In today’s Gospel from Matthew ( 5:17-37) Jesus is speaking about the law. It is also helpful to note that this passage follows one of Jesus’ greatest ‘homilies’; the beatitudes. Jesus states clearly that he did not come to abolish the law, but rather to fulfill the law. (Matthew 5: Read more…
On this 5th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Jesus calls his disciples salt and light. (Matthew 5: 13-16) He instructs them and us as well that the way we live in the world as his disciples is important. As his disciples, we are to mirror his way of life. We are Read more…
The Bishops of Region XII concluded our 2020 Ad Limina visit just a few hours ago with Mass at St. Paul Outside the Walls, and a visit to the tomb of the Great Apostle to the Nations. I had the great privilege of presiding and preaching at our closing Mass. Read more…
This Ad Limina visit for the bishops is a moment of renewal in our apostolic ministry and is centered on two of the great witnesses of our faith in Jesus Christ, Sts. Peter and Paul. Another “Peter” and Paul met in Rome yesterday. When I think about being ‘renewed’ in Read more…
Every five years (or so) a bishop travels to Rome to be renewed in the ministry that he shares as a successor to the apostles. The Latin phrase for this visit is ad limina apostolorum – meaning, a visit to the threshold (of the tombs) of the Apostles, Peter and Read more…
Happy New Year 2020! May this year be a blessing to all. On this Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, the readings speak clearly of God’s deep desire to bless us. He even instructed Moses very specifically about how he and Aaron were to bless the Israelites (Numbers Read more…
Christmas Homily 2019 St. James Cathedral, Seattle On this Holy Night, we experience once again what the Prophets foretold of old. The One who is to comfort God’s people is born. (Isaiah 40) The desire of all nations, (Haggai 2:6-7) of every human heart is found wrapped in swaddling clothes, Read more…
I had very little appreciation for the summer and winter solstices until I lived in Alaska. As we all know, the earth makes one revolution around the sun every 365 days. Due to the tilt of the earth on its axis, the northern hemisphere is closest to the sun during Read more…
In the early days of Advent, the readings speak of the mountain of the Lord, Mt. Zion, the house of the Lord, as the place where all of humanity will find the desire of their hearts. On God’s holy mountain we will be fed and will know love, truth and Read more…
Today is the feast of one of the greatest missionaries of all time, St. Francis Xavier.He is the patron saint of missionaries, and of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, where my life and ordained ministry began. St. Francis is a great model for us today, in so many ways. He first Read more…