Christmas III – The Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God Numbers 6:22-27; Psalm 67; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:16-21 Going through the house after mom died I came across a series of binders. They are filled with photos, concert … Continue reading →

Christmas I – Nativity of the Lord At Night: Isaiah 9:1-6; Psalm 96; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14 I’m tired. Tired of the pandemic. I am weary. Weary of the hateful and racist name calling and behavior of members of Congress. … Continue reading →

Advent IV Micah 5:1-4a; Psalm 80; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45 This is the second and final in a series of homilies. The Gospels do not reveal who the magi were so over the ages we’ve made some presumptions about them … Continue reading →

Advent III / The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Zephaniah 3:14-18a; Isaiah 12; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:10-18 This is the first in a series of homilies. Advent is a season of human conceptions, pregnancies and births: Mary, John, Jesus, … Continue reading →

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Genesis 3:9-15,20; Psalm 98; Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12; Luke 1:26-38 Anne and Joachim. Theirs was a grief known by many women and men in all times and places. They grieved … Continue reading →

Advent II Baruch 5:1-9; Psalm 126; Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11; Luke 3:1-6 What are you certain of in this life? Are you certain of anything? We are regularly challenged in what we consider to be is certain. Yet the recovery of … Continue reading →

Advent I Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm 25; 1 Thessalonians 3:12 – 4:2; Luke 21:25-28; 34-36 A New York Times article* last Sunday asked the question: “Does the world need more people? The answer: Not if you ask the glaciers, the rainforests, … Continue reading →

The Thirty-Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time / The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe Daniel 7:13-14; Psalm 93; Revelation 1:5-8; John 18: 33b-37 This is the 3rd and final homily in a series on a vision … Continue reading →

The Thirty-Second Sunday of Ordinary Time 1 Kings 17:10-16; Psalm 146; Hebrews 9:24-28; Mark 12:38-44 This is the 2nd in a series of homilies on a vision for Faith Formation. Though unnamed and unknown, the simple acts of widows in … Continue reading →

The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed [All Souls] Many people regard cemeteries as a thin place where the veil between us and eternity is almost transparent. It is a place where the living walk among the dead. Parents walk … Continue reading →

The Solemnity of All Saints Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14; Psalm 24; 1 John 3:1-3; Matthew 5:1-12a Do you consider yourself holy, that is, a saint? Now before you answer that question, you may need to reflect on what you consider it … Continue reading →

The Thirty-First Sunday of Ordinary Time Deuteronomy 6:2-6; Psalm 18; Hebrews 7:23-28; Mark 12:28b-34 This is the 1st in a series of homilies on a vision for Faith Formation Being in the presence of parents and learning in various ways … Continue reading →

The Thirtieth Sunday of Ordinary Time Jeremiah 31:7-9; Psalm 126; Hebrews 5:1-6; Mark 10:46-52 Bartimaeus is blind and thus reduced to begging. Jesus has a reputation for healing. “Bartimaeus began to cry out…and many rebuked him, telling him to be … Continue reading →

The Twenty-Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time Wisdom 7:7-11; Psalm 90; Hebrews 4:12-13; Mark 10:17-30 John Veltri was a Jesuit spiritual director. He was assigned to me many years ago when on retreat in Guelph, Ontario. I was taken aback at … Continue reading →

The Twenty-Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time Numbers 11:25-29; Psalm 19; James 5:1-6; Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48 The Declaration of Independence guarantees the right to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” The ‘pursuit of happiness’ is a product of rational … Continue reading →

The Twenty-Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time Wisdom 2:12, 17-20; Psalm 54; James 3:16 – 4:3; Mark 9:30-37 “To those who carried out this attack, as well as anyone who wishes America harm, know this: We will not forgive. We will … Continue reading →

The Twenty-Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time Isaiah 50:4c-9a; Psalm 116; James 2:14-18; Mark 8:27-35 People talk about others. They talk about you and me. People make presumptions and judgements based on…on what. They don’t’ really care about people or the … Continue reading →

The Twenty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time Isaiah 35:4-7a; Psalm 146; James 2:1-5; Mark 7:31-37 What was it like for Ludwig van Beethoven to compose and conduct his Ninth Symphony after he had become deaf? To never have heard the great … Continue reading →