A Talk for the Serra Club’s Dinner for Newly Ordained Priests I have often told Jesus that if I had to invent a religion, I could not come up with a seemingly stranger one than Catholicism. How can the Eucharist, what appears to be bread and wine, really be
Read moreGod 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. –John 3:16– Just this past week, a friend sent me a YouTube link to a video by a young man named Aaron Harburg. It’s
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He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick—no food, no sack, no money in their belts. They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic. –Mark 6:8-9– One of my closest friends in the priesthood is Father Frans Berkhout, former principal of
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But he [the bridegroom] answered and said, “Amen I say to you, I do not know you.” –Matthew 25:12– Years ago, my sister Elizabeth and her husband Rick were on their way to their friend Steve’s wedding some miles away from their home. Unfortunately, they got stuck in traffic and
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But I speak the truth to you; it is expedient for you that I depart. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. –John 16:7– If your car battery is installed properly, there is
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For this corruptible body must put on incorruption, and this mortal body must put on immortality. –1 Corinthians 15:53– I have a friend whose mother is named Natalie. Natalie tells how, when she was five years old, she wanted a doll, just like all the other little girls she
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Jesus of Nazareth…went about doing good. –Acts 10:38– When I was in college, a friend gave me a book containing the following allegory. I have long since forgotten the book’s title and the name of the author, yet the parable has remained with me now for more than forty years.
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A Homily for the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A At the mountain of God, Horeb, Elijah came to a cave where he took shelter. Then the LORD said to him, “Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD; the LORD will be passing by.” A strong
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A Homily for All Saints Day When I was in fifth grade, I remember reading a parable from ancient India. It has stayed with me all these years. Six blind men try to describe an elephant. The first blind man grabs hold of the elephants moving trunk and says, “Unless
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As they continued their journey he [i.e. Jesus] entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary [who] sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do
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