Last Sunday, today, and next Sunday, the vineyard is the setting for God’s Kingdom. Today, we hear the father of two sons give each of them the same instruction: “Go work in my vineyard.” It seems this is the first lesson for every child of God to learn; what does the voice Read more
Now that the Lenten Season is begun, are you out of the starting gate? Yesterday believers gathered around the globe for Ash Wednesday services. Ash Wednesday is one of those poignant moments when we allow God to ‘take off the gloves’ and remind us, indeed reveal to us, our sins. Read more
The faith-family here in Sheridan gathered for Mass today to celebrate the 100th anniversary of their Catholic School. This Sunday, the Church begins a week of celebrating Catholic Education. When I think of the goal of Catholic Schools, I think of the story of Michelangelo while he was carving his Read more
Let the Lord enter, he is the King of Glory! Psalm 24 This seems to be the invitation to all of God’s people today, this Fourth Sunday of Advent. It is clearly the invitation to the individuals of our readings today. King Ahaz, King of Judah, is facing an assault Read more
On this First Sunday of Advent, Jesus calls us to “Stay Awake!” (Matthew) St. Paul uses similar language when reminding us that this is the “Hour to wake from your sleep; our salvation is near at hand.” (Romans) Advent is a time to prepare for the coming of the Lord. Read more
The past few days the LORD has been testing my own perseverance in faith. God has been ‘breaking into” my own day-to-day experience lately to help me see where conversion is most needed in my life. The grace in this is being able to see with greater clarity where God Read more
Lent is clearly a time to examine our holiness of life. Some have recently asked for greater detail in terms of what exactly holiness entails. In short, holiness is found through our relationship with God. That is why Jesus instructs us “to be perfect just as our heavenly Father is perfect.” Read more
One of the practices I began when named a bishop is to take the month of July not so much as a vacation month, but to take more time for prayer and study, and less time in the office. I am still available to my staff, and willing to schedule appointments Read more
So often as a preacher of God’s Word, I feel a certain responsibility for ‘my message’ to lead to conversion. I’m learning how misguided is such thinking! After Thursday night’s Chrism Mass, I was visiting with someone and ‘heard’ myself in conversation coming to ‘insight’. God’s WORD needs simply to Read more
Today’s Gospel, John 4:5-42, is about many things, one of which is seeing Christ for Who He is. As He comes to a Samaritan woman at the well of Jacob, it is about seeing Christ in our daily life. It is even about discovering Christ more deeply in our sacramental Read more