The Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time Isaiah 45:1, 4-6; Psalm 96; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5b; Matthew 22:15-21 Want to get into a heated debate? Bring up the issue of taxes. Now as then. Whether Democrat, Republican or Independent; Herodian, Pharisee or Zealot, everyone has an opinion. Is it lawful for Jews to pay taxes to Rome? A simple enough question. Yet regardless of how Jesus answers he will be trapped. If he answers ‘no’, he will be accused of sedition against Rom

The Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Isaiah 55:6-9; Psalm 145; Philippians 1:20c-24, 27a; Matthew 20:1-16a This parable has so many issues. Doesn’t the landowner know how many daily workers he will need? He goes out five times throughout the day to get more workers. And there’s the issue of payment. But something doesn’t sit well I expect with most of us. Those who worked an hour receive the same full daily wage, it just doesn’t seem fair. Yet the men

The Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Sirach 27:30 – 29:7; Psalm 103; Romans 14:7-9; Matthew 18:21-35 Which aspect of forgiveness do you think is the most difficult to realize? Is it, to ask forgiveness of another person or to bestow the gift of forgiveness requested? Is it to accept forgiveness, and related to that, to forgive one’s self? Some clarifications. When I say, ask for forgiveness, I don’t mean saying, “I’m sorry.” Rather, I mean asking, “Will you – can

The Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Isaiah 55:1-3; Psalm 145; Romans 8:35, 37-39; Matthew 14:13-21 The story of the loaves and fishes must have been considered very important to the early Christian communities. For it is was recorded, with some variations, six times across the four Gospels. But I’ve come to reflect that the story is not about loaves and fish; not about filling the stomach and satiating physical hunger. We can do that. As Jesus says to his disciples which

The Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16a; Psalm 89; Romans 6:3-4, 8-11; Matthew 10:37-42 Since my retirement, I have two experiences when I gather for the Sunday Eucharist. When I come to a parish to preside, vestments on arm, I am warmly welcomed in the sacristy. People are helpful as I ask my questions. A wonderful, welcoming and hospitable experience. I know the experience of the prophet Elisha. Though no as yet has created me an In-Law Suite for ove

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity Exodus 34:4b-6, 8-9; Daniel 3:52-55; II Corinthians 13:11-13; John 3:16-18 Whether for an evening stroll or metaphorically in life, what does it mean to walk with someone? Doesn’t it mean you walk shoulder-to-shoulder? You don’t walk slightly ahead as if leading. Nor do you walk slightly behind as if following. You become one. Pope Francis used the word accompanying. We should accompany people. To my mind either word holds no suggest

The Fifth Sunday of Easter Acts 6:1-7; Psalm 33; I Peter 2:4-9; John 14:1-12 Being waitstaff, can’t be easy. You must be nice to people. All the time. You’re expected to be humorous and entertaining. Remember who ordered what. Put up with surly and demanding customers. Be dependent on tips since the pay is not adequate. And probably have a second or a third job. I can understand why the Twelve complained about serving at table. Serving table isn’t easy. But their attitude

The Fourth Sunday of Easter Acts 2:14a, 36-41; Psalm 23; 1 Peter 2:20b-25; John 10:1-10 Self-proclaimed Influencers. Podcasters. YouTube. Content creators. Tik Tok. Politicians. Advertisers. Late Night talk show hosts. Facebook. Op-Ed pieces. Pundits. Editorial Boards. Popes. TV newscasters. Reddit. Substack. Discord. Instagram. Homilists? So many voices vying for our attention. And let us not forget employers, co-workers, neighbors, in-laws, spouses, children, pets, emai

The Second Sunday of Easter Acts 2:42-47; Psalm 118; 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31 Jesus initiates three encounters on that “first day of the week…” Early in the morning, Jesus is present to Mary Magdalene. She is still at the tomb. Mourning. Weeping. Questioning. Late in the afternoon, Jesus saddles up to two disciples, Cleopas and his wife. Their walking home to Emmaus. They’re arguing. What now? Hope is draining through them like a sieve. In the evening, Jesus appea

The Fourth Sunday of Lent 1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a; Psalm 23; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41 War. What is war? How do you understand it? Simply put, war is people killing people. The reason is irrelevant. On the ground are ordinary people like you and me, “whose lives have nothing to do with the calculations of generals or the ambitions of politicians: children asleep in their beds, mothers preparing meals, elderly people who cannot run fast enough to reach a shelter.”

The Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Sirach 15:15-20; Psalm 119; I Corinthians 2:6-10; Matthew 5:17-37 King Solomon, the son of King David, is celebrated down to our own day for his wisdom. But was Solomon wise? Inquiring minds want to know. According to the First Book of Kings, the Queen of Sheba traveled to see and hear for herself if the stories were true. She tested Solomon with subtle questions on every subject in which she was interested. And, “King Solomon explained e

The Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Isaiah 58:7-10; Psalm 112; I Corinthians 2:1-5; Matthew 5:13-16 “You are salt…” “You are light…” What does it mean to be light and salt? Do you know? A kaleidoscope of prophecy, parable and poetry does. “Share your food with the hungry. Shelter the oppressed and homeless. Clothe the naked. Do not turn your back on your own.” [Isaiah 58:7ff] “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you

The Third Sunday in Ordinary Time [Sunday of the Word of God] Isaiah 8:23-9:3; Psalm 27; I Corinthians 1:10-13, 17; Matthew 4:12-23 Our story began with conversation. God engages Eve and Adam in dialogue about various aspects of life in the Garden. And even when this dialogue is ruptured by sin, God continues to speak. “Where are you?” he asks. And whether we answer or not; whether we hide ourselves in the bushes like Adam and Eve; God never lets up. God is always trying

The Second Sunday in Ordinary Time [Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – 18-25 January] Isaiah 49:3, 5-6; Psalm 40; I Corinthians 1:1-3; John 1:29-34 As much as we say we desire unity and peace, division seems to be a hallmark of the human condition since Eve and Adam partook of the fruit. Self-knowledge put distance between humanity and God. Nakedness caused us to hide from God. Mutual blame revealed the division between Adam and Eve. And the natural world, child birth a

Christmas V – The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7; Psalm 29; Acts 10:34-38; Matthew 3:13-17 “I should be baptized by you, and yet you come to me.” Unlike the Sacrament of Baptism into the Death and Resurrection of Jesus we experienced, John trying to prevent Jesus from his baptism of repentance? Why? And John will not be the first to try and dissuade Jesus from his mission. When Jesus predicts that he will be killed, Peter becomes an obstacle.

Christmas IV – The Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72; Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6; Matthew 2:1-12 Like the magi, are we not all seekers? We go by various names. Nones [None, claims no religious affiliation]. NiNOs [Nones in name only]. Spiritual but not Religious [SBNR]. Dones [Done with institutional church]. Some still believe in God. Some still pray daily. Some are actively searching. And some have simply drifted away. Others of us? We claim… Cath