Readings: Isaiah 35:4-7A; James 2:1-5; Mark 7:31-37 Click here to download a PDF of this homily. Preacher: Gloria Ulterino It’s that time of the year.  Young people are headed back to school.  Some, like my beloved grandson, are off to a whole new world as college freshmen.  Eager to explore and discover, yet filled with questions.  Maybe even apprehensions. In… read more →

Readings: Deuteronomy: 4:1-2, 6-8; James 1:17-18, 21-22, 27; Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 Click here to download a PDF of this homily. Preacher: Marlene Bessette My heart is very heavy and my eyes are moist…how am I to reconcile a teaching of the church that conflicts with the love in my heart? I am sure that many of us have found… read more →

Readings: Joshua 24: 1-2A, 15-17, 18B; Ephesians 5:21-32, or 5: 2A, 25-32; John 6: 60-69 Click here to download a PDF of this homily. Preacher: Christine Nowak A popular strategy for parenting toddlers is to offer them concrete choices.  For example, “We’re about to go into the parking lot.  Do you want to hold my hand or do you want… read more →

Readings: Proverbs 9:1-6; Ephesians 5:15-20; John 6:51-58 Click here to download a PDF of this homily. Preacher:  Deirdre McKiernan Hetzler Have you ever cradled a little baby in your arms, and been so enthralled that you said, “Oh, I love you so much I could just eat you up?” That was the first image that came to mind as I… read more →

Readings: 1 Kings 19:4-8, Ps. 34, Eph. 4:30-5:2, John 6:41-51 Click here to download a PDF of this homily. Preacher: Irene Goodwin Some years ago I listened to a homily on John’s Bread of Life readings. The homilist reminisced about being in Belgium at Christmas time. A friend brought him to his home to celebrate the holy day. On Christmas… read more →

Readings: Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15; Ephesians 4:17, 20-24; John 6:24-35 Click here to download a PDF of this homily. Preacher: Nancy DeRycke Have you ever had a craving—when you’re hungry for something, but aren’t sure what will satisfy? That hunger or craving is what our readings are about. I wonder what those Israelites would say to us if they were here… read more →

Readings: 2 Kings 4:42-44; Ephesians 4:1-6; John 6: 1-15 Click here to download a PDF of this homily. Preacher: Sr. Karen Dietz The response to Psalm 145 has been running like a backdrop in my head this week: The hand of our God feeds us; God answers all our needs. I suspect that for most of us reading and praying… read more →

Readings: Jeremiah 23:1-6; Ephesians 2: 13-18; Mark 6:30-34 Click here to download a PDF of this homily. Preacher: Nora Bradbury-Haehl Several years ago, when we lived out on the edge of town, I got it into my head that I’d like to have a miniature sheep. My long-suffering husband was kind enough not to point out that it was a… read more →

Readings: Amos 7: 12-15; Ephesians 1:3-14, or, 1: 3-10; Mark 6: 7-13 Click here to download a PDF of this homily. Preacher: Gloria Ulterino Snapshots! So many snapshots these days of weddings … graduations from what has been … commencement promises of what is yet to be. Just recently my daughter had snapshots of her son, from infancy to graduation.… read more →

Readings: Ezechiel 2: 2-5; 2 Corinthians 12: 7-10; Mark: 6: 1-6 Click here to download a PDF of this homily. Preacher: Sr. Joan Sobala, SSJ Over the last few Sundays, our readings have reminded us about how prophets challenge laid-back, complacent, self-satisfied thinking. Today, Jesus, God’s beloved Son, who stands in this same prophetic tradition, is rejected in his native… read more →