Our Loving God

Many people tend to see the portrayal of God in the Old Testament as of a God is punishing, bestowing his wrath upon all who break his commandments. Our first reading today from Exodus begins with a God who is anger and punishing. He had been speaking with Moses on the mountain. What do the …

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Video – Finding Peace and Healing in a Troubled World Part III

I completed my series, Finding Peace and Healing in a Troubled World, with Part III last night. The slides and video are now available online at www.renewaloffaith.org/healing3. If you watch video in the next few days, you can complete an online evaluation at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdbvrN3TSImjEc5270S0sYQ8LaU2VeUCxTuGcgKBeFE84X-Wg/viewform?usp=sf_link At this point in time I do not have any more …

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Finding Forgiveness

Following Part I in my new series of presentations, Finding Peace and Healing in a Troubled World, I was asked about the following. As Catholics, we have the Sacrament of Reconciliation to receive God’s forgiveness, Since Protestants and other religions do not, it would seem they must carry their sins throughout their lives on earth …

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What About Accountability?

My recent blog articles on forgiveness as well as my article, “Remembering the Past and Building a Better Future,” have led to discussions with people on the subject of accountability. The question at hand is “does forgiving someone mean they are not accountable for their actions?”. The question of accountability comes up in discussion of …

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Never Forget the Cross

As I have begun to write articles explicitly on morality, I acknowledge that discussion on the morality of specific behaviors can be difficult. I pray that nothing I will write be interpreted as judgment on anyone. My goal is always to lead people to Christ. With this in mind, I have titled this article, “Never …

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24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year ASirach 27:30-28:7Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12 (8)Romans 14:7-9Matthew 18:21-35September 13, 2020 It can be hard to forgive.  It can be even harder to forgive the same person over and over for the same thing.  Peter knows this.  So, he asks Jesus, “How often must I forgive?  As many as …

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23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year AEzekiel 33:7-9Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 (8)Romans 13:8-10Matthew 18:15-20September 6, 2020 Today we hear about how God calls us to respond to sin.  The first reading is sometimes known as the Parable of the Watchman.  A watchman was assigned as a lookout to watch for danger.  If he saw danger …

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Forgiveness Can Be Hard

The Coronavirus shutdown continues. Some states are beginning to lift restrictions. New York State, where I live, continues under shutdown. We are now around the six week mark. Of course, the challenges caused by the pandemic started before we actually shutdown. We had started social distancing and the shelves in the grocery stores went bare …

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Homily for Ash Wednesday

Ash WednesdayJoel 2:12-13Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 12-13, 14, 17 (3a)2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2Matthew 6;1-6, 16-18February 26, 2020 We are here today because a fast has been proclaimed and we have been called to gather as an assembly.  We are called to gather one and all.  Why? Because we have sinned. There have been times when we have …

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