Homily: March 24, 2025, Monday of the Third week in Lent (Flesh and Mind - Child )

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 "His flesh became again like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean." 

A child’s flesh and skin are supple, smooth and soft. Don’t we all wish our aged, wrinkled skin is restored to child-like freshness again?

Today’s first reading is a powerful story of healing, restoration and transformation. Leprosy was a terrible disease in ancient times especially since there was no cure, was seen as a curse and was contagious. Thus, more than just physical, it was also a social disease which led to isolation and shame.

Naaman was a great military commander, dignified in his powerful position but leprosy threatened to take away everything he had. He desperately wanted healing. The gifts he brought to Israel clearly showed how much he valued his health and status, and how far he was willing to go to be cured.

Yet, despite his desperation, pride held him back and almost made him lose the miraculous healing he badly needed. He had expected a grand and elaborate healing process, fitting for a man of his status and so felt offended when the prophet’s instructions seemed simplistic and insulting. He wanted healing on his own terms.

It is interesting to note that it was his lowly servants who spoke wisdom and knocked some sense into him. 

Then the miracle took place, “His flesh became again like the flesh of a little child.” He was healed of leprosy and was also restored to a clean and innocent condition, like a child.

God calls us to be childlike - not in weakness, but in trust, humility, and obedience. While we cannot stop or reverse the effects of aging on our body and mental abilities, we can renew and refresh our heart and soul through submission to God, like Naaman did, like an innocent child would.

For the times when we were prideful and stubborn, forgive us Lord.

For the times when we thought we knew better than you, have mercy on us Lord.

For the times when we refused to believe in your simple but quietly powerful ways, shake us and wake us, Lord.

May we be open to God’s healing transformation, becoming again like the flesh, mind and heart of a little child, becoming clean again, inside and out.

Amen.


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March 1, 2025: First Holy Communion Homily: St. Joseph's Catholic Church Seffner, Florida

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Did you listen attentively to the Gospel reading? Yes? Let me test you… What did Jesus say? Did He say, “Whoever eats my bread and drinks my wine?”  No! He said, “Whoever eats my FLESH and drinks my BLOOD remains in me and I in him.” Yes, when you receive Holy Communion, you are receiving the real flesh and blood of Jesus. I am sure Fr. Roy, your catechists, parents and the whole parish community have prepared you well for this day, so you know what you are receiving today. But what I want to focus on now is the last part where Jesus says, ‘remains in me and I in him’. 29 years ago in 1996, I received my First Holy Communion. I was eight years old, but I still remember that day vividly. I remember the preparations, my First Reconciliation, and the excitement I felt when I lined up to receive Jesus for the very first time. I remember seeing the priest dipping the Precious Body into the Precious Blood, and then that precious moment – Jesus’ body and blood rested on my tongue. So swee...
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Homily: June 18, 2023, Sunday of the Eleventh Sunday in ordinary time (God's Love)

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 "At the sight of the crowds, Jesus' heart was moved with pity because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd." I especially admire Pope Benedict XVI. I can relate to his personality in many ways. He was an introvert and shy, so am I. And he liked bier, so do I. He was one of the greatest theologians of our time. Through the encyclicals, which are papal letters to all the bishops of the church, Popes share their wisdom and insights on world issues and the faith to guide the church forward. When Pope Benedict was installed, many theologians and the world waited eagerly for his first encyclical, wondering which global issue of the time he would address. Instead, his first encyclical dwelt on a very basic yet profound topic, "Deus Caritas est", that means "God is love". It was what the church needed, to go back to who God really is and focus on the very basis and essence of our existence. No world issue can be resolved without kno...
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Homily: April 26, 2026, First Holy Communion Mass

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Today is a beautiful day. Because something beautiful is going to happen soon. Do you know what is so special about today? As a priest, this is one of the days I look forward to every year. It is also one of the days Jesus Himself looks forward to every year, at every parish in the world. Jesus has been waiting for you to receive Him in Holy Communion. And it is a great joy, a great honor for me to give you Jesus for the first time in your life. Jesus is very happy. I am very happy. Your teachers are happy. Your parents are happy. Our St. Ambrose parish family is also very happy. Are you happy too? And you know what makes me happier than this? To give you Jesus again and again, week after week, from today onwards. After today, you should be able to receive Jesus at every Mass. Today is a very special day for you. A day you will remember all your life. Today is also a special day for Jesus, a day He does not forget at all. He remembers everybody’s First Holy Communion. From the moment y...
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Homily: April 28, 2026, Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Easter (Simple Faith )

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 “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” There is a famous English comedian, Rowan Atkinson, who is well known for his act as Mr. Bean. He once shared that sometimes people went up to him to comment that he looked like Mr. Bean. To which he would respond, “I am Mr. Bean.” But they would insist, “No, no, you just look like him!” It sounds funny but this is exactly what is happening in today’s Gospel. The people asked Jesus, “Tell us plainly, are you the Christ?” They had seen His works and heard His profound teaching. There had never been anyone like Him. No one had performed the miracles He performed. No one had fulfilled the prophecies from old, only He did. Everything pointed to Him as the long-awaited Messiah. Those who knew the Scriptures should have recognized Him easily. Then why were they still asking? Simple answer. They were in denial. They knew, but they refused to acknowledge it. They probably thought they were too intelli...
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Homily: April 27, 2026, Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter.

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 “I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me… and I will lay down my life for the sheep.” This is the truth. And it is beautiful. We have a God who knows us by name. To Him, we are not just a member in a big church community, not just as a number in a big group - but we are a specific person to Him. He knows us personally, intimately and fully. There is a quote: Satan knows your name but calls you by your sin. God knows your sin but calls you by your name. And not only does He know us, He loves us so much, He lays down His life for us so that we can live. It is the truth. It is also a mystery of love. As St. Paul says: “May you have the strength to comprehend… the breadth and length and height and depth… and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge.” It is a love beyond understanding. Recently, I watched a short video about the vastness of the universe. To travel to the nearest galaxy from our Milky Way, at the speed of light, it would take about 2.5 millio...
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Homily: June 27, 2025, MSolemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

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 “As a shepherd tends his flock when he finds himself among his scattered sheep, so will I tend my sheep.” Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. And yet, if we look closely at the readings, we don’t see any explicit reference to the heart of Jesus. However, in the second reading, we read about the love of God through Jesus and in the first reading and Gospel, we are given a clear description of the love of a good shepherd for his own sheep. The good shepherd in these texts refer to Jesus, so what we celebrate today, is the loving, self-giving heart of Jesus, our good and true shepherd. We celebrate His unwavering protection, dedicated care and sacrificial love for us, His flock. Sheep are vulnerable, they do not have any sense of direction, totally cannot protect themselves or each other, but quite amazingly, they respond to the voice and instructions of their shepherd. They cannot survive on their own, they need their shepherd. So, the good shepherd w...
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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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Homily: April 25, 2026, Saturday of the Third Week of Easter (Suffering)

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 “The God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory through Christ Jesus will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you after you have suffered a little.” We all experience some suffering in life. We don’t have to go looking for it. It will come looking for us. And as Christians, suffering is part of our discipleship. Jesus said very clearly: “If you want to follow me, take up your cross daily and follow me.” That means every day in the life of a Christian, we each have a cross and we are called not to despise or deny it, but to carry it with grace. Throughout the history of the Church, followers have carried their crosses in various ways. The Desert Fathers believed in severe fasting and a very austere life. In the Middle Ages, some monks practiced harsh penances - even self-inflicting physical suffering. Today, we hardly see such extreme practices. Life itself has enough hardship to offer. Simply by being faithful to our Christian vocation – as a married coup...
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Homily: April 26, 2026, Fourth Sunday of Easter (Life in Abundance)

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 “A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” These words of Jesus are very clear. There are two types of people you can allow into your life. One will give you fullness, peace, and joy in life. The other will come in then leave you with emptiness, sorrow, and destruction. Who will you invite? Jesus says: I came to give you life - life in abundance. What is life in abundance? The world offers abundance too. It promotes and promises happiness through prosperity of material wealth and possessions, great power and control through high position and status. Thus many people keep working hard, they compete and fight, some even try to outsmart the system. Over time, more often than not, all these things will pass, deplete, fail and leave us empty, not one bit happier than when we were innocent children with nothing to our name. The worldly culture promises freedom, but it actually leads to slavery and sadness. So...
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Homily: June 1, 2025, Ascension Sunday

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 “He put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.” Today’s second reading concludes very clearly the role and relationship of Christ and us, the church. This day of solemnity is not merely a commemoration of Jesus the Son returning to the Father. It is a firm proclamation of our identity, our mission, and our destiny as Church. Jesus Christ is the head of the Church. We, the Church, are His Body. And where the Head has gone, the Body will follow. The opening prayer for today’s celebration puts it beautifully for us: “Where the Head has gone before in glory, the Body is called to follow in hope.” Our destiny is heaven, confirmed. But we are not going alone as individuals, we are going as one united Church. When Jesus ascends into heaven, He goes in the same human body He took on through the Incarnation, the body which still bears the wounds of His sacrificial love, in...
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