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26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C Amos 6:1a, 4-7 Psalm 146:7, 8-9, 9-10 1 Timothy 6:11-16 Luke 16:19-31 Today Jesus speaks about the rich man who wore fine garments and dined sumptuously each day. This in and of itself…
Read MoreLast week I did my first presentation at St. Michael’s Church in Newark. It is called “What Comes After the Jubilee Year of Mercy?” It largely contains pieces of what I did in my three presentations at Immaculate Conception Church…
Read More25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C Amos 8:4-7 Psalm 113:1-2, 4-6, 7-8 1 Timothy 2:1-8 Luke 16:1-13 Jesus tells the parable of the steward who was fired for squandering his master’s property. The very purpose of a “steward” is…
Read More24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14 Psalm 51:3-4, 12-13, 17, 19 1 Timothy 1:12-17 Luke 15:1-32 Some of you may be old enough to remember the days when people went to confession at least monthly if…
Read More23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C Wisdom 9:13-18b Psalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17 Philemon 9-10, 12-17 Luke 14:25-33 Is Jesus really telling us to hate people? This doesn’t match with what Jesus says the two greatest commandments are,…
Read More21st Sunday in Ordinary Time Isaiah 66:18-21 Psalm 117:1, 2 Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13 Luke 13:22-30 Who is welcomed into the Kingdom of Heaven? The Jews saw themselves as a chosen people, the only ones who would get into the Kingdom…
Read More20th Sunday in Ordinary Time Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10 Psalm 40:2, 3, 4, 18 (14b) Hebrews 12:1-4 Luke 12:49-53 Jesus tells us that he comes to bring division, to set father against son and mother against daughter, and in-laws fighting. The…
Read MoreToday we celebrate the Feast of St. Lawrence. He was a deacon under Pope St. Sixtus II and was martyred in 258 A.D. Yesterday we celebrated the optional memorial of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (aka Edith Stein) who…
Read More19th Sunday in Ordinary Time Wisdom 18:6-9 Psalm 33:1, 12, 18-19, 20-22 Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19 Luke 12:32-48 Last week we saw Jesus’ reaction to the man who asks him to tell his brother to share the inheritance. Jesus wasn’t interested…
Read More18th Sunday in Ordinary Time Ecclesiastes 1:2, 2:21-23 Psalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17 Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11 Luke 12:13-21 A person comes to Jesus with a request, to tell his brother to share the inheritance with me. Jesus seems to…
Read MoreIf you look at today’s gospel, you will see it begin with Jesus saying “The Kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind.” I think that is all some people hear today…
Read MoreTomorrow I complete my first month at St. Michael’s in Newark. Of course, the month has been full of meeting new people. Every parishioner is a new face to me. While every person has been a new face to me,…
Read MoreToday’s (7/26/16) first reading comes from the Book of Jeremiah. Jeremiah served as a prophet in a time when people had fallen away from faith in our God. The people faced a very difficult time and wondered if God had…
Read More17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C Genesis 18:20-32 Psalm 138:1-2, 2-3, 6-7, 7-8 Colossians 2:12-14 Luke 11:1-13 Jesus tells us to ask and we will receive, seek and we will find. Probably not many of us would have to…
Read More16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C Genesis 18:1-10a Psalm 15:2-3, 3-4, 5 Colossians 1:24-28 Luke 10:38-42 I know people who when they hear this gospel the question comes up so are like Martha or Mary? Are you a doer…
Read MoreWell, I have been at St. Michael’s for two weeks now. I have felt very welcomed by the parishioners and that has been great. The staff has also been great. I realize now that I had forgotten what it was…
Read More14th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C Isaiah 66:10-14c Psalm 66:1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16, 20 Galatians 6:14-18 Luke 10:1-12, 17-20 As I thought about what to say for first weekend I here. I’m sure you have questions about me. I…
Read More13th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C 1 Kings 19:16b: 19-21 Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11 Galatians 5:1, 13-18 Luke 9:51-52 June 26, 2016 Elijah was a great prophet serving in a time when the kings and many people…
Read MoreAs I prepare to move to my new assignment at St. Michael’s in Newark next week, I have thought about the various places I have served. Next Thursday, June 30th, I will celebrate my ninth anniversary of my ordination to…
Read MoreWe are just about to mail our June 2016 parish newsletter. As I prepare to leave the parish, below is the last column I wrote for the Immaculate Conception newsletter. Final Thoughts Four years ago, on June 26, 2012, I…
Read More11th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C 2 Samuel 12:7-10, 13 Psalm 32:1-2, 5, 7, 11 Galatians 2:16, 19-21 Luke 7:36-8:3 June 12, 2016 This Pharisee does a good thing. He invites Jesus to dine with him. Then comes a…
Read MoreIf you are a regular reader of my blog, by now you know that on June 28th, I will end my assignment as pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Ithaca and move to Newark, NY where I will become the pastor…
Read MoreTenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C 1 Kings 17:17-24 Psalm 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11, 12, 13 Galatians 1:11-19 Luke 7:11-17 June 5, 2016 In our first reading Elijah restores the widow’s son to earthly life. Jesus does the same…
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