Posted on Mar 7th, 2012

Temptation

In the self-image obsessed world in which we live, the word temptation seems to be applied, more often than not, to foods which are considered unhealthy indulgences.  How often, for example, have you seen the word applied to anything made of chocolate?  Food companies have even used the term to playfully name their products, (i.e. Hershey Temptations).   However, as we all know, “temptation” is a deadly...

Posted on Mar 2nd, 2012

“My Sacrifice and Yours”

One of the greatest theologians of the 20th century, a man named Hans Urs Von Balthasar, laments of what he calls “the turn to the subject” in Christianity . . .even within some expressions of the Catholic faith.  What is he talking about?  Well, one narrow way to understand this is according to that correction a parent makes to a child when he or she is being selfish or self-centered:  A parent might say to...

Posted on Feb 21st, 2012

The Convenience Monster

This column will echo some things I wrote in the bulletin almost exactly one year ago; but which I think bear repeating and some elaboration.  The reason I think this is important is because, increasingly, I think that it is important that I attempt to prepare people for a very different future. As you can see, from the title, my concern has something to do with the theme of “convenience:”  It is a very...

Posted on Feb 13th, 2012

Contraception Controversy

The recent and highly publicized conflict between the U.S. Catholic Bishops and the Obama administration on a policy that might require Catholic institutions to provide insurance coverage to employees for contraception brings to the fore an issue which is and has been rather thorny in the life of the Church for the past fifty years or so.  I prefer not to speak of the political matter of the separation of Church...

Posted on Feb 6th, 2012

God is . . . Somewhere!

Why does the Church obligate me to attend Mass on Sunday if God is everywhere?  If God is everywhere, why can’t I just pray and worship wherever I happen to be? . . . These are the sorts of questions which might be familiar to parents of children who are complaining about going to Mass.  However, they represent one of the excuses of most modern people who forgo “organized religion.”  We see this in a...

Posted on Jan 30th, 2012

The Real Life vs. The Ritual Life

  Dull incomprehension . . . it’s the look in the eyes of a congregation that I dread as I try, with all earnestness, to lead the people in the Eucharistic Prayer of the Mass which encompasses the consecration of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ.  I think, “maybe if I enunciate perfectly, and raise the volume of my voice a bit, and inject a bit of emotion into the text, I will be...

Posted on Jan 24th, 2012

Legal Protection for Unborn Children

[Excerpts from the Gospel of Life, Pope JPII] Even in the midst of difficulties and uncertainties, every person sincerely open to truth and goodness can, by the light of reason and the hidden action of grace, come to recognize in the natural law written in the heart (cf. Rom 2:14-15) the sacred value of human life from its very beginning until its end, and can affirm the right of every human being to have this...

Posted on Jan 19th, 2012

Levels of Financial Giving . . . from maintenance to growth.

I will not “beat around the bush” . . . we need to take in more money in our offertory collections than we currently take per each week of the year.  Last year I took steps to stop financial “hemorrhaging” and to reduce it to the slow bleed that it is today.  Nevertheless, it remains a “bleeding” which needs to be stopped and reversed.   When expenses exceed income, of course, it is a problem which...

Posted on Jan 9th, 2012

Keep it to yourself Tim!

If you’re a fan of NFL football, you are well aware of the phenomenon of Tim Tebow.  He is the quarterback of the Denver Broncos and known for leading his team to miraculous comeback wins; but, more importantly, he is known for his deep Christian faith.  Having been born of parents who are Christian missionaries, Tim evidently grew up in a family and in an environment which “gave permission” to live and...

Posted on Dec 30th, 2011

The Manger & The Mass

(Abridged Christmas Homily) Whenever we see a manger scene,  a donkey always seems to be included in the mix of animals present at the birth of our Lord.   Tradition always has us picturing Mary on the back of a Donkey on her way to Bethlehem, so I guess we are to assume that the one in the manger is the one who bought her there.  It is interesting to note that among the very first witnesses to the savior of...