Reflections on the Sunday readings from the Catholic Lectionary for Mass. Includes homilies, sermons, and other thoughts.
Today’s Gospel describes the social intricacies of who gets invited to the best parties and where certain people have a seat at the table. It all seem so contrived. Everyone …
When it gets to be over 100 degrees in Kansas in the summer, I like to go Alaska. For most of the last eight years I’ve volunteered to serve as …
Paul Harvey was a famous reporter and political commentator who is perhaps best known for his weekly segment entitled, “The Rest of the Story.” In these short clips, Harvey would …
“If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” So the psalmist urges us in today’s Mass. Changing our hearts is important, but did you ever stop to think …
Sometimes people will confess that they “didn’t get their prayers in” on certain occasions. When you think of “saying your prayers,” what come to mind? How to you pray? Probably …
The following homily was given to Scouts gathered at the Chapel of the Twelve Apostles on the H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation in Osceola, Missouri. “Do a good turn daily” …
“You crazy Catholics… you have so many rules!” Have you ever heard that? It makes it seem like following God’s plan is some kind of kill joy that takes all …
This homily was given at Masses on the first weekend at my new parish of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Kansas City, Kansas. Today’s homily is kind of part three …
We often think of a prophet as someone who foretells the future. Sometimes they do that. But in the biblical sense, a prophet is someone who speaks on behalf of …
By the late 17th century, Catholics had become so convinced of their own unworthiness that they thought no one was worthy to receive the sacraments or be loved by God. …
John the Baptist was strange. He wore strange clothes and ate strange food. He is called the greatest prophet in history, and yet he left the most important city in …
Today we celebrate the the Solemnity of the Body and Blood and Christ, Corpus Christi in Latin. We might expect to find readings like our second reading from St. Paul. …
Sometimes we think of the Trinity as an obscure theological dogma that was probably invented sometime long after Jesus. While it may have taken a couple hundred years to figure …
In the Bible, if you want to meet God, you go to a mountain. Todays’ homily considers why we climb mountains and what we might find.
Just as a Philmont Ranger leaves his crew, so Jesus eventually left his apostles. Now it’s time to go do what we’ve been trained to do.
I really don’t think there are many atheists at Philmont. But there are a lot of people who could use an introduction to the “unknown god.”
On the night of the Last Supper, Jesus tells his apostles, “I give you a new commandment: love one another.” We use the word love to mean so many things. …
Do you want to be filled with joy even in the midst of suffering? Then you need to be filled with the Holy Spirit like in today’s readings.
On Holy Thursday, Peter denied Jesus three times. Today, he gets to go to confession face to face with Jesus and finds freedom to keep going.
Mary of Magdala and the other women, Peter, John… they all have their stories of Easter morning. What’s your story?
Today’s homily considers the story of three great disciples of Jesus who showed heroic love for the body of Christ.
Tonight we tell the great stories salvation: The Passover, the New Covenant… and find help for the story we’re living right now.
Palm Sunday gives a snapshot of the important events we celebrate this week. Take time to follow Jesus this week and be ready for next week.
What prize are you running after in life? What are you grasping at? St. Paul gives us his answer in today’s second reading.
When we realize that God has the ultimate plan for our happiness, the greatest moments in life might just be those that seem unplanned.
Charlton Heston, falling buildings, The University of Kansas, Moses, and a pile of manure. This homily has something for everyone.
Dealing with discouragement is one of the most important things we can learn in the Christian life. Today’s readings give us some insights.
In today’s gospel, Jesus encounters and angel, the devil, and is tested. We often forget the presence of the angels, both good and bad.
Watch your thoughts for they become words, watch your words for they become actions, watch your actions, for they become habits, watch your habits for they become your character, watch …
“Do you see that I am your friend? Can you see that you will always be my friend?” These are the words of Wind in His Hair to Dances with …
This homily was given on the occasion of the 14th anniversary of the death of Msgr. Luigi Giovanni Guissani, founder of the Communion and Liberation movement. Msgr. Guissani considered personal …
One of the blessings of living in Kansas is that we get all four seasons here. Spring and Fall always seem to be too short, and this winter seems to …