Homily Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome November 9, 2025 Isn’t this a beautiful space? I have the honor and pleasure of supervising weddings here and I always begin with that statement. I then follow with just a few of the main attractions – the large window, the bishop’s chair (do not sit there; you don’t want that kind of responsibility), the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, the St. Paul Relics Chapel, and, of course, dedicated to our original benefactor, the Bishop Maes Crypt Chapel. This is a sacred space. Take a moment to look around. From wherever you are, near the back, towards the front, under the great window or choir loft, even from the presider’s chair, the stained-glass windows and murals, the columns and woodwork, everything looks a certain way. Now remember a time you were in a different place or even a different time of day. Everything looks a little different, from a different perspective. We can only look at something, or...
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28th Sunday in Ordinary Time
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Homily 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time October 12, 2025 I’m a very independent person. It’s how I grew up. I had to be independent to survive. I started working when I was 16. I bought and cooked my own meals; I bought and washed my own clothes; I got myself from home to school to work and back again on my trusty 10-speed bike. This served me well into my adulthood with a strong work ethic and independent lifestyle. No one told me what to do. That is until I met my future wife. Even after we married, I clung to my independence, often at odds with her trying to take care of me as a Proverbs 31 woman will do. It took me several years to adjust and to learn that we were a couple and not two individuals living in the same household. I had to learn over time that the two will become one in the Sacrament of Matrimony. I had to learn that I don’t have to do everything on my own; I can rely on my partner, my friend, my love. And as I traveled on my faith journey, I...
Exultation of the Cross
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Homily Exultation of the Cross September 14, 2025 Today is the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Today, we lift our hearts in praise for that sacred instrument which, through the blood of our Savior, transformed death into life, despair into hope. As we gather here, perhaps some of us carry heavy burdens. These are sadly common occurrences; loss of a loved one, strife within our family, chronic illness, struggles with employment, uncertainty about finances. Yet, the Cross that stands before us is not as a symbol of defeat, but a beacon of hope in the resurrection. It invites us to pick up our own crosses and follow Jesus, hard as it may be, trusting that our suffering, when united with His, leads to glory, a glory we can only imagine, but trusting in Him, is promised to us. But how do we embrace pain and suffering to glory and bliss? Fortunately, we have the Scriptures that illuminate this mystery. In the Book of Numbers, we hear of the Israelit...
20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
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Homily 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time August 17, 2025 An arrogant lion, convinced of his position as the all-powerful ruler of the jungle, swaggered from animal to animal, snarling, "Who is the King of the Jungle?" Trembling with fear, one-by-one, the antelope, the monkey and the tiger each affirmed his title. But when he posed the question to the elephant, the elephant simply grabbed him with its trunk, tossed him around like a rag doll, and threw him into the lake. Dazed and dripping, the lion crawled out of the water, and whimpered to the elephant, "Hey! Just because you don't know the answer, you don’t have to be so mean!" What do we know about humility? The world today is all about materialism and status; humility is considered a weakness. But true humility is the quality of having a modest view of our own importance; it's not about thinking less of ourselves but rather thinking of ourselves less and focusing on what is truly important. It involves hone...