Homily for the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, delivered (at the evening Mass) in Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, Gladstone.

"When Elijah reached Horeb, the mountain of God, he went into the cave and spent the night in it." (cf. 1 Kings 19).

"The Lord will make us prosper and our earth shall yield its fruit. Justice shall march before him and peace shall follow his steps." (cf. Ps 85).

"In the fourth watch of the night [Jesus] went towards them, walking on the lake, and when the disciples saw him walking on the lake they were terrified. ‘It is a ghost’ they said, and cried out in fear. But at once Jesus called out to them, saying, ‘Courage! It is I! Do not be afraid.’ It was Peter who answered. ‘Lord,’ he said ‘if it is you, tell me to come to you across the water.’ ‘Come’ said Jesus. Then Peter got out of the boat and started walking towards Jesus across the water..." (cf. Mt 14).

Artwork: "Le Christ marchant sur la mer" by Amédée Varint, (19th Century).

Homily for the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, delivered in St Peter Chanel’s Church, Miriam Vale.

"Then the Lord himself went by. There came a mighty wind, so strong it tore the mountains and shattered the rocks before the Lord. But the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind came an earthquake. But the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire. But the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there came the sound of a gentle breeze. And when Elijah heard this, he covered his face..." (cf. 1 Kings 19).

"I will hear what the Lord God has to say, a voice that speaks of peace. His help is near for those who fear him and his glory will dwell in our land; Lord, show us your mercy and love, and grant us your salvation." (cf. Ps 85).

"What I want to say now is no pretence; I say it in union with Christ – it is the truth – my conscience in union with the Holy Spirit assures me of it too. What I want to say is this: my sorrow is so great, my mental anguish so endless, I would willingly be condemned and be cut off from Christ if it could help my brothers of Israel, my own flesh and blood... God for ever blessed! Amen." (cf Rom 9).

"After sending the crowds away [Jesus] went up into the hills by himself to pray." (cf. Mt 14).

Artwork: a photograph of Mount Horeb / Sinai, by Francis F. Frith (1858). 

Homily for the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, delivered in Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, Gladstone.

"When Elijah reached Horeb, the mountain of God, he went into the cave and spent the night in it. Then he was told, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord.’ [Elijah] covered his face with his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave." (cf. 1 Kings 19).

"Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he would send the crowds away. After sending the crowds away he went up into the hills by himself to pray." (cf. Mt 14).

Artwork: a Greek Icon of Elias atop Mount Horeb.

Homily for the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, delivered in St Patrick's Church, Calliope.

"When Elijah reached Horeb, the mountain of God, he went into the cave and spent the night in it. Then he was told, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord.’ Then the Lord himself went by. There came a mighty wind, so strong it tore the mountains and shattered the rocks before the Lord. But the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind came an earthquake. But the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire. But the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there came the sound of a gentle breeze. And when Elijah heard this, he covered his face with his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave." (cf. 1 Kings 19).

"Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he would send the crowds away. After sending the crowds away he went up into the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, while the boat, by now far out on the lake, was battling with a heavy sea, for there was a head-wind. In the fourth watch of the night he went towards them, walking on the lake, and when the disciples saw him walking on the lake they were terrified... It was Peter who answered: ‘Lord... if it is you, tell me to come to you across the water.’ ‘Come’ said Jesus. Then Peter got out of the boat..." (cf. Mt 14).

Artwork: an image of a silhouette walking "beyond the senses" into the abyss that is God. The image was partially generated using the week Wonder app, and then edited using Instagram and Canva.

Homily for the Feast of Saint Lawrence, Deacon, Martyr, delivered in Chanel College Chapel, Gladstone.

"Do not forget: thin sowing means thin reaping; the more you sow, the more you reap. Each one should give what he has decided in his own mind, not grudgingly or because he is made to, for God loves a cheerful giver. And there is no limit to the blessings which God can send you – he will make sure that you will always have all you need for yourselves in every possible circumstance, and still have something to spare for all sorts of good works. As scripture says: He was free in almsgiving, and gave to the poor: his good deeds will never be forgotten. The one who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide you with all the seed you want and make the harvest of your good deeds a larger one." (cf. 2 Cor 9).

"Jesus said to his disciples: ‘I tell you, most solemnly, unless a wheat grain falls on the ground and dies, it remains only a single grain; but if it dies, it yields a rich harvest. Anyone who loves his life loses it; anyone who hates his life in this world will keep it for the eternal life...'" (cf. Jn 12).

Artwork: an image adapted from an icon of Saint Lawrence, with wheat and grill in hand! Generated using the Wonder app.

Reflection with some of the children at one of our Catholic schools.

"When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees they got together and, to disconcert him, one of them put a question, ‘Master, which is the greatest commandment of the Law?’ Jesus said, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second resembles it: You must love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang the whole Law, and the Prophets also.’" (Mt 23:34-40).

Artwork: an image of children collecting starfish on the beach, generated using the Wonder app.

Homily for the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, delivered in St Therese's Church, Monto, Qld.

"As I watched: Thrones were set in place and one of great age took his seat. His robe was white as snow, the hair of his head as pure as wool... I gazed into the visions of the night. And I saw, coming on the clouds of heaven, one like a son of man. He came to the one of great age and was led into his presence." (cf. Dan 7).

"It was not any cleverly invented myths that we were repeating when we brought you the knowledge of the power and the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; we had seen his majesty for ourselves. He was honoured and glorified by God the Father, when the Sublime Glory itself spoke..." (cf. 2 Pet 1).

"Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone. There in their presence he was transfigured: his face shone like the sun and his clothes became as white as the light. Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them; they were talking with him. Then Peter spoke to Jesus. ‘Lord,’ he said ‘it is wonderful for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ He was still speaking when suddenly a bright cloud covered them with shadow, and from the cloud there came a voice which said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour. Listen to him.’ When they heard this the disciples fell on their faces, overcome with fear. But Jesus came up and touched them. ‘Stand up,’ he said ‘do not be afraid.’ And when they raised their eyes they saw no one but only Jesus." (cf. Mt 17).

Artwork: an image of a wild, fruitful, flowering, glowing vine on a Cross, generated using the Wonder app.

Homily for the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, delivered in St Joseph's Church, Biloela, Qld.

"I gazed into the visions of the night. And I saw, coming on the clouds of heaven, one like a son of man. He came to the one of great age and was led into his presence. On him was conferred sovereignty, glory and kingship, and men of all peoples, nations and languages became his servants. His sovereignty is an eternal sovereignty which shall never pass away, nor will his empire ever be destroyed." (cf. Dan 7).

"For you indeed are the Lord most high above all the earth, exalted far above all spirits. The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth." (cf. Ps 97).

"He was honoured and glorified by God the Father, when the Sublime Glory itself spoke to him and said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour.’ We heard this ourselves, spoken from heaven, when we were with him on the holy mountain." (cf. 2 Pet 1).

"Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone. There in their presence he was transfigured: his face shone like the sun and his clothes became as white as the light. Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them; they were talking with him. Then Peter spoke to Jesus. ‘Lord,’ he said ‘it is wonderful for us to be here...'." (cf. Mt 17).

Artwork: "Transfiguration of Jesus" by Lorenzo Lotto, (c. 1510-12).

Homily for the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, delivered in Sacred Heart Church, Theodore, Qld.

"As I watched: Thrones were set in place and one of great age took his seat. His robe was white as snow, the hair of his head as pure as wool. His throne was a blaze of flames, its wheels were a burning fire. A stream of fire poured out, issuing from his presence. A thousand thousand waited on him, ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. A court was held and the books were opened. I gazed into the visions of the night. And I saw, coming on the clouds of heaven, one like a son of man." (cf. Dan 7).

"The Lord is king, let earth rejoice, let all the coastlands be glad. Cloud and darkness are his raiment; his throne, justice and right." (cf. Ps 97).

"So we have confirmation of what was said in prophecies; and you will be right to depend on prophecy and take it as a lamp for lighting a way through the dark until the dawn comes and the morning star rises in your minds." (cf. 2 Pet 1).

"Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone. There in their presence he was transfigured: his face shone like the sun and his clothes became as white as the light. Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them; they were talking with him... [When] they came down from the mountain Jesus gave them this order, ‘Tell no one about the vision until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.'" (cf. Mt 17).

Artwork: "Transfiguration of Jesus", by Pietro Perugino, (c. 1500).

Homily for the Memorial of Saint Dominic (Thursday in the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time), delivered in the Chanel College Chapel, Gladstone, Qld.

"Moses did exactly as the Lord had directed him. The tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month in the second year... The cloud covered the Tent of Meeting and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle... [and] whenever the cloud rose from the tabernacle the sons of Israel would resume their march." (cf. Ex 40).

"They are happy, who dwell in your house, for ever singing your praise. They walk with ever-growing strength, they will see the God of gods in Zion. How lovely is your dwelling-place, Lord, mighty God!" (cf. Ps 84).

"Jesus said to the crowds: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea that brings in a haul of all kinds. When it is full, the fishermen haul it ashore... This is how it will be at the end of time..." (cf. Mt 13).

Artwork: "L'apparition de la Vierge et de l'Enfant Jésus à saint Dominique", by Bernardo Cavallino, (c. 1640).