Prodigals in the Promised Land
A homily for the Fourth Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday)—March 27, 2022. On my way home from an appointment the other day, I was listening to the Spotify All Out 90’s playlist, as one does, when an old favorite that...
Category: Scripture Reflection
Reimagining Community
A reflection on the readings for the Fourth Sunday of Lent, March 27, 2022. We have heard the parable of the prodigal son many times. It seems that Jesus left the parable wide open with unanswered questions. Did the older...
Conversion is for Good People Too
A reflection on the Readings for March 20, 2022 — the Third Sunday of Lent (Year C) Over the last few years, I have offered adult faith-formation series based on some of the great saints of the Church. Thus far...
To Find Splendor in the Unspectacular
There are two supernatural events narrated in today’s scripture readings. The first event concerns Abraham (Gn 15:5-12, 17-18). Abraham heard God speak, saying, “I have brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you possession of this land.” But...
In the Holy Presence of God
A reflection on the readings for the Second Sunday of Lent, March 13, 2022. What came to mind for you when you heard about “the cloud” in today’s Gospel? Most of us are more familiar with “cloud computing,” the sort...
Turning Moments of Temptation into Moments of Strength
Temptations are real. Temptations are inevitable. Temptations are an everyday affair. Yet, we do not spend too much time reflecting on them. This is because our focus is on avoiding temptations rather than succumbing to them. The Gospels, however, tell...
To Embrace All That Is Human
A reflection on the readings for March 6, 2022 – The First Sunday in Lent. Many of us know the story of Doctor Faustus, written in 1592. In the early version of the legend, Dr. John Faustus, called Faust, has...
Christ’s victory is over death itself
A reflection on the readings for February 27, 2022 — The Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time. The just one shall flourish like the palm tree, like a cedar of Lebanon shall he grow. They that are planted in the house...
Revelation, Doctrine, Ethics: One Seamless Story
A reflection on the readings for February 20, 2022 — The Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Different elements make what we call religion, faith tradition, Christianity, or Catholicism. A religion encompasses many dimensions – revelation, doctrines, traditions, rituals, practices, and ethics....
The Pharisees’ Woes, Humanity’s Woes
A reflection on the readings for February 13, 2022 — The Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Today’s Gospel gives us Luke’s version of the Beatitudes, an analogue of the more famous equivalent or parallel passage in Matthew. Luke’s “take” on...
Yet If You Say So, I Will
A reflection on the readings for the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. A third-century book called the ‘Acts of Peter’ narrates the events of the persecution of the early Christians at the time of Emperor Nero. People who were with...
Love: A Prophetic Call
A reflection on the Readings of January 30, 2022 – the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time It is not uncommon for people to ask me, “How did you decide to become a priest?” Often my answer to this question is...
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