Dr. Gilley’s class was right after lunch. It was about fluid mechanics and try as I might, I often dozed off in the middle of the lectures. On one particularly humorous occausion, I fell asleep in the middle of the class working a problem. When I came too a few minutes later, still in a …
Category Archives: Homily
Generations: Who, What, and Why?
Homily from Christmas Eve Mass When I was child, when mom and dad got too tired of us, they would often ship us off to my grandparent’s farm outside of Bryan, TX. One of my favorite things about these visits was that on Saturday morning my brothers and I would wake up really early, and …
How do we wait? We wait with faith.
Are you ready? Are you prepared? Essentially, when we say we are prepared, we are saying that we are equal to the challenge which will come. But the thing is that we often do not know what the challenges will be before we face them. Mary teaches us that though we may not be able to be completely prepared, we can say yes. As a child trusts that his parents are there for him and will provide what he needs, so also, we must recognize that God is always working for the good of those who love him – even when we do not know how. This is called faith and it is an essential aspect, perhaps the most fundamental aspect of our waiting as Christians. Together moved by our faith we joyfully wait together with eyes fixed on heaven because we need a heavenly savior. Come quickly, Lord Jesus!
How do we wait? With joy because the Lord is near
We face difficult times. All of this can cause us to also reject that it is possible for us to rejoice at all times. But as Christians, this attitude comes with a problem. Saint Paul commanded us in the second reading to “Live always joyful, pray without ceasing, give thanks on every occasion.” Brothers and sisters, how can we rejoice like Saint Paul?
Prudent Generosity
Everyone wants to be generous, but many times we fail to act generously. Often, we are not generous because we fear the effects it will have on us. Put another way, a lack of generosity often derives from a fear of poverty. I want to be clear; I’m not only speaking about the fear of …
Will you go to the feast?
To be disregarded or despised is a painful experience for us human beings. Have you considered that God, in creating free persons, opened himself to being despised and disregarded? From the beginning, he opened himself to the possibility of being despised and disregarded. III. The Cross is God’s answer to this. It comes down to this: will let him love us? Will we accept his gift or spurn it? He loves you. Will you disregard him, despise him, or will you receive him and be saved?
Hurting and Healing
Our false image of God can get in the way of completely receiving his mercy. When that happens often desperately grasp after other things in order to try and earn our way to heaven. This grasping, which is sin, harms us and harms others. It will cause us to lose the joy that we should have as Christians.
Hobos for Heaven
Thanks to Fr. James Swift, CM my rector from Holy Trinity Seminary for teaching me the origin of the term “hobo.” My friend Br. Elijah Dubek was also inspired by Fr. Jim. Questions to Ponder: Do you long for heaven? How do you actively seek the kingdom of heaven? What are the sources of aniexty …
Correcting in Love
If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone Matthew 18:15
“Reckon him no more amongst the number of thy brethren. But yet neither is his salvation on that account to be neglected. For the very heathen, that is, the Gentiles and Pagans, we do not reckon among the number of brethren; but yet are we ever seeking their salvation” – St. Augustine
Prophetic Anguish
The folly of the Cross becomes the salvation of all. Brothers and sisters, to share in his anguished heart which beats for every human soul. What greater joy could be found?
one thing necessary 