Categories
HOMILIES

Noey and Benny :)

I found out about Benny and Noey long before I should. 

Categories
HOMILIES

WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?

This homily is based on Mark 1:21-28 for the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Today’s Gospel is about the first–and lasting–impression that our Lord makes on people. And the impression that he makes on the people he interacts with–the lasting impression he leaves them with–is summarized by one recurring word: “Authority.” It’s funny because I would have expected a different kind of first or lasting impression. Perhaps holiness or kindness? Or even divinity?

jesus-authority-questioned-1138449-wallpaper (1)

Categories
HOMILIES

THE ENDANGERED ART OF LISTENING

This homily is based on 1 Samuel 3:3-19 and John 1:35-42.

In the First Reading today, we have the somewhat charming story of young Samuel who mistakes God’s voice calling to him as coming from his master Eli. After being roused a third time from his sleep, Eli realizes it must be the Lord and directs Samuel to answer, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”

When I googled this line, here’s what I found:

speak-lord-799x1024

Categories
HOMILIES

GIFTS AND GIVERS

This homily is based on Matthew 2:1-12 for the Epiphany of our Lord.

On this Feast of the Epiphany, we remember the visit of the magi–those astrologers (how many they were, we don’t know) who read the stars and were among the first to lay their eyes on Jesus.  They were not exactly kings, but they were certainly wise enough to detect Herod’s schemes and discerning enough to follow the angel’s message to go home some other way.  They are, of course, today credited for the the tradition of gift-giving that has in many ways defined the season of Christmas.  And so today, perhaps it’s good to think about this business of gift-giving.

26168467_10215011662228110_2856796536219372788_n

Categories
HOMILIES

“THE BEST IS YET TO COME”

This homily, based on Luke 2:16-21, is for New Year’s Day and the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God.

Today, New Year’s Day, there is one line that comes to mind. And I love saying it: “The best is yet to come!”

Yet it’s not always something easy to say–and to believe!

best_is_yet_to_come-773819

Not when things aren’t quite right. And especially not when the way the world is turning out isn’t quite to our liking–or the way people behave is, to say the least, bewildering–or to tell it like it is, disheartening.