Father Kevin A. Codd

Family Stress, 14th Sunday of Ordinary Time (B), July 7, 2024

Jesus' return to his hometown of Nazareth is marked by the unappreciative (and unbelieving) response of his family and neighbors. Perhaps tangled expectations, part of every family's life, are the reason. 

Homily shared with the Saint Francis Catholic Community in Cuenca, Ecuador. 

Mark's Gospel Sandwich: 13th Sunday of Ordinary Time (B), June 30, 2024

The evangelist, Mark, chooses a very rare literary form in his fifth chapter; he "sandwiches" one beautiful story between two halves of another. Let's explore what he might be up to even as we learn so much from both Jesus' encounter with Jairus, the synagogue official and the woman suffering for twelve years with a debilitating flow of blood. 

Homily shared with the Saint Francis Catholic Community in Cuenca, Ecuador.

"Teacher, do you not care...?" Twelfth Sunday of the Year (B), June 23, 2024

Mark's version of the storm at sea contains one line that should stop us cold: "Teacher, do you not care that we are about to perish?" It is a terrible thing to say to Jesus who is "care" incarnate. What Jesus' apostles miss in the midst of their storm is the reality that Jesus is in the boat with them. We, too, often forget this same truth in the midst of our life's storms. 

Homily shared with the Saint Francis Catholic Community in Cuenca, Ecuador.

 

Revisiting Adam and Eve: 10th Sunday of Ordinary Time (B), June 9, 2024

The character of Adam and Eve's first great sin in today's story from Genesis was not really that of "disobedience" as much as it was good, old-fashioned "hubris". Their attempt to make gods of themselves was the beginning of the troubles our human race has struggled with almost forever. It is the "great sin" still at the heart of just about all our present troubles. The Jesus story found in the Gospels lets us know we can rest in our humility for it is thus that the one and true God loves us, as evidenced by his coming to us as one of us. (And apologies for the gravelly voice today...a cold virus got to me earlier in the week.)

Homily shared with the Saint Francis Catholic Community in Cuenca, Ecuador. 

Adan y Eva y Su Pecado Original, 10o. domingo ordinario (B), 9 de junio de 2024

La historia de Adan y Eva es una de las mas importantes del Antiguo Testamento. Con su "pecado original" comenzamos una historia por los siglos de mucha maldad. No es tanto un pecado de desobedienca, sino uno del orgullo humano que siempre quiere ponernos como dioses. Y asi, continuamos a vivir una historia de una maldad humana desastrozo. (Pido disculpas por mi voz; estoy un poco resfriado hoy). 

Homilia compartida en la capilla de las Hermanas Carmelitas, Virgen de Bronce, Cuenca, Ecuador.

Sweet Graces, Corpus Christi-B, June 2, 2024

The expansive display of sweets of all kinds here in Cuenca's Parque del Calderon this Corpus Christi weeks raises the simple question, "Why?" The answer is clear if we understand what sweets symbolize in the popular Catholic imagination, particularly in Latin America. Just about everything dealing with God and his love for us! Sweet are God's abundant graces in our lives!

Homily shared with the Saint Francis Catholic Community in Cuenca, Ecuador.

The Trinity is First an Experience, Trinity Sunday-B, May 26, 2024

To "understand" the Holy Trinity is only possible after we have "experienced" the Holy Trinity as did Jesus' first disciples. 

Homily shared with the Saint Francis Catholic Community in Cuenca, Ecuador.

Lo que la viña nos enseña, 5o Domingo de la Pascua-B, 28 de abril, 2024

Un viñador nos ensena el significado de la viña, el tronco, y sus uvas: comunión con Dios y los demás.

Homilía compartida por el Padre Kevin con la comunidad católica de Santa Teresita, Misicata (Cuenca, Ecuador)

What Vines Teach Us, 5th Sunday of Easter (B), April 28, 2024

The image of the Marlboro Man is the archetype for rugged individualism. The humble vine-tender with his vines is an archetype of communion. 

Homily shared with the Saint Francis Catholic Community in Cuenca, Ecuador

"La Paz Este con Ustedes," 2o Domingo de la Pascua (Misericordia Divina) B, 7 de abril, 2024

Juan 20: 19-31: Al anochecer del día de la resurrección, estando cerradas las puertas de la casa donde se hallaban los discípulos, por miedo a los judíos, se presentó Jesús en medio de ellos y les dijo: "La paz esté con ustedes". Dicho esto, les mostró las manos y el costado. Cuando los discípulos vieron al Señor, se llenaron de alegría.

Las primeras palabras que Jesús resucitado dice a sus discípulos son sencillas pero importantes: "La paz este con ustedes." O en hebreo: "Shalom." ¿Que es esa “paz” que Jesús les ofrece? La consideramos...

Homilia para el segundo domingo de la Pascua/Divina Misericordia (B)