Homilies by Fr. Satish Joseph

Homily for the 29th Week in Ordinary Time, Year C, 2010 - Fr. Satish Joseph Last week, there were some distractions in my spiritual life. As I have said before, I find early mornings to be the best time for quite time in prayer. In the last few weeks, however, I have found waking up in the morning to be very difficult. I have had to drag myself to my prayer corner. The other distraction was sports. India took on Australia in cricket. When I get up at 5:30 in the morning, the game is just ending in India. Those of you who love sports, you know there is nothing like catching up the last bit of the game. If you are curious, no, I did not give up into these temptations. However, I did ask myself a few questions as I sat in prayer. Why am I doing this? Why do I spent quite time in prayer? What am I getting out of this? I will give you my answer in a few moments.

Homily for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C 2010 - Fr. Satish Jsoeph   Because our nation is at war, perhaps, it will be easier for us to understand today’s readings better. Here then, is a hypothetical situation. Suppose one of the Taliban commanders came to the United States to seek treatment for cancer, how would you react as ordinary citizens? Would you support the offer of health care and nursing to him? Now, let me ask you these same questions as a people of faith in Jesus Christ? Are you now at least compelled to pause and rethink your reaction? Do you now have a different answer than our initial reaction? If you are struggling for an answer, then perhaps, you will understand today’s reading really well. 

Homily for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C 2010 - Fr. Satish Joseph. Faith is like a teenager falling in love for the first time and realizing that he or she is capable of love.  Faith is its own reward.

Homily for the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time If someone had to ask you the question, “What is at your core?” or, if your children or your parents or your friend had to ask you, “What are the hallmarks of your character?” or if God had to ask you, “Who are you? Or “Who are you becoming?” what would your answer be?

Homily for the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C 10 - Fr. Satish Joseph In its latest report, the US Census Bureau has announced that in 2009 one in seven Americans was living in poverty. The bureau defines poverty as any family of four living on less than $21,954 a year. Officials said that the number of people in poverty increased by nearly 4 million between 2008 and 2009. But again, what does a sermon in the Church have anything to do with these issues?

Homily for the 24th Sunday  in Ordinary Time, Year C 10 - Fr. Satish Joseph. A scandal is serious business. It hurts the people involved, it destroys relationships, and most of all, it leads people away from God. However, what if I said to you that there is a good and positive way of being scandalizing?

Homily for 23rd Week in Oridniary Time, Year C 10 - Fr. Satish Joseph I remember this incident very clearly. I was in my moral theology class in the Seminary. The professor began his class by asking all of us to write our epitaph. I wanted mine to be the best and the most impressive. I remember thinking hard for a minute and finally wrote down the words: “Here lies a man who lived his life to the full.” I was so convinced that everyone in the room would want to copy my epitaph. When I shared my epitaph with the class, I did not hear the ooohs and the aaahhs I was expecting. The professor passed on to my friend sitting next to me. He had merely written, “Here lies a disciple.” Not only was I highly embarrassed at my own epitaph, but that was the single most life changing moment of my life. It is 20 years since then. Disciple – this word haunts me today as it did that day.

Homily for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C 10 - Fr. Satish Joseph (Comment Point: Has Pride cost you? What is the price of humility? Post your comment at the end of the homily).

Homily for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C 10 - Fr. Satish Joseph

Homily for thte 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time/Feast of the Assumption, Year C 2010 - Fr. Satish Joseph