Homily: 2nd Sunday of Lent

This weekend we heard the famous biblical story of Abraham and his son Isaac, and the angel who stopped Abraham at the last minute from sacrificing his son as God had ordered. While this passage demonstrates Abraham’s unbelievable faith in God – it is a story whose ending is often missed.  An ending which turns this story upside down and changes how that culture – and we – need to see God so differently.  What is this surprise twist? And how does it impact our spiritual journey?  Check it out…

Click here for a podcast of the homily

Click here for the text of the homily

Click here for the readings of the day

Homily: Good Friday

 

During these past weeks of Lent, our Gospels have focused on the quintessential theme of life, death and rebirth – or what some call order, disorder, and reorder. However you look at this universal pattern, one thing is for sure – there is no skipping the process. So, on this Good Friday, instead of just focusing on the cross that Christ died on – a death that was for us…what if we spent some time on the deaths that happen to us…to focus on our crosses and on our dying that needs to occur each day?  What does that look like? Check it out…

Click here for a podcast of the homily

Click here to the text of the homily

Click here for the readings of the day

Homily: Third Sunday of Lent

This Sunday we heard the gospel that provides the longest dialogue recorded between Jesus and a woman.  By breaking with social ‘norms’ Jesus reaches out with acceptance, self-worth and compassion to one who was socially outcast. For this is a Gospel story that teaches us, reminds us, encourages us that in the Kingdom of God there are no outcasts, there are no strangers, there are no us versus them, rather it is a kingdom of only repentant and welcomed sinners – people like you and me. But the core message of this gospel is hidden – and one that opens our eyes to what we already have.  What is that?  Check it out….

Click here for a podcast of the homily

Click here to the text of the homily

Click here for the readings of the day

Homily: Second Sunday of Lent

 

I invite you to just focus on the God encounter that takes place in the Gospel story of the Transfiguration. It is when God appears in the form of a cloud which casts a shadow over those gathered – a cloud that, although frightens them, they still entered.  What about the darkness and clouds that we face in our lives? For it these types of God encounters where lives are changed - encounters that break you open and rearrange what you think you knew and wanted.

So, take a few minutes to enjoy a few stories that have nothing to do with answers - but more so with encounters.  Stories about hiker Trevor Thomas, Franciscan Richard Rohr and my recently departed brother-in-law Vincent – all which, like this Gospel, just may bring light into the darkness you face. Check it out…

Click here for a podcast of the homily

Click here for the text of the homily

Click here for the readings of the day

Homily: Palm Sunday

 

I was blessed to have just returned from spending three weeks with my nineteen-month-old granddaughter, Bloom. During our time together she retaught me one of the core lessons we need to be reminded of this Palm Sunday as we move into Holy Week.  What did she do and what did she teach me?  Check it out…

Click here for the podcast of the homily

Click here for the text of the homily

Click here for the readings of the day

Homily: 1st Sunday of Lent

It is every year during the first Sunday of Lent that we hear the familiar Gospel story of angels leading Jesus into desert to be tempted by Satan. What is interesting, is that the line immediately preceding this passage speaks of God’s love for his Son. It doesn’t seem like the way you would treat your son or daughter.  So there must be a reason why the Gospel writer crafted this story of the three quintessential temptations of pride, privilege and power, to immediately follow the initiation of Jesus to his ministry. What point was Matthew trying to make and how does it relate to our Lenten journey?

Perhaps a true story of a dying college grad and his former college professor will shed light on all of this for us.  Click and see what I mean…

For the podcast of the homily, click here

For the text of the homily, click here

For the readings of the Sunday, click here

Homily: Ash Wednesday

"Ash Wednesday Cross"
(c) Jan Richardson | janrichardsonimages.com

 

Most, if not all, of us have likely been spending some time choosing some form of prayer, fasting and almsgiving that we will exercise this Lent. But maybe – just maybe – this might be the year we stretch ourselves so to choose to live, to see and to act differently in such a way that these 40 days of Lent may move us in a different direction than years past.  A direction that has us living the marrow of the Gospel. But to do so, just may require us to revisit our image of God – the true image that we are created in.  To really open our eyes as to who is this God that we so much believe in? So what does that all look like?  Check it out…

 

To listen to the podcast of the homily, click here

 

For the text of the homily, click here

For the readings of the day, click here

Homily: Fifth Sunday of Lent

This weekend’s Gospel is the story of the adulterous woman who is about to be stoned with the scribes and the Pharisees having Jesus caught between a rock and a hard place (bad pun). We all know how the story ends – but what was Jesus really teaching those gathered in the Temple?  Take a second look and you will find the deeper lesson of this Gospel – one that is so often missed…because it just may be hitting too close to home.  Check it out…

To listen to a pod cast of the homily, click here

For a text of the homily, click here

For the reading of this Sunday, click here

Homily: 2nd Sunday of Lent

We hear the story of the Transfiguration every 2^nd Sunday of Lent, which is filled with layers of meaning.  But what if we took the time to just focus on the God encounter which occurs at the end of the story? For God appears in the form of a cloud which casts a shadow. Have you ever noticed how many of the God encounters in the Bible involves a cloud that overshadows and obscures the light?

What about the God encounters in your life? Encounters that break you open and have a way of destroying all the certitudes you’ve built up in your life - in order to make room for new Divine encounters?

Listen to a different way for you to consider spending the balance of your Lenten time – it just may give you an encounter where you least expect God’s love and mercy…

Check it out…

Click here for a podcast of the homily

Click here for the text of the homily

Click here for the readings of this Sunday 

Homily: 5th Sunday in Lent

This Sunday we hear the familiar Gospel of the woman who was caught in adultery and about to be stoned.  Meanwhile the Scribes and the Pharisees, keepers of the Jewish Law, are not very happy with all the attention Jesus is getting, so they a lay trap for him.  What does Christ do?  Does he focus on the sin or the shame?  

See how a Jesuit who works with gangs in LA sheds light into the deepest meaning of this Gospel story.  

Click here for the Sunday readings

Click here for the podcast

Click here for the text

Homily: 5th Sunday of Lent

As we come into the final weeks of our Lenten journey– the question on my mind is: How well do we see Christ in our lives?   

Unfortunately I think many people miss the opening line in this week’s Gospel which starts out saying some Greeks came to worship at the Passover Feast and they asked to see Jesus - and their query seems to be more than just star-crazed gentiles looking to get a glimpse of Jesus. But I would guess the answer Jesus gives them was more than they were looking for.

So how can Tim Shriver, Special Olympics and Kodak help us make sense of this week’s Gospel?

Click here for the podcast of the homily

Click here for the text of the homily

Click here for the scripture readings

Homily: 1st Sunday of Lent

Based on today’s Gospel it would seem that before Christ could begin his ministry, a time of desert wilderness was necessary.  This  First Sunday of Lent reminds us of the need for time in our own desert experience…but one which is deeper than just pledging renewed New Year’s resolutions.

What does that looks like?  The answer is brought to light by what the Mayan Indians did 1,000 years ago on an island off the Florida Keys.  What was it?  And how does it help open our eyes to what we need to do to deepen our Lenten experience?

Check it out….

Click here for the podcast of the homily

Click here for the text of the homily
Click here for the scripture readings 

Homily: Ash Wednesday 2014

Image: Blessing the Dust © Jan Richardson

So why do we gather today to receive ashes?  It is not a Holy Day of Obligation and yet today our liturgies will be filled with those looking to receive ashes.

Ashes – is it just a tradition that we follow?
Or…are we looking to make an outward sign of our Christianity?
Or…are we remembering our own mortality and/or that of our loved ones?

It is for my friend, artist, writer and minister, Jan Richardson, who lost her husband this past December.  As I was preparing my homily for this Ash Wednesday her blog post dealing with this loss…and the ashes came to light.  And it hit me.

Her story…your story…the ashes…and God. 

It is all there.

Click here for the podcast of the live recording of the Homily

Click here for the text of the Homily

Click here for the readings

Homily: First Sunday of Lent

It seems that before Christ was ready to begin his ministry it required barren time in the desert – a place of solitude without distractions. It is there that he needed to wrestle with the same temptations we still face today: power, possessions and prestige.

And on this first Sunday of Lent we are called to journey into our personal deserts where we are to ‘repent’ or in other words, ‘to turn around.’ It seems that true transformation can only be found in that type of liminal space..

Why? And, what does that type of transformation sound like?  Click the link below and see what I mean!

Click here for the Sunday readings

Click here for the text

Click here for the podcast

Where Do Ashes Come From?

So as we approach Ash Wednesday I am often asked the question, "Where do those ashes come from?"  Is there an angelic  'Ash Fairy' who drops them down from heaven?

Actually the ashes come from the burning of the blessed palms used last year during Palm Sunday.  So yes - there is a process and method, honed and used every year, in order to yield the ashes a parish requires for their Ash Wednesday services - and it is not found in the Roman Missal! 

Over the past few months parishioners have been dropping off their old palms knowing that we would soon be preparing for Ash Wednesday.

So this past Thursday, when the wind was calm and before the snow and rain from 'Nemo' arrived here in the Northeast, I gathered all the palms that had been collected and pulled out the clean fire pit.


 
Sheltered behind the Church, I began the process of burning all of the palms, careful not to let the fire cool and thus generate plumes of white smoke - signaling the Princeton Fire Dept!  After the fire burns down the ashes are gently fanned in order to facilitate the smoldering ashes to completely burn down.


 
The ashes are then collected in a metal pot and allowed to burn down some more and then cool off.

 

With a metal mortar and pestle the ashes are slowly ground down pulverizing most of the palm remains.

Afterwhich the ashes are then sifted through a flour sifter.  Now I know what you are thinking - and no we do not use this sifter for flour.  It comes with the territory: all deacons should have a dedicated ash sifter!  And I recommend that they do all this when their wife is away!

After burning some 20 pounds of palms - followed by grinding and sifting, you are left with enough 'clean' black palm ash for a parish of 3,500 families!

So when you come forward this Wednesday to receive your ashes and to begin your Lenten journey, you may want to say a pray for your parish's ash maker!

Laughter and Prayer

When did you laugh last?  Well depending on whom you were rooting for in the Super Bowl you may or may not be laughing this morning! 

But really, when did you laugh last? 

Why do I ask?  Because I think when we see a baby laughing like this or like this or even like this…or when twin babies gaze at each and laugh like this it is a reminder on how to pray.

Pray?

Sure.  And this is why.

I think so often we spend so much time trying to find the right words, the right formulae, and the right rituals in order to pray we miss what Jesus told us when he said, “when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.” (Matt 6:7)

So what option do we have?

Well…Jesus said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matt 18:3)  And then later on Matthew says, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." (Matt 19:4)

 

I think what Jesus was trying to remind us is that God only seeks for us to be open to God’s connection – like a child.  Isn’t that why we love looking at babies and hearing them coo and laugh?  It is pure innocence and presence.  There is no agenda, no right words, no climbing the ladder, no desire for power or effort to earn love.  Rather the baby is the essence of love and a perfect example of what it means to be in union – which is prayer. 

So with less than two weeks before Ash Wednesday, maybe give some thought on how you will pray this Lent…and remember to laugh today!

Fast or Feast?

The desert can be very barren and lifeless.  That is until the rains arrive and overnight, life shoots forth. Lent is like that.  A time of barrenness that is quenched by the baptismal waters of Easter.  We are only a week away from the Easter Vigil: a time to review our fasting of Lent and the pending feasting of Easter.  It is a time to ready ourselves and our souls for the refreshing waters that await us!  As we move into this liminal time of Holy Week, take a minute for this prayer by William Arthur Ward:

Fast from judging others; feast on the Christ indwelling them

Fast from emphasis on difference; feast on the unity of all

Fast from thought of illness; feast on the healing power

Fast from words that pollute; feast on phrases that purify

Fast from discontent; feast on gratitude

Fast from anger; feast on patience

Fast from pessimism; feast on optimism

Fast from worry; feast on divine order

Fast from complaining; feast on appreciation

Fast from negatives; feast on affirmations

Fast from bitterness; feast on forgiveness

Fast from self-concern (ego); feast on compassion for others

Fast from discouragement; feast on hope

Fast from suspicion; feast on truth

Fast from thoughts that weaken; feast on promised that inspire

Blessings on both from what you fast from and what you feast on!

Homily: 5th Sunday of Lent - The Raising of Lazarus



Fresco by Giotto located at the Church of St. Francis in Assisi

On this 5^th Sunday of Lent we celebrate the Third Scrutiny as we pray over our Elect who will be baptized in two weeks at the Easter Vigil.  The readings from Cycle A are used for this occasion and so this weekend we are treated to the only account of the story of Lazarus being raised from the dead, as recorded by John.

This Sunday I was blessed to have been asked to be a guest homilist at my high school alma mater, Oratory Prep in Summit N.J. for their annual Family Mass.  It was a beautiful liturgy to see so many families come together as a community of faith.  This sense of ‘community’ or what we call ‘church’ tied right into my insight into this popular Gospel story.  But it is a meaning that is often overlooked by all the attention given to the miracle.

What was Christ really up to? 

Check it out!

For the Sunday Readings click: here

For the Homily click: here

Homily: The Fourth Sunday in Lent - The Second Scrutiny

The 4^th Sunday of Lent is also called Laetare Sunday – taken from the Latin word to Rejoice!  It is time to rejoice, for Lent is half over…or better put, half of Lent is still before us.  So how do we use that time? 

Perhaps we should be following steps of our brothers and sisters who are preparing to be fully received into the Church this Easter Vigil.  For this Sunday is their Second Scrutiny.  What does that mean?  What does that call us to? And how does the Gospel story of Jesus healing the blind man tie it all together?

Click below and check it out!

Find the Readings for this Sunday here.

Find the Homily for this Sunday here.

The Scrutinies of Lent 2012

So as we head into the Third Sunday of Lent we begin the Scrutinies.  Over the next three weeks the Elect (those who will be baptized) will take this time to carefully look inside themselves to see what needs to be changed.  But this introspection time is not just for them…it is for all of us!

We began on Ash Wednesday by being reminded that Lent is a time when we are called to repent!  Repent: to turn ourselves around and live differently….to live as Christ called us to live.

In 1940 Frère Roger wondered what it really meant to live a life like that.  To live a life according to the scriptures.  Swiss by birth, he wondered how he could fulfill his vision in the war stricken country of France.  A year later Roger settled in a small desolate village called Taizé.  Soon others came from Switzerland to join him in this Christ-centered community which was a sanctuary to countless war refugees.

By the 1970’s followers from various Christian backgrounds joined the community causing them to build a larger church just outside of Taizé.  By this time the role of the community was to reach out around the world, through prayer and song and to show others how to ‘repent’….how to turn around and live differently.

And one of their greatest gifts to all of us? Music! Designed to be easily learned and sung in many languages, their music emphasizes simple phrases and lines from Psalms or other scripture which are repeated.

So find four minutes to think of how your life needs to be different…and click to listen to this gift from the community at Taizé!