Deep Calls to Deep Roc Homily (a) – 3rd Sunday Ordinary Time (A) 2017
The Prayer for Christian Unity also serves to highlight our divisions. I understand that there are somewhere around 25,000 different Christian Churches in the US. NOT denominations, churches, and each one claiming absolute truth. Our remembrance of the 44th anniversary of Roe v. Wade also brought up deep divisions in our country around “Who is truly […]
Roc Homily (2) – 2nd Sunday Ordinary Time (A) 2017
1. ATONEMENT: St. Anselm and his theory of atonement Thanks to: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satisfaction_theory_of_atonement St. Anselm of Canterbury first articulated the satisfaction view in his Cur Deus Homo? as a modification to the ransom theory that was postulated at the time. The then-current ransom theory of atonement held that Jesus’ death paid a ransom to Satan, allowing God to rescue those under Satan’s bondage. […]
Roc Homily – Feast of the Epiphany (A) 2017
The Feast of the Epiphany invites us to consider the Catholic notion of paradox – both/and. We’re asked to reside in between opposites. For example: On the one hand, we have these magi coming from Persia, present day Iran and Syria seeking the newborn king. On the other hand, we see King Herod, the chief […]
Roc Homily (intro) – Solemnity of Mary 2017
From my study of the Greek work, poimén, meaning ‘shepherd’, it seems that we have overly romanticized these characters, made them innocuous. Of course, some have described them as poor, outcasts, smelly, and rude. However, the connections Matthew drew upon tells a different story. Two stories, actually, since the shepherds came to visit THE Shepherd. What might […]
Roc Homily – Christmas 2016
A belated Merry Christmas to family & friends! The picture sets the scene. The audio says it all. The people who walked in darkness have seen a tiny bright light; Those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them the light has shined. The people whose darkness keep them apart have found a welcoming light. […]
Prepared to celebrate…
Merry Christmas to you, family and friends! Preparations continue at the Church of the Gesu to walk into the night to find Jesus, born in the place where no one wants to go. I sure don’t! It’s too painful. The stable on the outskirts of Bethlehem is the world. Who wants to seek the tiny light […]
Smallness at Christmastide
Here’s a poem sent to me by John Staudenmaier, SJ today. It says it all. Merry Christmas! –roc,sj Gitanjali # 1 Thou hast made me endless, such is thy pleasure.This frail vessel thou emptiest again and again,and fillest it ever with fresh life.This little flute of a reed thou hast carried over hills and dales,and […]
Texting with Joseph…
Wednesday, December 22nd Roc: Joe, when arrive? Staying @ Hilton outside Bethlehem. Arrive Thursday night. Joseph: Cool! Joseph: Left too quickly, No reservations. See what’s there. Roc: Will be waiting. Can’t wait to meet Mary. Due soon? Joseph: Didn’t think so, but riding this donkey may have moved things along. She’s a trooper. No complaints. Most […]
Wrapping Up Advent
This year, Advent taught me about the betwixt and between that characterizes my life always. You? It’s the already, but not yet. Ugh. Who wants to face that? On the one hand… I am impatient that I am incomplete still. My desire to be whole, my demand to be complete is robust even though I try […]
Roc Homily – 4th Sunday Advent Cycle A 2016
Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in. (Psalm 24) Sunday’s homily is the back-story about Joseph, the angel, and Mary. It’s about Joseph’s struggle to lift up the gate of his castle-fortress to receive the King of glory. (Less than 10 minutes. Check it […]
Deep Calls to Deep 