Prayer

Techniques to Listen to God

By Fr. Jeff | 06/13/2020

I offer this article in response to a comment posted by Brennan to my article, “Is God Angry With Us?”.  I thank Brennan for his comment, which follows: “Well said! Like you have said in previous posts, you would think…

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Amen

By Fr. Jeff | 05/18/2020

Amen. How many times do we say “amen” when we pray? How many times do you say it on your own? How many times do we say “amen” together at Mass? I don’t know how many times you say “amen”…

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The Right Atmosphere

By Fr. Jeff | 05/02/2020

Earlier this week I wrote a blog article, “Silence, How Much and When” where I talked about silence in private prayer as well as silence at Mass. Now, I would like to discuss how silence at Mass needs to be…

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Silence, How Much and When

By Fr. Jeff | 04/27/2020

In the midst of the Coronavirus you may find yourself alone or in small groups of just your family far more often than normal. Does that necessarily mean we have more “silence”? That depends on what you do with your…

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Perspectives on Prayer

By Fr. Jeff | 04/25/2020

During the Coronavirus shutdown I have been reading books that have been sitting on my shelf for a while. This week I read Rev. Evan Pilkington’s Paths to Personal Prayer (Twenty-Third Publications: Mystic, Connecticut. 1988. The edition I read is…

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What Will Your Life be Like After the Coronavirus?

By Fr. Jeff | 04/07/2020

What was your life like before the Coronavirus? Maybe you were very busy at work. Maybe you were very busy with your children’s (or grandchildren’s) activities. Maybe you are retired and you didn’t do much because it always seemed like…

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Staying Connected

By Fr. Jeff | 03/24/2020

We are not currently able to gather together to celebrate Mass because of the Coronavirus. The Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith (Lumen Gentium, 11). Thus, this time without public celebration of the Eucharist might seem a…

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30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 10/27/2019

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CSirach 35:12-14, 16-18Psalm 34:2-3, 17-18, 19, 23 (7a)2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18Luke 18:9-14October 27, 2019 We continue to hear about prayer in our readings this week.  Today, the question addressed start with whose prayer gets…

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29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 10/20/2019

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CExodus 17:8-13Psalm 121:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 (see 2)2 Timothy 3:14-4:2Luke 18:1-8October 20, 2019 Jesus tells us to “pray always”.  Really?  How can anyone pray “always”?  We have to sleep or we will become “weary”. …

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27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 10/06/2019

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CHabakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 (8)2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14Luke 17:5-10October 6, 2019 Habakkuk the prophet cried out, “How long, O LORD? I cry for help but you do not listen!” Have you ever…

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Praying For Those Who Lead – Holy Hour Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 01/16/2019

Homily for January 2019 Holy Hour1 Samuel 8:1-22Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13Romans 13:1-6Matthew 22:15-22 In much of the Old Testament period, people were led by “kings”.  Yet, before the time of Samuel, Israel did not have a king.  Ultimately God…

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The Lord’s Prayer – Homily for Holy Hour August 2018

By Fr. Jeff | 08/07/2018

Homily for August 2018 Holy Hour Isaiah 25:6a, 7-9 Psalm 23:1-3, 3-4, 5, 6 Romans 8:26-27 Matthew 6:7-15 We started our monthly holy hour last September as part of our diocesan Year of the Eucharist.  So, it was only logically…

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My Latest Presentation – “The Journey to Jesus”

By Fr. Jeff | 02/27/2018

I just did another presentation last night.  This one is called “The Journey to Jesus.”  I begin with talking about what “journey” means along with “desert” and “Lent” before discussing the necessity of silence.  You can view the video at https://renewaloffaith.org/video—the-journey-to-jesus.html…

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What is the Point of Prayer?

By Fr. Jeff | 10/11/2016

I don’t think many people would argue with the statement that prayer is important.  Well, actually they might without meaning to.  By this I simply acknowledge the fact that not everybody prays.  Maybe they mean to but it isn’t the most…

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17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C Homily – The Lord’s Prayer

By Fr. Jeff | 07/28/2013

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C Genesis 18:20-32 Colossians 2:12-14 Luke 11:1-13 July 28, 2013 I’m always astonished at this story of how Abraham barters with God.  Normally when we barter is to find a mid-range price.  We might…

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Listening

By Fr. Jeff | 04/21/2013

I just finished reading an article on listening in a magazine.  Actually, in a spirit of honesty with regards to an article on listening, I’m not sure I really read the article.  Physically I read it but as I was…

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Back From Retreat

By Fr. Jeff | 06/11/2011

I just returned from a five day retreat at Bethany Retreat Center.  While not everyone can take five days, I encourage everyone to think about taking an annual retreat.  For those who work, many retreat centers offer weekend retreats. What…

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The Our Father

By Fr. Jeff | 06/16/2010

The gospel reading for tomorrow (Thursday, 6/17/10) is Matthew’s telling of Jesus teaching his disciples the prayer we have come to call The Our Father or The Lord’s Prayer.  We say the words of The Lord’s Prayer often.  We say…

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Prayer

By Fr. Jeff | 05/22/2010

For some people the only time they pray is on Sunday at Church.  For others, they might say they pray the rosary everyday or we say grace before meals.  Some pray regularly for their family and friends.  If you read…

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Back From Retreat

By Fr. Jeff | 05/22/2010

I returned yesterday from a few days of retreat at Bethany Retreat Center.  It is a quiet place in the hills of Pennsylvania.  This is my second time there.  I enjoy it because it is quiet, well removed from the…

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Quality or Quantity: Which Do You Seek?

By Fr. Jeff | 02/04/2010

Quality or Quantity, which do you seek? Quality or Quantity of what?  I’m talking about prayer.  Today I was reading an article written to priests talking about  people who confess their prayer life isn’t what should it should be.  How…

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