It is nice to be with you all here in the middle of the mitten. I am from Michigan City, Indiana, so I can say I grew up in the wrist. Of course now, I live in a Benedictine monastery in Southern Indiana, so the elbow. A few years ago on this feast of Pentecost … More Homily for Pentecost Sunday, St. Paul Parish, Ithaca, MI
There are many words and images that we use to express what it means to be a Christian. We all have our favorites, but I bet if we took a poll, there would be certain ones that would come up frequently. Many would gravitate to the word disciple, a word that we often encounter in … More Witness – the forgotten word for discipleship
I. For centuries they had been enslaved in Egypt. The children of Israel had gone there because of famine in their land. At first they were welcomed because, through the mysterious workings of providence, one of their own, Joseph, was already there and already trusted by pharaoh. But their welcome eventually wore out and the … More Dealing with the Exodus from the Exodus: The Spiritual Leadership of Moses (Homily for the Third Sunday of Advent – Year A Readings)
On the crest of Montmarte, the highest point in Paris, one finds the Sacre Coeur, an imposingly grand, beautiful stone basilica of the Romano-Byzantine style. It is not an old church; certainly not by European standards. It was conceived at the end of the 19th century and not consecrated until 1919. That’s a little bit … More Homily for 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Jan. 24, 2021.
After reading 90 books in 2019, my new year’s resolution in 2020 was actually to read less and spend more time keeping in contact with people and on other hobbies such as music and working outside. I read 71 books this year, so mission accomplished! These were ten books that I think will stick with … More My Favorite Reads of 2020
This is a big story, with big, larger than life characters. In the past week we’ve heard about kings, angels, and wise men from exotic places. We’ve heard about the Word made Flesh, the son of God, the Messiah, and we’ve heard about Joseph and Mary, who are, after all, Joseph and Mary. They may … More Through Jesus to Mary: On Pilgrimage with the Shepherds
Something amazing happened this week. People who were very preoccupied – by work, by the news, by technology, by many things – they put that all aside for the moment and they sat down for a special meal with loved ones, with family, with friends. And in this moment, they turned, if only for a … More From a Day to a Season to a Lifetime (Extending the Theme)
Today I am ditching the readings in favor of preaching on my favorite song of all time. “Joy to the world.” The first word of this song is joy. Christmas is a time for joy because it is a celebration, a celebration of the greatest thing that ever happened in the history of things … More Joy to the World
When the bible announces that the “day of the Lord” is coming (2 Pt 3:10), it is natural for us to think eschatologically, that is, of the final apocalypse, the end of time, the end of the world, Jesus coming back to judge the living and the dead. One day that will be true. It … More Homily for the Second Sunday in Advent, 2020
I just presided Monday but I signed up to preside again today….because I am bored out of my mind. But you know what isn’t boring? The Acts of the Apostles. Just a chapter ago in this book, and just yesterday in the liturgy, we heard about the beginnings of the Gentile Church at Antioch. Through … More A Church that is Missionary by Nature
