Homélies de Dom Armand Veilleux

July 29, 2025 - Memory of ss. Martha, Mary and Lazarus

Sir 24, 1-2.5-7.12-16 26-30; or 1Jo 4, 7-16

Jo 11, 19-27 or Jo12,1-11

Homily

This liturgical memory of Martha, Mary and Lazarus could be seen as the feast of friendship. Indeed, we see in the Gospels that Jesus has a very wide range of relationships with the various people he meets. First, there are the crowds, to whom he addresses his message and for whom he is often moved by compassion. Among these crowds there were, of course, those whom he disturbed and who fought him, in particular the Doctors of the Law, the Scribes and the Pharisees; but there were also a large number of disciples, men and women who followed him on his apostolic tours. At one point, he chose seventy-two of them to send on mission. And then there was the group of twelve apostles whom he had called individually and in a special way, and who shared his entire public life. Among them were some more intimate ones whom he brought with him at special moments, such as at the Transfiguration and in Gethsemane.

27 July 2025 -- 17th Sunday ‘C’

Gen 18:20-32; Col 2:12,14; Luke 11:1-13

Homily

         In the section of Luke's Gospel that we have been reading for several Sundays, he describes Jesus' journey to Jerusalem and places events there that other evangelists have placed at other times in Jesus' life. This section also contains stories that only Luke tells. This was the case with the Gospel of the Good Samaritan two weeks ago and that of Martha and Mary last Sunday. In the text we have just read, Luke recounts two teachings of Jesus on prayer that we also find in Matthew, namely the Lord's Prayer and the exhortation: "Ask and you shall receive... etc". And between these two teachings, Luke places another teaching of Jesus, which he alone recounts: that of the importunate friend. Let us pause for a moment on this passage.

27 juillet 2025 -- 17ème dimanche "C"

Gen 18, 20-32; Col 2, 12.14; Luc 11, 1-13 

H O M É L I E

          Dans la section de l’Évangile de Luc que nous lisons depuis plusieurs dimanches, celui-ci décrit la montée de Jésus vers Jérusalem et y place des événements que les autres évangélistes ont placés à d’autres moments de la vie de Jésus. On trouve aussi en cette section des récits que Luc est le seul à raconter. Ce qui était le cas de l’évangile du Bon Samaritain d’il y a quinze jours celui de Marthe et Marie de dimanche dernier. Dans le texte que nous venons de lire, Luc rapporte deux enseignements de Jésus sur la prière que nous avons aussi en Matthieu, c’est-à-dire le Pater et l’exhortation : « demandez et vous recevrez... etc. » Et, entre ces deux enseignements Luc place un autre enseignement de Jésus, qu’il est le seul à raconter : celui de l’ami importun. Arrêtons-nous un peu à ce morceau.

26 July 2025 - Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne

Ex 24,3-8 ; Mt 13,24-30

Homily

          The Gospel is extremely discreet about the Virgin Mary. We know very few details of her life. It is as if the Evangelists wanted all our attention to be focused on what is essential about her, namely that she was the Mother of the Son of God. Luke, who says a little more than the others, opens his account of the Incarnation with this simple yet solemn formula: "The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a young girl given in marriage to a man named Joseph, from the house of David; this young girl's name was Mary."

26 juillet 2025 – Mémoire des saints Joachim et Anne

Ex 24,3-8 ; Mt 13,24-30

H o m é l i e 

          L'Évangile est d'une extrême discrétion concernant la Vierge Marie. Nous connaissons très peu de détails de sa vie. C'est comme si les Évangélistes voulaient que toute notre attention soit centrée sur ce qui est l'essentiel la concernant, à savoir qu'elle a été la Mère du Fils de Dieu. Luc, qui en dit un peu plus que les autres, ouvre son récit de l'Incarnation par cette formule simple et solennelle à la fois : "L'ange Gabriel fut envoyé par Dieu dans une ville de Galilée du nom de Nazareth, à une jeune fille accordée en mariage à un homme nommé Joseph, de la maison de David; cette jeune fille s'appelait Marie."

25 juillet 2025 – Fête de saint Jacques

2 Cor 4, 7-15; Mt 20, 20-28

Homélie

          Il y a plusieurs Jacques dans le Nouveau Testament. Celui que nous célébrons aujourd'hui, c'est le frère de Jean et fils de Zébédée. Ce Jacques fut l'un des premiers martyrs. Hérode le fit mettre à mort lors de la première grande persécution contre l'Église, avant même l'arrestation de Pierre. Avec son frère Jean, comme lui compagnon de Pierre, il tient une place toute particulière durant la vie publique de Jésus. Avec Jean, il est l'un des premiers disciples à aller demander à Jésus "Maître, où demeures-tu?". Il est l'un de ceux que Jésus amène avec lui sur la montagne de la Transfiguration, dans la chambre où il ressuscite la fille de Jaïre et, finalement, au Jardin des Oliviers.

25 July 2025 - Feast of Saint James

2 Cor 4, 7-15; Mt 20, 20-28

Homily

          There are several James in the New Testament. The one we are celebrating today is the brother of John and son of Zebedee. This James was one of the first martyrs. Herod had him put to death during the first great persecution against the Church, even before Peter's arrest. Along with his brother John, who was also a companion of Peter, he held a very special place in the public life of Jesus. Along with John, he was one of the first disciples to ask Jesus "Master, where are you staying? He was one of those whom Jesus took with him to the Mount of Transfiguration, to the room where he raised Jairus' daughter from the dead and, finally, to the Garden of Olives.