Homily: March 17, 2025, Second Monday in Lent (Measure).

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"For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you."

This is one of the more practical teachings of Jesus, and from our own life experiences, we know it to be true. When we show love, people often respond with love. When we are compassionate, we usually receive compassion in return.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” God’s mercy is constant, consistent, unconditional. We deserve death and punishment, but God waives it off, taking on our death and punishment on Himself. That is mercy. And He tells us to do the same, not on our own strength, but we can imitate, reflect and emulate how God does it.

God is merciful, because He loves truly and is generous.

Love and generosity are painful virtues. Often, love may not be accepted, it can be rejected. Often generosity may not be appreciated, it can be taken for granted.

That is how the world has treated God’s love and generosity, but He remains faithful and constant. So, regardless how others respond to our love and generosity, we give like God gives, and He gives freely, without limitations. In John 3:34, Jesus reminds us, “He does not ration His gift of the Spirit.”

God’s generosity is boundless, His love - endless, His mercy – limitless.

Lent is a time to recall God’s generosity, love and mercy, and to live it by deepening our commitment to prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. These three pillars of Lenten practice help us to measure out what we have received.

By giving it all with an open heart, we continue to receive it again and again. God’s generosity can never be outdone, His love will never end, His mercy will never run dry.

As God gives, let us give like Him. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.

Amen.


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Homily: February 22-2026, First Sunday of Lent (Angles)

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 As I was preparing this homily, I first thought of preaching about the three temptations of Jesus. Then I changed my mind and thought of focusing on the first reading, and then perhaps the second reading. I couldn’t get the right inspiration, so I went through the readings several times over the past days. Finally, I noticed one phrase which stayed with me quietly but firmly: “The devil left Him, and angels came and ministered to Him.” It was a reassuring resolution to an intense build-up of temptations. Jesus had fasted forty days. He endured hunger, thirst, solitary living and silence. At the end of it when he was at his weakest, tempting offers to satisfy His possible needs and wants were presented to Him. He was at His weakest, physically, but he was also at His strongest, spiritually. As He overcame the temptations and defeated the devil, heaven responded - not with applause, but with accompaniment. Angels came to minister to Him. We see the same later in the Gospel of Luke. ...
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Homily: February 24, 2026, Tuesday of the First Week of Lent (God's Word)

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Homily: June 21, 2025, Saturday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time (Sufficient Grace)

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Homily: January 11, 2026, Feast of the Baptism of the Lord (Beloved)

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