Saturday, November 23, 2019

                                                    New Year’s Resolutions

When you see the title of this blog, you might think that I’ve gotten wackier! It’s only November, so why talk about New Year’s Resolutions?

Here’s why.  We are ending a year right now…it’s the Church Year. It ends with the Feast of Christ the King.  This past year we heard Luke’s Gospel proclaimed nearly every weekend, including today with the wonderful story of the repentant thief.  But next weekend a New Year begins with the First Sunday of Advent and its focus on Matthew’s Gospel.
 
So take some time today to remember some highlights of Luke’s Gospel. Maybe you could even read his whole Gospel in one sitting and notice Luke’s special themes. 
       
Questions:  Is there a story in Luke’s Gospel that especially touched you this past year?  Was there a church celebration that was particularly memorable?  How did you grow closer to God last year?  What especially nourished your spiritual life? 
      
Now make some New Church Year Resolutions.  What can you do this next year that will help your spiritual life?  What new spiritual practice would you like to start this year? Maybe you could read the weekend Gospel before coming to Mass.      

                                                    New Year’s Resolutions

When you see the title of this blog, you might think that I’ve gotten wackier! It’s only November, so why talk about New Year’s Resolutions?

Here’s why.  We are ending a year right now…it’s the Church Year. It ends with the Feast of Christ the King.  This past year we heard Luke’s Gospel proclaimed nearly every weekend, including today with the wonderful story of the repentant thief.  But next weekend a New Year begins with the First Sunday of Advent and its focus on Matthew’s Gospel.
 
So take some time today to remember some highlights of Luke’s Gospel. Maybe you could even read his whole Gospel in one sitting and notice Luke’s special themes.
       
Questions:  Is there a story in Luke’s Gospel that especially touched you this past year?  Was there a church celebration that was particularly memorable?  How did you grow closer to God last year?  What especially nourished your spiritual life? 
      
Now make some New Church Year Resolutions.  What can you do this next year that will help your spiritual life?  What new spiritual practice would you like to start this year? Maybe you could read the weekend Gospel before coming to Mass.      


                                                      New Year’s Resolutions

When you see the title of this blog, you might think that I’ve gotten wackier! It’s only November, so why talk about New Year’s Resolutions?

Here’s why. We are ending a year right now…it’s the Church Year. It ends with the Feast of Christ the King.  This past year we heard Luke’s Gospel proclaimed nearly every weekend, including today with the wonderful story of the repentant thief.  But next weekend a New Year begins with the First Sunday of Advent and its focus on Matthew’s Gospel. 

So take some time today to remember some highlights of Luke’s Gospel. Maybe you could even read his whole Gospel in one sitting and notice Luke’s special themes. 
     
Questions: Is there a story in Luke’s Gospel that especially touched you this past year?  Was there a church celebration that was particularly memorable? How did you grow closer to God last year?  What especially nourished your spiritual life?
      
Now make some New Church Year Resolutions. What can you do this next year that will help your spiritual life?  What new spiritual practice would you like to start this coming year? Maybe you could read the weekend Gospel before coming to Mass.      


                                                              New Year’s Resolutions

When you see the title of this blog, you might think that I’ve gotten even wackier! It’s only November, so why talk about New Year’s Resolutions?

Here’s why. We are ending a year right now…it’s the Church Year. It ends with the Feast of Christ the King. This past year we heard Luke’s Gospel proclaimed nearly every weekend, including today with the powerful story of the repentant thief.  But next weekend a New Year begins with the First Sunday of Advent and its focus will be on Matthew’s Gospel.
 
So take some time today to remember some highlights of Luke’s Gospel. Maybe you could even read his whole Gospel in one sitting and notice Luke’s special themes.
       
Questions: Is there a story in Luke’s Gospel that especially touched you this past year? Was there a church celebration that was particularly memorable?  Did you grow closer to God last year?  What specifically nourished your spiritual life during the year?   
   
And then, make some New Church Year Resolutions.  What could you do next year to help you grow spiritually?  What new spiritual practice could you start this next year? Maybe you could read the Sunday Gospel before you come to weekend mass.    

Saturday, November 16, 2019



                                                                  Hope

The city of Jerusalem was demolished by the Romans around the year 70 A.D. It was after that calamity that the Gospel of Luke was written down. So Luke wrote this text in the face of persecution, trials and hostility. He models his text on Mark’s Gospel (Mk 13:1-37).  But Luke’s version of the trials to come is more hopeful.
   
Jesus says that His disciples should not be afraid to give testimony to their beliefs and their way of love. Encouraging them He says: “By your perseverance you will secure your lives.” 

We also live in a time of division, conflict, and blame. Just think about our politics!

What can we do?  We can look into people’s hearts and not so much at their politics. We can try to build bridges with others as we look for the common ground. We can affirm people and not focus on what we think are flaws. We can reach out to people and genuinely care for those who live on the margins.  And we can look into our hearts and ask God to help change us too.  
  
What step can you take to build a bridge with someone you see as an unlikely friend? 

Saturday, November 9, 2019


                                             Eye Has Not Seen, Ear Has Not Heard
                                     What God Has Ready for Those Who Love Him

I’ve never written a blog with such a long title! You may recognize the words. They are from a song refrain that we occasionally sing at mass. They are also appropriate words for us to consider as we look at a theme in this weekend’s First Reading and Gospel texts.
   
The first reading is from the Old Testament book of 2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14.  It is the only place in the Old Testament which mentions the idea of ‘being raised from the dead’.
   
And the Gospel text, Luke 20:27-38, is the only place in the Gospels where Jesus says anything about the Resurrection as such. Jesus’ only other references to the resurrection are in His predictions that He will suffer and ‘rise again’. And then, of course, there are the descriptions of His Resurrection appearances which are wonderful but unexplainable.

So what can we say about ‘resurrection’? I read this commentary:“Trying to describe ‘resurrection’ is like a butterfly describing flight to a caterpillar...or a professor describing ‘college’ to a preschooler. How can Jesus describe afterlife to those who only know this life?”   

Read the title of this blog again. Take 5-10 minutes just peacefully thinking about it.

Saturday, November 2, 2019


                                                   Zacchaeus Is Out on a Limb

This weekend’s Gospel text tells the story of Zacchaeus who climbs a tree to see Jesus.  Zacchaeus is a person with a position of importance as the ‘chief tax collector’.  But somehow God’s spirit is at work in him and he wants to see Jesus.

I imagine that Jesus was touched to see a ‘man of importance’ climb a tree in order to see Him.  That was an undignified thing for an adult to do in Jesus’ day. But Jesus sees it as an act of faith. And then Jesus does the unthinkable. He invites Himself to dinner at Zacchaeus’ house. 
    
Zacchaeus is elated! And he immediately makes an ongoing commitment to repent and repay anyone he has defrauded and to be especially generous with the poor.

When’s the last time you went out on a limb and took a risk to do something unthinkable because of your faith?  Do you generally give people the ‘benefit of the doubt’? Think of a time when you were given a second chance…a chance to start over in your life.  Who stands by you when you need someone to believe in you?

Saturday, October 26, 2019


                                            A Pharisee and a Tax Collector at Prayer

We hear another great parable this weekend. Jesus tells the story of two people who go to the temple to pray. (Lk 18:9-14)

A Pharisee prays to himself with an unbowed head: “O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity-greedy, dishonest, adulterous, or even like that tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.” (Lk 18:11b)

Then we hear the prayer of the tax collector who stands off at a distance and prays with a bowed head: “O God, be merciful to me a sinner. “ (Luke 18:13b)

Read their prayers again.  And then reflect on the following questions.

To whom is the Pharisee praying? Did you notice how often he uses the pronoun ‘I’ in his prayer?

What is the significance of the Pharisee who prays with an unbowed head and the tax collector who bows his head to pray?
    
Why does Jesus tell this parable?  What does He want you to get from it? When you come to Church this weekend what will be the first prayer you’ll say?

Saturday, October 5, 2019



                                                  “Lord, Increase Our Faith”

This weekend’s Gospel (Luke 17:5-10) begins with the Apostles telling Jesus to increase their faith.  Their request for more faith only makes sense when we look at its context.

Just before the Apostles ask Jesus to increase their faith, Jesus says: “Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him. And if he repents, forgive him.  And if he wrongs you seven times in one day and he says he’s sorry seven times, “you should forgive him”.  And that’s when the Apostles say: “Lord, increase our faith.”

The Apostles can’t believe that forgiveness should be given so frequently. But Jesus insists that we must always be ready to forgive…just as God always forgives us.  Forgiveness is the mark of a true disciple! And it's a requirement for all of us who are on The Way.
 
God has given me countless second chances.  How many second chances has God given you?
 
Today’s Gospel concludes by reminding us that we are disciple/servants. We should not expect special treatment for doing only what is required of us. 

What is required? Three things. Love God and others as God loves us.  Forgive each other as God forgives us. And especially care for the poor and those living on life’s margins.

Friday, September 27, 2019


                                                 Making Friends with the Poor

In this Sunday’s Gospel Jesus tells the story of a rich man who has a beggar named Lazarus at his gate…a beggar whom the rich man never notices.  When both of them die, Lazarus is in the bosom of Abraham and the rich man is in the netherworld.
    
Then the rich man tells Abraham to send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water to cool the rich man’s tongue. When the rich man finds out that’s not possible, he has the gall to tell Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his relatives!
 
The rich man never talks directly to Lazarus.  And right there is the nub of the problem.

Do you have friends who are poor?  Are there poor people living in your neighborhood? How good are you at welcoming people who live on the fringes of life?
   
In the light of this weekend’s readings I know that I have to do a better job of reaching out to people who are poor. And I also have to live with less myself. 
   
Today’s the feast of St. Vincent de Paul. It’s a great day to write a check to the St. Vincent de Paul Society! It won’t solve everything, but it’s at least a way to make a difference.

Saturday, September 21, 2019



                                                  Using the Gifts God Gave Us

This weekend’s readings from the prophet Amos and from Jesus’ words in Luke’s Gospel focus on the proper and improper use of the gift of money. We might not think of money as a gift, but everything we have, including money, ultimately comes from God. And our job is to be good stewards of all God’s gifts.

In addition to the gift of money, what other gifts has God given you? Think about that for a few moments. Use a note pad or sheet of paper to start making a list of your gifts. Keep that list on your kitchen table for the next week…and add to it on a daily basis.

Share your list with someone who knows you well and who loves you.  Ask them if they see other gifts that you don’t see in yourself.  And then make it a point to tell them some of the gifts that you see in them.

Of all the gifts on your list, which two or three gifts do you treasure most?  

What gifts do you use on a daily basis?  What gifts do you hardly ever use? At the end of this exercise, thank God for showering you with so many gifts.
 

Friday, September 6, 2019


                                              What is the Cost of Discipleship?

This weekend’s Gospel and the second reading from the Letter of St. Paul to Philemon raise key questions about discipleship. To prepare for mass this weekend take a little time to think about the following questions. 

What is a disciple of Christ?  And more specifically, what does it mean that you are a disciple of Christ?

What expectations does Jesus have for His disciples? Make a list of the requirements that you think Jesus sets for those who want to be His disciples. 

What are the costs of discipleship? And, more specifically, what does it cost you to be a disciple of Jesus?

If Jesus would tell you that there is one thing more which He hopes you will do to be a better disciple, what would that one thing be?

Name some ‘disciples’, whom you personally know, that are really good disciples. Make it a point to let them know that you appreciate them.  

Friday, August 30, 2019



                                                                     Humility

Two of this weekend’s readings address the issue of humility. A text from the book of Sirach says: “Conduct your affairs with humility and you will be loved more than the giver of gifts.”(Sirach 3:17) And in the Gospel, Jesus says: “Everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled and the one who humbles himself shall be exalted.”(Luke 14:11)

A basic definition of humility is: knowing who we are and who we are not.  Think about that a little bit.  Who are you?  Who are you not?

Every day in my morning prayer I get to a point where I say:“Thank you God for loving the total package that I am.”  And then I list a number of my failings that always include: self-centeredness, pride, laziness, anger, jealousy, gluttony, greed etc.

Then I thank God for some good qualities that I have. Those include: a tender heart, a creativity, a desire to be a good disciple, a reflectiveness, a sense of humor, etc. And I end the prayer as I began it: “Thank you God for loving the total package that I am.”
 
Knowing the total packages that we are and, recognizing that God loves those packages, is about as humble of a prayer that we can make.

Take time to humbly pray: “Thank you God for loving the total package that I am….”

Saturday, August 24, 2019


                                          “Strive to Enter Thru the Narrow Door”

About 12 years ago I finally realized that I needed to get in better physical condition. So I finally got serious about exercising and eating healthier. And that has helped a lot.

I thought of that in light of this weekend’s Gospel. In response to a question about how many people will be saved, Jesus said: “Strive to enter thru the narrow door.” (Lk: 13:24)

"Fitting thru the narrow door” made me think about getting in shape spiritually. So I've thought about daily spiritual exercises can help us fit thru the narrow door.  

Here are 5 possible components of a daily spiritual exercise routine.
   
-Set aside a reasonable amount of time to pray each day.

-Be conscious everyday of the loving things you can say or do for others.

-Make a daily effort to remember the poor in some way.

-Willingly carry a cross each day. 
   
-Be grateful hourly.  

Saturday, August 17, 2019


                                                     Setting the Earth on Fire

In this weekend’s Gospel text Jesus says something very startling.  He says: “I have come to set the earth on fire.” (Luke 12:49) He clearly does not mean this in a literal sense.  He is much more focused on bringing ‘passion’ and ‘fire in the belly’ to this complacent, self-centered and weary world. 

What kind of fire does Jesus want to set within you?

When have you experienced some fire in your belly?    

What does it mean when we say: ‘Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful. And kindle in us the fire of your love’? 

Recently I was at a party with some younger children.  As evening came we noticed the fireflies. And the children were mesmerized by them and they ran after them. Those fireflies brought so much joy.  

What kind of fire will you bring to this world in the week ahead?

Thursday, August 8, 2019

                                            Our Treasures and Our Hearts

In this coming weekend’s Gospel, Jesus says ”Where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.”  (Lk 12:34) I just returned from a three-day mini-vacation with my sister. In recent years we’ve planned a summer outing to catch up on family stuff and talk about things that matter in our lives. 

Time like this, spent with my sister, is a real treasure. 

Over coffee on the last day I told my sister how I see God in her. She’s a very loving person, always the first one to express support for someone facing trouble. She has a really tender heart.

I think that’s the first time I’ve ever told anyone how I see God in him/her. Have you ever said that to anyone?

What/who are the treasures of your heart? In whom or in what can you see God’s presence?

God is in everyone and everything that God has made. God is in our churches, in our homes, on our streets and in the poor. It’s just that we don’t look deep enough or behind the masks that we and others wear.  Remember: Where our treasures are, there also will our hearts be.

Footnote: August 10th is the feast of St. Lawrence. According to legend, the Roman Prefect ordered St. Lawrence to produce the wealth of the church in 3 days. So he gathered the poor, the sick, the widows and the orphans and he told the prefect “These are the treasures of the Church!” 

Friday, August 2, 2019


                                                     Guard against Greed

This weekend’s Gospel (Lk 12:13-21) warns us to avoid greed in all forms. Then we hear a parable about a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest. And he talks to himself about what he will do with this big harvest. In the end he decides to build larger barns.

After he filled his bigger barns, he said to himself: “You have so many good things stored up for many years. Eat, Drink, Be merry!” “But God said: ‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and all the things you have, to whom will they belong?’”

Consider the following issues:  

Do you have more ‘stuff’ than you need?  Analyze your closets, basement, attic, and garage.

Do you think you have too much money?  Write a check to the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

Consider living in solidarity with the poor for the next week.  What would that mean?

Did you notice that the rich man only talked to himself?  With whom can you talk about greed, self-centeredness and living in solidarity with the poor?

Saturday, July 27, 2019


                                                                Teach Us to Pray

His disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray in this weekend’s Gospel text (Lk 11:1-13).  So Jesus taught them the Lord’s Prayer. And then He told them some parables, addressing other prayer-related issues. So here are some questions about your prayer life.

How much time do you spend in daily prayer? How much time do you think you should spend? Did you know that Muslims pray for about 10 minutes…5 times each day?

When you pray, how much time do you spend telling God what you want? And, on the other hand, how much time do you listen to what God wants to say to you? (Truthfully, I’m a lot better at telling God what I want, than I am at really listening to Him!)

Here’s a final point. In a book called 'Vesper Time', Frank Cunningham says: “Gratitude is the first movement in the spiritual life.” I think there's something deeply true in that.   

So here's a final question: How much time do you spend thanking God in your daily prayers? (I’m embarrassed to tell you my answer to that question!)   

Blog homework: Set a timer for 10 minutes and spend all ten minutes thinking of things for which you want to say thanks to God.

Saturday, July 20, 2019


                                                             Martha and Mary

This weekend we will hear a familiar story. Jesus is invited to Martha and Mary’s house for dinner.  Martha’s nose gets out of joint when Mary isn’t helping her in the kitchen.  Mary, on the other hand, is enjoying herself just listening to Jesus.  

Martha’s about ready to throw in the towel! And Mary has no idea why Martha’s upset. On the other hand, what does Martha expect? That Mary should leave Jesus sit by himself while she helps Martha dice the onions?  

Meanwhile Mary assumed the position of a disciple by sitting at the master’s feet. She was focused on Jesus.  And it’s true that she chose the better portion, since Jesus was the only Rabbi in His time who had women disciples!

Do you have a little bit of Martha in you? Do you get ‘anxious and distressed’ by the chores at hand? (Martha could easily be my patron saint!) Or are you more like Mary?  Focused on people, but not noticing unattended details…like the lamb becoming a burnt offering!

The good news is that there is room for both Marthas and Marys in Jesus’ life.

We don’t hear the end of the story…but being a good Rabbi, Jesus would have concluded the meal with a prayer of thanks for the food…and for the good company too.

Saturday, July 6, 2019


                                                         What Is Your Mission? (2)

This weekend’s gospel tells the story of Jesus sending 72 disciples on a mission trip. (Luke 10:1-9) Their work was to care for the sick and announce the coming of God’s Kingdom.  So it was a mission that included both talk and action.   

So I can’t help but think of the 18 youth from St. Patrick, St. Richard and St. Edward parishes who are currently on a mission trip in Knoxville Tennessee. We had a commissioning ceremony for them and their chaperones last Sunday at the 9:00 am mass at St. Patrick’s Parish. They left for Knoxville on Monday. 
   
These young people are an inspiration for an old goat like me!  They have an enthusiasm and a spirit of adventure and probably they’ve got a little anxiety too. But my guess is that they will return with stories to tell and experiences that they will never forget. 

If you were going on a mission trip at this point in your life, where would you like to go and what would you hope to do?  What gift do you have that would help you change the world? If you would ask God what your mission should be, what would He say?

Saturday, June 29, 2019


                                                           What’s Your Mission?

You may have noticed that recent blog posts have taken a new turn.  In the past, many posts were reflections on the previous weekend's Gospel.  Now the posts will tend to be a preparation for the coming weekend’s message. Let me know if this is helpful or not.

In this weekend’s Gospel, Jesus is determined to go to Jerusalem…knowing that His mission is to suffer and die there. So Jesus is a ‘man on a mission’! But He did't want to travel alone. So He sought disciples who would be companions on His journey. Unfortunately He encountered resistance from the excuses of those would-be followers. 

At this point in your life, what is your mission?  What does God expect of you?  Are you accomplishing it?  What excuses do you make for not fulfilling your mission? Who are your companions on the journey?  Pause a bit to think about these things. 

Going on a mission is risky business. There’s always the possibility of failure…and I have known enough of them!  But as Mother Teresa says: “God does not require that we be successful, only that we be faithful."  Lord, help us be faithful to our mission this week! 

Friday, June 21, 2019


                                    “Give Them Some Food Yourselves.”  (Luke 9:13a)

This weekend’s Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ is linked with Luke’s account of the feeding of the 5000 (Luke 9:11b-17). . As the day unfolds, the Apostles tell Jesus to dismiss the crowd so that they can buy something to eat.  The Apostles only have 5 loaves and 2 fish with them. But Jesus says “Give them some food yourselves.”   

Just prior to this event the Apostles had returned from their first missionary journey. They were excited because their journey was so successful. And they had just been recipients of the hospitality of people who wanted to know Jesus.      

So it’s no wonder that Jesus tells the disciples to give that crowd something to eat. It’s about offering the best hospitality they can give to those 5000 people. It doesn’t matter how much they have to give, it’s about their willingness to share whatever they have.   

Not only that, but sharing their food with that big group is a specific way to ‘Feed the Hungry', which is the first corporal work of mercy.  Feeding the hungry and sharing the Eucharist cannot be separated.  

Jesus saw the the connection between those 2 things and He hopes that we and the Apostles can see that link too.  

Friday, June 14, 2019


                                                       Trinity – A Community of Love

The Sunday after Pentecost is always Trinity Sunday.  From a priest’s standpoint, it’s a tough weekend to prepare a homily because the Trinity is pretty much inexplicable!

But key to understanding the Trinity, at least a little bit, is to see the Father, Son and Holy Spirit as a ‘community of love’. This ‘community of love’ is at the heart of God and everything God does. The result is that all creation is rooted in love, for love and of love.    

The problem is with our free will which bollocks up the whole thing.  The remedy is to remember our roots in our triune God of love.

Have you seen the rise of ‘nationalism’ in recent elections?  Have you noticed the divide between rich countries and poor ones? Are you shaken by increasing gun violence? Do you lament the lack of attention being paid to working for the common good?

Lamenting these things doesn’t help. But putting our love into targeted, daily action can make a difference.  Have you heard the song: “Go Make a Diffrence”? It rouses us to do something to change our world and reconnect us to our roots in God’s love.   

Name something you can do today that reflects the Trinity’s Community of Love.

*The lyrics of ‘Go Make a Diffrence’ were written by Steve Angrisano and Thomas N. Tomaszek.  Go on line to view their YouTube performance.

Tuesday, June 11, 2019



                                                      Be a Kintsugi Practitioner

Recently I saw a picture of a gorgeous piece of pottery that had golden veins running thru it. The veins of gold were made of a special lacquer, dusted with powdered gold, which mended a broken piece of pottery. 'Kintsugi' is the name of that Japanese art of reconstructing broken pottery pieces. 
  
It strikes me that Jesus’ mission was to develop a spiritual form of Kintsugi, repairing our broken hearts and wounded souls with the golden seams of His forgiveness and love.
    
In the end there is a deeper beauty in the broken and mended pottery that we are too. Lots of parents, grandparents and children have learned the art of healing broken hearts and wiping away the tears of those whose who weep.

Think of someone who has mended your heart. Whose words or actions formed the golden seams that glued you together when you've fallen apart? Who loves you without conditions? Whose heart have you recently mended?  Whose soul have you lifted up? 

Healed hearts and souls are always the most beautiful ones. Be a kintsugi practitioner.  

Wednesday, May 29, 2019


                                                                 Separation Anxiety

Separation Anxiety occurs when someone is afraid of being separated from a particular person.  It is quite common when young children can’t cope with moms who have to go to work or when a child starts to go to school. When they learn they're not being abandoned and that they'll see their moms later in the day, their anxiety usually subsides.
     
As the Easter Season comes to an end, Jesus and His disciples have to deal with their own kind of ‘separation anxiety’ as Jesus prepares for His Ascension.
    
Consider these verses in John’s Gospel. Jesus says: “My children, I will be with you only a little while longer.” (John 13:33)  And He follows that by saying: “I will ask the Father and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always.” (John 14:16)  And then He says: “I will not leave you orphans. I will come to you.” (John 14:18)

The Disciples don’t know what to make of all this…until Jesus ascends…and shortly thereafter the Holy Spirit comes to them on Pentecost. Then they knew that Jesus had not abandoned them…He was still with them, but in a whole new way!  

How has your relationship with Jesus changed since you were a child?                 

Tuesday, May 21, 2019


                                                     God’s Dwelling Place

In next Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus says:“Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.” (John 14:23)

What does it mean that God ‘dwells with us’?  It tells us that God is at home in us…that God’s life and our lives are inseparable.  And it’s another way of explaining our long held belief that we are temples of the Holy Spirit.  If all this is true, then imagine the reverence we should have for each other. 

Last weekend the sanctuary lamp burned out in St. Richard’s Church. Chris, the church musician, noticed it and immediately put a new candle in it.  That lamp reminds us that Christ’s true presence in our tabernacle is a central focus in our Catholic Churches. 

Just as that sanctuary lamp reflects the true presence of Christ in the tabernacle, I sometimes think it might be good to have a similar lamp in the body of our churches…reminding us that God’s dwelling place is also in us and our communities.
    
Homework: Light a candle and put it on a table in your home. Sit quietly and think about Christ’s presence in your life. Be grateful that you also are a dwelling place of God.

Tuesday, May 14, 2019



                                                           God’s DNA In Us

I’m amazed at descriptions of our expanding universe with ‘black holes’ and multiple galaxies.  I don’t understand it and I can’t even imagine how all of it works.  What I/we believe is that our God is the God of universes and of all creatures, of time warps and of mysteries not yet known.  Our God is part of everyone and everything. 
  
And because God is the author of all creation, God’s DNA must be written in the genetic codes of all that exists. Another way to say it is that God’s DNA is part of who we are…a fiber running thru us…connecting us to Him and everyone else!    
  
How can someone see God’s DNA at work in you?  Take 2 minutes to just think about that.

What qualities do you have that are God-like? What is Divine in your spouse or in your children or in the neighbor that drives you ‘nuts’? 

Are you familiar with the Hindu greeting “Namaste” which is usually accompanied by a slight bow to the person being greeted? In that context ‘Namaste’ means: “The Divine in me bows to the Divine in you.”

That little ritual concretely celebrates God’s DNA in us. 

Wednesday, May 1, 2019



                                                           Turmoiled Hearts

Imagine the turmoil in the Upper Room on the day Jesus rose from the dead!  At first, the disciples didn’t believe Mary Magdalene or two others who said the same thing. But the news and experiences grew and everything changed.
    
The riveting moment had to be when Jesus appeared in that Room and said: “Peace be with you!”  At first I imagine stunned silence. Then a gasp of amazement and sheer joy.
   
Jesus’ second “Peace be with you”, must have brought tears to every turmoiled heart in that place. Hearts aching as they recalled running away, when Jesus needed them most. So Jesus said again: “Peace be with you”! Then certainly tears flowed and hugs abounded.
 
How often do you have a turmoiled heart?  Every day I have minor turmoils in my heart. And sometimes I have major ones too.  Hardly ever is there a ‘turmoil free zone’ in me.J

When has Jesus said ‘Peace be with you’ to you? He says it to us at every mass. The words come from another Christ, at the sign of peace, who looks at us and says:“Peace be with you!” And we, in turn, are Christ's voice when we say that to someone else. 

                      Be the voice of Christ this week to someone with a turmoiled heart.

Wednesday, April 17, 2019


                                                   Mocking, Denying and Loving

Luke’s Passion story contrasts the treachery of Peter’s denials and the meanness of the mocking crowd with Jesus’ loving and compassionate responses. 

Jesus told Peter that he would deny Him three times. (Lk 22:31-34) And Peter protested.  But in the end Jesus was right.  At the crowing of the cock, Luke says: “Jesus looked at Peter…and Peter remembered what Jesus said.” (Lk 22:60b-61)  Peter quickly regretted what he did and “went out and wept bitterly.” (Lk 22:62)

The crowd, the soldiers and the unrepentant thief mocked Jesus when they shouted “He saved others, now let Him save Himself”. It was a poisonous atmosphere. 

In spite of all that, Jesus healed the High Priest’s slave, whose ear had been cut off by one of Jesus’ followers. And He prayed for the soldiers who nailed Him to the cross saying: “Father forgive them, they don’t know what they’re doing.”  And He was moved by the faith of the repentant thief, promising that he would be with Him in paradise. 

When Jesus tells us to ‘follow Him’ I think He wants us to replace poisonous atmospheres with love and compassion too.  What a challenge!

Tuesday, April 9, 2019


                                                   12 Hours of Confessions

Tomorrow, Wednesday April 10th, Sacred Heart Parish in Racine will be open from 8:00am until 8:00pm for anyone in our district who wishes to go to confession. 2-3 priests will be available throughout those 12 hours.

Every District in the Archdiocese has agreed to designate a particular Parish to do this same thing.  And it is especially appropriate to do this during this Lenten Season, in which the Gospels highlight the issues of Repentance, Forgiveness and Mercy.

If you are not sure what to confess, here are some possibilities: Anger, Pride, Lust, Laziness, Envy, Jealousy, Gluttony and Greed. My usual sins include: self-centeredness, lack of self-love, being judgmental, gossiping, and failing to do the good that I could do. 

And there are umpteen other possible sins as well.  So, if it’s been a while or maybe a few years since you’ve gone to confession, here’s a great opportunity to take advantage of this special day of Reconciliation. 

Tuesday, March 26, 2019


                                                              Bearing Good Fruit

Lent is a season of repentance.  But what does that mean?  We assume it has something to do with turning away from sin.  But according to the little parable in last Sunday’s Gospel, repentance also has something to do with bearing good fruit.

In fact here’s how I would describe it.  True repentance is bearing good fruit.

True repentance isn’t confessing our sins.  True repentance is transforming our sins into good fruit. For example, if your sin is gossiping and speaking ill of others, the remedy isn’t going to confession. The remedy is to see the good qualities of the people you put down and to affirm those qualities.  That changes the pattern.  So the good fruit of affirmation is a sign of true repentance.

Think of the last time you went to confession.  I’ll bet a $20 Culver’s card that most sins you confessed are the same sins you’ve confessed before.  Why am I so confident?  Because that’s what I always do!! It’s time to change the pattern. and we will do that by bearing good fruit.

Please note: This does not mean that we should stop going to confession.  Confession brings us forgiveness and that is a comforting and valuable grace.

Wednesday, March 13, 2019



                                                         Beloved Children of God

Jesus was tempted in the desert immediately following His baptism. We heard that story this past weekend at mass.  In fact we hear different versions of that same story every year on the first Sunday of Lent. 
 
What empowered Jesus to resist those temptations for 40 days?  I think His resistance came from the voice of His Father at His baptism. His Father said: “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.”  Jesus’ identity as God’s Beloved Son solidified his resistance to every evil.
   
By virtue of our own Baptisms we have also become beloved sons and daughters of God. The more we believe that, the stronger will be our resistance to every evil too. 

Unfortunately many of us don’t really believe that we are God’s beloved children. If I ask you to tell me 3 things that God really loves about you, can you do it?

If you can, that’s wonderful.  If you can’t here’s a suggestion.  Ask someone, whom you trust, to tell you what they think God really loves about you. I’ll bet they’ll can come up with a few things pretty quickly.  Listen to them.

Monday, March 4, 2019


                                        Bearing the Cross of Christ

There’s a great ritual for people in RCIA programs during Lent.  It makes bearing the cross of Christ very concrete. On Ash Wednesday Eve, use this ritual to make the Cross a part of you.  

Make the cross on your forehead. It's Christ who strengthens you with this sign of love.

Make the cross on your ears that you may hear the voice of the Lord.

Make the cross on your eyes that you may see the glory of God.

Make the cross on your lips that you may respond to God’s word.

Make the cross over your heart that Christ will dwell within you.

Make the cross on your shoulders that you may bear the yoke of Christ.

Make the cross on your hands that Christ may be made known in your work.

Make the cross on your feet that you may walk in the way of Christ.

Wherever you go, remember you’re covered with crosses. It’s part of you.

Tuesday, February 26, 2019


                             
                               Love Your Enemies…Forgive and You Will be Forgiven

Last weekend’s Gospel (Lk 6:27-38) was packed with many sayings of Jesus. A primary focus of that text was to love and forgive enemies.  It brought to mind that school shooting in an Amish School in Pennsylvania about 12 years ago.

10 girls, ages 7-11, were lined up in a classroom.  All 10 were shot by Charles Roberts, a fellow with mental problems. 5 of the girls died and 5 recuperated.  After shooting the girls, Roberts killed himself.

The day of the shooting, the grandfather of one of the girls who was killed, went to the Robert’s home to reach out to the perpetrator’s family. He understood that their family was hurting too, not only because of what Roberts’ did, but also because his family lost him.    

On the day of Roberts’ funeral, more Amish folks attended his funeral than non-Amish people. The Amish community clearly understood Jesus’ message of forgiveness.

Love your enemies…forgive and you will be forgiven. Is there someone you need to forgive?  And, if you are one of your own worst enemies, do you need to forgive yourself?    

Thursday, February 21, 2019



                                                        Stumbling Stones

Do you remember the time that Peter rebuked Jesus?  It happened when Jesus was talking about His suffering and dying.  Peter didn’t want to hear it and he rebuked Jesus. (Mark 8:31-33) Rebuking Jesus wasn’t such a bright thing to do.  Jesus rebuked Peter in return and it stung! He said to Peter: “Get behind me Satan!”
 
You may recall that Peter’s name means “rock”.  And in this instance Peter…the rock, has become a stumbling stone.  He is not helping Jesus.  He’s tripping him up!  Or, at least, trying to.

Makes me think about the ways we can be stumbling stones for each other.  Parents can be stumbling stones for their children when they give their children bad examples.  Friends can be stumbling stones to friends when they aren’t really honest with them.  And priests are horrible stumbling stones in our church when they abuse children. 
  
Who is a stumbling stone in your life sometimes?  How are you a stumbling stone to other people?  To whom do you go when you have been tripped up by someone?  Think of recent examples. 

Wednesday, February 13, 2019


                                                          It is Well for My soul

I don’t listen to music much.  But recently I was humming a familiar melody and Ricardo and Antony (the priests I live with) asked me what I was humming.  They recognized the melody too.  It comforted me that neither of them could remember the words either.  

A bit later one of them said: “I think it’s called ‘The Prayer’ which Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli sing.” (Only recently have I discovered that there are U-tube renditions of these songs.)  So I went on line and found a recording of that wonderful piece.  It brought me to tears.

Are there some pieces of music that bring you to tears? What are they?

The other religious song that currently touches me is a song entitled: “It is well for my soul’.  The point of that song is that no matter what happens, God is with us.  And that’s a rendition of one of my favorite sayings: ‘We’re always in God’s hands no matter what happens, and that’s always a good place to be.’  

Take time today to listen to some religious music that touches your heart.

Wednesday, February 6, 2019


                                                                    Early Death Threat  

The last 2 Sunday Gospels describe Jesus’ first visit to His hometown after He began His public ministry. (Luke 4:14-30). His address in their Synagogue seemed to go well in the beginning but it turned sour in the end. 

Here are the last 2 verses of that Gospel: “When the people in the synagogue heard Him, they were all filled with fury.  They rose up, drove Him out of town, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl Him down headlong.  But He passed thru the midst of them and went away.”  

They wanted to kill Jesus right after He reminded them that God healed the widow of Zarephath and Naamen the Syrian. They were Gentiles…not Jews. Maybe His hometown people didn’t like the idea of God loving everyone?  Did that threaten them somehow?

Pope Francis causes a stir when he talks about welcoming immigrants who come to Europe from Africa.  Why does that happen?

What would it mean for us to love everyone the way that God does? If we do that, will someone want to hurl us down a hill headlong as well?

Wednesday, January 30, 2019



                                                                      The Unsung

I have a beautiful print of an oil painting by famed Wisconsin artist David Lenz.  My friend Jack gave it to me a few months ago. David niche was to paint pictures of the ‘unsung’. The picture I have is of a young African American child, with a Milwaukee sunrise as a backdrop. 

Many of David’s subjects have some sort of impairment. His passion was to see people with flaws as beautiful works of God’s creation. (Of course, who of us isn’t flawed?)  

Like Jesus, David also loved unsung people…people who might not be noticed because they’re in the background or on the margins of life.

Who did Jesus notice?  The blind, the lame, people possessed by an evil spirit, the soldiers nailing Him to the cross, lepers begging from a distance, people whose hearts were broken. Jesus recognized them and thereby lifted up their spirits.   

Make a list of unsung people you know. Or pay attention to people on the peripheries of your life today. What simple things could you do or say that might help someone like that feel like they count?      

Tuesday, January 22, 2019


                                                
                                                Following Our Consciences


When I was about 9 or 10 years old…back in the 1950s, I remember a great lesson I learned from my dad.  I was in scouting at that time and one of the scouts in our troop died.  I didn’t know him well, but he was part of the bigger group.


He was a Lutheran.  And his funeral was at a local Lutheran Church in Waterford. Our Pastor said that no one could go to his funeral because we were Catholic and we couldn’t go into other churches.


My dad disagreed.  He said that it didn’t matter what religion the boy was, we were going to his funeral.  So we went.


In the 1950’s that was a radical thing to do.  Looking back at it, dad’s decision had a significant influence on my conscience.  He taught me that rules aren’t always the most important things. I’m so glad that I had the dad that I did.     


Pope Francis insists that we must follow our consciences even when they put us at odds with others.  (Jesus did that often with the Scribes and Pharisees.) And Pope Francis also makes it clear that our consciences need to be well-formed.   


Name people who helped form your conscience. Do you always follow it?   

Tuesday, January 15, 2019



                                                              Who Are You?

When people ask me who I am, I usually tell them my name. And then I probably say that I’m a retired priest.  How do you normally respond to the question: “Who are you?”

Our names, occupations, marital status and the number of children we have (if we have them) are typical ways to describe ourselves.  They are broad strokes that define us.

And, if people want to know a little bit more about us, we’d probably tell them some of our hobbies or the names of the sports teams we root for or maybe we’d even tell them where we go to church.

Question: How many things would we tell people about ourselves before we’d even think of saying that we are children of God?  I know it would sound sooo weird to say that! But isn’t that a pretty core truth about us?   

Now, in my personal interest of wanting to try to appear to be ‘normal’, I won’t suggest that we actually tell that to people whom we’re just meeting…because it would be weird. 

But I think it could help our spiritual lives to remember that we are God’s children whenever we say the Lord’s Prayer…which starts with the words: “Our Father”.     

Tuesday, January 1, 2019



                                                 Mary Ponders and We Ponder Too

Pondering is the art of looking for meaning in experiences, conversations, events and misunderstandings that shape our lives.   

Can you name 3 or 4 key experiences in your life that have left you pondering?  And what do you think God is hoping you will grasp as you ponder those relationships and situations that surprise, baffle or touch your heart?     

Mary pondered her conversation with Gabriel who asked her to be the mother of God’s Son.  And she pondered the message of the angels who announced the birth of a savior, wrapped in swaddling clothes and laying in a manger. And she pondered Jesus' words when she and Joseph found their Son in the temple after He was missing for three days.   

Mary’s pondering led her to a life-long faith and a deep seated trust that God was watching over her and caring for her and Jesus no matter what else happened. 

Where does your pondering lead you?  Who are your companions in your pondering?  In a few words, what advice would Mary give you about the things you ponder?