Acts 8:14-17; 1 Peter 3:15-18; John 14:15-21 Have you ever been given a gift too complicated for you to use?  Unless we read the instructions or someone takes time with us to explain how to use the gift, it may just stay in our closet for years in an unopened box. Unfortunately that is...
Read More »

Acts 6:1-7; 1 Peter 2:4-9; John 14:1-12 “Do not let your hearts be troubled” (John 14:1).  These words, spoken by our Lord at the Last Supper, were intended to bring courage, strength, and hope to the disciples.  They would have needed courage before the night was over and throughout the next day as they...
Read More »

Acts 2:14,36-41; 1 Peter 2:20-25; John 10:1-10 One of the most enduring images of Christ through all the centuries has been that of the Good Shepherd.  Centuries before images of the cross were used to mark the graves of believers the image of the Good Shepherd was what was commonly found on tombs.  The...
Read More »

Acts of the Apostles 2:42-47; I Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31             “Blest are they who have not seen and have believed” (John 20:29) Sometimes I think Thomas got a bum wrap in John’s Gospel.  In the other gospels Thomas is only mentioned in the list of the twelve apostles.  In John’s gospel however it...
Read More »

Acts 15:1-2, 22-29; Revelation 21:10-14,22-23;  John 14:23-29 Since the beginnings of the Church there has always been a need to resolve conflicts and to clarify Church teachings.  This has often been the case when the Church finds itself at odds with the secular laws and popular secular attitudes.  We read of this reality in...
Read More »

That is the sad truth of the reality of the sexual abuse cases in our Church. Men who were called by God to live holy lives, allowed their own personal brokenness to get in the way of their vocation. As a result many people were victimized. Furthermore, some of the bishops...
Read More »

Acts 5:27-32, 40-41; Revelation 5:11-14; John 21:1-19 Remember how it all started.  They were out fishing when a man named Jesus, a stranger, came along.  He told them to cast their nets out in the water.  The catch that day was so great their nets were filled to point of breaking. Today’s gospel account...
Read More »

Acts 5:12-16;  Revelation 1:9-13,17-19;  John 20:19-31 One popular type of television entertainment today is the makeover show.  The persons involved are given an opportunity to makeover a room, a yard, or even themselves.  The producers always make sure there are plenty of before pictures.  After the makeover, all present marvel at the differences between...
Read More »

Acts 10:25-26,34-35,44-48; 1 John 4:7-10; John 15:9-17 During this Easter Season Fr. Gary and I will be baptizing 15 babies.  Each of these children, whose ages are still measured in weeks and months are already loved.  They did not earn the love.    That is the way we all start out.  By an act of...
Read More »

5th Sunday of Easter – Cycle B – 2009 Acts 9:26-31; I John 3:18-24; John 15:1-8 Jesus obviously lived in an agricultural society because of the many agricultural images he used in his parables.  He spoke of the Word of God in terms of a farmer sowing seed.  He spoke of the grain of...
Read More »