Homily for Tuesday of the Third Week of Easter. In the just over eleven months that I’ve been a priest, one of the most helpful resources I’ve found for preparing homilies is the Fathers of the Church. These are the deacons, priests, and bishops who lived in the early centuries of the Church, whose insights …
Month: April 2020
Third Sunday of Easter
I want you to imagine the most beautiful park or beach you’ve ever been to. Perhaps it’s a place here in Wisconsin, perhaps it’s a place you’ve visited on vacation. Now I want you to imagine that someone has buried a bunch of landmines in that park or beach, closing it indefinitely. What was once …
Divine Mercy Sunday
I don’t know about you, but I’ve always wondered why Thomas was missing the first time. I think I’ve finally come up with an answer, however. Had Thomas been there the first time, there would have been more than ten people in the same room. With both Judas and Thomas gone, the disciples could practice …
Easter Sunday
Ever since we’ve started live streaming our Masses, I’ve had to be more careful when speaking about my family. After all, they could be watching and listening at any moment. But I must confess that ever since I was a little kid, I’ve been troubled by one detail in our gospel this morning. And that’s …
Good Friday
Jesus Christ, the definitive answer to human suffering. When faced with suffering, whether our own or another’s, there is no more common question than “Why?” “Why is this happening to me? Why is this happening to them?” “Why? Why? Why?” And when no answer seems to come, either from heaven or from earth, we take …
Holy Thursday
Priest and victim. In the weeks leading up to my ordination as a priest this past May, I was constantly practicing for my first Mass. I wanted it to be perfect, the most beautiful Mass possible. I wanted to sing everything, and not miss a single note. Then, two days before my ordination, I came …
Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion
Jesus was born to die for you and me. Together, let us die with Him. Exactly 102 days ago, we celebrated Christmas, the Nativity of Our Lord. And when Jesus was born in Bethlehem the angels sang, “Glory to God in the highest.” When Jesus came into Jerusalem to die the crowds sang, “Hosanna in the …
Jesus and the New Exodus
Our first reading for today, Ezekiel 37:21-18, is a beautiful summary of who Jesus is and what He came to do: Thus says the Lord GOD: I will take the children of Israel from among the nations to which they have come, and gather them from all sides to bring them back to their land. …
Isaiah Forty-Three 