Father Jim 
It has been said that Jesus came proclaiming an upside-down kingdom. It’s a catchy way of saying that so much of what Jesus said and taught turns our way of thinking on its’ head. He said things like, if you want to live, you must die; and if you want to save your life, you must … Read more
Mark’s Gospel this week brings us that denouement moment when Peter says, ‘You are the Christ’! This is known as the Petrine Declaration and is a statement of great clarity, but as clear as it is, Peter remained to a degree ‘outside’ of the mystery of Christ. Yes, Peter himself whom Christ built His church! Peter could … Read more
I have always loved this story in Mark’s Gospel. A deaf-mute man makes his way to Jesus, begging him to lay his hand on him. Jesus takes the man off by himself, away from the crowd where He then put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting into His hand, touches the man’s tongue. … Read more
I’m going to be upfront with you. This Sunday’s Scripture and lesson is for you who take following Jesus seriously, but it isn’t easy or soft. This one might hurt a little! You see, this Sunday we hear the words from Mark’s Gospel reflecting anew the Prophet Isaiah: He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about … Read more
Jesus Is Difficult. Ya, there is no doubt about it. And those teachings of His! Wow! Isn’t their an easier path? Sometimes the difficult way for anything in life seems foolish (outside of maybe seeking out a sense of accomplishment.) Perhaps… Something being difficult doesn’t necessarily make it the better or even wiser choice. Why … Read more
The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” Over the last few Sundays, our lectionary has taken us on a leisurely journey through John’s Gospel with passages of scripture that are filled with possibility and fraught with danger. The journey started with the famous feeding of the 5000, … Read more
“Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph? Do we not know his father and mother?” Imagine that you were among the four hundred people who lived in Nazareth with Joseph, Mary and Jesus. You have known Jesus since he was a boy learning carpentry and other trades from Joseph and others in the small town, … Read more
We live as hungry people in a hungry world that is often not satisfying. Everyone is looking for something that will sustain and nourish life, something that will feed and energize, something that will fill and satisfy them. Everyone is looking for bread. Real bread. The problem is not that we are hungry, but the … Read more
In light of the attempted assassination of former President Trump, I felt that I would heed President Biden’s National Oval Office Address and ask that we all take a step back, reevaluate what is really important, think carefully about what we believe and who we are willing to lose from our lives over someone who, … Read more
In this coming Sunday’s Gospel, we will hear, “He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” Jesus needed rest. While you read this message, my family and I are out resting! (Well, we are on a family vacation to Delaware to visit family with everyone in tow, so … Read more
We lost a friend to Saint Miriam last week. Donna Conway lost her battle to pancreatic cancer. I married Donna and her husband Dan just a couple years ago. You might have met them when they attended Mass at the parish often. She was a beautiful soul and warm woman and a lady in every … Read more
When Jesus visited Nazareth, where He grew up, He faced rejection. He was not able to perform any miracles, apart from curing a few sick people. He was amazed at their lack of faith! Contrast this with the story of the Centurion, when He said, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel … Read more
Mark’s Gospel continues this Sunday with the story of the woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years and the synagogue official’s daughter who had died. Last week it was Jesus calming the Sea. It is as if Mark’s Gospel is a highlight tape of Jesus that includes His greatest hits. It’s short, fast-paced, and to … Read more
With this Sunday finding Mark’s Gospel bringing us the famous lesson on storms and the fact that President Biden offered a way for immigrants to stay together in our country, and it also being a week of remembering freedom with Juneteenth, I decided to go deep into the water to remind us that, as Catholic Christians, … Read more
This coming Sunday we hear another famous parable! Jesus often thinks and speaks in parables and uses images which he draws from the world around him. Jesus reaches especially for symbols of life and growth in His wonderful illustrations using words and story. Today we hear a familiar, yet ever evolving, mustard seed parable! From … Read more
People imagine their god intervening in the world to different degrees. Once, God is like a Watchmaker, Occasionally, God is a tinkerer for some but not for all. Constantly, well we are mere Marionettes! The whole idea of a tinkering God suggests that God might have created one thing, later decided to change it, or … Read more
This Sunday is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, or Trinity Sunday! We priests often joke that a new seminarian is often appointed to preach on this day by the Pastor because no one can explain the Holy Trinity! I know that many will suggest that the Trinity is an obscure doctrine that we’re … Read more
The Holy Trinity: God is three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We all know that. We may not completely understand it. But we know the facts. But here’s a question: how do we know that God is Trinity? It’s not something we could have figured out on our own. The truth is, we know God is Father, Son … Read more
Well, it’s here! Finally! It is Pentecost! Pentecost takes place on the 50th day after Easter Sunday and commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Mary, the beloved mother of Jesus, and the Apostles of Jesus, while they were in Jerusalem celebrating the Feast of Weeks, as described in the Acts of the Apostles. … Read more
This Sunday’s passage from John occurs near the end of Jesus’ life. Jesus’ lengthy discourse actually begins back in chapter 14 and runs all the way through chapter 16. When used of relationships, as it is here, it suggests we live within a deep, steadfast relationship using our heart and soul in unity with God. In order … Read more