Sunday Homilies with the Redemptorists

Jesus began his ministry with a sense of urgency in his call for conversion. That was a bold and courageous statement because he knew then that people were living in sinfulness. Even today, the message is still relevant because many remain in utter selfishness and sinfulness. But we can change God's mind and heart when we make an effort to get out of our sinful lives. It's not just the con...

The first reading today focuses on Samuel's reaction when God called him. Samuel eventually responded, "Speak, Lord, your servant is listening." What about us? We sometimes respond quite differently when we pray, which is more like: "Listen, Lord, your servant is speaking." We don't listen more often than we should! When God looks at people, God not only sees what they...

When the magi saw the star, they had to courage to follow it, to engage in the journey without knowing where it would lead them. In Bethlehem, God was manifested in the flesh of Christ to them, and through the magi, to all of the world. Where will we find God today? We'll find God when we share our lives with those who are abandoned. God is manifested to us through their stories and their expe...

As we face 2024, we are called to be like the shepherds. When they heard the news about Jesus, they rushed to Bethlehem even after a long day of hard work. As we begin the new year, we are asked to not just stand around and wait for things to happen. The shepherds are telling us, "Just go, be hopeful, be positive, do not waver." We are called to see not just with our eyes, but with our h...

The feast of the Holy Family reinforces God's love for family life and reminds us of the humanity of Jesus. The family is not called "holy" because they didn't have problems in their family life. It's because of the quality of their relationship. They obeyed God's commandments and put God at the centre of their family life. We are therefore called to take our cue from the...

Today, we are presented with a "sanitized" version of Christmas with images of a clean, beautiful stable complete with a nice crib from a department store - when the manger, in reality, held the hay that fed the cattle. There's no accident that this God, who decided to be with us, was born in a feeding station, to nourish our brokenness and to feed our hungry souls. God stepped out o...

On this special night of the Nativity, we are reminded once again that Jesus’s birthday has brought to this world a light that can conquer all darkness! We are also reminded that we are not mere spectators, we are all links in the big chain which is the mystery of the incarnation. Christmas is a call to action! As believers, we are challenged to bring the hope, peace, joy, and love of Jesus into t...

"Let it be done." Those were the words from Mary that started the journey to Christmas. The obedience simply was to surrender her own will so that God would make her an instrument for our salvation. Mary said "yes" even when she knew that her future would be uncertain - she trusted God, Like Mary, God wants to make use of us. HE wants us to share our gifts, our talents, and our...

Celebrate with joy like John the Baptist, who, despite challenging circumstances, found joy as a witness to the light of Jesus. Let us mirror his joy, recognizing that Jesus brings the free gift of joy unlike fleeting pleasure that comes at a cost. Rejoice and be glad as we await this Advent for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. -Sunday Homily by Fr. Clement Lee, C.Ss. R. (17 December 2023)

John proclaims the coming of the Savior, but how do we prepare for it? We can do so by readying our mind, heart, soul, and body, and by focusing on the Lord who is present among us. Advent is a time for us to cultivate an internal disposition for God to enter our lives. -Sunday Homily by Fr. Peter Wee, C.Ss. R. (10 December 2023)

Advent is the time we're waiting with hope and joy. As we anticipate the celebration of the birth our Savior, Advent is also an opportunity to "stay awake" for Jesus' second coming. The Gospel reminds us to make God central in our lives and what we do. It's a call to stay spiritually awake and not be trapped by earthly distractions. It's also a reminder to reach out to th...