We have all had those sad and painful moments at airports, train stations, or before the car pulls out of the driveway carrying a loved one away from us. Saint Luke doesn’t make clear whether this apparent final parting of the Risen Christ from his gathered disciples was an occasion of sadness, perplexity, or dread. […]
Saturday, 6th Week of Easter
As Christians we can sometimes struggle to reconcile the true face of God revealed in Jesus Christ with many of the images created by the Old Testament scriptures. Certain understandings of Christ’s mediation between us and the Father, give the impression of Jesus being the kinder and more compassionate—indeed, at times pictured as holding back […]
Fr. James’ Homily for the 6th Sunday of Easter
As we proceed through the Easter Season, the Holy Spirit emerges more and more in the readings, and the Gospels have returned to Saint John’s account of the Last Supper. It’s not that there are too few accounts of the Lord’s Resurrection; rather it’s the circular nature of the liturgy. I suspect that is foreign […]
Saturday of the 5th Week of Easter
The lives of the saints can sometimes be thought of, not only as holy, but also imbued with a clear sense and knowledge of God’s will and a fine attunement to the Spirit’s leading. Our first reading leaves us with a different picture: Paul’s decisions and movements in preaching the gospel seem almost haphazard. Firstly, […]
Saturday of the 4th Week of Easter
The spiritual masters warn us that overcoming some of the vices involves a twofold process—first the physical, tangible, and worldly, and second the spiritual expressions of the same vices. Thus, there can be physical gluttony for the delights of the palate and spiritual gluttony for the consolations of the soul. Jealousy is no exception, and […]
Abbot Joseph’s Homily for the 4th Sunday of Easter
Today’s Responsorial Psalm is arguably one of the most beloved and widely quoted text of scripture. The fact that this 23rd Psalm is used at joyful celebrations as well as within the contexts of sorrow and tragedy, witnesses to its breadth and depth. For monks it has a special relevance since it speaks to every […]
Saint Joseph the Worker
It is one of the mysteries of our Christian faith and spirituality that grace seems to work in so many different ways in bringing us to salvation. Notwithstanding the many influential factors at work in the life of each one of us, there does seem to be the added factor of God’s choice or decision. […]
A Word from our Cistercian Fathers
Tribulation which produces endurance is useful; it leads to glory. I am with him in trouble, he says, I will rescue him and glorify him. Let us give thanks to the Father of mercies who is with us in tribulation and consoles us in all our tribulations. …. The hope of glory lies in tribulation, […]
Fr. James’ Homily for the 3rd Sunday of Easter
Why doesn’t Jesus just tell these disciples from the start who he is and that he’s been raised from the dead? I believe it’s very consistent for the man who teaches with parables and genuinely respects the people he teaches, to begin with their experience; he takes an indirect, but effective approach. Just as […]
Friday of the Easter Octave
Idleness may be the enemy of the soul, but so is busyness when it is purposely pursued—often as a way of dealing with anxiety and restlessness. Peter seems to have done precisely this when, being at something of a loose end in those confusing hours and days following the crucifixion, he announced that he was […]