Gladstone, Qld.

"During his life on earth, Christ offered up prayer and entreaty, aloud and in silent tears, to the one who had the power to save him out of death, and he submitted so humbly that his prayer was heard. Although he was Son, he learnt to obey through suffering; but having been made perfect, he became for all who obey him the source of eternal salvation." (Heb 5:7-9).

Stabat Mater

At the cross her station keeping
stood the mournful Mother weeping,
close to Jesus to the last;

through her heart, his sorrow sharing,
all his bitter anguish bearing,
now at length the sword had passed.

Oh, how sad and sore distressed 
was that Mother highly blessed 
of the sole begotten One!

Christ above in torment hangs; 
she beneath beholds the pangs 
of her dying glorious Son. 

Is there one who would not weep, 
whelmed in miseries so deep, 
Christ’s dear Mother to behold?

Can the human heart refrain 
from partaking in her pain, 
in that Mother’s pain untold?

Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled, 
she beheld her tender child 
all with bloody scourges rent;

for the sins of his own nation 
saw him hang in desolation, 
till his spirit forth he sent.

O you Mother, fount of love! 
Touch my spirit from above, 
make my heart with yours accord:

make me feel as you have felt; 
make my soul to glow and melt 
with the love of Christ our Lord.

Holy Mother, pierce me through; 
in my heart each wound renew 
of my Saviour crucified.

Let me share with you his pain 
who for all our sins was slain,
who for me in torments died.

Let me mingle tears with you, 
mourning him who mourned for me 
all the days that I may live:

by the cross with you to stay, 
there with you to weep and pray, 
is all I ask of you to give.

Virgin of all virgins best, 
listen to my fond request: 
let me share your grief divine;

let me to my latest breath, 
in my body bear the death 
of that dying Son of yours.

Wounded with his every wound, 
steep my soul till it has swooned 
in his very blood away;

be to me, O Virgin, nigh, 
lest in flames I burn and die 
in his awful judgement day.

Christ, when you shall call me hence, 
be your Mother my defence, 
be your cross my victory.

While my body here decays,
may my soul your goodness praise,
safe in paradise with you.

"As the child’s father and mother stood there wondering at the things that were being said about him, Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘You see this child: he is destined for the fall and for the rising of many in Israel, destined to be a sign that is rejected – and a sword will pierce your own soul too – so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare.'" (Lk 2:33-35).

"Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. Seeing his mother and the disciple he loved standing near her, Jesus said to his mother, ‘Woman, this is your son.’ Then to the disciple he said, ‘This is your mother.’ And from that moment the disciple made a place for her in his home." (Jn 19:25-27).

Artwork: the central panel of the "The van Belle Tryptich (Our Lady of Sorrows)", by Pieter Pourbus (c. 1556).

Homily for the Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time,.

"Resentment and anger, these are foul things, and both are found with the sinner. He who exacts vengeance will experience the vengeance of the Lord, who keeps strict account of sin. Forgive your neighbour the hurt he does you, and when you pray, your sins will be forgiven." (cf. Eccl 27).

"The Lord is kind and merciful: slow to anger, and rich in compassion." (cf. Ps 103).

"The life and death of each of us has its influence on others; if we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord... so that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living." (cf. Rm 14:7).

"Peter went up to Jesus and said, ‘Lord, how often must I forgive my brother if he wrongs me? As often as seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘Not seven, I tell you, but seventy-seven times... forgive your brother from your heart.’" (cf. Mt 18).

Artwork: an image generated using the Wonder App, (using the words "infinite forgiveness" and "healing").

Homily for the Parish Feast Day, delivered at the Vigil Mass in Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, Gladstone, Qld.

"Shout for joy, daughter of Zion, Israel, shout aloud! Rejoice, exult with all your heart, daughter of Jerusalem! The Lord has repealed your sentence; he has driven your enemies away. The Lord, the king of Israel, is in your midst; you have no more evil to fear.
do not let your hands fall limp... The Lord your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult with joy over you, he will renew you by his love; he will dance with shouts of joy for you as on a day of festival." (Zeph 3:14-18).

"Mary set out and went as quickly as she could to a town in the hill country of Judah. She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She gave a loud cry and said, ‘Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord? For the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.’" (cf. Lk 1:39).

Artwork: an image of Mary as Queen, retrieve from pinterest.

Homily for the Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Parish Feast Day Weekend, presented in St Patrick's Church, Calliope, Qld.

"Mary set out and went as quickly as she could to a town in the hill country of Judah. She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She gave a loud cry and said, ‘Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord? For the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.’" (Lk 1:39-56).

Gerónimo Antonio de Ezquerra: The Visitation (c. 1737)

Homily for the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, delivered in Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, Gladstone, Qld.

"The Lord says this: But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, the least of the clans of Judah, out of you will be born for me the one who is to rule over Israel; his origin goes back to the distant past, to the days of old. The Lord is therefore going to abandon them till the time when she who is to give birth gives birth. Then the remnant... will come back... He will stand and feed his flock with the power of the Lord, with the majesty of the name of his God; he himself will be peace." (cf. Mic 5).

"A genealogy of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah, Tamar being their mother, Perez was the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram was the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon was the father of Boaz, Rahab being his mother, Boaz was the father of Obed, Ruth being his mother, Obed was the father of Jesse; and Jesse was the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife, Solomon was the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa, Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, Joram the father of Azariah, Azariah was the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah; and Josiah was the father of Jechoniah and his brothers. Then the deportation to Babylon took place. After the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, Zerubbabel was the father of Abiud, Abiud the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, Azor was the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Achim, Achim the father of Eliud, Eliud was the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob; and Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary; of her was born Jesus who is called Christ. This is how Jesus Christ came to be born. His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph; but before they came to live together she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit..." (cf. Mt 1).

Artwork: Mariä Geburt (Nativity of the Virgin Mary), (c. 17th Century).

Homily for the Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, delivered in Our Lady of Mt Carmel Church, Mt Larcom, Qld.

"I used to say, ‘I will not think about him, I will not speak in his name any more.’ Then there seemed to be a fire burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones. The effort to restrain it wearied me, I could not bear it." (cf. Jer 20:9).

"O God, you are my God, for you I long; for you my soul is thirsting... My soul clings to you; your right hand holds me fast." (cf. Ps 63).

"Think of God’s mercy, my brothers, and worship him, I beg you, in a way that is worthy of thinking beings, by offering your living bodies as a holy sacrifice, truly pleasing to God. Do not model yourselves on the behaviour of the world around you, but let your behaviour change, modelled by your new mind." (cf. Rom 12).

"Jesus began to make it clear to his disciples that he was destined to go to Jerusalem and suffer grievously at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, to be put to death and to be raised up on the third day. Then, taking him aside, Peter started to remonstrate with him. ‘Heaven preserve you, Lord;’ he said ‘this must not happen to you.’ But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle in my path, because the way you think is not God’s way but man’s.’" (cf. Mt 16).

Artwork: "Get Thee Behind Me, Satan" by Ilya Repin, (1895).