Homilies and Other Writings

  Jesus speaks about a treasure; Jesus speaks about a pearl… But the treasure is valuable in itself, whereas the pearl is valuable according to its price. This is why Jesus says that “ The kingdom of heaven is like treasure,” but does not say “The kingdom of heaven is like a pearl.” “The Kingdom of Heaven,” He says, “is like a merchant in search of fine pearls.” 1. Jesus is the treasure that we find, Jesus is the merchant who finds us, a pearl of great value. That Jesus is a treasure is easy to understand, but why are we a pearl of great value, if without Jesus we are sinners who can do nothing? Because our price is the price of His blood. The only way to redeem human beings was Jesus’ death on the Cross. Jesus found us and saw that the price for us was very high. He sold everything He had; He gave up His own self and bought us at the price of his blood. Every time we see another person, especially if they are sinners, we have to remember that they may look disadvantaged and b...

  (Text of Fr. Andrew’s Homily for July 30, 2017)   I find in today’s readings a powerful message: how much better are the things of God than even the most desirable and costly of earthly things. These readings are a reminder that our truth, our happiness and fulfilment as human beings can be found nowhere else but in God. Let me comment briefly on each of the readings.   In the first reading, in a dream, God asked King Solomon what gift he’d like to receive. King Solomon chose an understanding mind for governing the people. Solomon preferred God’s wisdom to all else in the world. He could have asked God for many other gifts. King Solomon’s request for wisdom pleased God. "Because you have asked for this—not for a long life for yourself, nor for riches, nor for the life of your enemies, but for understanding so that you may know what is right— I do as you requested.” ( 1 Kg 3:7-12) The text continues with a surprising twist: “I give you also what you have no...

  “Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest…” There has never been a better promise for western culture. A culture of anxiety and depression, a culture of escape and superficiality, a culture that keeps getting tired of going nowhere, a culture that looks for diversion and fun to escape a deep sense of worthlessness. A culture of anxiety: a culture generating people fearful of the unknown, of failure, of being abandoned. A culture of depression: of people depressed when they come to themselves and see only nothingness, people accustomed to boredom, sliding to despair. A culture without God: a culture blind to God’s existence, deaf to His call and suspicious of His promises. And, because of that, I would even say a culture without true love, full of human hearts closed to their neighbour, an atmosphere of selfishness. A culture where a spouse is loved as long as this is beneficial to the lover, where a child is desired as long as it ...