Thu, 24 November 2016
One of the strangest conversations imaginable comes from three men crucified together. Christ the King rules from the instrument of his execution. |
Thu, 24 November 2016
We are mortal. We have no control over our dissolution. We cast our lot with the Savior who reached out to us by taking mortality upon himself. |
Thu, 24 November 2016
Does the promise of eternal life encourage us to suppose that the here and now does not matter? No; for eternity is found in every passing moment. |
Thu, 24 November 2016
The charming story of Zacchaeus assures us that conversion can come to our household as well. |
Thu, 24 November 2016
The homilist was away on October 9 and 16. -- If we can offer the prayer "Be merciful to me, a sinner," and if we steel ourselves for the long haul of faithfulness, we will be properly oriented toward our God. |
Thu, 24 November 2016
The homilist was not supposed to be here today: explanation is on audio. We must struggle to see that an honest day's work contributes to the entire vision. |
Thu, 24 November 2016
The rich man with Lazarus at his door: was he unaware of him? The rich man convicts himself, demonstrating his acquaintance with this poor man. We likewise know that Lazarus and his fellows are at our door. |
Thu, 24 November 2016
Initiative: it is applied for evil and for good. If we are dedicated to the Kingdom of God, we will exercise initiative on its behalf. |
Thu, 24 November 2016
Toward the end of the Year of Mercy, we consider the golden calf, the fatted calf, butter calves, and Paul's self-description as not knowing what he was doing in his unbelief. |
Thu, 24 November 2016
The homilist did not preach on August 28. -- What does the Kingdom of God demand of us? Great flexibility. We think of the slave Onesimus and the sacred character of human labor. We remember the inner struggle of St. Teresa of Kolkata. |
Thu, 24 November 2016
"Enter through the narrow gate." Jesus has gone through the narrowest gate of all: the death we all must face. We therefore enter into the love which led him there. |
Thu, 24 November 2016
Looking for comfort today? The Scriptures are more about struggle and perseverance. |
Fri, 12 August 2016
We are called to trust that our God is eager for us to enter into his Kingdom. Faith bids us perceive that every moment of our existence is an opening into eternal joy. |
Fri, 12 August 2016
We must reconsider the fantasies our minds have woven. We must affirm that God holds our life in his hands. |
Fri, 12 August 2016
Is it possible to bargain with God? Abraham thought so. Our pleading in prayer leads us to purify our intentions. God is eager to give us the help we really need. |
Fri, 12 August 2016
The homilist was away the past two Sundays. -- Hospitality need not lead us to anxiety. Paying attention to our guests in fact leads us to the peace of contemplating the goodness of God. Our sufferings are united with those of Jesus. |
Fri, 12 August 2016
Elisha eliminated obstacles to his answer of the call of Elijah. We must turn from the half-hearted responses of would-be disciples of Jesus. Renunciation leads to the deepest freedom. |
Fri, 12 August 2016
Our classifying, labeling, and dismissing of people leads to such things as the Orlando mass shooting last Sunday. Saint Paul calls for no such classifying. |
Fri, 12 August 2016
Every Catholic Christian must become intimately familiar with the Scriptures. David and Bathsheba are linked today with Jesus' proclamation of forgiveness for the woman who approaches him. |
Fri, 12 August 2016
Saint Paul, in Galatians, calls us to an appreciation of the ways in which God is changing and converting us. Elijah and Jesus proclaim resurrection as they act in favor of the sons of widows. |
Fri, 12 August 2016
It is well for us to appreciate Melchizedek as a "type" of Jesus: both offer bread and wine. |
Sun, 22 May 2016
I think this is the first time I ever got an "Awww..." over something I said in a homily. And on Trinity Sunday?!? |
Sun, 22 May 2016
Our existence in the flesh is good. Spirit supplies what we need when flesh can go no further. |
Sun, 22 May 2016
Let us be especially aware of the description, from Hebrews, of Jesus entering the heavenly sanctuary, and know that his gift of self is utterly personal. |
Sun, 22 May 2016
Borrowing from the Seventh Sunday of Easter, we read Jesus' aspiration "that all may be one" and consider, in light of the first reading, that unity is achieved and maintained painstakingly. |
Sun, 22 May 2016
On love as feeling and as virtue. |
Sun, 22 May 2016
From day to day, as in the case of the Apostles, it may seem that few are being gathered in. We hold before us the image of the "multitude" of the Book of Revelation. |
Sun, 22 May 2016
Love itself can be uncomfortable. Just ask Peter. |
Sun, 10 April 2016
I may have recorded Easter, but it may have been part of a recording which did not get shut off for hours. -- Doing right by Thomas, and the perils of having chewing gum in school. |
Sun, 10 April 2016
A consideration of a strange and wonderful conversation: "This day you will be with me in paradise." |
Sun, 10 April 2016
We tend to be our own judge, jury, and executioner. God does a new thing: setting us free from our self-imposed prisons. |
Sun, 10 April 2016
The annoying parable of the Prodigal Son. (I can't remember why I don't have a recording for Feb. 28.) |
Sun, 10 April 2016
"Isn't life awful -- and wonderful?" The Transfiguration prepares for the fullness of the mystery of death and resurrection. |
Sun, 10 April 2016
More calls. Our vocation is founded upon Jesus' resurrection; Paul hands on to us the testimony of the earliest witnesses to Jesus' rising. |
Sun, 10 April 2016
An exercise in avoiding perfectionism: So what if the blog page is a little bit out of chronology? -- The importance of feelings in human life. |
Sun, 10 April 2016
On saving the good wine for later. |
Sun, 10 April 2016
Temptation as a disordered appeal to our ego. |
Sun, 10 April 2016
The call of Jeremiah and Jesus' rejection at the beginning of his ministry, as well as the reflection on love as the greatest gift, cause us to consider our giftedness. |
Sun, 10 April 2016
Going deeper into baptism than the concept of "your ticket to heaven." |
Sat, 9 April 2016
Epiphany is always a good time to look at xenophobia. Have you any idea why we might want to look at xenophobia? |
Fri, 8 January 2016
Presenting Scriptural proof that Mary and Joseph drove a Dodge. |
Fri, 8 January 2016
Imagine the meeting of Mary and Elizabeth, and consider the awareness of God's favor which these women enjoyed. |
Fri, 8 January 2016
Joy is made of stern stuff. |
Fri, 8 January 2016
In the midst of further horror (San Bernardino), we join with the ancients who longed so deeply for a straight path to God. |
Fri, 8 January 2016
Embrace Advent -- the alternative to Black Friday. |
Fri, 8 January 2016
What is truth? We refrain from the cynicism of Pontius Pilate and embrace the fullness of truth to be found in our suffering servant. |
Fri, 8 January 2016
The end of the world? In light of the griefs of the past week (Paris massacres), perhaps God is giving us a chance to begin the world! |
Fri, 8 January 2016
"The widow's mite" and our concerns about being good "stewards" of the temporal affairs God has entrusted to us. |
Fri, 8 January 2016
The homilist was away from the ambo throughout October. -- We consider our call to holiness as we remember Pope Francis and his evocation of Dorothy Day. |
Fri, 8 January 2016
"Whoever is not against us is for us." As we reflect on the visit of Pope Francis to the United States, we are to find every strength and advantage in a principle of inclusion. |