Deep Calls to Deep 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 […]
Roc Homily for the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ 2016
In the homily, I asked people to meditate on their open palms – what does this gesture elicit? Might doing it mindfully help be present to the Christ whom we receive? And, I asked folks to reflect on meanings of the ‘breaking of the bread’. Lastly, how can we hungry people tolerate our hunger long […]
Happy 75th Birthday, Bob Dylan!
I’m supposed to dine with you sometime, Bob. That’s what our rabbi told me anyway – me and Rev. Dr. Lucy Forster-Smith, former head chaplain at Macalester College, now chaplain at Harvard University. Just before Rabbi Bernie Raskas (God rest his soul) was going to Jerusalem for the summer in 1999, Lucy and I had […]
Roc Homily for 3rd Sunday of Easter 2016
Sit with this for a moment if you will: How do you respond with Simon Peter to Jesus’ question, “Do you love me?” This may be the most revelatory question in the whole gospel in that it can reveal to you, to me, where we are with God revealed in Christ through the Spirit. “Do […]
Roc Homily for 2nd Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy)
Second Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy) Some propositions for your consideration: 1. Thomas did not doubt. Rather, he stated a fact: “Unless I put my finger into his hands…” 2. The phrase, “whose sins you retain are retained,” may be the worst translation in the NAB. The Greek, krateo, is translated as “to hold fast, to grasp (a […]
Roc Homily for Easter Sunday 2016
Easter Sunday (March 27, 2016 – 11:30 am Mass) The author of the Gospel of John used 4 different verbs in Greek to demonstrate some fine distinctions between the Magdalene, Simon Peter, and the disciple whom Jesus loved… as well as possible differences each of us can experience in our walk with and encounter with […]
Holy Thursday Homily – Mass of the Lord’s Supper
In chapter 9 of “In the Midst of Our Storms,” I proposed a focus for the foot washing other than service: As we identify with Simon Peter’s resistance, we can discover a part of our lives heretofore neglected – our precious and terrible vulnerability. And I proposed this again on Holy Thursday (3/24)… and with a slight […]
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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