Are we all familiar with the old saying If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right? Have we all heard that G.K. Chesterton, the very famous British author, theologian, philosopher and writer of the Father Brown Mystery series, have a little different take on it. He said If something is worth doing, it’s worth doing poorly because the value is in the doing.

Now, how many of us want to be perfect disciples? You know, following the Lord and everything you said and did doing it absolutely right. Never making a mistake. Are there any perfect disciples here this morning? Are perfect. It’s a very tricky thing. Now it’s very interesting. Who remembers last week’s gospel? Now you’re saying, I don’t even remember what I have for breakfast.

Continue reading “Homily – 22nd Sunday Ordinary Time (Fr. Gibino)” →

So two questions. They may not seem to have anything to do with each other, but give me a moment first.

What is it that really makes you? Yeah, in the sense that you get nervous, you get insecure, yeah, you’re a little scared. And secondly, that’s the thought of space aliens do that to you. Now you’re saying space aliens, really? However, Saint John Paul II, during his reign as pontiff, started a special commission to examine the question, Is Jesus the Lord and Savior if we find life on other planets?

Now, that is a very interesting question. So how many this morning would say, yes, Jesus Christ is king of the universe, therefore he is Lord and savior of Mati, The Martian who agrees with that? Who says, No, no, not no. First, there is no such thing as space alien. And secondly, Jesus would certainly not be Lord and Savior.

Continue reading “Homily – 21st Sunday Ordinary Time” →

Once again, it is a great joy to be able to welcome you for your daughter’s baptism today.

And it’s very interesting that because we’re celebrating the baptism today and we have these readings, I need to use a dirty word. Now, I know you’re shocked that I would use a dirty word in front of this baby, but the dirty word is change for how many of us is the word change? A six letter, dirty word. Ah, but in fact, we’re here today to witness to a great change, and as a matter of fact, to witness to two great changes.

Continue reading “Homily – 20th Sunday Ordinary Time” →

How many of us have ever used the phrase, “It’s like rearranging the deck furniture on the Titanic.” How many of us have that sinking feeling. A good amount of the time that the ship is going down or that we’re in over our heads? In what? What’s over our heads? Well, usually our association is with water.

After last night’s storm, water can cause serious trouble, especially if you live in Queens County right now. But what we always know is that there is hope. Even though the waters may seem rough at times, even though we think we’re in over our heads, don’t we know that there is always someone there to throw us the lifeline? You know, the that little round float that will keep us on top of the water.

Continue reading “Homily – 19th Sunday Ordinary Time” →

Just to let you know, midway through the Gloria, I remembered James’s name.

So the stroke was a little premature, but there is a popular expression right now that I truly find interesting, and that expression very often is heard when anyone walks into a major department store.

If you walk in the wrong entrance and by the wrong entrance, I mean the one by the women’s perfume counter, there is someone there to spray you automatically.

The atomizer is are out and they ask, Do you want to make over?

Make over? Now, most people that I asked to say they do not like change.

So let me ask the question. How many of us in the community this morning like change?

Now the good Catholic reply is, Well, it depends.

Continue reading “Homily – Feast of the Transfiguration” →

Now, do me a favor and just put in the back of your mind somewhere the question: Do we really believe that the yoke is easy and the burden light?

Just put that in the back of the mind somewhere. How do each and every one of us answer that question?

Now, have we all had the experience of jumping to a conclusion?

Continue reading “Homily – 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time” →

Growing up, I grew up in a very strict European household.

Actually, it was a very strict Sicilian household.

And for those of you who know strict Sicilians. It’s strict.

And there was one virtue that was instilled in us more than any other, and that is the virtue of loyalty.

Above all else, we are to be loyal.

Continue reading “Homily – 13th Sunday Ordinary Time” →