Category Archives: Weekday Homily

Children and dogs 1 Kings 11:4–13; Psalm 106; Mark 7:24–30 The metaphor of children and dogs calls us to have respect for all human beings. Regardless of our status, we must appreciate those around us. Children and dogs in this gospel were used to depict the Jews and the Gentiles of old. Children are usually […]

The Queen and King 1 Kings 10:1–10; Psalm 37; Mark 7:14–23 In the first reading, the Queen of Sheba heard of Solomon’s wisdom. She came to encounter Solomon for herself, and she was exceedingly blessed with the level of wisdom Solomon manifested. She shows the value of seeking knowledge and understanding from wise individuals. Solomon’s […]

Truth vs. tradition Today’s gospel (Mark 7:1–13) presents us with an encounter between Jesus and the Pharisees. Jesus encourages us to focus on essential matters—justice, peace, holiness, mercy, and faithfulness—rather than getting entangled in worthless practices. In the gospel, the Pharisees saw that some of the disciples of Jesus were eating with hands unwashed while […]

Crowd but touch 1 Kings 8:1–7, 9–13; Psalm 131; Mark 6:53–56 The Gospel says, “They laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.” We must understand that we are not just to crowd around Jesus but to […]

Leadership and wisdom 1 Kings 3:4–13; Psalm 119; Mark 6:30–34 Jesus realized the value of rest and seclusion. In verse 31, He urges His disciples to go to a certain location and rest. This underlines the importance of taking time for both physical and spiritual refreshment. Despite His desire to rest, Jesus was struck with […]

THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD Malachi 3:1–4/Psalm 24:7,8,9,10/Hebrews 2:14–18/Luke 2:22–40 1. Today is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple. It occurs forty days after our celebration of Christmas—the birth of Jesus Christ. On this day in biblical history, the Holy Family made a journey from Bethlehem to Jerusalem in order […]

Mission of the Twelve 1 Kings 2:1-4, 10-12; Psalm 1 Chronicles 29:10-12; Mark 6:7-13 In the gospel, Jesus sent the disciples out two by two with the message of repentance. The mission of the Twelve is the basis of our faith today. Mission keeps the church alive. If the church does not send it, it […]

OVER-FAMILIARITY 2Sam. 24:2.9-17, Ps. 32, Mk. 6:1-6 Hebrews 12:4–7, 11–15; Psalm 103; Mark 6:1-6 Jesus says, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country.” One interpretation of this scripture is that if we dishonor a prophet, we will never be able to draw his covering. The gospel specifically mentions this as the […]

Mustard Seed. 2 Samuel 11:1–10, 13–17; Psalm 50; Mark 4:26–34. Jesus used different parables to speak to the people about the kingdom of God. Today’s gospel presents us with one of such parables: the Parable of the Mustard Seed. One could consider the mustard seed to be a metaphor for faith and development. Mustard is […]

SAUL TO PAUL Acts 9:1-22; Psalm 117; Mark 16:15–18 The apostle Paul is one of the best-known figures in the Bible. The letters he wrote thousands of years ago are still of paramount importance in theology, Christian spirituality, and praxis. Before his conversion, he persecuted the early church, whom he considered to be dangerous heretics. […]