Acts 9:26-31 Ps 22 1 Jn 3:18-24 Jn 15:1-8   The Easter season readings from Acts of the Apostles give us a window into the early Church. Because human nature hasn’t changed in the past couple of millennia we see thoughts and behaviors identical to ours. If we pay attention to the apostles and early disciples, their behaviors and arguments, when we acknowledge the defections and schisms the best summary is that it wasn’t always pretty.  Many departed. They were like the seeds that sprouted but then quickly withered.   Those who remained came together when they had to and r ..read more

  Today is the 61st annual World Day of Prayer for Vocations to the vowed religious life and to the priesthood.  In the preface to The Ear of the Heart former actress Dolores Hart, now Mother Dolores Hart, a cloistered nun of the Abbey of Regina Laudis since 1963, gives an insightful and realistic definition of the vocation to religious life:  "Many people don't understand the difference between a vocation and your own idea about something.  A vocation is a call--one you don't necessarily want.  The only thing I ever wanted to be was an actress.  But I was called ..read more

  On Eating a Piece of Fish: Homily for the 3rd Sunday of Easter Acts 3:13-15, 17-19 Ps 4:2, 4, 7-8,9 Lk 24:35-48   The bulk of first readings during the Easter Season come from Acts of the Apostles. Acts was written by Luke, who wrote today's Gospel as well. The two books are sometime referred to as Luke-Acts to emphasize the common authorship.   Whereas the Gospel of Luke recounts the story of Jesus beginning with the narrative of His Annunciation to the Ascension, Acts is the story of the first years of the community that came to be known as The Church.  Acts is an impor ..read more

  Acts 2:42-47 Ps 118:2-3, 13-15, 22-24 1 Pt 1:3-9 Jn 20:19-31   Seven years ago I was in Slovenia for Divine Mercy Sunday.  It is a major celebration there. The church was packed for three hours during which there was adoration, rosary, Mass with a homily by the Archbishop of LJ, ending with a procession of the Blessed Sacrament.  Had I spoken Slovenian I’d probably still be sitting in a confessional.  The lines were huge.  My job was to take photos. By the time the day was over I’d taken some 700 and walked 3 ½ miles in the huge church.   It is fascinating ..read more

  Jer 31:31-34 Ps 51 Heb 5:7-9 Jn 12:20-33   We are rapidly moving toward the singular event in Jesus’ life  and the sole reason for Jesus incarnation and birth, a birth we celebrated three months ago.  Next Sunday we will hear the chilling introduction:  “The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark.”  Throughout the rest of Holy Week we will recall the most important event in the history of the world.  The Church will commemorate the institution of the Eucharist on Holy Thursday.  On Good Friday there will be another proclamation of Our Lord ..read more

  2 Chr 36:14-16, 19-23 Ps 137 1-6 Eph 2:4-10 Jn 3:14-21   "Laetare Jerusalem: et conventum facite omnes qui diligitis eam."   "Rejoice, O Jerusalem; and gather round, all you who love her."   The Fourth Sunday of Lent is traditionally known as Laetare Sunday, with the name deriving from the first word of the entrance antiphon,  Laetare. “Rejoice.”   We mark Laetare Sunday visually by replacing the somber purple vestments with dusty rose. Note, dusty rose is absolutely NOT Pepto-Bismol or Barbie’s Dream House pink. There is a significant difference.  The dust ..read more

  Ex 20:1-17 Ps 19 I Cor 1:22-25 Jn 2:13-25   The readings for today’s Mass are rich. Each could be the text for a long homily.  Each tells us about God. The God of Exodus is not a God of relativism, a God of accommodation, negotiation, or adaptation to social trends.   The Ten Commandments are short. They are to the point.  They prohibit Adultery.  Killing.  And Stealing, to name a few thou shalt nots. They demand love for God and one’s neighbor.  Thou shalt not kill does not exclude abortion because it is QUOTE delivery of women’s health care UNQUOTE ..read more

No homily this week.  Halfway through giving a  homily on Ash Wednesday I became unable to finish it.  Was transported to hospital by ambulance with covid, pneumonia, and dehydration, all of sudden onset.  Because I am immunosuppressed things went fast and furious.  Spent three days in hospital and was then “discharged” to “home hospital” In which the hospital comes to me.  Nurses visit twice daily to administer the several IV medications, pass out the daily doses of oral medications, check the usual, and transmit the information back to hospital.  There is ..read more

  Mal 3:1-4 Ps 24 Heb 2:14-18 Lk 2:22-40   The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, also known as Candlemas, was the day on which the Church blessed the beeswax candles to be used in the coming year. I’m not certain there is a proper blessing for cans of liquid paraffin or propane cannisters. But, on the other hand, it is difficult to tell what can and should be blessed in the Church today.   Throughout the ages, the first reading, psalm, and gospel have been the inspiration for some of the most beautiful music imaginable.  Much of the first reading from Malachi is sung i ..read more

  Dt 18:15-20 Ps 95 1 Cor 7:32-35 Mk 1:21-28   "A prophet like me will the Lord, your God, raise up for you from among your own kin; to him you shall listen."   The first reading from chapter 18 of Deuteronomy establishes the role of the prophet and foretells Jesus coming. Christianity came to understand these verses as promising a single prophet to come at the end of time, a Messiah, the Messiah, Our Lord Jesus,  And so, in John’s gospel, we hear Philip say to Nathaniel "We have found him of whom Moses spoke in the law, Jesus of Nazareth . . . "  Acts of the Apostles ..read more