Devotion

We’re so used to our image of John the Baptist hanging out in the desert, that something that would have been obvious and shocking to his contemporaries slips right past us: John isn’t supposed to be in the desert! He is the son of Zechariah the priest. And so, as a member of the priestly … Read more

This Sunday, as Catholics on this Sunday’s Solemnity of Christ the King, we will sit and ponder the meaning of the Lord’s Kingship. This Solemnity reminds us that Christ’s power is absolute. What Christ demands cannot be balanced by other considerations and so it often requires us to reconsider our own life balance and importance … Read more

Do you ever feel like you have nothing to offer? I can only imagine how the widow felt that day in the Temple, watching the others pass by on their way to the collection box, dressed in their luxurious clothes. As she watched them donate large sums of money to the Temple funds, making sure … Read more

Most of you have heard enough of my preaching that you won’t be surprised when I tell you that I don’t literalize this week’s gospel. For me, we lose something if we make it about only physical blindness and sight. We often hear this story and think of blindness and seeing in outward forms, but … Read more

As the nation deals with the recovery from Hurricane Helene, I cant help but remember when Joel Osteen led his Lakewood Church congregation into the stadium formerly known as the Compaq Center in Houston. After $95 million in renovations and much political wrangling, the church moved into its new 16,000-seat home on July 16, 2005. … Read more

Dear Friends, I have been trying really hard not to get caught up in Facebook arguments. But the other day I couldn’t help myself. (Surprise?!) Someone had posted a favorable review of Taylor Swift, calling her Christian-like for her many acts of generosity, including the money she donates to food banks at every town where … Read more

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

Dear Friends, In a little over a week, I’ll be heading to Italy to participate in a Revolution. I’m very excited to be a part of such a radical movement! Our plans: nothing less than to change the world! Say what? Well, as many of you know, I head to Assisi, Italy at the end … 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

“But what good are these?”  So says Andrew to Jesus, explaining that there is a boy with five barley loaves and two fish. “But what good are these for so many?” Don’t we all feel like that sometimes? We can look at our personal challenges, we can thing about situations confronting our family, we can … 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

Dear Friends, Quick: what is the purpose of Christianity? If you had to write a Mission Statement for Christianity in as few words as possible, what would you write? What’s the plan? Well, as we begin to read Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, Paul states succinctly what he calls God’s “plan for the fullness of … 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

Dear Friends, I have to admit: I get the disciples’ reaction to the storm at sea. “Why are you afraid?” Jesus asks. I want to answer, “Um. Gee. Maybe because the boat is taking on water and we’re being knocked all over the place and could go overboard or sink at any moment.” I think … Read more