Homily: February 12-2024, Monday of the sixth week in Ordinary time (Preserverenace)

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“Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”

A good friend of mine battled with addiction to drugs and alcohol for many years. Finally, he was able to give up his destructive habits and began walking with the Lord.

Was it all smooth and easy? No.

He faced many other struggles in his new life. Often, he was tempted to go back to his old ways, with thoughts that his life with drugs and alcohol was more carefree. He knew it was a lie.

He then began to involve himself in various ministries in his parish church to serve the Lord.

Was it all smooth and easy then? No.

He experienced many disagreements and arguments within the ministries.

Why is it that serving God seemed to make life more difficult? Shouldn’t we be rewarded with a good and easy life?

If we look at Abraham, we see that he had to go through many trials and challenges in obeying God’s call. He did not have it easy. The apostles too, in following Jesus, faced many, many persecutions.

Did any of them give up their mission?

No. They persevered. And they considered it a joy to suffer trials for their faith.

St. Peter wrote in his first epistle to the early Christian communities, “In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, ...may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

My parents were very faithful and pious Catholics. They followed God’s commandments and all religious practices strictly. That made our lives as their children more challenging and harder because my siblings and I were expected to lead the same disciplined life. I would often envy my friends whose families were not strict. Their lives seemed easier, and they were happier children.

My parents simply encouraged us that our way was the right way, pleasing to God. Looking back, I now understand, agree and appreciate what my parents had instilled in us. Their faithfulness and perseverance have formed in me my own faithfulness to God and perseverance in my faith journey, my vocation, and my life in general.

Just as my parents did not let us have it the easy way, so that our formation takes shape in our lives, so God will not remove the trials and tests in our spiritual journey, so that we will be formed into the saints and holy souls which we are all called to be.

As we walk on in life, closer to the Lord each day, and when doubts, challenges and hardships hit us and tempt us to shake our faith, let us not give up, let us ask for the grace of perseverance and a joyful disposition to face our trials. Amen.


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Homily, Wednesday,January 5, 2022, Memorial of Saint John Neumann, Bishop

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Homily April 29, Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena, Virgin and Doctor of the Church

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 “And all day long, both at the temple and in their homes, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the Christ, Jesus”. Even after being flogged, all day long, the disciples continued teaching and preaching everywhere… Amazing, isn’t it?  These past few days, we have been reading from Acts of the Apostles. We see how the Jewish leaders and high priest tried to stop the apostles from preaching in the name of Jesus. But they failed. The Pharisee Gamaliel rightly said, “if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God.” How true. The church is from God. The disciples did not stop teaching and proclaiming. They even rejoiced at being flogged for what they were doing. They were on fire for Jesus. They were so eager and excited to tell everyone about Jesus. What about us? If there is a new restaurant serving delicious food or a store is having a great end-of-summer sale, we would hear many people talking about it. Some w...
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Christmas Homily 2021,

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Homily: November 2, 2024, The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls); Pleanary Indulgnce.

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