Father Weerackoon’s Homilies and Talks

25th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Jesus took a child in His arms, held the child, and pressed the child close to Him. Sometimes, we forget how valuable we are to God, but if we allow ourselves to be held by Jesus and if we allow Him to press us close to Him, they each of us will remember: God values me.

24th Sunday of Ordinary Time

God has given each of unique gifts and talents to build up His kingdom. If we simply devise our own plans and follow our own desires, we’re like the Peter who stands in front of Jesus, wishing to do what we want so that we can save our life, but we’ll ultimately lose it. But if we’re humble and follow Christ and His plan for us, then we're like the Peter who followed Jesus, meaning we’ll lose our life for Christ’s sake and the gospel, and thus save it.

23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time

Jesus pulled the deaf man aside so the deaf man could be alone with Jesus. Our lives too are defined by those intimate moments when we come before Christ, when we put ourselves in His presence and we listen to Him.

22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time

If we want to overcome the things that defile us - our judgmental thoughts, our lustful thoughts, our prideful thoughts, our selfish thoughts, then we must ask God to fill our hearts with His love and thank God for specific qualities He has given others so we come to appreciate what He's done in them. Then, we will be doers of the word, and not hearers only.

21st Sunday of Ordinary Time

Jesus's disciples left Him because of what He taught. But His words are true because all the money, success, pleasure, and things of this world can't bring us happiness. Only the Lord can, because only He has the words of eternal life.

20th Sunday of Ordinary Time

The promise of heaven doesn't begin after death - it begins now by abiding and remaining with Jesus, for as Jesus promises: "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in Me, and I in him."

19th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Elijah's despair and desire for death prevented him from seeing how the Lord was still at work in his life even after the Lord had sent down fire from heaven. The Jews' perception of Jesus because they thought they knew His background prevented them from seeing how Jesus is the bread that came down from heaven. Do we see how the Lord is active in our life? And are we willing to encounter Him in a new way?

18th Sunday of Ordinary Time

We spend out lives looking and searching for fulfillment, but only God can fulfill us because He promises "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst."

17th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Like the young boy who gave up his 5 loaves and 2 fish, we can give God whatever little time, talent, and devotion we have and He will multiply it, because God can do a lot with crumbs.

16th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Christ never tires of listening to us, forgiving us, or feeding us, because He is the Good Shepherd. When we go to Him to find rest from the anxieties, stress, and business of this world, He will take care of us and show us how to be compassionate and take pity on those entrusted to our care.