Lenten Detox

A Homily for the 1st Sunday of Lent 2025 "It is easier to throw stones than to search one's own soul." That quote, I think, gets at a fundamental human conundrum with which, I would imagine, we are all familiar. I believe it gets at our own human experiences of alienation and shame that might … Continue reading Lenten Detox

Just This

A Homily for the 5th Sunday of Ordinary Time I would like to be so bold this morning as to redefine "church." I suggest that church is the "Home of the Abnormally Born!" St. Paul, in our 2nd reading today, identifies himself as "one abnormally born" as a means to indicate how his call to … Continue reading Just This

Manifestations

A Homily for the Baptism of the Lord 2025 There are, what I would call, three classic manifestations of the Divine that we celebrate each Christmas season. The first manifestation is radical inclusivity which is at the heart of the Incarnation. The second is belovedness, which we celebrate today on the Feast of the Lord's … Continue reading Manifestations

Lights a Lovely Mile

A Homily for the Epiphany of the Lord 2025 The Priest-Poet, Gerard Manley Hopkins, in his poem: "My Own Heart Let Me More Have Pity On," attempts to express the unbidden, unforeseen, unexpectedness of God's light. Near the conclusion of the poem he writes: "...leave comfort root-room; let joy size/at God knows when to God … Continue reading Lights a Lovely Mile

Hail Space for the Uncontained God

A Homily for Christmas Day 2024 In a late essay, reflecting on Luke chapter 2, verse 7: "...because there was no room for them in the inn," Thomas Merton wrote: "Those that lament the fact that there is no room for God must also be called to account for this. Have they perhaps added to … Continue reading Hail Space for the Uncontained God

God Waits!

A Homily for the 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time There is a wisdom that founds a vision and the vision opens out onto a mission and the mission requires we take the risk of faith. We read today in the Book of the prophet Daniel: "But the wise shall shine brightly like the splendor of … Continue reading God Waits!

Thank You & Goodbye

A Homily for the 30th Sunday of Ordinary Time When God says to the Prophet Isaiah or to the visionary, John, in the Book of Revelation: "See, I make all things new!" Or when St. Paul tells us "all that matters now is a new creation." Do we realize that for God new means new? … Continue reading Thank You & Goodbye