Scripture Reflections

On this 8th day after Christmas, we celebrate the day when Jesus is officially given him name by his foster father, Joseph.

Freddie Mercury might not be a theologian, but his famous question points to the meaning of family and even the essence God himself.

Are you bored with the Christian life? Maybe you don’t know the story. If you don’t know the faith well, then even Christmas is boring.

John the Baptist leaps for joy in his mother’s womb at the presence of God in the womb of Mary. May we all leap for joy to welcome Emmanuel.

If Jesus returned today, are you ready? If there are some things that you would change, well, maybe just go ahead and make those changes. In today’s gospel, people come …

Do you feel far from God? Is your relationship not quite right? This Advent, God offers a highway through the wilderness to come home.

On this last Sunday of the liturgical year, we often focus our attention on the end of time and the world to come. Without doubt, knowing where we are going …

In today’s reading from the prophet Daniel, we hear, Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake; some shall live forever, others shall be an …

Earlier this summer, I reported about a false accusation that was made against me. Although I denied the allegation, I chose to voluntarily step away from ministry while this was …

The following homily was given to Boy Scouts gathered for Mass in the Chapel of the Twelve Apostles on the H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation in Osceola, Missouri. We don’t …

The following homily was given to Boy Scouts gathered for Mass in the Chapel of the Twelve Apostles on the H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation in Osceola, Missouri. Do you …

On this Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, also known by its Latin title, Corpus Christi, we celebrate and honor the incredible gift of the Eucharist. It …

We often place value in things according to what it cost us to obtain them. I know exactly how much my new car is worth because I just bought it. …

In the famous account of Pentecost in the Acts of the Apostles, we read of how Peter and the apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit, came out of their hiding …

As Jesus ascends to heaven, angels appear to the apostles telling them to stop looking up at the sky. It would be logical to want to focus on Jesus as …

We use the word love a lot these days. We say we love everything from pizza, to our dog, to our spouse, and even God. It’s a pretty important word …

One of the things I enjoyed about being pastor in the country was driving through the beauty of God’s creation as I went from parish to parish. In the spring, …

“A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” Really? I don’t know. Was it really normal at the time of Jesus that shepherds were dying all the time …

The disciples expected Jesus to be powerful. They thought that he would come and overthrow the Romans, restoring freedom to Israel through political control. They weren’t prepared for the kind …

“You know what has happened.” So Peter tells everyone in the first reading. Many of us could no doubt recount the facts of “what has happened” when it comes to …

Last night, we were told that Jesus loved his own in the world “to the end.” Today we see just what that means. Jesus loved us so much that he …

There is a strange mix of emotions on Holy Thursday. On the one hand, we reflect on the institution of the Eucharist and the love of Jesus. Yet, we can’t …

Palm Sunday always seems to go too quickly. We start singing Hosanna and waving our palm branches, and before you know it we’re shouting “Crucify him!” One minute Jesus is …

Throughout salvation history, God has chosen to enter into covenants with his people. We may think of this word as being similar to a contract, but there is key distinction. …

God often takes what looks like defeat and bring an unexpected victory. The cross is the greatest example.

When asking “What would Jesus do?” remember that making a whip out of cords and beating people in church is among the possible answers.

Abraham trusted God, even to the point of not withholding his only son. Do you trust God? What are you withholding?

The disciplines of Lent are only a means to an end. The entire origin of the season of Lent is all about baptism.

It’s Valentine’s Day… but it’s also Ash Wednesday. This many seem like a downer, but there is also a happy connection.

At the time of Jesus, leprosy carried a two-fold stigma. First, it was a terribly painful and debilitating disease which left the person suffering with sores and rotting flesh. As …

Today’s homily was given to the archdiocesan candidates for the diaconate at the conclusion of their weekend of formation. In the second reading, St. Paul tells us about the need …

What does it mean to “teach with authority” and why were people so astonished at the teaching style of Jesus? Demonic opposition is expected.