There had to be something about Jesus. Something that the scriptures are not telling us. Something … maybe that people could not quite put their finger on….but there was something about him. His person…His looks…His demeanor…His eyes…Something! Why would so many people have flipped their lives inside out, literally dropped their nets, for a chance […]

At the crest of the old year, we look back upon our missed opportunities and failures, at the many graces we have experienced in these last 365 days, and we celebrate “the second chance” we now are being given – in the new year ahead! We should be grateful. We should be thankful. Our hearts […]

Weird scripture is what we get tonight. Right smack dab in the middle of our Christmas celebration. Oh all the right characters are present. It just turns all dark and black very quickly. The 12 days of Christmas…I love it, from now until January 6th. 12 days worthy of celebration. 12 days of peacefulness and […]

The Lord is with you. (I know in your mind – you just said, “And also with you!” Or, maybe you mouthed the words. Or, even said them out loud! Good job! You know the liturgy…well! But it is not just a part of the liturgy, you know! I believe it to be something that […]

Matthew writes this stunning section in his gospel about “unbelief” in Israel. He begins the section by talking about John the Baptizer. John is now in prison. He who once roamed free in the wilderness areas is now bound up. He who walked in the light is now living in almost total darkness. He is […]

There “can be” a pretentiousness about some religious folks. Because they “are” religious [or] because they “practice” their religious faith – some may think themselves to be “better” than others. Some people “think” they have an exclusive “in” with God. Many a joke has been written about this group or that group that thinks “they […]

It happened near Naples, Italy. There was a little Italian town with a name that sounds something like Bowlwana. It is located in an earthquake zone. Much of Italy is actually located in that self-same earthquake zone. In 1930, fourteen hundred people were killed in a massive earthquake in that same town. Earlier in 1908, […]

Strangely it is in Matthew’s Gospel, the 11th chapter that says, the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ I say strangely, because it is usually Luke that associates Jesus with sitting down and reclining at meals. And of […]