Homily @ Lent: Roadmap
Year C / Lent / Week 1 / Sunday
Readings: Deuteronomy 26.4-10 / Psalm 90-.1-2, 1-11, 12-13, 14-15 / Romans 10.8-13 / Luke 4.1-13
“The Lord brought us out of Egypt with mighty hand and outstretched arm…He brought us here and gave us this land…where milk and honey flowed.”
Here is Moses speaking to
Address at the Archdiocesan Assembly 2025
I presented the following remarks to open the Archdiocesan Assembly on Saturday, 1 March 2025. It is one of three.
Homily: Look Again
Year C / Ordinary Time / Week 8 / Sunday
Readings: Sirach 27:4-7 / Psalm 92:2-3, 13-14, 15-16 (R/v cf 2a) / 1 Corinthians 15:54-58 / Luke 6:39-45
Sisters and brothers, don’t we all want to be known for our goodness, especially when we have passed on and others speak about us and the life we’ve led
Homily: Rooted
Year C / Ordinary Time / Week 6 / Sunday
Readings: Jeremiah 17:5-8 / Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6 / 1 Corinthians 15:12, 16-20 / Luke 6:17, 20-26
Sisters and brothers, what does it take for someone to get through challenging, even trying, times and thrive?
In 2018, John Seow, a student of mine at St J
Homily: Stepping In
Year C / Ordinary Time / Week 5 / Sunday
Readings: Isaiah 6:1-2a, 3-8/ Ps 138:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 7-8 (R/V 1c) / 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 / Luke 5.1-11
“...what matters is that I preached what they preach and this is what you all believed” (1 Corinthians 15.11)
This is how St Paul closes his teaching to
Homily: Sing
Year C / Ordinary Time / Week 2 / Sunday
Readings: Isaiah 62.1-5 / Ps 95.1-2a.2b-3, 7-8a, 9-10a,c (R/v 3) / 1 Corinthians 12.4-11 /John 2.1-11
“O sing a new song to the Lord, sing to the Lord, all the earth. O sing to the Lord, bless his name.”
This is the psalmist’s call to everyone.
Homily @ Christmastide: Into Belovedness
Year C / End of the Christmas Season / Baptism of the Lord
Readings: Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 / Ps 103. 1-4, 24-25,27-28, 29-30 (R/v 1) / Acts 10:34-38 / Luke 3:15-16, 21-22
Many of us begin the new year with good wishes to one another and prayers to God for a better future.
Homily @ Christmastide: Arise, Shine
Year C / Christmastide / Solemnity of the Epiphany
Readings: Isaiah 60.1-6 / Responsorial Psalm 71.2, 7-8, 20-11, 12-13 (R/v cf 11) / Ephesians 3.2-3a, 5-6 / Matthew 2.1-12
“Arise, shine out, Jerusalem, for your light has come.”
Isaiah declares this to the Israelites in the first reading.
Homily @ Christmastide: To Look For
Year C / Christmas Season / Feast of the Holy Family
Readings: Ecclesiasticus 3.2-6, 12-14 / Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5 (R/v cf 1) / Colossians 3.12-21 / Luke 2:41-52
At the beginning of the Christmas Eve Mass, I carried Baby Jesus to the Crib. As I did, many in the pews turned their heads to look.
Homily @ Christmas: Wrapped
Year C / Christmas / Solemnity of the Nativity of our Lord (Christmas Midnight Mass)
Readings: 2 Timothy 4.1-5 / Psalm 40.
Homily @ Advent: With Haste
Year C / Advent / Week 4 / Sunday
Readings: Micah 5.1-4a / Ps 80 (R/v 4) / Hebrew 10.5-10 / Luke 1.39-45
“Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord?” (Luke 1.43)
This is Elizabeth’s exclamation when Mary visited her.
Homily @ Advent: Savouring
Year C / Advent / Week 3 / Sunday
Readings: Zephaniah 3.14-18a / Psalm: Isaiah 12.2-3, 4, 5-66 (R/v 6) / Philippians 4.4-7 / Luke 3.10-18
“What must we do, then?”
This is the question the repentant people asked John the Baptist. They asked because they want to live godly lives.
Homily @ Advent: Preparing
Year C / Advent / Week 2 / Sunday
Readings: Baruch 5.1-9 / Ps 126.1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6 (R/v 3) / Philippians 1.4-6, 8-11 / Luke 3.1-6
“Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight” (Luke 3.4)
This is John the Baptist’s call. We hear it every Advent.
Homily @ Advent: Longing
Year C / Advent / Week 1 / Sunday
Readings: Jeremiah 33.14-16 / Ps 24. 4-5ab, 8-9, 10, 14 (R/v 1b) / Thessalonians 3.12-4.2 / Luke 21.25-28, 34-36.
“For you are God my saviour” (Psalm 24.5)
Here is the psalmist declaring who God is in our lives.
Homily: King
Year B / Ordinary Time / Week 34 / Sunday: Solemnity of Christ the King Readings: Daniel 7.13-14 / Psalm 92. 1ab, 1c-5, 5 (R/v 1a) / Revelations 1.5-8 / John 18.33b-37
“Yes, I am a king. I was born for this” (John 18. 37)
This is Jesus' reply to Pilate’s question if he is king of the Jews.
Homily: An Examen
Year B / Ordinary Time / Week 33 / Sunday
Readings: Daniel 12.1-3 / Psalm 15.5 and 8, 9-10, 11 (R/1) / Hebrews 10.11-14,18 / Mark: 13.24-32
Sisters and brothers, do you remember your report card from school days? Did it just list examination marks and say “there’s room for improvement” or “could h
Homily: He Watches
Year B / Ordinary Time / Week 32 / Sunday
Readings: 1 Kings 17.10-16 / Psalm 145.6c-7, 8-9a, 9bc-10 (R/v 1b) / Hebrews 9.24-28 / Mark 12.38-44
“He sat down … and watched the people” (Mark 12.41)
This is what Jesus is doing in today’s gospel reading.
Homily: An Inconvenient Love
Year B / Ordinary Time / Week 31 / Sunday
Readings: Deuteronomy 6.2-6 / Psalm 17.2-3a, 3bc-4, 47, 51ab (R/v 2) / Hebrews 7.23-28/ Mark 12.28b-34
“Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life: you have the message of eternal life.”
These words are the Good News the Gospel Acclamation proclaims.
Homily: Let Me See
Year B / Ordinary Time / Week 30/ Sunday
Readings: Jeremiah 31.7-9 / Psalm 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6 (R/v 3) / Hebrew 5.1-6 / Mark 10.46-52
“Master, let me see again.”
This is Bartimaeus’ prayer to Jesus. It should be our prayer too at this Mass. Not because we are blind.
Homily: Counting on Them
Year B / Ordinary Time / Week 29 / Sunday (World Mission Sunday)
Readings: Isaiah 2.1-5 / Psalm 66 (R/v 5) / Ephesians 3.2-12 / Mark 16.15-20
"Go out to the whole world… proclaim the Good News to all creation" (Mark 16.15)
This is Jesus' commission to the apostles.
Homily: Wisdom comes
Year B / Ordinary Time / Week 28 / Sunday
Readings: Wisdom 7.7-11 / Psalm 89.12-13, 14-15, 16-17 (R/v 14) / Hebrews 4. 12-13 / Mark 10.17-30
“I prayed…and the spirit of Wisdom came to me” (Wisdom 7.7)
Wisdom, our First Reading teaches, is to be prized even more than having riches and possessions.
Reflection @ Sacred Heart: His Promise
Devotion to the Sacred Heart
Reflection based on Luke 23: 35-43
“I promise you today you will be with me in paradise.”
These are Jesus’ words to the repentant thief in the gospel.
Homily: Life-giving
Year B / Ordinary Time / Week 27 / Sunday
Readings: Genesis 2.18-24 / Psalm 217.1-2, 3, 4-5, 6 (R/v c.f 5) / Hebrews 2.9-11 / Mark 10.2-16
“As long as we love one another God will live in us and his love will be complete in us." (1 John 4.12).
We know these words.
Homily: Messengers
Year B / Ordinary Time / Week 26 / Friday (Feast of St Francis of Assisi)
Readings: Job 38:1, 12-21; 40:3-5 / Psalm 139:1-3, 7-8, 9-10, 13-14ab (R/v 24b) / Luke 10:13-16
“Harden not your hearts today, but listen to the voice of the Lord.”
This is our gospel acclamation. It is from Psalm 94.
Homily: We
Year B / Ordinary Time / Week 26 / Sunday
Readings: Numbers 11.25-29 / Psalm 18.8-10, 12-13, 14(R/v 9a) / James 5.1-6 / Mark 9.38-43, 45, 47-48
“Anyone who is not against us is for us” (Mark 9.40)
Here is Jesus teaching his disciples about discipleship.
Homily: On The Way
Year B / Ordinary Time / Week 25 / Sunday
Readings: Wisdom 2:12, 17-20 / Psalm 54:3-4, 5, 6, 8 (R/v 6b) / James 3:16-4:3 / Mark 9:30-37
“What were you arguing about on the road?” (Mark 9.33)
Here is Jesus questioning his disciples about their argument on their way to Capernaum.
Homily: Hear
Year B / Ordinary Time / Week 24 / Sunday
Readings: Isaiah 50.5-9a / Psalm 114.1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9 (R/v 9) / James 2.14-18 / Mark 8.27-35
“The Lord has opened my ear.”
This is the opening line in the first reading. We just heard it.
Homily: Be Opened
Year B / Ordinary Time / Week 23 / Sunday
Readings: Isaiah 35.4-7a / Psalm 145.
Homily: Juggling Better
Year B / Ordinary Time / Week 22 / Saturday
Readings: 1 Corinthians 4.6b-15 / Psalm 145. 17-18, 19-20, 21(R/v 18) / Luke 6.1-5
If you have tried juggling before, you’d know how difficult it can be.
Homily: Walk the Talk
Year B / Ordinary Time / Week 22 / Sunday
Readings: Deuteronomy 4.1-2, 6b-8 / Psalm 15. 2-3ab, 4cd-4, 5 (R/v 1a) / James 1.17-18, 21b-22, 27 / Mark 7.1-8, 14-15, 21-23
“Your words are spirit, O Lord, and they are life: you have the message of eternal life.”
This is today’s gospel acclamation.
Homily: To Whom?
Year B / Ordinary Time / Week 21 / Sunday (Catholic Education Sunday)
Readings: Joshua 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b / Psalm 34:2-3, 16-17, 18-19, 20-21 (R/v 9a) /Ephesians 5:21-32 / John 6:60-69
“Jesus said to the Twelve, ‘What about you, do you want to go away too?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘Lord, who shall
Homily: Receive
Year B / Ordinary Time / Week 20 / Sunday
Readings: Proverbs 9.1-6 / Psalm 33.2-3, 20-11, 12-13, 14-15 (R/v 9a) / Ephesians 5.15-20 / John 6.51-58
Sisters and brothers, have you ever considered the difference between clenched fists and opened palms? Listen.
Once there was a farmer named Dmitri.
Homily: One for Us
Year B / Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Readings: Revelations 11.19a; 12.1-6a, 10ab / Psalm 45.10, 11, 12, 16 (R/v 10bc) / 1 Corinthians 15.20-26 / Luke 1.39-56
Almighty ever-living God, who assumed the Immaculate Virgin Mary, the Mother of your Son, body and soul into hea
Homily: Yes, Dance in the Rain
Year B / Ordinary Time / Week 19 / Sunday
Readings: 1 Kings 19:4-8 / Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 (R/v 9a) / Ephesians 4:30—5:2 / John 6:41-51
"Get up and eat, or the journey will be too long for you."
This is the angel’s instruction to Elijah.
Homily: His way
Year B / Ordinary Time / Week 16 / Sunday
Readings: Jeremiah 23.1-6 / Psalm 23. 1-3, 3-4, 5, 6 (R/v 1) / Ephesians 2.13-18 / Mark 6.30.34
“...his heart was moved with pity for them” (Mark 6.34)
Compassion alone moves Jesus to respond to the crowds in today’s Gospel reading.
Homily: Travelling Light
Year B / Ordinary Time / Week 15/ Sunday
Readings: Amos 7.12-15 / Psalm 84.9ab and 10, 11-12, 13-14 (R/v 8) / Ephesians 1.3-14 / Mark 6.7-13
“...take nothing for the journey except a staff” (Mark 6.8)
This is part of Jesus’s instruction to the apostles as he sends them forth to preach repentance,
Homily: Mould
Year B / Ordinary Time / Week 14 / Sunday
Readings: Ezekiel 2:2-5 / Psalm: 123:1-2, 2, 3-4 (R/v 2cd) / 2 Corinthians 12:7-10/ Mark 6:1-6
“My grace is enough for you: my power is at its best in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12.9)
Here is St Paul testifying to the power of the risen Jesus in his life an
Homily: For Life
Year B / Ordinary Time / Week 13 / Sunday
Readings: Wisdom 1:13-15; 2:23-24/ Psalm: 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11, 12, 13 (R/v 2a) / 2 Corinthians 8:7, 9, 13-15 / Mark 5:21-43
“To be – for this He created all” (Wisdom 1.14)
To be alive. To be filled with life. To be able to share life.
Homily: Alright
Year B / Ordinary Time / Week 11/ Sunday
Readings: Job 38.1, 8-11 / Psalm 107:23-24, 25-26, 28-29, 30-31(R/v 1b) / 2 Corinthians 5.14-17 / Mark 4.35-41
“Then from the heart of the tempest the Lord gave Job his answer.”
Here is God revealing himself to Job, even more, caring for him, whose life
Homily: How It Is with God
Year B / Ordinary Time / Week 11/ Sunday
Readings: Ezekiel 17.22-24 / Psalm 91.2-3, 13-14, 15-16 (cf.
Reflection @ Sacred Heart: Make Time
Devotion to the Sacred Heart
Reflection based on Matthew 14. 22 - 36
“After sending the crowds away, he went up into the hills by himself to pray.”
St Matthew tells us Jesus prayed after a long day of ministry and hearing about John the Baptist’s death.
Homily: Crazy
Year B / Ordinary Time / Week 10 / Sunday
Readings: Genesis 3.9-15 / Psalm 130.1-8 (R/v 7bc) / 2 Corinthians 4.13-5.1 / Mark 3.20-35
“He was out of his mind.”
What a statement about Jesus! We hear it in today’s gospel reading.
Homily: For Life
Year B / Ordinary Time / Week 9 / Solemnity of Corpus Christi
Readings: Exodus 24.3-8 / Psalm 115.12-13, 15, 16bc, 17-18 (R/v 13) / Hebrews 9.11-15 / Mark 14.12-16, 22-16
“Take, eat, this is my body. Take, drink, this is my blood.”
These are Jesus’ words and actions in the Gospel reading.
Homily: Come
Year B / Ordinary Time / Solemnity of the Holy Trinity
Readings: Deuteronomy 4.32-34, 39-40 / Psalm 32.
Homily @ Eastertide : God's Embrace
Year B / Eastertide / Pentecost
Readings: Acts 2.1-11 / Psalm 104 (R/v 30) / 1 Cor 12.3b-7, 12-13 / John 20.19-23
There is nothing like an embrace.
An embrace tells us how much we are welcomed or accepted, forgiven or affirmed.
