Reflections on the Sunday readings from the Catholic Lectionary for Mass. Includes homilies, sermons, and other thoughts.
The Prophetic Witness of Celibacy People are often confused by the meaning of celibacy practiced by those in religious life. Sometimes people think that priests are celibate because it gives …
The Model of the Magi Today we rejoice in the manifestation of the Jesus to world, symbolized by the arrival of the “magi” in Bethlehem. The journey of the magi began long before Christmas. …
What Child is This? We might think of Mary’s title “Mother of God” as saying something about Mary. Some even think that the title is too exalted for a mere …
What Christmas is All About In the classic Peanuts show “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” Charlie Brown famously asks, “Can anyone tell me what Christmas is all about?” His friend Linus …
The King Shall Come The opening scene of today’s gospel is filled with names of people and places that readily evoke the expectation of Christmas: Gabriel, Nazareth, Joseph, Mary… Yet, …
Top Tips for Confession Has it been a while since you’ve been to confession? Maybe you’re worried or just reluctant to go because you feel you don’t know how to …
Under Construction Advent is a time filled with many treasured symbols: the Advent wreath, the Christmas tree, favorite foods and songs. In today’s homily I introduce my favorite Advent symbol: …
Jesus tells us over and over in the Gospel today to “watch.” This is our attitude for the season of Advent.
Pop Quiz Like a pop quiz or a thief in the night, Jesus will return. The good news is that we know the questions that are on the test. We …
Those Who Have Fallen Asleep Paul uses the language of sleep to describe death. This makes death sound so temporary and indeed it is. The early Church had seen firsthand …
Prayer in Communion Yesterday we honored the Church in Glory, the saints in heaven. Today we commemorate and pray for the Church Suffering, all those who have died and await …
Like the crowd in the stadium at a sporting event, the saints in heaven cheer us on as we compete well for the faith.
Sharing Our Very Selves St. Paul tells us in the second reading today that he is proud that he shared with his disciples, “not only the gospel of God, but …
Affliction and Perfect Joy St. Paul gives us what appears to be a paradox in the 2nd reading today. He praises the Thessalonians for accepting the Word “with affliction and joy in …
Who would have thought that Arrowhead Stadium would be such a great place to learn about the Mass? Is a Chiefs game Catholic?
The One Thing I was conducting a parish retreat last weekend and so didn’t have a Sunday homily. As a bonus then, here is the homily I have at Bishop …
Holy Role Reversal Our readings today speak of several reversals of roles. None is greater than the one spoken of in the 2nd reading. Paul tells us plainly that God …
Thankful Workers in the Vineyard The landowner in today’s Gospel has such compassion that he goes in search of workers for his vineyard time and time again. Even though he …
Never Forget On this 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on our country, the phrase often featured on signs and memorials reads simply, “Never Forget.” Yet, what is it that …
Corrective Action A popular philosophy plaguing our society today is the idea of moral relativism. This way of thinking says that there is no truth; it’s all relative to whatever …
Sorry, but there will be no homily this week or next as I am on vacation in beautiful Alaska. Look for some Alaskan homilies on my return and follow my …
That Desire Might be Enkindled In today’s gospel a Canaanite woman comes to find Jesus and asks healing for her daughter. Surprisingly, Jesus won’t even talk to her. When he …
Where is God? In today’s first reading, the prophet Elijah has an amazing encounter with God. Mt. Horeb was the famous mountain where God appeared in smoke and fire to …
Satisfaction for the Thirsty Maybe we’ve never experienced a lack of water in our lives, but all of us experience thirst. We have a spiritual thirst put in us by …
What’s in Your Field? Jesus speaks today of a treasure hidden in a field. Hopefully we get the point that our faith is a treasure and our relationship with God …
A World Full of Weeds With all the violence, difficulties, and scandals in our world, this place can really seem less than ideal. Well, it is. The good news is …
Sink Your Roots Deep Today’s homily was given in the Chapel of the Twelve Apostles on the H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation in Osceola, Missouri. Our young people today have …
The Gift of Freedom This weekend we celebrate our freedom, our Independence Day. What could be more American than freedom? Yet, have you ever stopped to think about what that …
Help for Failing Senses At first it might seem strange to celebrate a day in honor of the Eucharist. Don’t we do that at every Mass? Of course, but today …
Fearful Yet Overjoyed After encountering Jesus after the resurrection, the gospels describe the apostles as being “fearful, yet overjoyed.” Perhaps that’s the best description we can hope for to describe …