June 20, 2019

I would like to thank everyone who has followed my blog over the years, whether a new follower or someone who has been with me over the years. Many of you know that I will be officially retired from full time ministry effective July 1, 2019. I will still be around in the diocese performing priestly duties, perhaps,most frequently at Sommerville, TN.

There are over 209 of my homilies on youtube. The address is htpps://www.youtube.com/stfaustinashrine The number of homilies probably will increase even in my “retirement.” So, please feel free to go there and watch and listen.

May God bless you and keep you; may He makes His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; may He look kindly upon you and give you His peace. Amen.

May 20-24, 2019

The blog will be on hiatus while I attend a retreat.

Easter WK 5C (2019)

Is friendship a ministry? Yes, if it is a true service of love to others. While we are still in the Easter Season, it is good to talk about what happens when we make a decision to love our neighbor. We not only give new life to someone else, but also our own life is refreshed and renewed. Let’s try to listen to these words of Jesus with fresh and open hearts: “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” Our love for one another takes on a sacramental character. It is a sign that communicates the visible presence of Christ: “By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

May 18, 2019 (John 14:7-14)

The absent Jesus is present. How? The Jesus who has gone home to His Father has not abandoned His disciples. Jesus walked and talked with His original disciples something that doesn’t happen now. We seem to be at a disadvantage. Whenever, we gather for worship, especially the Eucharist, this same Jesus is present, though in a different way. You see the absent Jesus is still present to us.

May 17, 2019 (John 14:1-6)

When times are full of great sorrow and possible death, believing in Jesus can pose some difficulty. We may feel abandoned, wondering where God is in all of the turmoil. Jesus is in a situation like that in today’s gospel as His suffering and death is immanent, yet, He urges the disciples to believe in Him and in His Father. Have you ever felt like this?

May 16, 2019 (John 13:16-20)

Jesus says that He has loved His own and loved them to the end. This challenges us: What is the limit of our loving? Can I continue to love in the wake of hurt and betrayal? Do I dare to wash the feet of those who have neglected me? The scene on Calvary helps us answer these questions.

May 15, 2019 (John 12:44-50)

Most people think of biblical prophets as fortune tellers who predict the distant future, but that is not so. They are concentrated on the present and short term future. They “comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.” They tell is “like it is.” And this gets them in trouble with some (remember Jeremiah). We share in this “prophetic office.”

May 14, 2019 (St. Matthias)

This Feast of the replacement for Judas as an Apostle is placed at this time to coincide with the historically event of choosing Matthias. We know he was a disciple of Christ who was a witness to Christ’s resurrection (empty tomb). This was one of the prerequisites for selection. Thus, he could be a witness to the historical event.

May 13, 2019 (John 10:1-10)

Jesus, the Good, Noble Shepherd, demonstrates genuine care for His sheep. Thus, they hear His voice and follow Him. Those shepherds, leaders in the Church may fall in the trap of using the sheep to further their careers, their agenda and not Jesus’.

Easter WK 4C (2019)

“The Gospel today says that the sheep know the shepherd’s voice. But, can sheep be fooled by someone just imitating the real shepherd? How many eloquent and cleaver preachers have turned out to be charlatans intent on fleecing the flock for their own gain? But, the real voice of our Shepherd Jesus cannot be duplicated. It is a voice we recognize because it speaks not just to our ears but to our heart as well.” Deacon Dick Folger