24 November, 2024, Christ the King: Daniel 7:13-14; Revelation 1:5-8; John 18:33b-37 What do we mean when we call Christ a King? In a nation born of revolt against a parliamentary monarchy, and with a representative democracy shaped by majority vote, how do we understand kingship? What can it possibly mean to us? Standing before […]
Memorial of Saint Cecilia
Just as Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, so we have to enter into the depths of our hearts (through ever-deepening self-knowledge) so that we can drive out from our hearts all that still desecrates this temple of the Holy Spirit. A central means for doing […]
Memorial of Saint Mechtild
For many of us, our search for God takes us out of ourselves in search of a “god” out there. In doing so we are actually distancing ourselves from the God who already dwells within our hearts—a God who is closer to us than we are to ourselves—to paraphrase Saint Augustine. And so, Jesus comes […]
74th Anniversary of Our Founding
18 November, The Dedication of the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul Today’s celebration of the 74th anniversary of our community’s foundation compels me to say a few words. Better than anything that could arise from my imagination are these words of Oscar Romero: …we plant the seeds that one day will grow. We water […]
Fr. James’ Homily for the 33rd Sunday
17 November, 2024, 33rd Sunday, YR B: Daniel 12:1-3; Hebrews 10:11-14, 18; Mark 13: 24-42 Sometimes people ask me whether I think these are the end times. I usually refer them to the Gospel verse we just heard: But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, […]
Dedication of the Lateran Basilica
The charge of turning the God’s house into a marketplace is one that Jesus levels not just at the Jews of his time but also at us. Through baptism we have become living temples of the Holy Spirit and thus God’s house. And, alas, we too, all in varying degrees, bring into our hearts much […]
Thursday of the 31st Week of the Year
Many—if not most—of those who sought out Jesus were in search of a physical cure or some other self-serving need or request. In contrast, the tax collectors and so-called “sinners” were all drawing near to listen to Jesus—to quote today’s gospel. In other words, they were seeking the person of Jesus and not merely some […]
A Word from Gertrude of Helfta
God, my God, because you are mine, I lack nothing. And because I am yours, I will glory in you, God, my savior, for eternity. In all my sadness, you prepare for me in you the banquets of homage. And where is my soul’s well-being if not in you, O God of my life? If […]
Fr. James’ Homily for All Saints
All Saints, 1 November, 2024: Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14; 1 John 3:1-3; Matthew 5:1-12a In listening to the Gospel it can be as important to note what is not said, as what is said. Jesus does not say, “Blessed are they who sing on pitch”; nor does he say, “Blessed are they who never arrive late […]
Thursday of the 30th Week of the Year
A casual reading of the gospels would suggest that all the Pharisees were opposed to Jesus and were intent upon killing him. And yet we know that this is not true: Nicodemus, a Pharisee, was a secret disciple of Jesus, and Gamaliel, another Pharisee, defended Jesus’ apostles before the Sanhedrin. So too, we have just […]