Homily: Funeral of Derek DiGregorio

This morning our parish came together to mourn the passing of a dear friend, Derek DiGrgorio. Being diagnosed around the age of ten with Ataxia Telangiectasia, over half his life his ministry to others came from the position of sitting in a wheelchair. His gift – his blessing to me and to all those around him was teaching us how he faced adversity – how to take it head on…and with the grace of God, how we convert those challenges to advantages. In short - how we take our dis-ablements…our cracks and our wounds and to allow the light of Christ to shone forth from those cracks and on to others. 

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Homily: Funeral of Sharon Knipper

 

This past Friday our family came together to celebrate the life of a dear wife, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter and friend – Sharon Knipper.  Her five-year battle with cancer ended and her new life with our risen Lord began. We will never forget the gift of love and life and compassion that Sharon gave each and every one of us…a gift, along with her contagious smile, that we will all continue to share with all those in our lives.

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Homily: 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Needless to say, it seems these past few weeks have been a challenge for many.  For example, just days ago our country basically ended the humanitarian aid provided through USAID. And when I hear that, and so many other things, I wonder have we forgotten who we are and as disciples of Christ, what we are supposed to be doing? As baptized Christians, we are priests. We are prophets. We are royalty. The call as baptized disciples is to live these attributes and to live them well. But are we?  Check it out…

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Homily: 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

This weekend’s gospel compares the Scribes, who were focused on money and power versus the widow who gave all that she had because of her faith and trust in God. Actually, if you look through all the Gospels you will find Jesus critical of the rich and supportive of the poor. But it is not so much that money is the root of all evil, rather it is power. For once ego aligns itself with power it can no longer see the truth. It will be preoccupied with what I have and how best to protect it…independent of the Gospel teachings. Check it out and see what I mean…

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Homily: 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today’s gospel is so much more than just the healing of someone with a physical blindness rather it is a story that calls for us to open our eyes to be like Christ and to bring forth God’s life changing message of the liberation for the oppressed and the inclusion of the marginalized. It is a story about each of us recognizing our own spiritual blindness -those times when we are hardheaded, judgmental, close minded, and have our own certitude as to who is in and who is out – who is up and who is down – why I am right and you are wrong…which seems to be the main criteria of this current election cycle. Check it out and see what I mean…

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