This Sunday is referred to as Good Shepherd Sunday. We read the story Jesus tells about a good shepherd who is willing to lay down his life for the sheep. In my 25 years of ministry, I have met both good and bad shepherds. I have known clergy willing to lay down their lives for … Read more
This Sunday we read one of my favorite passages from Saint John. He writes to the churches to remind them that if they really love God and his Son Jesus, then they must first love their brothers and sisters. I believe this is a message that has been lost in the church today. We are … Read more
We as Christians often have this problem with faith. We seem to think that doubt is heresy and that faith cannot exist if a person has doubts. This could not be further from the truth. It is a way of “gatekeeping” those we consider impure or not “really Christian” from our churches and our lives. … Read more
We have entered the most Holy of Weeks in the calendar. We will be following in the footsteps of Jesus as he heads to Calvary. He was led through this kangaroo court, found guilty of preaching against the status quo, and sent to death for his preaching. We find ourselves at a crossroads this Holy … Read more
It is interesting how death seems to be required to bring some families and some social groups together. They never seem to have time to be real family or friends unless someone has died. The rest of the time, they are too busy for you. As we near Good Friday, the impending sense of death … Read more
Humility is one of the calls of lent that we all to often ignore. It is a call that the Gospel this Sunday reminds us of. Those who wanted to follow Jesus came to the disciples and humbly said, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.” Jesus also reminds us that part of our calling … Read more
This Sunday we celebrate the Third Sunday of Lent, and we reflect on our nothingness. Saint Thomas Merton says that we must love and embrace our nothingness to the honor and glory of God. Jesus hints at this principle when he cleared out the temple. You see, just like the moneychangers of old, we far … Read more
This Lent we are going Back to Basics with quotes from Saint Thomas Merton. One of the basics of Lent is that we are called to live in hope. Hope of the resurrection and hope of the life to come. We are reminded in the Gospel of this hope. As Merton said, “Hope is the … Read more
This Sunday we learn a lot about lepers. We learn about the way society must act around them in the Old Testament days. And then we see Jesus throw all that out to show love and compassion to a leper. He even went so far as to touch the leper in a sign of love … Read more
Job gets right to the point this Sunday. Life sucks! He sounds very much like Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh. “Oh, woe is me. Life is just a drudgery.” I feel that way sometimes myself. Life can be a difficult path to walk. Add to that the people who are intent on making life more … Read more