Homily: August 1, 2025, Firday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time (Jesus Titles)

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 “Is he not the carpenter’s son?” 

Jesus was referred to by various titles during His lifetime on earth: Son of Man, Son of God, Son of David, Messiah, Rabbi. People also acknowledged Him as a divine healer, prophet, Savior, even as their King.

But when He got back to His hometown Nazareth, people knew Him only as “the carpenter’s son.”

His foster father, Joseph, must have been well known in town as the carpenter, and Jesus thus was recognized as the son of the carpenter. Traditionally, the parents would teach and train their children to learn their trade, so that they would grow to be apprentices and finally become masters of their parents’ professions.

So, to the people of Nazareth, Jesus was expected to be a good carpenter like His father Joseph. They couldn’t imagine Him becoming anything else, because they did not think He would know any other trade than His father’s. 

Their understanding and expectations of His capabilities were very limited and narrow, they could not even believe how He could preach and teach so well; thus, they did not go to receive blessings or healing from Jesus.

They lacked faith. They could not see beyond the ordinary and the familiar, they could not believe that God would come to His people in a simple and humble way, through the household of a carpenter.

We too will have a faith block, if we expect God’s blessings to come through human logic, material wisdom or worldly power. The power of the Holy Spirit is most effective, and God’s graces pour out most abundantly in the simple, ordinary and humble situations.

Who is Jesus to you?

Can you accept that He, the son of a carpenter, is truly the Son of God?

Jesus of Nazareth, son of Joseph, Savior of the world, strengthen my lack of faith and help me see you as you truly are. Amen.


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

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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: December 6, 2022, Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent.

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“Though the grass withers and the flower wilts, the word of our God stands forever." This was one of my favorite Bible phrases for some time in the past, and then it was forgotten. While preparing for this homily, it again touched and inspired me. Do you also have a favorite verse or phrase from the Bible? Is there a book of the Bible which you like to read over, and over again? Has any word or phrase in the Bible helped you in life and gave you hope? Did you memorize any verse from the Bible to deepen your faith? Do you feel God speaking to you through the Bible? My last question to you, do you even read the Bible? The Bible, the word of God, contains the truths of this life and the life eternal.  It is an interesting book, in a profound way. God’s word was written by more than 40 different authors, inspired and guided by the Holy Spirit, over a period of thirteen centuries.  From a secular point of view, the Bible is a massive compilation of historical, theological, philosop...
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Homily: September 10,2025, Wednesday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time (Thoughts)

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