Category Archives: Sunday Morning

The cords that bind and lead us…

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francisbrnI am still waiting for the call from Rome telling me that I have been appointed Papal Household Swim Coach.  It has been a running joke in the office since the papal elections. So, it was somewhat humorous several weeks ago when the parish telephone rang – and on the other end was a call from Rome.  Wasn’t the swim coach call, but rather it was the Vicar General of the Franciscan OFM Order worldwide asking me to consider a new job.  It was not a pastoral job, but a full time job more akin to running a business – and in a place where people wear sweaters even in summer – as opposed to Tampa where sweaters are optional most of the year. I promised to pray about it Continue reading →

The Upper Room: all kinds of doors

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all-kinds-doorsThere are all kinds of doors in life.

Doors that lead to new life.  We pass through them and life is changed.  Passing through the doors of high school graduation to the new world called college.  Entering a common life through he doors of marriage – or vows as a Franciscan friar.  What was the most significant/memorable door you have passed through into a new life? I bet almost everyone’s passing through was accompanied by trepidation, uncertainty – maybe a tinge of fear – and yet we commit and we pass through to new life.

Not so with all doors  There are doors that lock us out.   Continue reading →

“See, I am doing something new” – Pope Francis

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from time to time, I am asked to publish one of my homilies…… from the Fifth Sunday in Lent

Eight years ago when Pope Benedict inherited the chair of Peter, the sense was that the cardinals had voted to continue the papacy of John Paul II.  Continuity was the catch phrase. It what make the verse from Isaiah stand out: “Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not; see, I am doing something new!” (Isaiah 43:18) Continue reading →

Three religious walk into a barber shop…

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In today’s first reading from Isaiah, we hear

Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not; see, I am doing something new! (Isaiah 43)

Pope Francis – Jesuit with a Franciscan spirit – may well represent a new category of religious sense in the public square.  But that is no reason to forego some of the classic inter-religious jokes.  Here is one from Fr. Tom Reese, SJ Continue reading →

Lent 101

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A Word from Fr. George…
Lent is a time to reflect upon our life with God, and as the Orthodox theologian, Alexander Schmemann, notes all reflections should lead us to the Eucharist.  As you consider some of the “Lent 101” links provided below, take a moment and consider how your Lenten journey will lead you to a more full, complete, and holy encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist.

And if you would like – read some more musings on Lent, “So…what are you giving up for Lent?” here.

Need to Brush Up on Lenten Traditions?
There are many traditions and observances we as Catholics celebrate during the season of Lent. Over time, we may start to think of them as routine. But every one of them has developed into a tradition with the intent to deepen your reflection upon the Lenten journey. If you need to brush up on why we keep certain rituals or practices, please see the links below for more information.

History of Lent
What are the three pillars of Lent?
When does Lent begin, and when does it end?
When do I fast, and when do I abstain?
Is Lent really 40 days? Or is it longer?

Ash Wednesday
This Wednesday, February 13th, is Ash Wednesday. Why do we celebrate Ash Wednesday? Find out more.

What are the Stations of the Cross? And why do we pray them? Learn more.

Christ the King

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…every once in a while, a Sunday homily will make it to these pages…

Today we celebrate Christ the King Sunday which comes either on the Sunday before Thanksgiving or the Sunday following Thanksgiving. – a time we when we are busy about many things. We are preparing to travel, to cook, to receive visitors, to celebrate, and all sorts and manner of things. It is not a time when we are given to pause and reflect on what it means to hold that Christ is King. Continue reading →

Clear Vision and Sure Steps

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There was once a trusting Franciscan guardian who took a young friar to live in his own lean-to down by the river.  For the first week the friar was ecstatic – his prayer life blossomed and he really felt he had taken a major step on his journey to God.

At the end of the week, the young friar washed his one habit and put it out to dry.  The next morning he was dismayed to find that some rats had torn his habit to shreds.  So he covered himself as best he could, went to a nearby village and begged for another.  A week later, after washing, the rats destroyed that habit as well.  So, the young friar got a cat – and presto – rat problem solved. But he found he had to beg for milk for the cat.  And all the begging was taking away from his life of prayer.  So he got a cow; but of course the cow needed hay.  And he needed fields to grow the hay and a barn to store the hay.  And that took away from prayer time and his journey to God.  So he hired people to farm and tend the animals, but then he found he was the de facto mayor/sheriff/paymaster of a small village. So he hired village administrators and a small police force. And there were town meetings – and on and on the story went. Continue reading →

Spending Money Can Buy You Happiness?

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“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” “… forgive, and you will be forgiven; give”  And more…. This is our story as Christians…and it turns out it’s true.  We knew this, of course, but it is not the dominant story of our age. We are surrounded by an alternative story, the dominant story, that insists that the path to happiness comes from buying things, getting things, having things for ourselves.  Perhaps this video can shed a bit of nuance on the question:

Woe to us if we lose our way

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One of the axioms of life in my family is that we are convinced our mother understood the deep and true nature of Thanksgiving turkey stuffing.  All other efforts to match my mother’s culinary masterpiece are vain attempts at best and heretically sacrilegious at worst. And it is not just questions about stuffing that vex us – think about the local, never-ending debates here in Tampa about what constitutes a Cuban sandwich – and that is before we even get to the question of which one is the best. We might be willing to compromise our positions on turkey stuffing and Cuban sandwiches – but what about religion? Religion and what constitutes right and true religion is as troubling a question – and that is before we consider what that religion demands of us. And woe to us if we lose our way on the question of Religion. Continue reading →

Cornbread Wars

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In religious circles, there is always a lot of talk about orthodoxy and orthopraxis – believing rightly and doing in accordance with those beliefs. Some would say that is only the concerns of theologians and pastors, but this measure of the integrity of being concerns far more than the loft musings of the things of faith.  It pervades our life (thank you Melissa Banseiver for the story of “Cornbread Wars”)

Continue reading →