A Homily for the 14th Sunday of Ordinary Time 2025 My brother Tim loved things that grow and loved to help things grow. His knowledge of plant life and flowers, all of it largely self-taught, was expansive. His ability to get a burnt out plant to flourish; or a reticent blossom to bloom always amazed … Continue reading Flourish!
Author: frjcoop
Fr. Jeff Cooper, CSC is a Roman Catholic Priest and a religious of the Congregation of Holy Cross (US Province). Fr. Jeff has spent most of his ministry in the work of formation and education. He holds a Ph.D. in Christian Spirituality. He currently serves as Director of Novices at the Holy Cross Novitiate in Colorado.
Words Made Flesh
A Homily for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body & Blood of Christ 2025 I am discovering that a lifetime of practicing Lectio Divina leads to Lectio Divina taking on a life in time. It becomes increasingly clear that the Word is Living, the Word is Unchained, and therefore: Words Matter. Words are always … Continue reading Words Made Flesh
“Delight in the Human Race”
A Homily for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity "Hail space for the Uncontained God!" That line, coming from the Eastern Orthodox Liturgy for the Annunciation, has become a long time favorite of mine. In it the greeting of the Archangel Gabriel to Mary is reframed and Mary redefined as the seemingly limited space … Continue reading “Delight in the Human Race”
“Even Now”
An Easter Meditation In this Jubilee Year of Hope, in the buoyancy that so many have felt in the election of our new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, and in his early message which seems to hang on two words: "Peace" and "Unity," can we say, where ever we are, in the midst of our … Continue reading “Even Now”
St. Matthias: Witness to the Resurrection!
A Personal Reflection on the Feast of St. Matthias, Apostle About 30 years ago I rather unexpectedly fell in love with St. Matthias! I was up to preach the homily at my religious community's annual, post-academic year retreat on the feast of the apostle. I vaguely remember now preaching on the kinship I felt with … Continue reading St. Matthias: Witness to the Resurrection!
“Welcome & Listen”
A Homily for the 4th Sunday of Easter 2025 In the Acts of the Apostles today, Paul and Barnabas announce: "We now turn to the Gentiles (or the Nations)!" And how do the Gentiles or the Nations respond? Well, they respond just as any person or group who has felt excluded, forgotten, unseen, unheard, or … Continue reading “Welcome & Listen”
In Mercy, Hope!
A Homily for Divine Mercy Sunday & In Memory of Pope Francis Pope Francis once remarked: "Let the church always be a place of mercy and hope." If you recall, back in 2013, the pontificate of Pope Francis began with the Year of Mercy. This past week it ended with his death right in the … Continue reading In Mercy, Hope!
“Enough! the Resurrection”
A Homily for Easter Sunday 2025 The fundamental message of Easter is this: You have to run into the dark if you wish to run into the light. You have to confront your own limitations if you want to come to know the Limitless; face your own brokenness to discover healing; pass through death to … Continue reading “Enough! the Resurrection”
Unwanted
A Homily for Holy Thursday 2025 What do you do when you are embarrassed? Do you get angry at yourself? Do you feel ashamed of yourself? Do you immediately try to justify yourself? Do you wish you could just disappear? What about those times when you get embarrassed for someone else? What do you do … Continue reading Unwanted
And Their Voices Prevailed
A Homily for Palm Sunday 2025 In the midst of the shouting match that ensues between Pilate and the Crowd, in Luke's account of the Passion, Pilate, driven by fear and political expediency, seeks to release Jesus. The Crowd, engorged with rage and convinced that the destruction of this one human being and all he … Continue reading And Their Voices Prevailed
Chiaroscuro Spirituality 