Deep Calls to Deep Roc Homily – Twentieth Sunday Ordinary Time 2016-Troisieme
one more thing… When fire comes upon the earth, what might conversion look like? Here’s what I perceive: More and more, I have grown in appreciation of the story of St. Francis and the leper (and for Pope Francis with the poor). They found Christ in those whom otherwise were despised. Seems to me that […]
Roc Homily – Twentieth Sunday Ordinary Time 2016-Part Deux
“I have come not for peace but for division…” No, not long division, but “two against three & three against two and the whole famdam’ly against each other…” It seems to me: that though this passage concerns followers of Jesus in opposition to others, my burden of idealism tells me I don’t know very many […]
Roc Homily – Twentieth Sunday Ordinary Time 2016
“I have come to cast fire on the earth…” The passage in Acts 2 serves as the backdrop for understanding this gospel passage – “tongues of fire divided.” It seems to me that the fire of the Spirit purified the disciples (as gold in the fire) and created a union between them, a oneness not […]
St. Clare – a prophet for our times
Today’s first reading, Ezekiel 12:1-11, gives us a picture of the prophetic action Ezekiel was told to act out. It sounds crazy. I have tended to domesticate the great saints in order to ward off the impact of their prophetic deeds and saying. St. Clare, I realized today, is one of them. With Francis, Clare […]
Roc Homily – Seventeenth Sunday Ordinary Time 2016
“This gospel is not about prayer in general…” The Lord’s Prayer seems to be “designed” for disciples who seek a path of purification and mission. Asking and seeking and knocking have to do with persistence in asking for the Holy Spirit whose purifying fire made the disciples ready for mission. That’s why we “dare to […]
Prequel 2 to Roc Homily – Seventeenth Sunday Ordinary Time 2016
A second reflection… Dennis Hamm, SJ made this connection come alive for me in his masterful book, Building Our House on Rock: The Sermon on the Mount as Jesus’ Vision for Our Lives as Told by Matthew and Luke. When he looked at the link between the Greek word, hagiazo (“to hallow, make holy”) and its use […]
Prequel to Roc Homily – Seventeenth Sunday Ordinary Time 2016
This is a wholly new way of looking at the Lord’s Prayer for me. See whether it works for you. Consider the placement of this prayer in Matthew’s gospel (6:5-15). It’s set right in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount, the inaugural address Jesus made to his disciples in which he laid out his […]
About “Love Your Enemies” 6-14-16
The right response to Jesus’ teaching, “Love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you,” is “You’ve got to be kidding! Are you living in the real world, Jesus? Click.” It’s the right response because it reveals where we actually live. It’s a biblical ink blot test! Perhaps then we can hear this teaching from the […]
Another anniversary to remember today (6/8/16)
Thirty-seven years ago, Andy Alexander, SJ, Dave Matkzo, SJ, and I were ordained to the priesthood at Holy Name church in Omaha, NE by Archbishop Daniel Sheehan. And, next week on the 15th is the same anniversary of Gerry Stockhausen, SJ, who died in January. We corresponded this morning, sharing deep gratitude for the blessing […]
Deep Calls to Deep 
Year of Mercy Revisited – June 17, 2016
Here’s something to do with your weekend… or whenever… Dr. John O’Keefe & Dr. Wendy Wright, two stalwarts from the Creighton University Theology Department, interviewed me about the Year of Mercy when I visited campus in April to give a talk on same. It was a lively and engaged conversation for their Catholic Comments podcast. 20 Minutes. I […]
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