Once again, let me wish all of you a Happy 4^th of July weekend as we celebrate the semiquincentennial of our independence from the oppressive yoke of British rule.  Unfortunately, this year, we find ourselves struggling under the yoke of oppressive heat and humidity, as well as the burden of a seriously divided nation.  The image of a yoke is not common in our urban culture, but I’m sure you’re all familiar with it.  It’s that wooden piece that keeps two oxen together as they plough a field or haul […]

I like straight talk.  I find it so much easier to address a situation if I know, up front, what the issues are and what we need to do.  Today, we hear our Lord offer us some straight talk and we all will do well to listen carefully.  Today’s gospel passage is another portion of the instructions Jesus gave his disciples before he sent them off as his apostles.  You will recall the difference between a disciple and an apostle.  A disciple is one who follows his teacher, carefully observing […]

Many of us spend a great deal of time and energy being afraid.  Some fear a past they cannot change or a future they cannot control.  Others fear what people are thinking or saying about them.  There is fear of heights, the dark, spiders, rejection, loneliness – all kinds of fears.  Fear can cause confusion, distress and even paralysis.

One of the constant messages of Sacred Scriptures is, “fear not!”  Whether it’s God speaking to Abraham as he calls him to leave his homeland or to Moses when he instructs him […]

In this morning’s Gospel, we hear Jesus tell his disciples to pray that the master of the harvest will send out laborers. Immediately after that, he invests them with authority over the evil spirits and sends them out to preach and to work miracles.

When we pray for more laborers in the vineyard, we might imagine that God will answer this prayer by calling more men into the priesthood or more women into religious life.  While we certainly need more good priests and sisters, this Gospel helps us to see that […]

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; …and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”  Can you imagine the wheels turning in the minds of that first audience who heard the message that we just heard in today’s Gospel.  His disciples, faithful Jews, were probably familiar with the manna and quail that God sent his people in the desert; we heard about that in today’s first reading.  But wait, what? Did he […]

John 3:16 – the first verse of the gospel passage we just heard – is a very popular Bible verse.  You see the numbers on T-shirts and on billboards, especially if you drive through some of the states to our south.  Sometimes you even see the verse:  “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.”  It is, indeed, a very popular slogan.  And, when we really listen to it with open hearts, […]

We all know that Pentecost marks the birthday of the Church.  Birthdays are a time of celebration and recognition of our beginnings.  They are times to reflect on our identity: what makes us who we are.  Our readings today reveal important aspects of who we are as a Church.

In the first reading, we hear the Holy Spirit described as a strong driving wind that fills an entire house.  Imagine the power of this moment.  It is inescapable and full of energy.  With a noise like a strong driving wind, and […]

Saying goodbye to loved ones is often very hard.  This is especially true when that goodbye may be a final one.  St. John has several chapters in his Gospel dedicated to Jesus saying goodbye to his disciples just before his passion and death on the cross.  As we have over the past two Sundays, we hear again in today’s Gospel a portion of that final discourse, and it summarizes his teaching while also expressing his concern that they be prepared for his absence.  Jesus’ aim is to convince the disciples […]

We all know that Jesus speaks of himself as the Good Shepherd.  We hear him do it again in today’s Gospel.  But, what do you know about shepherding sheep?  If you’re like me, probably very little.  One of the interesting things to know about shepherding sheep, as opposed to herding cattle, is that, unlike cattle, who are best moved along from behind, sheep prefer to be led.  And, in our Lord’s time, almost all families had a little flock of sheep, along with a plot of land where they would […]

SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER

Shalom: peace be with you!  This greeting appears three times in today’s Gospel.  When Jesus offered his peace to his frightened disciples, he was not just offering a pleasantry; he was offering his mercy.  You will recall that the English word “mercy” derives from the Latin word “misericordia.”  The second half of that word – “cordia” sounds familiar, doesn’t it?  Our English word – “cardiac” – comes from that word, speaking of things pertaining to the heart.  But, when we think of heart, besides that vital organ, […]