Since this is the first time we’re gathering after Thanksgiving, may I offer this prayer: O God, when I have food help me to remember the hungry. When I have work help me to remember the jobless. When I have a home help me to remember those who have no home at all. When I am without pain help me remember those who suffer…
Since I had done the Memorial Day homily, I thought it was only fitting to bookend the summer by volunteering to do the Labor Day homily as well. I honestly can’t believe that the summer is about over. I don’t know about you, but I still have some more summer left in me. But our kids are back at school and Fall is fast approaching. I am certainly not sorry that I volunteered to do today’s homily, but I have to admit that today’s Gospel is in many ways one of the most difficult passages to interpret in the whole of Matthew’s gospel…
I think it was about 5 or 6 years ago, I’m not sure, when I was driving down to Women’s Beach Week with two very good friends. We were headed to Emerald Isle, and my husband Craig had reminded me several times of where I was to turn off of I-40. Oh yes, I told him, not to worry. I know exactly where to go…
A couple had two little boys, ages 8 and 10, who were excessively mischievous. The two were always getting into trouble and their parents could be assured that if any mischief occurred in their town, their two young sons were in some way involved…
Today is the third Sunday of Advent. As we continue our journey through Advent, we’re in a time of waiting and wondering, looking back and looking forward. Advent is a time of hoping and searching. Advent is the time of light shining in the darkness, peace overcoming conflict and war, and warmth entering the cold of the world we live in. Advent is a chance of new beginnings. So we try to discover for ourselves and bring about for others images of hope offered in this season of expecting the unexpected…
It sure has been a hot summer so far. We’ve been hitting the triple-digit numbers on more than one occasion. Even across the world it’s been very hot too. So I guess it seems rather appropriate that in this morning’s gospel, we see Jesus turning up the heat as well. Jesus says, “I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled…”
Today is Pentecost Sunday, the birthday of the Church. Pentecost is a Greek word meaning fifty. So we celebrate Pentecost 50 days after the resurrection of Jesus. The readings for today so beautifully dovetail together, giving us a great view of what transpired on that first Pentecost morning…
About ten years ago, I was up early one Saturday morning trying to get an early start on preparations for a wedding shower I was hosting that afternoon. When the phone rang around 7:00 AM, I didn’t think too much of it, since my mind was already projecting ahead of what food I had to prepare. The call was from one of our daughters-in-law, Christie…
The way we view the world can either limit or expand our horizons. The crowd that surrounded Jesus in our Gospel lesson in John became angry at what they perceived as arrogance, if not blasphemy, on his part. How dare he call himself the bread of life? …
About two weeks ago, Craig and I were all set to leave on vacation. I was looking forward to seeing my sister and her husband. They have a second home on Brigantine Island, which is a beach community in southern New Jersey. As we were pulling out of our driveway, this delightful feeling washed over me. I call it the AH! Factor.