This weekend our pastor is preaching at all the Masses for the Bishop’s annual Lenten appeal – so I have a homiletic homily (so to speak). I thought it might be good to provide some context for this very somber and sobering first reading from the Book of Job. Take a moment and read the first two chapters of Job. It should only take you a few minutes. Continue reading
This week, in our second reading, Paul simply writes: “I should like you to be free of anxieties.” (1 Cor 7:32). Seriously, can I get an “Amen” to that? Wouldn’t that be awesome, to have a life without anxieties? In Matthew 6, Jesus tells us not to have anxiety about food, clothing, money and such things. God takes care of the birds in the sky and we are much more loved by our heavenly Father, so don’t worry. And yet we do. In 1 Peter 5, we are told to give all of our anxieties and worries over to God. And yet we hang onto them. Jesus tells Martha that she is anxious about many things and points out to her the better part that her sister Mary has chosen (Luke 10:41-42). And yet… Continue reading
Today the Church Universal celebrates Sunday of the Word of God, a celebration established by Pope Francis in 2019. It is a celebration that is close to my heart. I have taught Bible Studies in parishes since 1986 and have more that 2,500 posts on my blog FriarMusings that have something to do with the Word of God. I just think the Bible is awesome, amazing, and from the Old Testament to the end of the New Testament is filled with things you need to know – and more importantly you need to be able to share. Continue reading
I have always liked today’s first reading – the story of how a young boy named Samuel was called to a life of service to the Lord. It was the only story I knew where a young child was the center, the protagonist, the “hero” of the story. I remember my Catholic school religion teacher telling me what I was supposed to learn from the story: always go to church – after all Samuel heard God’s voice in the temple. Always obey my parents and adults – Samuel did exactly what Eli, the temple priest, instructed. Always keep your heart open to God and then act – Samuel invited God to speak to him. Continue reading
Note: our Deacon is preaching at the Masses for which I am presiding – a homily holiday for me! Here is one of my favorite Epiphany homilies from years past.
Today we celebrate The Epiphany of the Lord, traditionally celebrated on January 6th in the Eastern Catholic and Orthodox churches; but here in the West we celebrate it on a Sunday. So, welcome to our celebration of The Epiphany. It is a word taken from the Greek epiphaneia meaning “manifestation, striking appearance; from epiphanes meaning “manifest, conspicuous,” and from epiphainein “to manifest, display, show off; come suddenly into view.” Our liturgy marks the arrival of visitors, identified in Scripture as the magi, to the place where Jesus was born. Although we know virtually nothing about them, we do know they brought three gifts, each with traditional meanings. Continue reading
In today’s gospel account, it is now forty days after Jesus’ birth. Mary and Joseph are performing their duty as pious Jewish parents by coming to the Temple to fulfill the requirements of Exodus 13. It is a ritual that reminds the parents that this child is now a member of the family that God redeemed from the slavery in Egypt. And so, they come to offer a simple sacrifice as they dedicate their first-born child to the Lord and to the larger, holy covenant family of God. Continue reading
Let’s start in the beginning. Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth…” One the sixth day God created people, pronounced it better than good, declaring it was very good. On the seventh day, God rested. It was the first Sabbath, when man and woman could be in communion with God. In the beginning we were holy and able to be in the presence of God. From the beginning Scripture makes clear that the entire cosmos and all that is in it was created for humanity’s Sabbath communion with God. Continue reading
Last weekend my homily for the 2nd Sunday of Advent centered on a verse from the second reading which asked “…what sort of person ought you to be…” In the course of the homily I offered a verse from St. Paul’s Letter to the Colossians, 3:12-13 which recommends: “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you.” This week our readings suggest another: joyfulness. this Guadete Sunday. A Sunday whose name is taken from Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice!” I think that should definitely be part of who we ought to be. Continue reading
Note: it was pointed out that I had not posted the homily for the 2nd Sunday of Advent – so…here it is.
There are questions that are rooted in curiosity, such as, the stained glass windows in our church; where did they come from? There are questions that are seeking necessary and important information. There are all manner of questions: choice, open, rhetorical, probing, motivational, leading, and many more. But right there in the middle of the second reading is the question of questions brought to us by St. Peter: “…what sort of person ought you to be…” Heck of a question. Continue reading
It is like a man traveling abroad. He leaves home … and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch. For me the image of the gatekeeper engages my imagination of the coming night watch – in an ancient city silhouetted against a setting sun as the lanterns and home lights cast their first shadows against the coming night. Continue reading
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