It was pointed out to me this morning that I had not posted my Sunday homily,,, so here it is.
Just recently we held a mini-course about the people, events and issues of the Protestant Reformations of the 16th century. Among the Reformers there was a far greater emphasis placed on Scripture and preaching upon that Word. John Calvin’s typical Sunday homily seems to have been about 2 hours. John Knox’s homilies often had intermissions. Hard to imagine, eh? Continue reading
Back in the day, I camped and backpacked in the wilds of Virginia and West Virginia. Generally, it was just for a weekend – maybe two or three days – along with a group of friends. We would carry everything in/out. I remember having fun, enjoying it all, but I always felt like I needed a day to recover. Perhaps it was the infrequency of carrying a load, the hiking, and all that goes with the adventure, but come Monday, there was always a stiffness about my neck, arms, shoulders, upper back and all the rest that is connected to those parts. I could still feel the aftereffects of the pack’s burden. “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” It sounded like the perfect scripture for the post-camping Monday mornings. Continue reading
It is a simple thing – the pouring of water. You probably do it most everyday of life: pouring a glass of water. The Church’s rituals and Sacraments also incorporate the simple act of pouring water – most notably in the Sacrament of Baptism, but also in Eucharist and during funerals and interments. Continue reading
Last week in the gospel Jesus gave the disciples instructions on the basic evangelical mission: “As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” This week’s gospel gives us some basic operating guidelines: “…what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.” There is the whole message of the Kingdom of God breaking into the world in the person of Jesus Christ and we should shout it out from the rooftops. Continue reading
“At the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them.” “Moved with pity” …not exactly the way I think it should be translated into present day American English. Miriam Webster says that pity is (1) a: sympathetic sorrow for one suffering, distressed, or unhappy b: capacity to feel pity 2: something to be regretted, e.g. it’s a pity you can’t go. There is something soft and passive about the way we understand “pity” in our modern milieu. Not exactly a clarion call for action. Yet that is exactly Jesus’ immediate reaction. Continue reading
Years ago, while a Franciscan novice, my fellow friars and I attended a gathering of all the Franciscan novices, men and women, who lived in the Eastern United States. During our week-long gathering, each group was responsible for leading morning or evening prayer, or animating the Eucharistic celebration. One morning, a group of Franciscan sisters was responsible for morning prayer. Just before we were to begin, the leader of prayer explained that we would not be using the traditional words associated with the sign of the Cross. Rather, we would say “In the Name of the Creator, the Redeemer, and the Sanctifier.” She explained this was a way to remove the gender bias from the opening of prayer and so to make all feel welcomed. Continue reading
This past Monday one of the readings for daily Mass was from Acts of the Apostles. I described St. Paul’s encounter with two men who had received the baptism of John of the Baptist, were apparently part of the Christian community in Ephesus, but had never heard of nor received the Holy Spirit. Paul baptized them and laid hands upon them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. From then the two men went about using their gifts given by the Spirit. Continue reading
The story is told that Leonardo da Vinci worked away on a large canvas in his studio. For a while he worked at it – choosing the subject, planning the perspective, sketching the outline, applying the colors, with his own inimitable genius. Then suddenly he stopped working on it. Summoning one of his talented students, the master invited him to complete the work. The horrified student protested that he was both unworthy and unable to complete the great painting which his master had begun. But da Vinci replied: “Will not what I have done inspire you to do your best?” Continue reading
I will not leave you orphans… (John 14:18)
It is estimated that in our time, there are more than 130 million children without parents. One aid agency reports that every day ~6,000 children end the day as orphans. In sub-Saharan Africa there are some 20 million children who became orphans because of armed conflict and disease. In Kenya there are about 700,00 orphans and 2.6 million children who have lost one parent. Continue reading
“I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” So, what do you make of the verse? What generally stands out in the hearing and imagination is “the abundant life.” What does it look like? If we don’t have an idea of what it looks like, how will we know when we have it? Continue reading
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