27 July 2024 -- Saturday of the ^16th week ‘B

Jer 7:1-11; Mt 13:24-30

Homily

Our natural tendency is to classify people into two categories, the good and the bad. Obviously, we generally put ourselves in the first category. This is the tendency of individuals, nations and religious groups alike.

25 July 2024 - Feast of Saint James

2 Cor 4, 7-15; Mt 20, 20-28

Homily

            There are several James in the New Testament. The one we are celebrating today is the brother of John and son of Zebedee. This James was one of the first martyrs. Herod had him put to death during the first great persecution against the Church, even before Peter's arrest. Along with his brother John, who was also a companion of Peter, he held a very special place in the public life of Jesus. Along with John, he was one of the first disciples to ask Jesus "Master, where are you staying? He was one of those whom Jesus took with him to the Mount of Transfiguration, to the room where he raised Jairus' daughter from the dead and, finally, to the Garden of Olives.

26 juillet 2024 – Mémoire des saints Joachim et Anne

Sir 24, 1-2.5-7.12-16 26-30 ; 

ou 1Jo 4, 7-16 ; Jo 11, 19-27 ou Jo 12,1-11 

H o m é l i e 

          L'Évangile est d'une extrême discrétion concernant la Vierge Marie. Nous connaissons très peu de détails de sa vie. C'est comme si les Évangélistes voulaient que toute notre attention soit centrée sur ce qui est l'essentiel la concernant, à savoir qu'elle a été la Mère du Fils de Dieu. Luc, qui en dit un peu plus que les autres, ouvre son récit de l'Incarnation par cette formule simple et solennelle à la fois : "L'ange Gabriel fut envoyé par Dieu dans une ville de Galilée du nom de Nazareth, à une jeune fille accordée en mariage à un homme nommé Joseph, de la maison de David; cette jeune fille s'appelait Marie."

25 juillet 2024 – Fête de saint Jacques

2 Cor 4, 7-15; Mt 20, 20-28

Homélie

          Il y a plusieurs Jacques dans le Nouveau Testament. Celui que nous célébrons aujourd'hui, c'est le frère de Jean et fils de Zébédée. Ce Jacques fut l'un des premiers martyrs. Hérode le fit mettre à mort lors de la première grande persécution contre l'Église, avant même l'arrestation de Pierre. Avec son frère Jean, comme lui compagnon de Pierre, il tient une place toute particulière durant la vie publique de Jésus. Avec Jean, il est l'un des premiers disciples à aller demander à Jésus "Maître, où demeures-tu?". Il est l'un de ceux que Jésus amène avec lui sur la montagne de la Transfiguration, dans la chambre où il ressuscite la fille de Jaïre et, finalement, au Jardin des Oliviers.

26 July 2024 - Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne

Sir 24, 1-2.5-7.12-16 26-30; or 1Jo 4, 7-16

Jo 11, 19-27 or Jo 12, 1-11

Homily

          The Gospel is extremely discreet about the Virgin Mary. We know very few details of her life. It is as if the Evangelists wanted all our attention to be focused on what is essential about her, namely that she was the Mother of the Son of God. Luke, who says a little more than the others, opens his account of the Incarnation with this simple yet solemn formula: "The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a young girl given in marriage to a man named Joseph, from the house of David; this young girl's name was Mary."

24 July 2024 -- Wednesday of the 16th week "B

Jer 1, 1. 4-10; Mt 13, 1-9

Homily

            This morning we have the same Gospel that we had a few weeks ago, on the 15th Sunday of Ordinary Time. The most important thing for Jesus in this parable is not the thorns that can choke the seed received; it is not the rocky soil that doesn't allow the seed to take deep root; it is not the birds of the air that come to eat the grain that has fallen on the path; it is not even the good soil that receives this seed. The most important thing for Jesus is the seed itself. And the seed of which he speaks is his Word, which is also the Word of his Father.