Father Kevin A. Codd

Jesus doesn't mince his words or his imagery; he says it clearly: "Love your enemies." We all know that this is the most difficult, if not the most impossible, thing Jesus teaches us. So how do we actually do it in real life? Jesus gives us the answer and it is both a simple one and a profound one. 

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

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Jesús nos ofrece hoy su "mandamiento" más difícil: "Amen a sus enemigos."  A nosotros en nuestras vidas cotidianas, se parece casi imposible cumplirlo porque los enemigos nuestros nos han dañado mucho. Jesús entonces nos ensena como podamos vivir su mandamiento tan difícil...por orar para el bien de ellos. 

Homilía compartida en la Iglesia de San Francisco, Cuenca, Ecuador. 

Entre las dos versiones de las Bienaventurados que encontramos en los evangelios de Mateo y Lucas, la de Lucas es la más difícil. Jesús se pone como revolucionario en no ofrecer bendiciones a los a la cima del orden social y religiosa del día y al contrario de toda expectativa, anuncia que los bendecidos de Dios son los más al bajo del orden social y religiosa. 

Homilía compartida con la comunidad parroquial de la Iglesia de San Francisco, Cuenca, Ecuador 

Everyone loves the Beatitudes, though the version they love is almost always that of Matthew. Luke's version is more difficult because Jesus is in full-prophet mode as he uses his maiden sermon to upend the social and religious order of his time. Who is "blessed" and who is "woed" are not what anyone in that crowd expected to hear. 

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

Sometimes a single brief moment can define the character and meaning of a whole life. So it was for Simeon; his encounter with the child Jesus in the Temple of Jerusalem gave meaning to his long life and made him a figure of immense importance in the story of Israel's long-hoped-for salvation. As he received the Messiah on behalf of Israel, so he also stands in for us for whom this messiah is our "light to the nations." 

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

Today's impressive "miracle story" from the Gospel of John is a rarity: it is a "happy miracle!" Most of Jesus' miracles begin with a leper, a blind-man, even a dead-man (Lazarus), but this one begins with a wedding feast...the only problem is the wine for the feast has run out...not such a big deal in the face of humanity's many troubles.  The changing of water to wine is a sign of the grand graciousness of God to us. Making us happy makes him happy! 

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

“Mijo, te quiero y me complace.” Tales palabras dicho por un papá son de suma importancia en la vida de un niño. También fueron para Jesús. Al oír palabras muy parecidas de su Padre en el cielo momentos después de su bautismo en el rio Jordan, Jesús seguramente se sentía a la aprobación de su Padre para su manera de llevar la salvación a su pueblo. No por una revolución política contra los poderes políticos, ni por ser el más famoso maestro de la ley en la historia de Israel, sino por acompañar el pueblo humilde, pobre, y pecador en el desierto y en las aguas de arrepentimiento del rio Jordan.

Homilía compartida en la capilla de las Siervas de Maria en Cuenca, Ecuador.

"I love you and I'm proud of you." These are words any son or daughter loves to hear from their father. They are much the same words Jesus hears from his Father following his baptism in the Jordan River at the hands of John. They were important to Jesus not just because he needed some paternal validation, but because they let him know that his choice for just how he is going to save God's People has been the correct one. Jesus does not choose to take on the sons of Herod as a political revolutionary, nor be the greatest of rabbis on the steps of the Temple, but by going out to the desert to be with the poor, the humble, the sinners of Israel. 

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

We have warm and loving feelings for our Three Magi, so prominent on this final solemn feast of the Christmas season. Because of that love, we have many names for them: the Three Magi, the Three Kings, the Three Astrologers, and the Three Wisemen. Perhaps, we missed one though: "The Three Strangers", for their coming from a far-away land, their strange dress and customs, even their status as non-believers in the God of Abraham, may make such a tital far more important to the Epiphany story than the others. 

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

Arguably one of the most poignant lines in all of Luke's Gospel is at the heart of today's feast: "And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart." It tells us so much about the character and spirituality of our dear Mary. She was at heart, a contemplative, and remembering all that God had done for her was an integral part of her contemplative spirit. 

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