Fr Thomas’ Homily for the 3rd Sunday of Advent

It is only a fortnight to Christmas, and it is a crazy time of gift buying frenzy. Many are happy that it is going to boost the economy.  Is that the best news of the time?  Behind each gift, there is a giver.  The worth and joy of the gift depends on the giver and the relationship between the giver and the recipient.  The purchased gift may be an electronic toy or some costly and sweet chocolate. 

Fr Thomas’ Homily for the 2nd Sunday of Advent

When I told the nine recipients of the Pope Francis Award, from SPC School, that they were preaching the Word of God, they and their families might have been wondering ‘when did they preach?’.  They were merely engaging in some service or another for the good of the community.  Yet, in truth they are preachers of the Word of God, because, unlike other services, these students were doing it in the name of Jesus, and their service strengthened the Church, the Body of Christ.  Their preaching was not so much with words, but action.  Through their services, they were preparing the way for God to come into the lives of those who need it.

Fr Thomas’ Homily for the 1st Sunday of Advent

The thrill of watching a football match is the anxious wait to see who kicks goals. From the start of the game till the finish it is a waiting till there are winners and losers. Anyone who enjoys sports would admit that the time between the start of the game and the finish is the best part. Today, the Church invites you to buy a ticket to an “in-between-time”.

Fr Thomas’ Homily for the Feast of Christ the King

For us it is the Solemnity of Christ the King, but for the sporting world the World Cup championship competition is commencing in Qatar. With this event, Qatar, a kingdom about the size of the greater Sydney is attracting the attention of the world for more than one reason. In preparation for the World Cup, it has been transformed with a new metro, skyscrapers, highways, new Universities, museums and most of all seven new stadiums.

Fr Thomas’ Homily for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Imagine you trying to give courage and confidence to a small minority of persecuted Christians, such as the early Church.  In those very hostile environments, the early Christians saw Jesus offering, ‘much needed’, wise and insightful advice on how to cope with difficult times. “When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but end will not follow immediately.” (Lk21:9)  

Fr Thomas’ Homily for the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

In the troubled politics of United Kingdom, Rishi Sunak has become the epitome of salvation from the feared economic disaster. This accidental hero of the time has beaten many odds. He is known for his Indian Hindu heritage. This is not a small thing in a country many still share the sentiments of Winston Churchill who led the country through World War II. He said, “All Indian leaders will be of low calibre and men of straw”. Ironically since then someone from that stock has become more wealthy and powerful than Churchill himself. So much so the country now look to a Hindu to save it from the looming disaster.

Fr Thomas’ Homily for the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sometimes the good people are a worry!  Imagine someone who has appreciation for a special style of Mass despises others as not Christian enough.  They have made themselves the yardstick for religiosity.  Parents being proud of well-mannered and pious children is a good thing.  But when they are keen to trumpet it out at every opportunity and belittle others, then they are like the Pharisees condemned by Jesus.

Fr Thomas’ Homily for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Pilgrimages are prayerful and reflective.  I was with a group of religious people in the Holy Land.  We were busy from morning till evening, visiting sites of biblical importance.  A friend of mine was feeling uneasy that his morning, noon, and evening prayers are interrupted by the travel schedules and site visits.  But he found a solution to the problem. Proudly he announced, “Today I don’t have to worry about the prayer of the hours.  I said all the prayers for the day – the morning, noon, and evening prayers-, before my breakfast.”   He even finished his evening prayer before his breakfast!

Fr Thomas’ Homily for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

The recent announcement of the Government plan to repatriate the Australian families of the Islamic terrorists currently in Syrian camps raised some eyebrows. Australia is seriously against any kind of terrorism, let alone the brutal activities of ISIS. Then how can we allow the families of the terrorists to come home to our neighbourhood? I would like to reflect on the issue with some inspiration from Luke 17:11-19