For many of us, “ephphatha” is the sound we make when a bug flies into our mouth. But for Jesus, “Ephphatha” is the sound of God breathing and speaking fresh new life into weary old souls. Do you know that he knows what we need before we ask? Do you believe that is ready and willing to do more than we desire or imagine?

How am I supposed to live the Christian life when I know how weak and sinful I really am? We seem to expect the answer to be, “Well, just try harder.” Or as some think that “if it’s all grace, I can just live as I want.” But isn’t there a better way?

What is Jesus’ vision for his Church? That it would be a House of Praise music? No. A House of Preaching? No. His vision is that the Church catholic would be(come) the House of Prayer for all peoples.

Everyone is on a pilgrimage — a journey through the wilderness to the Promised Land. Some will stumble and fall into sin. Some will stray away and wander around. Some will stop short and settle for less. Some will make it all the way. In other words, some will please God and be saved, but many will please themselves and perish. Which best describes your pilgrimage and progress?

Jesus taught us that there are only two ways to go in this life. One is popular and leads to destruction. The other is not popular but leads to salvation. One way is profitable, the other is harmful. Can you tell the difference? This homily points us to the profitable way.

If God is a gardener and we are his plants, how do we grow? What fruit do we bear?

It has been said that the longest journey anyone can take is from the head to the heart. That’s true for some, but so is the converse. The journey from the heart to the head is just as long. The point is that the two must become one. In this homily Dcn Timothy shows us the divine secret to bridging the gap between the heart and the head.

God’s ways are not our ways. After we’ve done all we know to do, all we can do, the Lord often challenges us to do something counter-intuitive by faith. Like Jesus, we find ourselves at a crossroads of decision: My way or Thy way? The way we respond determines whether we enjoy godly quietness or not.

Does God’s silence always equate to his absence? Can he not be silent and present at the same time?

True Love has skin in the game. But how do we what true love is, how it lives, moves, acts?

Real Consolation for all those who, in the midst of this transitory life, are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adversity.

What fills that throne room — what defines it, what never ceases within it — is the worship of the Triune God. This is where Trinity Sunday begins. Not with a doctrine. Not with a definition. With a throne, and an open door, and a voice saying Come.

The Magnificat takes on new shape, new dimension, new meaning in the mouth of the Church who sings along with the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

Consider the Magnificat afresh and anew as Mother Church sings these beautiful words with the help of the Holy Spirit.

We are not God’s customers; we are his children. Our relationship is sacramental, not transactional. My friends, beyond every answered prayer is the greater gift: the One who listens, who welcomes us, who draws us close.

On our pilgrimage from Easter to Pentecost and beyond, we are confronted with diverse temptations and trials in the day to day rough and tumble of life. It’s as if the joys of the resurrection are threatened by the struggles of temptation and the sorrows of our moral corruption.

On this Feast of Saints Philip and James we meet two men who, like Jesus, share in our humanity and sympathize with the infirmities of our struggles in the real world.