Deep Calls to Deep Roc Homily (a) – Twenty-Ninth Sunday Ordinary Time 2016
Intro: “the need to pray always…” The wordplay at work beneath the surface of the text in this parable opens our eyes to new horizons of interpretations… Luke 18:1f Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart – This shows that prayer has an edge to it as seen […]
Roc Homily – Twenty-Eighth Sunday Ordinary Time 2016
The Ten Lepers & their drama Leper = alienated Leprous men = capable of betrayal & murder They approached him from afar = “from exile” / from alienation Samaritan leper was doubly alienated / outcast He gave thanks = eucharisteo (Jesus gave thanks for cup & bread at Last Supper) The one who was doubly alienated gave thanks […]
Roc Homily Part Deux – Twenty-Seventh Sunday Ordinary Time 2016
Unprofitable servants?!?! Wha the…!!! What was your reaction to being reduced from “Special” status? This is the passage from Luke I love to hate. Â It uncovers my tried and true sense of entitlement. Â “Look, I’m a St. Louis Jesuit for goodness’ sake. Â What do you mean, ‘unprofitable servant’! Â Don’t you realize how much I’ve done […]
Roc Homily – Twenty-Seventh Sunday Ordinary Time 2016
“Increase our faith!”  Let the people say, “Amen!” Ah, the wonders of the lectionary that does what it has to do, select passages and leave others out.  And Sunday’s gospel is a good example of contextus interruptus. The first four verses of chapter 17 are kind of important for they tell us exactly what prompted that prayer. […]
Ignatian Spirituality #5
“16 Reasons I am grateful for St. Ignatius” – Dennis Hamm, SJ The final four… finally! Thank you, Ignatius, for showing that personal religious experience and institutionalized religion are not rivals or enemies but both parts of an integral life of faith. Ignatius would not let anyone get away with saying, “I’m spiritual but not religious.” […]
Roc Homily Part C – Twenty-Sixth Sunday Ordinary Time 2016
Audio version of homily for the 26th Sunday Ordinary Time:Â
Roc Homily Part Deux – Twenty-Sixth Sunday Ordinary Time 2016
Jesus addressed, I believe, the mystery of the meaning of possessiveness in the Pharisees – and in our lives as well I asked the congregation to reflect upon the First Principle & Foundation from the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius.  Please read, reflect, and notice points of attraction & aversion.  These will help you know how you are […]
Roc Homily – Twenty-Sixth Sunday Ordinary Time 2016
A wake up call to the Pharisees who were “lovers of money” Last week in Luke 16, we heard some of the following and missed some: Luke 16:13–15 — No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the […]
Roc Homily Part Deux – Twenty-Fourth Sunday Ordinary Time 2016
The Religious Significance of the Illusion of Righteous Anger: What does this have to do with 9/11? RE: the religious significance of the illusion of righteous anger? Often fear elicits anger Anger inflates one in order to avoid feeling vulnerable Anger allows one to focus outside/blame & not look inside Seems to me that we have […]
Roc Homily #2 – Twenty-Third Sunday Ordinary Time 2016
Punchline for Homily – 23rd Sunday Ordinary Time: Â Surrender everything that you rely on for security so as to find security in following Christ. Here are two key words I dealt with in my homily: Â “Hate” mother and father, etc. means to reject and separate, which leaves a person in a very vulnerable spot. To […]
Deep Calls to Deep 