16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

In our first reading from Jeremiah, in the midst of very challenging times – the nation’s leaders were not following the Lord and Jerusalem was on the path to destruction – God promises that one day He will come and shepherd His people rightly.  That promise is fulfilled 500 years later in Jesus, Who comes to us, His people, as the true Shepherd in the line of King David, to lead us to our true home.  That sounds very nice and poetic…but if we actually believe it, then it means that certain demands have been placed upon us: to submit to and follow our true Shepherd and King.  How am I doing this week?

(I apologize for the delay in getting this out – still trying to settle in here at my new assignment.  I appreciate your patience!)

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

In the Gospel today, Jesus’ apostles “anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.”  This is one of the roots of our practice of the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.  When should someone get anointed?  When do you call in the priest?  Is it supposed to be during one’s final hours on this earth?  Or could it be sooner?  Listen to find out more.

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

This week I moved from Medford to Superior, Wisconsin to begin my new assignment at the 5 parish cluster in and around Superior.  This homily is “some” of my story of re-conversion to our amazing Catholic faith and how I began hearing God’s call to the priesthood (I say “some” because there is so much more to the story, just not enough time in one homily to cover it all!).