Category: faith

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The Stone Rejected

Fifth Sunday of Easter (A)  John 14: 1-12

 

Jesus said to his disciples, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me.”  – John 14:1

Our Gospel reading for this Sunday is also one of the options for a Funeral Mass.  One does not need to be a Biblical scholar to understand this.  The words of Jesus speak directly to the grief and loss of the mourners, offering consolation and a solid basis for hope.  As such, these words bear a fresh meaning for us as we deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.  Over a quarter of a million people have died around the world so far due to the effects of the coronavirus.  Many of then died without the presence of family or clergy.  For each one, there are relatives and friends who suffer grief at their death and who wonder what more they could have done to help.  There are many more who fear the coronavirus and lock themselves away. Continue reading “The Stone Rejected”

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Thomas

Divine Mercy Sunday (A)

 

We end the Octave of Easter, most fittingly, with the celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday.  Here we celebrate the immense, incalculable mercy of the Risen Lord which is offered to us in so many ways every single day.  Last year at this time, my post focused on this Divine Mercy, with some reflection on the Apostle Thomas at the end.  This time, I will focus on Thomas and offer a way of looking at him which, I pray, will shed some interesting light on our own journey of faith, as individuals and, most importantly, as a People of God.

The Gospel reading for Divine Mercy Sunday is always John 20:19-31. It is John’s account of the Risen Jesus’ first appearance to His disciples after His Resurrection, and of a second appearance a week later.  This is the account that gave rise to the nickname “Doubting Thomas”. Continue reading “Thomas”

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Holy Family, Our Family

Holy Family (A)

 

It is not easy to come up with a homily for the feast of the Holy Family! One challenge is that, as a Catholic priest, I do not have a wife or children of my own. Nevertheless, I grew up in a family and still have lots of relatives here and there.  Moreover, in my ministry over the years, I have encountered members of many families, and many kinds of families, and have heard many family-related stories.  Besides, I have the teaching of the Church on family life to draw from as a resource.  Being celibate, then, is not an insurmountable problem when it comes to preaching about this feast. Continue reading “Holy Family, Our Family”

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Visions of Advent

Second Sunday of Advent (A)

 

Have you ever visited Washington, DC?

Whether we have or haven’t been there, the very name evokes a series of images and feelings in our minds.  For some people, Washington means distant bureaucrats who haven’t a clue about how ordinary Americans live or the problems they face.  For others, Washington is a symbol of corruption and partisan strife.  For still others, it is a place where nothing of substance is ever accomplished, and where politicians are more interested in placing the blame than in repairing the game. Continue reading “Visions of Advent”

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The Number One Answer

Twentieth Sunday of Ordinary Time (C) – Luke 12: 49-53

There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens.  – Ecclesiastes 3:1

You are undoubtedly familiar with the TV game show Family Feud. This popular show has been on the air almost continuously since 1976. In it, two families square off in an attempt to win the most money.  They do this by trying to guess the most popular responses to the questions the host asks.  The family member who comes up with the number one answer gives the family control of the round and a better chance to win.  The family that wins the game then has a chance to win more money in the Fast Money round.  The key to winning that round and the cash prize is to come up with as many number one answers as possible. Continue reading “The Number One Answer”