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25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CAmos 8:4-7Psalm 113:1-2, 4-6, 7-8 (see 1a, 7b)1 Timothy 2:1-8Luke 16:1-13September 21, 2025 There were those “who trample upon the needy and destroy the poor.” They were more interested in selling grain than practicing…
Read MoreI need (a lot) more patience. I’m not sure I have any patience left. I would be happy to have more patience. On Sunday, the first reading for the Exaltation of the Cross began, “With their patience worn out by…
Read MoreYesterday we celebrated the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. In my homily, I spoke about the importance of this feast in a world where shootings and violence are growing in number. Today, September 15th, we celebrate the…
Read MoreExaltation of the Holy CrossNumbers 21:4b-9Psalm 78:1bc-2, 34-35, 36-37, 38 (7b)Philippians 2:6-11John 3:13-17September 14, 2025 Our nation experienced another shooting this week. Actually, there were two shootings making the national news on the same day this week. I want the…
Read MoreYesterday we celebrated the Feast of the Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary. The Bible tells us little about Mary. We do not have a record of the date of her birth. Yet, we know that she was born as all…
Read More23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CWisdom 9:13-18bPsalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, and 17 (1)Philemon 9-10, 12-17Luke 14:25-33September 7, 2025 Last week I spoke about humility and pride (see my homily). If we are truly humble, we recognize God knows…
Read MoreLast week we had another mass shooting. This one was in a church and involved children. Places of worship are not immune to attack. The Babylonians (6th Century B.C.) and the Romans both destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem (70 A.D.).…
Read More22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CSirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29Psalm 68:4-5, 6-7, 10-11 (see 11b)Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24aLuke 14:1, 7-14August 31, 2025 Humility and pride. We talk about them as opposites. When we do, we view “pride” as boasting about what…
Read MoreDuring the announcements at our Masses this past weekend I encouraged parishioners to attend the “Stand For All Life” event that has been advertised in our recent bulletins. The event was organized by the group, Chemung Valley 4 Life. The…
Read More21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CIsaiah 66:18-21Psalm 117:1, 2 (Mark 16:15)Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13Luke 13:22-30August 24, 2025 The question is “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” Jesus answers, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I…
Read MoreThe parishes I serve remain without a faith formation coordinator (we are seeking a part-time person if you know of someone who might be interested). So, I am spending a lot of my time now working to put together our…
Read More20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CJeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10Psalm 40:2, 3, 4, 18 (14b)Hebrews 12:1-4Luke 12:49-53August 17, 2025 They claimed, “Jeremiah ought to be put to death.” Why do they seek his execution? They wanted to put him to death…
Read MoreThe Assumption of the Blessed Virgin MaryRevelation 11:19a, 12:1-6a, 10abPsalm 45:10, 11, 12, 16 (10bc)1 Corinthians 15:20-27Luke 1:39-56August 15, 2025 John shares his vision of the day when he saw “God’s temple in heaven” opened. He could see the “ark…
Read More19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CWisdom 18:6-9Psalm 33:1, 12, 18-19, 20-22 (12b)Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19Luke 12:32-48August 10, 2025 Jesus says to us, “Do not be afraid any longer.” What makes you afraid? How do you respond to the fear? Whatever…
Read MoreIn the last year, you may have noticed increasing references to “truth” in my writings and homilies. First and foremost, this is because, unlike relativists, I believe there is truth and that it will set us free. I believe this…
Read MoreAs Jesus disembarked from the boat (see today’s gospel), “his heart was moved with pity” for the crowds. He knew their longings. He knew what they needed. He knew better than they did what they were searching for. He knew…
Read More18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CEcclesiastes 1:2, 2:21-23Psalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17 (95:8)Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11Luke 12:13-21August 3, 2025 Are you attached to worldly things and/or activities? Does your attachment to them dictate what you do? A person comes…
Read MoreIf one looks at what is going on in the world today, it is reasonable to ask the question, “has the world rejected Jesus?” We see this in the way many people embrace LGBT+ ideology even though it is in…
Read More17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CGenesis 18:20-32Psalm 138:1-2, 2-3, 6-7. 7-8 (3a)Colossians 2:12-14Luke 11:1-13July 27, 2025 Jesus teaches us how to pray. When we pray, what do we ask for? Jesus says, “What father among you would hand his…
Read MoreIt’s NFP week for Catholics in the United States. Some people may ask what’s NFP and why is there an “NFP week”? NFP stands for natural family planning. The fact that some people don’t know what NFP is or what…
Read More16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CGenesis 18:1-10aPsalm 15:2-3, 3-4, 5 (1a)Colossians 1:24-28Luke 10:38-42July 20, 2025 Martha welcomed Jesus. Mary sat at the feet of Jesus while Martha was “burdened with much serving.” From this the question is sometimes asked,…
Read MoreIn the last couple of days we have heard how God called Moses to lead his people out of Israel. Yesterday’s first reading concluded the call of Moses at the burning bush. Today’s first reading jumps ahead a few chapters. …
Read MoreLast Tuesday I posted the first of three articles on the death penalty, “Considerations on the Death Penalty.” Then, last Thursday I posted the second article, “A Letter to a Victim’s Family.” Today’s article is writing as a letter to…
Read MoreAs Christians we know we are supposed to love our neighbors. We are even called to love our enemies (see Matthew 5:43-48). The problem is that we get confused about what this means. Some people think it means we must…
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