23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – Homily

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year BIsaiah 35:4-7aPsalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10 (1b)James 2:1-5Mark 7:31-37September 3, 2021 “Thus says the LORD:  Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not!” Fear can be a powerful thing.  Fear can dictate our actions.  What are you afraid of?  How does your fear effect your choices? Fear …

Continue reading ‘23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – Homily’ »

Treating Life with Dignity and Love Part IV

Last night I offered the fourth and final webinar in my series, Treating Life with Dignity and Love, covering Catholic Pro-Life teaching. You can view the video and see the slides at www.renewaloffaith.org/prolife4. For the next couple of days, you can complete an online evaluation of the webinar at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfl8V98K4fn1mDqt1Rm1ip7uVwqwo_hGXx8BieKaCRQRvXKnQ/viewform?usp=sf_link. On May 19th, I will do a …

Continue reading ‘Treating Life with Dignity and Love Part IV’ »

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year AIsaiah 55:6-9Psalm 145:2-3, 8-9, 17-18 (18a)Philippians 1:20c-24, 27aMatthew 20:1-16aSeptember 20, 2020 Jesus continues to teach us about the Kingdom of Heaven.  Today He describes it using a parable of a landowner and his vineyard.  The topic within the parable is fair payment for work. In those days, standard practice …

Continue reading ‘25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily’ »

Receiving a Penance

After we have confessed our sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we receive a “penance.” We are not just “given” or “assigned” a penance as punishment for our sins. We must receive the penance. By “receive” I mean we willing accept the penance as an admission of our sins and our desire to change. If …

Continue reading ‘Receiving a Penance’ »

How Do We Look at the World?

How do you look at world? How many people want to know what the world can do for them? They make everything they do about themselves. They are interested in what makes them look good (pride). They are interested in what brings them material wealth (greed and envy). They are willing to put others down …

Continue reading ‘How Do We Look at the World?’ »

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year AIsaiah 58:7-10Psalm 112:4-5, 607, 8-9 (4a)1 Corinthians 2:1-5Matthew 5:13-16February 8, 2020 Jesus says, “You are the salt of the earth…You are the light of the world.” Who is He speaking to?  Who is the “you”? Sometimes we hear Jesus speaking to one specific person.  For example, there are times …

Continue reading ‘5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily’ »

Biology Makes Me Pro-Life

The gospel reading for today (January 31, 2020, Friday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time) points to why I think biology points us to the fact that life begins at conception and is to be cherished. In this gospel speaking of the Kingdom of God, we read, “It is like a mustard seed that, …

Continue reading ‘Biology Makes Me Pro-Life’ »

Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children

As today’s gospel begins, Jesus enters the synagogue on the Sabbath. “There was a man there who had a withered hand. They watched Jesus closelyto see if he would cure him on the sabbath.” They did not like Jesus so they were looking for a way to trap him. They knew He had already done …

Continue reading ‘Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children’ »

The Application of Just War Theory

I just watched the national news talking about the killing of an Iranian general. Our government says he is responsible for terrorism and was currently planning attacks against American citizens. I do not want to make any judgment on the killing of the Iranian general (which President Trump admits to ordering). Rather, I want to …

Continue reading ‘The Application of Just War Theory’ »

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C – Homily

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CHabakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 (8)2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14Luke 17:5-10October 6, 2019 Habakkuk the prophet cried out, “How long, O LORD? I cry for help but you do not listen!” Have you ever felt the same way?  Have you asked God for help but feel like you don’t …

Continue reading ‘27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C – Homily’ »