Deacon Clark Goecker

Fifteen years ago I was scheduled to preach on the weekend following September 11. On Thursday of that week my pastor asked if I wanted him to take my place. I said no and hold him I had been revising my homily. By the way, today’s readings are the very same readings as 15 years ago.

I guess it was understandable that I focused on loss—the anger, the sadness, the loss of innocence, the loss of so much life and the nation in mourning. It was and still is painful. What got me through that weekend and those Masses was the opportunity, actually the grace, of baptizing two cousins born just a week apart—Isabella and Matthew. In the midst of a nation in mourning, two sisters brought their families together with a profound sense of hope and love. Fifteen years later, those kids are now teenagers and maybe only vaguely aware of the significance of 911.

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24th Sunday of Ordinary TimeRead More »

There is a tendency among some people who believe in a religion to feel that they are a privileged group, that they carry with them some cast-iron guarantee that their spiritual future is absolutely secure. The understanding of a “chosen people” is not really confined to the Jews. Even among Christians there are disagreements about who is chosen and on the right path. For us Catholics, the notion about “outside the Church there is no salvation” was a rallying cry for centuries and still is for a few today.

Perhaps this was what Jesus’ questioner had in mind when – in today’s Gospel passage –he asked, “Will there be only a few saved?” The question reflected the belief of many Jews in Jesus’ time that they and only they were God’s “Chosen People”.

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21st Sunday of Ordinary TimeRead More »

“Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” This is a question, I believe each of us asks in many different ways in our lifetime.  You might expect a lengthy answer to such an important question. But the answer Jesus gives is quite short.  He simply tells us to love God with all the strength we have, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.  That’s it!! That’s all you need!  Love like that and we will inherit eternal Life.  End of message!  If it were only that easy especially these last few days! Unfortunately, it is not—so much more is asked of us.

Our Scripture readings each week remind us that the stories about prophets, apostles and disciples being chosen and sent out to do God’s work have been told down through the centuries in order to bring home to us one essential message- the reason why we are called and gathered into a church, the one and only reason why we have been chosen to be Christians, is to be sent out to do God’s work. Our entire purpose and endeavor is directed outward for the good of others, for the good of the world, and for the common good. …

15th Sunday of Ordinary TimeRead More »

Today’s readings offer us striking scenes that challenge us to reflect on what it really means to have faith in Jesus Christ. The readings deal with love and sin, adultery, manipulation, fundamentalism, intolerance and with forgiveness, trust and surrender.

Let’s begin with the Gospel.  This story is only found in Luke.  It is not the same story described in Matthew and Mark where the woman pours ointment over Jesus’ head and it is not the incident in John that takes place in Martha’s house.  It is strange it is not recorded in the other gospels.  Perhaps to some, especially Jewish readers, it was a little too “daring” because it is a sensual story and Jesus is deeply involved in its unfolding. …

11th Sunday of Ordinary TimeRead More »

This weekend we reflect on the joy and burden of carrying on both what Jesus has begun and what our mothers have hoped for us. In the joy of the Easter Season we celebrate the Ascension of Jesus and we observe Mother’s Day. Just as it is important to recognize the meaning and importance of the Ascension, it is important to recognize the significance of motherhood in our lives- our maternal mothers, those who have shown motherly care and the place of mother church in our lives.

Did you notice the different ways that Luke presents the Ascension? In the first reading from Acts, Luke portrays the Ascension as occurring 40 days after the Resurrection while in the Gospel, Luke depicts the Ascension as on the same day Christ rose. The Gospel account suggests the resurrection and the ascension are one event, while Acts seems to say they are two separate events. …

Ascension of the LordRead More »