2017

Today’s gospel tells the familiar story of “doubting” Thomas. He doubted what the other apostles told him and who could blame him? No one had ever risen from the dead before, certainly not after such a gruesome death. This all changed when he saw the risen Lord himself a week later. How ironic that “doubting” Thomas was the first to say, “My Lord and my God.” Jesus’ next comment is meant for us as well. “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” How blessed we are!

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2nd Sunday of EasterRead More »

No matter how we present it, the message of Easter is incredible. Jesus, our Lord and Savior, is risen from the dead! This event cannot be denied. If historians were to rank the significant events of all time, I believe many would place the resurrection of Jesus at the top of their list. Probably no singular or more incredible event has had a greater impact than what happened on the third day following Jesus’ death on the cross. All the gospels tell us that on that day an empty tomb was discovered. So what was the impact?

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EasterRead More »

To many, the Passion of Jesus Christ is a lesson in history where we sympathize with Christ for the sufferings he went through before he died. We find it hard to believe how the people can be so cruel as to inflict the most severe form of pain on a man we know was innocent.

For Christians, the Passion should be more than a lesson in history. It should become a lesson in life. After all, Christ hung upon the cross for us to give what we need: forgiveness, which is the greatest affection of the Father’s love for us and to ultimately attain the gift of everlasting life with him in the heavenly kingdom. The lesson is truth through love.

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Good FridayRead More »

Each year during Holy Week, we journey with Jesus amid the crowds that shout, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” The day is filled with jubilation and praise. The King of peace is welcomed but a few days later, the people will demand his death on the cross.

The gospel narratives of the Passion recount how the sins of the people and their leaders at the time conspired to bring about the Passion and death of Jesus, implying that we are all to blame. Their sins and ours bring Christ to the cross and he bears them willingly. As Paul told us in this letter, Jesus emptied himself totally, becoming obedient to the point of death. He subjected himself to such torture and pain so that he could then take on the fullness of humanity.

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Palm SundayRead More »

As I sat down to begin work on this homily I was torn between Jesus’ weeping and the raising of Lazarus from the dead. Like everything I prepare to talk about, something else seems to come into play-the last three weeks where we have heard the Gospel of John. They are the longest gospels that we will hear all year, yet they reveal to us a great deal about the true nature of Jesus and his mission and sacrifice.

Two weeks ago the Samaritan woman at the well was transformed by the encounter with Christ who revealed that he was the one who will quench our thirst through the life giving spring of the Father’s Spirit. Then last week Jesus reals that he is the Light of the World who will open our eyes as he did the blind man’s, in order to see the truth of the Father’s love.

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5th Sunday of LentRead More »