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: Pentecost

As we gather on this Feast of Pentecost our Scripture focuses on the “what’s next” in our call to discipleship. What does “being sent” & discipleship look like for each of us? What are we called to do and not to do?  So how can an African parable, a saintly doorkeeper, a foot massager, and college basketball player help point us to the way, the truth and the light?  See what I mean…

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Homily: 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

This weekend’s Gospel brings to a close a 3-part story that we have been listening to these past weeks focused on discipleship, evangelization...and rest. But when Jesus takes his disciples off to a deserted place, he finds that many of the followers have taken a short cut on land and have arrived at his destination before him.  So, what to do? How to respond? And what does this Gospel show us about the importance of downtime?  Maybe some wisdom from Ron Rolheiser, John of the Cross and my dad may bring some light to all of this!  Check it out…

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Homily: 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

This week we hear that all-too-familiar gospel of Martha and Mary.  The one with Martha running around and doing all the work while Mary remains seated at the foot of our Lord…and is told that Mary has chosen the better way. But this gospel is not one that was written necessarily to show that a contemplative life is superior to one that is filled with action….or that Jesus necessarily prefers prayer over the preparation of a meal.  So what is the deeper meaning of this story?  Check it out…

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Homily: 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jesus says that he did not come to establish peace, but rather division...and that he came to set the earth on fire, and how he wishes it were already blazing!  Was he just having a bad day with his disciples…or hitting home a point that we often miss? Take a minute and check it out and see what Jesus was really talking to you and me about!

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Homily: 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

This weekend we hear the familiar story of the Good Samaritan.  But if you followed the news this past week it would seem the question asked by the lawyer in this week’s Gospel regarding “Who is my neighbor” takes on many meanings. But did you ever notice that Jesus really never answers that question and what he does do is often missed.

So perhaps a recent true story of a plane full of people and their flight crew can open your eyes to a deeper meaning of this Gospel…and point you in the direction of the face of God. 

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Homily: Pentecost 2016

What next?!  That is the question as we bring our Easter season to a close.  For as we gather on this Feast of Pentecost our Scripture focuses on the “what next” in our call to discipleship. So what does that “what’s next?” look like for you?  More importantly what doesn’t it look like? 

Perhaps a bit of wisdom from a monkey, a fish, and a doorkeeper will shine new light on how to respond to the call to go forth and to be sent as the Father sent his Son…and it just may be easier than you think….

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Homily: The Baptism of the Lord

Original Sin versus Original Blessing? On this Feast of the Baptism of our Lord we come to the end of the Christmas liturgical Season as we celebrate Jesus revealed to us in the Trinity. But do not miss the key part of the baptism story – for they are words that should echo in your hearts each day.  What are those words?  And what does your baptism call you to do? And how does the wisdom of Pope Francis and the concept of a 'mirror neuron network' help explain that?  Check it out!

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Homily: Feast of Christ the King 2015

This morning we come to the end of our Liturgical Year with the celebration of the Feast of Christ the King as the Church reminds us that Christ is King of all things.  But we cannot forget that we, too, are baptized into Christ’s kingship. 

But with all this talk about ‘kings,’ when Pilate asked Jesus if he was the 'King of the Jews,' Jesus sidesteps that question and says that he came to testify to the ‘truth.’ But what does that ‘truth’ look like? (Funny, Pilate asked the same thing!)

Looking for clarity on all this?  Perhaps Pope Francis, as well as the parable of the Old Turtle can shed light on the “Truth” and better explain what we are called to do with this Feast of Christ the King?

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Homily: 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

In October 1974 I was a freshman at Oratory Prep in Summit, NJ and my Dad accompanied me to my first Father and Son Breakfast mass.  Fast forward 41 years later and today I was honored to have preached at the same annual breakfast!

Today’s Gospel story gives us Jesus trying, once again to initiate his disciples so that they gain insight about the paradox of life.  What is that paradox?  Why is initiation even needed?  And how can Pope Francis and Carl Jung shed light on all of this?

Check it out what I had to say today to 200 sons with their fathers…

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Homily: 7th Sunday of Easter

For six weeks we have listened to post resurrection Gospel stories, which when woven together give us great insight into Christ’s explanation of what it is like to be in relationship with him - to be fed by him, to be in communion with him.

Two thousand years later, our problem is that I think we make it more complicated, more ego-centered, and more difficult than it really is.

So what do you have to do?  Perhaps a baby can give you the answer.  Check it out….

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Homily: Baptism of the Lord 2015

In yesterday’s Gospel, Jesus is baptized in the Jordan by John and when he comes out of the waters he hears the words that should echo in each of our hearts and souls every day.  It is core to our baptisms – core to our life.  The problem is that we have forgotten the sounds of those words…and thus can be headed in the wrong direction when it comes to our own spirituality.   

What are those words?  And why do we need to listen for them…but more importantly, why do need to repeat then to those in our lives?  

Check out what I have to say on this.

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Homily: 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

After the disciples have spent so much time with Jesus watching him heal and teach and forgive it seems that Jesus feels it is time to give his disciples a ‘midterm test.’ He wants to see what they have learned after spending so much time watching Jesus minister to others.  But before he asks them the one and only question he has them hike 25 miles to the region of Caesarea Philippi.

Why the long hike?  What is the one question he asks them….and asks us?  And how would you answer?

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Homily: Baptism of the Lord 2014

Water.  It is such a strong symbol and sacramental sign.   It is used throughout the Church and its sacraments. Everyday many will come and go through the doors of the church, dipping their fingers in the holy water fonts, blessing themselves.  But on this Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, we need to take a moment to pause and remind ourselves of the meaning and obligations that this carries for each and everyone one of us.  What does that look like for you?

And so we end this Advent/Christmas season as it began – with John the Baptist, at the River Jordan – this time, reluctantly baptising his cousin Jesus as Christ begins his public ministry.  So what does your ministry look like?  And how does a cello player, among the rubble of Sarajevo, provide insight to what we are called to do?

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Homily: Christ the King

As we come to the end of our Liturgical Year, we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King.  But what does that kingship look like?  With a Church wrestling with clericalism and focused on encyclicals and doctrines, how does the story of the blind man Bartimaeus give sight to what we are called to do in fulfilling our baptismal call to discipleship?  Check it out.

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Homily: Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Certainly on most peoples mind is the ensuing debate over US military intervention in Syria – all the while we continue to be shown the faces of the children affected by chemical weapons.  Last month we heard Jesus saying: “Do not think that I have come to establish peace on Earth - from now on households will be divided.”  Then this week Jesus tells his followers that in order to be a disciple of his, you must hate your mother, father, wife, children, brothers and sisters…and even your own life. Sounds like a great deal of hate for one weekend and what seems to be a confusing message from Christ.  Or is it?  Check it out

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Homily: Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

I am in Cape May this weekend for a family reunion and was invited to preach at the local parish, Our Lady Star of the Sea.  So I am sure all the weekly vacationers were hoping for a warm fuzzy Gospel making it a bit easier to move through the liturgy and hit the beach.  But instead what we heard in today’s Gospel sounds more like Jesus having a bad hair day!

So what is going on? And what is he talking about? 

And what does this have to do with how you live your life?

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Homily: Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

We find Jesus on the road to Jerusalem when he is stopped by someone complaining that his brother will not share in his inheritance.  Jesus proceeds to warm against greed and makes his case with the parable of the rich man who hoarded all his possessions.  

But there seems to be a deeper meaning to this story.  One that speaks to us today.  One that calls for us to do more with what we have been given. Take a read and see how Eunice Shriver Kennedy and Pope Francis shed light on our true calling to make – noise!!

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