-Last Sunday's homily is available
-This Sunday's Scriptures can be found at www.usccb.org/readings
-check out this weeks LinC letter at www.parishLinCLetter.blogspot.com
-I will be celebrating mass this weekend at 8:00 and 11:00am on Sunday
The Hunt!
A scavenger hunt may be an apt image of the frenetic pursuit of material gain for the wrong reason that Jesus condemns in this Sunday's portion of the bread of life discourse. In our daily lives can we be guilty of this empty hunt? In our religious lives can we see the "scavenger hunt" mentality at work as well?
What might need to change in either case to reclaim our lives with meaning, purpose, and satisfaction?
Saturday, August 1, 2015
Saturday, July 25, 2015
July 26 Homily Prep
-Last Sunday's homily is available
-This Sunday's Scriptures can be found at www.usccb.org/readings
-check out this weeks LinC letter at www.parishLinCLetter.blogspot.com
-I will be celebrating mass this weekend at 9:30am and 12:30 on Sunday
Are you in the Eucharist? Is the Eucharist in you?
As we begin the "bread of life discourse" we welcome a missionary preacher at all the masses this weekend. This missionary is a sign and a reminder to all of us of the communion of the faithful that we share in throughout the whole world.
-This Sunday's Scriptures can be found at www.usccb.org/readings
-check out this weeks LinC letter at www.parishLinCLetter.blogspot.com
-I will be celebrating mass this weekend at 9:30am and 12:30 on Sunday
Are you in the Eucharist? Is the Eucharist in you?
As we begin the "bread of life discourse" we welcome a missionary preacher at all the masses this weekend. This missionary is a sign and a reminder to all of us of the communion of the faithful that we share in throughout the whole world.
Saturday, July 18, 2015
Homily Prep July 19
-Last Sunday's homily is available
-This Sunday's Scriptures can be found at www.usccb.org/readings
-check out this weeks LinC letter at www.parishLinCLetter.blogspot.com
-I will be celebrating mass this weekend at 9:30am on Sunday
What's the difference between personal prayer and private prayer?
Are we ever "in private"? I know we hear a lot of talking in our society about a "right to privacy" but in our Catholic spirituality there is no understanding of private. Having been joined to the body of Christ, incorporated. through baptism we are "never alone".
In fact, it has often been said that the hymn Amazing Grace is not really a good Catholic hymn. It is a song sung in the first person, I, it's all about "me" and what God has done for me. Catholic hymns are sung as a "we". We are never a catholic alone. That's communion theology, right.
We are celebrating our adoration chapel's 10th anniversary of dedication this weekend and the call of Jesus to "come apart by yourselves" may cause us to be rededicated to personal prayer before the Blessed Sacrament as participants in the prayer of Christ, as his body in which we exist.
-This Sunday's Scriptures can be found at www.usccb.org/readings
-check out this weeks LinC letter at www.parishLinCLetter.blogspot.com
-I will be celebrating mass this weekend at 9:30am on Sunday
What's the difference between personal prayer and private prayer?
Are we ever "in private"? I know we hear a lot of talking in our society about a "right to privacy" but in our Catholic spirituality there is no understanding of private. Having been joined to the body of Christ, incorporated. through baptism we are "never alone".
In fact, it has often been said that the hymn Amazing Grace is not really a good Catholic hymn. It is a song sung in the first person, I, it's all about "me" and what God has done for me. Catholic hymns are sung as a "we". We are never a catholic alone. That's communion theology, right.
We are celebrating our adoration chapel's 10th anniversary of dedication this weekend and the call of Jesus to "come apart by yourselves" may cause us to be rededicated to personal prayer before the Blessed Sacrament as participants in the prayer of Christ, as his body in which we exist.
Saturday, July 11, 2015
July12 Homly Prep
-Last Sunday's homily is available
-This Sunday's Scriptures can be found at www.usccb.org/readings
-check out this weeks LinC letter at www.parishLinCLetter.blogspot.com
-I will be celebrating mass this weekend at 8:00 am and 6:00pm on Sunday
Here We Go Again!
We often think of the greatest witness(witness = martyr) that one can give is to die for the love of God. Martyrdom is the word we use to describe those who have died in defense of the faith in pure imitation of Jesus. The gospel for this Sunday reports the sending of the disciples (apostoloi = those who are SENT) to save the lost of the House of Israel. It is possibly a more fundamental witness and a more "difficult" one. Jesus describes himself as the One whom the Father SENT. He also says, "as the Father sent Me, so I SEND you". So, to be sent by God to witness to Jesus' saving love may be the best way to imitate Jesus = witness.
My experience of the faith and my life in the priesthood seems to be an unbroken chain of days on which I have BEEN SENT. There is an important quality to being sent. One who is sent does not "come in his own name" rather the one sent represents the other. In this case God. Or is that true?
The area for growth among those who see themselves as SENT is the purification of this awareness and the faithfulness to the ONE sending. I can look back on my chain of days as one sent and I can see seasons during which I was not really representing the One Who sent but I was asserting the one sent: the self-separate. Jesus has described these variously as the wiley manager, hired hand, whitewashed sepulcher, unfaithful steward, foolish virgin...all of these have forgotten the SENDER and imposed rather the SENT.
All the baptized must reclaim their identity as missionaries.....disciples who are SENT to the lost of the household of God. "Every One Adds One by 2016" is calling us to see ourselves as SENT, apostles, with a mission to grow the church-communion through participation in the Eucharistic-communion that we celebrate here.
So, here we GO again!
-This Sunday's Scriptures can be found at www.usccb.org/readings
-check out this weeks LinC letter at www.parishLinCLetter.blogspot.com
-I will be celebrating mass this weekend at 8:00 am and 6:00pm on Sunday
Here We Go Again!
We often think of the greatest witness(witness = martyr) that one can give is to die for the love of God. Martyrdom is the word we use to describe those who have died in defense of the faith in pure imitation of Jesus. The gospel for this Sunday reports the sending of the disciples (apostoloi = those who are SENT) to save the lost of the House of Israel. It is possibly a more fundamental witness and a more "difficult" one. Jesus describes himself as the One whom the Father SENT. He also says, "as the Father sent Me, so I SEND you". So, to be sent by God to witness to Jesus' saving love may be the best way to imitate Jesus = witness.
My experience of the faith and my life in the priesthood seems to be an unbroken chain of days on which I have BEEN SENT. There is an important quality to being sent. One who is sent does not "come in his own name" rather the one sent represents the other. In this case God. Or is that true?
The area for growth among those who see themselves as SENT is the purification of this awareness and the faithfulness to the ONE sending. I can look back on my chain of days as one sent and I can see seasons during which I was not really representing the One Who sent but I was asserting the one sent: the self-separate. Jesus has described these variously as the wiley manager, hired hand, whitewashed sepulcher, unfaithful steward, foolish virgin...all of these have forgotten the SENDER and imposed rather the SENT.
All the baptized must reclaim their identity as missionaries.....disciples who are SENT to the lost of the household of God. "Every One Adds One by 2016" is calling us to see ourselves as SENT, apostles, with a mission to grow the church-communion through participation in the Eucharistic-communion that we celebrate here.
So, here we GO again!
Saturday, July 4, 2015
July 5 Homily Prep
Last Sunday's homily is available
-This Sunday's Scriptures can be found at www.usccb.org/readings
-check out this weeks LinC letter at www.parishLinCLetter.blogspot.com
-I will be celebrating mass this weekend at 5:30 on Saturday and 11:00 and 12:30 on Sunday
What, what?
I was in the barbershop this week and the barber said "Father, a lot of my Catholic customers are unhappy with the churches response to the Supreme Court decision last week." Since I was reclined in the chair and the barber was holding sharp objects I couldn't escape and I did not try avoid the conversation.
I thought the barber's description of the problem was interesting. He didn't say that the Catholic customers were upset with the Supreme Court decision, he said the customers were upset with the church in their response.
This Fourth of July weekend and the scripture text of this 14th Sunday of the year do seem to be a graceful coincidence and opportunity to reflect upon the mission of the church in a democratic free society.
The mission of the church is perfectly laid out for us as that of the role of "prophet". Ezekiel before him and Jesus in his home town are being witnesses to what God is doing through the church in the world. To be prophetic is to speak on behalf of the other, in this case God. As the first half of the word pro-phet is the root of our English word "proclaim". To proclaim God's marvelous deeds is the role of Jesus and thus the church in the world.
The world to which the church is called to proclaim God's love and mercy is described in the scriptures today as one that is hostile, at least suspicious of the prophet among them. This attitude of hostility or suspicion is one that fits our contemporary situation as Americans who breathe free. Today's culture in America is often reminding us of the freedom OF religion in our constitution but more aggressively today a freedom FROM religion which is tragic for society.
This hostility or suspicion of religion and prophets in America today has the same effect upon God as it did in Jesus' hometown. He could not work many miracles there because of their lack of faith. If we poll Catholics in the pew about these very difficult subjects the polling numbers tell us that the majority of Catholics have rejected the church's prophetic stance on many issues over the years.
The church has been clear and truthful in its teaching on human sexuality and marriage. The church has been brilliant and prophetic in its reflection upon he dignity of human life and persons. I am afraid, however, that our society's desire to be free from religion has pretty much rejected this message from God. Even among our greatest Catholics.
So, Catholics today are upset with the pastors' response in the Supreme Court decision. So what would faithful Catholics like to hear?
-This Sunday's Scriptures can be found at www.usccb.org/readings
-check out this weeks LinC letter at www.parishLinCLetter.blogspot.com
-I will be celebrating mass this weekend at 5:30 on Saturday and 11:00 and 12:30 on Sunday
What, what?
I was in the barbershop this week and the barber said "Father, a lot of my Catholic customers are unhappy with the churches response to the Supreme Court decision last week." Since I was reclined in the chair and the barber was holding sharp objects I couldn't escape and I did not try avoid the conversation.
I thought the barber's description of the problem was interesting. He didn't say that the Catholic customers were upset with the Supreme Court decision, he said the customers were upset with the church in their response.
This Fourth of July weekend and the scripture text of this 14th Sunday of the year do seem to be a graceful coincidence and opportunity to reflect upon the mission of the church in a democratic free society.
The mission of the church is perfectly laid out for us as that of the role of "prophet". Ezekiel before him and Jesus in his home town are being witnesses to what God is doing through the church in the world. To be prophetic is to speak on behalf of the other, in this case God. As the first half of the word pro-phet is the root of our English word "proclaim". To proclaim God's marvelous deeds is the role of Jesus and thus the church in the world.
The world to which the church is called to proclaim God's love and mercy is described in the scriptures today as one that is hostile, at least suspicious of the prophet among them. This attitude of hostility or suspicion is one that fits our contemporary situation as Americans who breathe free. Today's culture in America is often reminding us of the freedom OF religion in our constitution but more aggressively today a freedom FROM religion which is tragic for society.
This hostility or suspicion of religion and prophets in America today has the same effect upon God as it did in Jesus' hometown. He could not work many miracles there because of their lack of faith. If we poll Catholics in the pew about these very difficult subjects the polling numbers tell us that the majority of Catholics have rejected the church's prophetic stance on many issues over the years.
The church has been clear and truthful in its teaching on human sexuality and marriage. The church has been brilliant and prophetic in its reflection upon he dignity of human life and persons. I am afraid, however, that our society's desire to be free from religion has pretty much rejected this message from God. Even among our greatest Catholics.
So, Catholics today are upset with the pastors' response in the Supreme Court decision. So what would faithful Catholics like to hear?
Saturday, June 27, 2015
June 28th Homily Prep
Last Sunday's homily is available
-This Sunday's Scriptures can be found at www.usccb.org/readings
-check out this weeks LinC letter at www.parishLinCLetter.blogspot.com
-I will be celebrating mass this weekend at 4:00pm on Saturday and 9:30 and 12:30 on Sunday
Raised for Life
Faith in Jesus Christ and life in the communion of the Church is presented by the gospel this week as a "raised to life". In fact the gospel uses the same word for the raising of the dead girl as it does for the raising of Jesus from the dead. We see in the healing of the woman with the hemorrhage that Jesus is "power of God for life".
Is your faith experienced as resurrection, power, freedom for life? Do you need to be raised to life?
-This Sunday's Scriptures can be found at www.usccb.org/readings
-check out this weeks LinC letter at www.parishLinCLetter.blogspot.com
-I will be celebrating mass this weekend at 4:00pm on Saturday and 9:30 and 12:30 on Sunday
Raised for Life
Faith in Jesus Christ and life in the communion of the Church is presented by the gospel this week as a "raised to life". In fact the gospel uses the same word for the raising of the dead girl as it does for the raising of Jesus from the dead. We see in the healing of the woman with the hemorrhage that Jesus is "power of God for life".
Is your faith experienced as resurrection, power, freedom for life? Do you need to be raised to life?
Saturday, June 20, 2015
Homily Prep June 21
Last Sunday's homily is available
-This Sunday's Scriptures can be found at www.usccb.org/readings
-check out this weeks LinC letter at www.parishLinCLetter.blogspot.com
-I will be celebrating mass this weekend at 8:00am, 11:00am and 6pm on Sunday
Why are You so Terrified?
The apostles in the boat crossing over to the other side is an image of the spiritual journey that all of us are called to make in faith. Jesus has taught us and is with us - but the journey to new and eternal life is not instantaneous, nor trouble free, nor easy, nor ever complete in this life.
How do we know that we are off the path that Jesus is walking with us? Fear! How often are we fearful in daily life? In daily prayer? In daily relationships? How dominant is the fear factor in our journey? That's the thermometer of faith in the Gospel!
Do you not yet have faith?. That's why you were so terrified.
-This Sunday's Scriptures can be found at www.usccb.org/readings
-check out this weeks LinC letter at www.parishLinCLetter.blogspot.com
-I will be celebrating mass this weekend at 8:00am, 11:00am and 6pm on Sunday
Why are You so Terrified?
The apostles in the boat crossing over to the other side is an image of the spiritual journey that all of us are called to make in faith. Jesus has taught us and is with us - but the journey to new and eternal life is not instantaneous, nor trouble free, nor easy, nor ever complete in this life.
How do we know that we are off the path that Jesus is walking with us? Fear! How often are we fearful in daily life? In daily prayer? In daily relationships? How dominant is the fear factor in our journey? That's the thermometer of faith in the Gospel!
Do you not yet have faith?. That's why you were so terrified.
Saturday, June 13, 2015
Homily Prep June 14
-Last Sunday's homily is available
-This Sunday's Scriptures can be found at www.usccb.org/readings
-check out this weeks LinC letter at www.parishLinCLetter.blogspot.com
-I will be celebrating mass this weekend at 4:00pm on Saturday, 9:30 & 11:00 on Sunday
What's My Line?
This game show back in the 60s and 70s was fun and interesting. People who had "weird" or "unexpected" careers and occupations came on the show and the panelists tried to figure out what they did for a living. "What's my line" has to be considered a colloquialism to say "what is my line of work".
I'm thinking of "lines" today after Jesus' use of and the instruction about parables in the Gospel. I'm thinking "what is your line" as meaning what is your story. You know in a book or movie the central message is the "storyline".
In our parish vision "Every One Adds One by 2016" the byline is Renew, Reflect, and Reach Out. It was thought that every worshiper would become an inviter of another. That kind of reaching out can only happen if our faith is renewed and alive and that we reflect upon the meaning of our faith in our life. That's my line.
So what's your line? If you had to tell a loved one what your faith means to you and why it is essential for your happiness in life, what would you say? That's your line. What is the parable of your faith, your storyline, as Jesus has shown us? If you don't have a parable or a story, or a line it might be because you have not reflected upon your faith.
Let's use this important time in our parish life to renew our faith in the holy Communion of the church, reflect on its meaning and importance in our life, and then let's prepare to reach out by sharing our story with a loved one whose away from church.
What's your line?
-This Sunday's Scriptures can be found at www.usccb.org/readings
-check out this weeks LinC letter at www.parishLinCLetter.blogspot.com
-I will be celebrating mass this weekend at 4:00pm on Saturday, 9:30 & 11:00 on Sunday
What's My Line?
This game show back in the 60s and 70s was fun and interesting. People who had "weird" or "unexpected" careers and occupations came on the show and the panelists tried to figure out what they did for a living. "What's my line" has to be considered a colloquialism to say "what is my line of work".
I'm thinking of "lines" today after Jesus' use of and the instruction about parables in the Gospel. I'm thinking "what is your line" as meaning what is your story. You know in a book or movie the central message is the "storyline".
In our parish vision "Every One Adds One by 2016" the byline is Renew, Reflect, and Reach Out. It was thought that every worshiper would become an inviter of another. That kind of reaching out can only happen if our faith is renewed and alive and that we reflect upon the meaning of our faith in our life. That's my line.
So what's your line? If you had to tell a loved one what your faith means to you and why it is essential for your happiness in life, what would you say? That's your line. What is the parable of your faith, your storyline, as Jesus has shown us? If you don't have a parable or a story, or a line it might be because you have not reflected upon your faith.
Let's use this important time in our parish life to renew our faith in the holy Communion of the church, reflect on its meaning and importance in our life, and then let's prepare to reach out by sharing our story with a loved one whose away from church.
What's your line?
Saturday, June 6, 2015
June 7 homily Prep: Body and Blood of Christ
-Last Sunday's homily is available
-This Sunday's Scriptures can be found at www.usccb.org/readings
-check out this weeks LinC letter at www.parishLinCLetter.blogspot.com
-I will be celebrating mass this weekend at 5:30pm on Saturday, 8am, 12:30pm and 6pm on Sunday
Church, priesthood, Eucharist = real presence!
Unique among the Christian churches, the Catholic and Orthodox belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist is the consoling Truth that Jesus is with us always, until the end of the ages. Really WITH us. Not just spiritually, personally, mysteriously, symbolically, but REALLY. We have fought some long hard battles over this belief. It has been challenged over the millenia so much so that the Real Presence of Jesus int he consecrated "species" of the Eucharist has become the "tip of the spear" for Catholic apologists and, in some cases, to the exclusion of the other REAL presences of Christ in the life of the faithful.
Do you know where Christ is really present in addition to the consecrated Bread and Wine?
-This Sunday's Scriptures can be found at www.usccb.org/readings
-check out this weeks LinC letter at www.parishLinCLetter.blogspot.com
-I will be celebrating mass this weekend at 5:30pm on Saturday, 8am, 12:30pm and 6pm on Sunday
Church, priesthood, Eucharist = real presence!
Unique among the Christian churches, the Catholic and Orthodox belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist is the consoling Truth that Jesus is with us always, until the end of the ages. Really WITH us. Not just spiritually, personally, mysteriously, symbolically, but REALLY. We have fought some long hard battles over this belief. It has been challenged over the millenia so much so that the Real Presence of Jesus int he consecrated "species" of the Eucharist has become the "tip of the spear" for Catholic apologists and, in some cases, to the exclusion of the other REAL presences of Christ in the life of the faithful.
Do you know where Christ is really present in addition to the consecrated Bread and Wine?
Saturday, May 30, 2015
May 31 Homily Prep - Trinity Sunday
-Last Sunday's homily is available
-This Sunday's Scriptures can be found at www.usccb.org/readings
-check out this weeks LinC letter at www.parishLinCLetter.blogspot.com
-I will be celebrating mass this weekend at 4;00pm on Saturday, 12:30pm on Sunday
The DNA of Believers
DNA is the substance of our bodily development and the pattern of the full flowering. Any disturbance or defect in the embryonic DNA is observable in the bodily manifestation of the full grown adult. Conversely, the genome project has helped us to see that all the DNA are discoverable in the basic genes of the adult human body.
And also with our spiritual lives of faith lived in the Body of Christ, the Church = Communion!
Franciscan Fr. Richard Rohr has written
"The Christian belief in the Trinity makes it clear that God is an event of communion. God is not a noun nearly as much as a verb. We’ve always thought of God as an autonomous Supreme Being, rather than as Being itself, as an energy that moves within itself (“Father”), beyond itself (“Christ”), and drawing us into itself (“Holy Spirit”). When Christianity begins to take this pivotal and central doctrine of the Trinity with practical seriousness, it will be renewed on every level.
All of creation is a perfect giving and a perfect receiving between the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, with no withholding and no rejecting. St. Bonaventure called God “A Fountain Fullness.” Once we begin with outpouring love as the foundational pattern of reality, and love as the very shape of God, then everything somehow has to fall into that same family resemblance. If this is the Creator, then somehow this must be the DNA of all of the creatures."
-This Sunday's Scriptures can be found at www.usccb.org/readings
-check out this weeks LinC letter at www.parishLinCLetter.blogspot.com
-I will be celebrating mass this weekend at 4;00pm on Saturday, 12:30pm on Sunday
The DNA of Believers
DNA is the substance of our bodily development and the pattern of the full flowering. Any disturbance or defect in the embryonic DNA is observable in the bodily manifestation of the full grown adult. Conversely, the genome project has helped us to see that all the DNA are discoverable in the basic genes of the adult human body.
And also with our spiritual lives of faith lived in the Body of Christ, the Church = Communion!
Franciscan Fr. Richard Rohr has written
"The Christian belief in the Trinity makes it clear that God is an event of communion. God is not a noun nearly as much as a verb. We’ve always thought of God as an autonomous Supreme Being, rather than as Being itself, as an energy that moves within itself (“Father”), beyond itself (“Christ”), and drawing us into itself (“Holy Spirit”). When Christianity begins to take this pivotal and central doctrine of the Trinity with practical seriousness, it will be renewed on every level.
All of creation is a perfect giving and a perfect receiving between the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, with no withholding and no rejecting. St. Bonaventure called God “A Fountain Fullness.” Once we begin with outpouring love as the foundational pattern of reality, and love as the very shape of God, then everything somehow has to fall into that same family resemblance. If this is the Creator, then somehow this must be the DNA of all of the creatures."
Friday, May 22, 2015
Pentecost Homily Prep - May 24
-Last Sunday's homily is available
-This Sunday's Scriptures can be found at usccb.org/readings
-check out this weeks LinC letter at www.parishLinCLetter.blogspot.com
-I will be celebrating mass this weekend at 5:30pm on Saturday, 9:30am and 6:00pm on Sunday
Mission Impossible vs. Commissioned in persona Christi
This is the last homily in this Easter series on believing/unbelieving. I have identified the lingering symptoms of unbelieving that remain part of our lives as those claiming to believe: fear of death/clinging to material life, isolated individualism, autonomous control freaks, judging competitive monkey mind, clinging to the past and the unreal, and today, secret agents of a distant God. Each of these symptoms of unbelieving or slavery to sin and death has a complementary or opposite symptom of believing in communion with God and others: in the world not of it, member and child, mutual submisission in love, friends in the Lord, making room for the true, the new, the real and today, called together as God by God!
You remember the Sunday night program in the sixties: Mission Impossible. A central character begins the show each week receiving a tape recorded proposal from someone in charge. The voice on the tape is anonymous, the listener is challenged to accept this top secret mission and the tape self-destructs after it concludes so that there is no way to connect the agent to the one who has engaged him.
That is an image for me of the way most "believers" approach life in the world. We show up to church on Sunday, we hear a challenging call from a rather "distant" God, yo go out into our daily life to succeed by our own resources, representing no one, not indicating that anyone has called us, sent us, or is behind the craziness of life.
Pentecost proclaims a radically different notion of believers engaged by God, on a mission of truth and love, under the banner of Jesus Christ and formed as a member of a team formed by the Spirit. COMMISSIONED - ambassadors of the COMMUNION which is the Love who is God.
Does this resonate with your believing?
-This Sunday's Scriptures can be found at usccb.org/readings
-check out this weeks LinC letter at www.parishLinCLetter.blogspot.com
-I will be celebrating mass this weekend at 5:30pm on Saturday, 9:30am and 6:00pm on Sunday
Mission Impossible vs. Commissioned in persona Christi
This is the last homily in this Easter series on believing/unbelieving. I have identified the lingering symptoms of unbelieving that remain part of our lives as those claiming to believe: fear of death/clinging to material life, isolated individualism, autonomous control freaks, judging competitive monkey mind, clinging to the past and the unreal, and today, secret agents of a distant God. Each of these symptoms of unbelieving or slavery to sin and death has a complementary or opposite symptom of believing in communion with God and others: in the world not of it, member and child, mutual submisission in love, friends in the Lord, making room for the true, the new, the real and today, called together as God by God!
You remember the Sunday night program in the sixties: Mission Impossible. A central character begins the show each week receiving a tape recorded proposal from someone in charge. The voice on the tape is anonymous, the listener is challenged to accept this top secret mission and the tape self-destructs after it concludes so that there is no way to connect the agent to the one who has engaged him.
That is an image for me of the way most "believers" approach life in the world. We show up to church on Sunday, we hear a challenging call from a rather "distant" God, yo go out into our daily life to succeed by our own resources, representing no one, not indicating that anyone has called us, sent us, or is behind the craziness of life.
Pentecost proclaims a radically different notion of believers engaged by God, on a mission of truth and love, under the banner of Jesus Christ and formed as a member of a team formed by the Spirit. COMMISSIONED - ambassadors of the COMMUNION which is the Love who is God.
Does this resonate with your believing?
Friday, May 15, 2015
Ascension Sunday May 17th
-Last Sunday's homily is available
-This Sunday's Scriptures can be found at usccb.org/readings
-check out this weeks LinC letter at www.parishLinCLetter.blogspot.com
-I will be celebrating mass this weekend at 4:00pm on Saturday and 8:00am on Sunday
"Always" and "Never"
These two words are the signs of slavery to death and sin. Freedom and life in the resurrection of Christ are "here" and "now".
What do you think of that?
-This Sunday's Scriptures can be found at usccb.org/readings
-check out this weeks LinC letter at www.parishLinCLetter.blogspot.com
-I will be celebrating mass this weekend at 4:00pm on Saturday and 8:00am on Sunday
"Always" and "Never"
These two words are the signs of slavery to death and sin. Freedom and life in the resurrection of Christ are "here" and "now".
What do you think of that?
Friday, May 8, 2015
Easter 6 - May 10 homily Prep
-Last Sunday's homily is available
-This Sunday's Scriptures can be found at usccb.org/readings
-check out this weeks LinC letter at www.parishLinCLetter.blogspot.com
-I will be celebrating mass this weekend at 12:30 mass only
"I'm special"
This positive message resulting from the self-esteem efforts of the last 20 years is a first symptom that we are still living under the powers and principalities of the slavery of death and sin. When we notice the difference between ourselves and others, that they or he or she is not like me or I am not like other people, we can be sure that we have are suffering from the hangover from our slavery to death and sin. My separate-self, monkey mind, that is constantly comparing myself to others, resenting their success and grieving over my failure is a sure sign that we are suffering from a hangover from our slavery to death and sin....that's a sign that we have been unbelieving.
I'm tempted to this sin of judgment, condemnation, competition, separate-self slavery mind.
Jesus by his triumph over death and sin, has re-created us not as competitive separate-selves but friends. Friends are the ones for whom we lay down our lives.
At-one-ment!
-This Sunday's Scriptures can be found at usccb.org/readings
-check out this weeks LinC letter at www.parishLinCLetter.blogspot.com
-I will be celebrating mass this weekend at 12:30 mass only
"I'm special"
This positive message resulting from the self-esteem efforts of the last 20 years is a first symptom that we are still living under the powers and principalities of the slavery of death and sin. When we notice the difference between ourselves and others, that they or he or she is not like me or I am not like other people, we can be sure that we have are suffering from the hangover from our slavery to death and sin. My separate-self, monkey mind, that is constantly comparing myself to others, resenting their success and grieving over my failure is a sure sign that we are suffering from a hangover from our slavery to death and sin....that's a sign that we have been unbelieving.
I'm tempted to this sin of judgment, condemnation, competition, separate-self slavery mind.
Jesus by his triumph over death and sin, has re-created us not as competitive separate-selves but friends. Friends are the ones for whom we lay down our lives.
At-one-ment!
Saturday, May 2, 2015
Easter 5 - Homily Prep May 3
-Last Sunday's homily is available by email request
-This Sunday's Scriptures can be found at www.usccb.org/readings
-I will be celebrating mass this weekend at 4:00 PM on Saturday and 9:30 AM, 12:30 PM and 6pm on Sunday
Resurrection Check up: symptoms of death and symptoms of life?
This is a series on the spiritual signs of freedom and life versus the worldly signs of slavery to death/sin. I began with fear of dying, then individualism, autonomy and today it is minimalistic and entitlement members.
I am wondering if we have really believed in our incorporation into the Body of Christ, the Church? Too many of us are interested in the perks of membership (what's the minimum I must do to get the desired benefit?) Is my incorporation in faith putting me into a dynamic relationship with God and Church/others? That is the "perk" that resurrected life offers us.
So, are there any signs in your life of the blessing of incorporation/relationship to others? Or are there signs of the stingy approach to life which is seeking the least investment to obtain the desire benefit? That is a symptom of death. Minimalists concerned only about self-centered entitlements.
-This Sunday's Scriptures can be found at www.usccb.org/readings
-I will be celebrating mass this weekend at 4:00 PM on Saturday and 9:30 AM, 12:30 PM and 6pm on Sunday
Resurrection Check up: symptoms of death and symptoms of life?
This is a series on the spiritual signs of freedom and life versus the worldly signs of slavery to death/sin. I began with fear of dying, then individualism, autonomy and today it is minimalistic and entitlement members.
I am wondering if we have really believed in our incorporation into the Body of Christ, the Church? Too many of us are interested in the perks of membership (what's the minimum I must do to get the desired benefit?) Is my incorporation in faith putting me into a dynamic relationship with God and Church/others? That is the "perk" that resurrected life offers us.
So, are there any signs in your life of the blessing of incorporation/relationship to others? Or are there signs of the stingy approach to life which is seeking the least investment to obtain the desire benefit? That is a symptom of death. Minimalists concerned only about self-centered entitlements.
Saturday, April 25, 2015
Easter 4, homily Prep April 26
-Last Sunday's homily is available by email request
-This Sunday's Scriptures can be found at www.usccb.org/readings
-I will be celebrating mass this weekend at 5:30 PM on Saturday and 9:30 AM and 12:30 PM on Sunday
Resurrection Check up: symptoms of death and symptoms of life?
This is a series on the spiritual signs of freedom and life versus the worldly signs of slavery to death/sin. I began with fear of dying, then individualism, and today autonomy. I am wondering where in our lives do we submit to others' will? Where and to whom are we obedient out of love?
As the children of God, we are called fundamentally to submit our will to the will of God. For most of us mere mortals this is a daunting task. Submission to the will of God is a symptom of freedom and life. Like Jesus we must freely submit out of love, not obey out of fear of punishment.
In our worldly existence we long for independence and autonomy: symptoms of death/sin. Commitment phobia is probably a subset of this symptom. The sacrament of matrimony is the most often chosen path of submission - for those who are married in Christ. So much of the trend to cohabitation is a symptom of autonomy in relation to others = symptom of death.
The church and our call to holiness insist that we practice submitting to the will of God by our practice of obedience to others for the sake of love. To whom do you submit? To whom are you obedient?
-This Sunday's Scriptures can be found at www.usccb.org/readings
-I will be celebrating mass this weekend at 5:30 PM on Saturday and 9:30 AM and 12:30 PM on Sunday
Resurrection Check up: symptoms of death and symptoms of life?
This is a series on the spiritual signs of freedom and life versus the worldly signs of slavery to death/sin. I began with fear of dying, then individualism, and today autonomy. I am wondering where in our lives do we submit to others' will? Where and to whom are we obedient out of love?
As the children of God, we are called fundamentally to submit our will to the will of God. For most of us mere mortals this is a daunting task. Submission to the will of God is a symptom of freedom and life. Like Jesus we must freely submit out of love, not obey out of fear of punishment.
In our worldly existence we long for independence and autonomy: symptoms of death/sin. Commitment phobia is probably a subset of this symptom. The sacrament of matrimony is the most often chosen path of submission - for those who are married in Christ. So much of the trend to cohabitation is a symptom of autonomy in relation to others = symptom of death.
The church and our call to holiness insist that we practice submitting to the will of God by our practice of obedience to others for the sake of love. To whom do you submit? To whom are you obedient?
Saturday, April 18, 2015
Easter III - homily Prep
-Last Sunday's homily is available by email request
-This Sunday's Scriptures can be found at www.usccb.org/readings
-check out this weeks LinC letter at www.parishLinCLetter.blogspot.com
-I will be celebrating mass this weekend at 5:30pm Sat, 9:30am and 6:00pm Sunday
If Death is conquered, then why am I stuck in death's Valley?
The Resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the victory OVER death. Death has been conquered however not extinguished. We are now free from death's powers, however, death's powers and principalities in this world are still available for the asking. So, self-centeredness, envy, jealousy, hatred, lust, resentment, grudges, prejudice, violence. Even the children of the light can pick up any of these weapons of death when they doubt the power of life
The Resurrection is the triumph over death and the initiation of real life. Life is available for the asking with its powers of love, joy, peace, patience, etc.
This week I am considering lack of trust, competitiveness, and the drive for material success as the most common symptom of death we see in and among the children of light.
-This Sunday's Scriptures can be found at www.usccb.org/readings
-check out this weeks LinC letter at www.parishLinCLetter.blogspot.com
-I will be celebrating mass this weekend at 5:30pm Sat, 9:30am and 6:00pm Sunday
If Death is conquered, then why am I stuck in death's Valley?
The Resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the victory OVER death. Death has been conquered however not extinguished. We are now free from death's powers, however, death's powers and principalities in this world are still available for the asking. So, self-centeredness, envy, jealousy, hatred, lust, resentment, grudges, prejudice, violence. Even the children of the light can pick up any of these weapons of death when they doubt the power of life
The Resurrection is the triumph over death and the initiation of real life. Life is available for the asking with its powers of love, joy, peace, patience, etc.
This week I am considering lack of trust, competitiveness, and the drive for material success as the most common symptom of death we see in and among the children of light.
Saturday, April 11, 2015
April 12 homily Prep - Mercy Sunday
-This Sunday's Scriptures can be found at Www.usccb.org/readings
-check out this weeks LinC letter www.parishLinCLetter.blogspot.com
-I will be celebrating mass this weekend at 5:30, 8:00 and 11:00
Not a Miracle, but a Conquest!
Jesus' resurrection is more than a miracle, it is more than an apparition to his disciples, it is the powerful conquest over the powers of sin and death. Death no longer has power over those who believe.
I don't think we have been believing in the resurrection.....even though we say,
"I Believe in the Holy Spirit who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophetsg. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the deadI believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. and the life of the world to come. Amen."
I am beginning a season-long reflection upon the powers of death that reign in the world ans eh life and liberation that is now unleashed in Christ risen in triumph over death. You believe in the witness about Jesus' resurrections? Really? Maybe we don't recognize death and its powers. Likewise, the power and freedom off life in Christi might eluding us us as well.
Under which "power" are you engaged?
-check out this weeks LinC letter www.parishLinCLetter.blogspot.com
-I will be celebrating mass this weekend at 5:30, 8:00 and 11:00
Not a Miracle, but a Conquest!
Jesus' resurrection is more than a miracle, it is more than an apparition to his disciples, it is the powerful conquest over the powers of sin and death. Death no longer has power over those who believe.
I don't think we have been believing in the resurrection.....even though we say,
"I Believe in the Holy Spirit who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophetsg. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the deadI believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. and the life of the world to come. Amen."
I am beginning a season-long reflection upon the powers of death that reign in the world ans eh life and liberation that is now unleashed in Christ risen in triumph over death. You believe in the witness about Jesus' resurrections? Really? Maybe we don't recognize death and its powers. Likewise, the power and freedom off life in Christi might eluding us us as well.
Under which "power" are you engaged?
Saturday, April 4, 2015
April 5 Easter Sunday Prep
-This Sunday's Scriptures can be found at www.usccb.org/readings
-I will be celebrating Easter mass this weekend at 9:30am in the Hall and 12:30 in the Church
Triumph over death
The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is not only a miracle revealing Jesus as the son of God but it has changed the powers and principalities reigning in our world. Death and the powers and principalities of death reign in the world. In Jesus Christ risen from the dead we have triumphed over death, Death has no more power over us, and we now can live in his life which is freedom.
Have you been released from the powers of death?
-I will be celebrating Easter mass this weekend at 9:30am in the Hall and 12:30 in the Church
Triumph over death
The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is not only a miracle revealing Jesus as the son of God but it has changed the powers and principalities reigning in our world. Death and the powers and principalities of death reign in the world. In Jesus Christ risen from the dead we have triumphed over death, Death has no more power over us, and we now can live in his life which is freedom.
Have you been released from the powers of death?
Saturday, March 28, 2015
Mar 29th - Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion
-This Sunday's Scriptures can be found at Sunday Readings
-check out this weeks LinC letter at LinC Letter
-I will be celebrating mass this weekend at 5:30 and 11:00am
Don't stand there waving your palms, follow him
Some might be of the mindset that we are, in this holy week, reenacting the historical events in the life of Jesus. That would be real failure in the call to "fall, conscious, and active participation". We are not enacting history we are opening Mystery.
-check out this weeks LinC letter at LinC Letter
-I will be celebrating mass this weekend at 5:30 and 11:00am
Don't stand there waving your palms, follow him
Some might be of the mindset that we are, in this holy week, reenacting the historical events in the life of Jesus. That would be real failure in the call to "fall, conscious, and active participation". We are not enacting history we are opening Mystery.
Do not stand along the side of the road and wave your palm branches at Jesus as he goes by in the person of the church. Rather get up from your timid, individualized, isolated state in life and mind and follow the church by faith into the Mystery of the saving love of God.
Saturday, March 21, 2015
Lent V Homily Prep March 22
-Last Sunday's homily is available by email request
-This Sunday's Scriptures can be found at www.usccb.org/readings
-check out this weeks LinC letter at www.parishlincletter.blogspot.com
-I will be celebrating mass this weekend at 4:00pm and 9:30am
If you're not changing you're dying!
That title could be turned around by today's Gospel, "if you're not dying, you're not converting". The preaching this weekend is going to be focused upon an adage that I read that said "before you die you better die so that when you die you won't die".
-This Sunday's Scriptures can be found at www.usccb.org/readings
-check out this weeks LinC letter at www.parishlincletter.blogspot.com
-I will be celebrating mass this weekend at 4:00pm and 9:30am
If you're not changing you're dying!
That title could be turned around by today's Gospel, "if you're not dying, you're not converting". The preaching this weekend is going to be focused upon an adage that I read that said "before you die you better die so that when you die you won't die".
If the grain of wheat remains just a grain of wheat and does not die it does not fulfill its purpose, it's mission, or goal. The same can you say about the disciple of Jesus. By giving oneself away in love we accomplish the dying of Jesus that we see in baptism. The death and resuscitation of Lazarus is A great image for all of us to do this "preliminary" dying or necessary dying while we are still living so that we might come to the fullness of life in Christ in spite of death.
This "dying" is what is at the heart of the Paschal mystery, the Easter mystery, the font of baptism, the holy Eucharist, and discipleship in general. We must acknowledge the existence of the false self and the need for its ongoing and continuous death, in this way we will make room for our new life in Christ begun in baptism fulfilled in confirmation, deepened in the Holy Eucharist, and experienced/expressed most perfectly in self-sacrificing love of discipleship. We call it communion.
So are you dying? Or are you living a defensive, strategic,'s false self protective death?
Let me know how this figures into your call to discipleship
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