Category Archives: Sunday Morning

Hunger Games

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I am away from the parish and have the luxury of a “homily holiday!”  But I thought I would reach into the trove of homilies past and post something, hopefully, food for thought.

I recently [2012] saw the movie Hunger Games and thought it was an interesting saga.  If you haven’t seen the movie, the general situation is this: as punishment for a long-ago revolt of the outlying districts against the central government, there is an annual spectacle called the Hunger Games in which a young adult man and women from each district are required to fight to the death, while the entire nation watches. Continue reading →

Act 4

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There are lots of ways to tell a story. Just start at the beginning and move ahead to the end. That’s one way. One you see used a lot in television is to show a scene where the protagonist is in mortal peril with the outcome uncertain. For example, the scene opens, Jesus is standing before Pontius Pilate and the crowds are shouting “crucify him, crucify him”, then Pilate washes his hands, and the screen fades to black with the on-screen title, “Five Days Earlier.” There are lots of ways to tell a story. Continue reading →

Footlocker Letters

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As we come to the end of our Lenten journey we begin to hear the echoes of Holy Week and the Passion of the Christ: “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.” It is hard to hear those words and not think of the coming passion, death and resurrection of Jesus. The One who came that we might have life and have it to the fullest. The One who even now, just like on the cross, has arms wide open to welcome and embrace us. The One whose heart is filled with love for us. The One who is love itself. Continue reading →

Your Chronicle’s Ending

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I think it is fair to say that I am a card-carrying, fully committed Bible nerd. If you are a regular reader of friarmusings.com then you have probably realized I write biblical commentaries for fun. I even know Bible dad-jokes! When God created Adam from the clay of the earth, what time of day was it? ….just a little before Eve. [groan…] Anyway… I have been at this for a while and it is only recently that I spent time with the Book of Chronicles.  I remember when I first encountered it my reaction was, “This is a repeat of the Book of Kings” … turn the page. My bad. Chronicles is a great book to read during the season of Lent. Continue reading →

The Tables of Your Life

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During Lent, as you might expect, we have more and more folks coming to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Many folks carried with them one of the various Examinations of Conscience, most are based on the 10 Commandments – something we heard about in the first reading today. I wonder if our gospel might be a better model for examining our lives especially in this Lenten season. Continue reading →

Transfigured

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It is a bit of an understatement to say there is a lot going on in the account of the Transfiguration. There are tons of things to dig into and so uncover a wealth of meaning: Father, Son and Holy Spirit together on the mountain top; Moses and Elijah representing the Law and Prophets; Peter wanting to build some tents right then and there; and of course, “And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white.” What is the meaning of this transfiguration? In short, it is the revealing to the disciples of the true nature of Jesus – truly man and truly God. Continue reading →

Three Lessons for Lent

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The very first liturgical action in the Rite of Baptism isn’t pouring water – it is marking the one to recieve baptism with the sign of the cross – traced on the forehead. At the same time speaking the words, “I claim you for Christ…” They are powerful words, words of life and death. Words that mark a new beginning. “I claim you for Christ…” This is who you are and whose you are. Similar words mark the public ministry of the Messiah, “This is my beloved Son…”

Then off all go into the world, into the wilderness that can be this life.

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Imitators of Christ

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“He shall dwell apart, making his abode outside the camp” – frightening and dreadful words.  Spoken to a people in the wilderness, a people on the Exodus betwixt and between the slavery of Egypt and the promised land of Palestine. Words that ban, isolate, shun, and place someone beyond the connection to the community. These are words spoken to family and friends that pushed them from the routine of life into the wilderness. In modern life, we have our own words, instances, texts, and posts that push others into a more modern wilderness. Continue reading →