In our Christian tradition those who, under the influence of the Spirit, speak in the name of the Lord, are not mere mouthpieces or passive conduits of the divine message—the message they speak is transformative, not only for those who hear their message, but for the speakers themselves. Thus, those who speak in the Lord’s […]
A Word from Our Cistercian Fathers
And for that reason my advice to you, my friends, is to turn aside occasionally from troubled and anxious pondering on the paths you maybe treading, and to travel on the smoother ways where the gifts of God are serenely savored, so that the thought of him may give breathing space to you whose consciences […]
Fr. James’ Homily for Easter Sunday
Easter Sunday, Year C, 17 April, 2022: Acts 10:34a, 37-43; Colossians 3:1-4; John 20:1-9 In this morning’s Gospel, there are yet no angels, no announcement of the Lord’s rising; rather, Mary Magdalene, Peter and the Beloved Disciple puzzle over the empty tomb. Was Peter driven to the tomb by his inner turmoil? He […]
Easter Vigil
Keep your hopes high and your expectations low is advice that, initially, seems counterintuitive. Surely, there should be a close correlation between hope and expectation? Can you have high expectations without hope, or can you have low expectations with hope? Well, if we consider that the dictionary defines the word “expect” as regarding something as […]
Abbot Joseph’s Homily for Holy Thursday
The final and devastating plague meted out on a stubborn and recalcitrant Pharaoh and his hapless subjects, is also the only plague that the Israelites had to consciously and actively choose to evade. According to the Exodus account all the other plagues assailing Egypt left the Land of Goshen (where the Israelites dwelt) untouched—all this […]
Friday of the 5th Week of Lent
It is, perhaps, relatively easy to dismiss an unwelcome message or difficult teaching, when the teacher’s life is clearly at variance with what he/she propounds. This is what so frustrated Jesus’ opponents—his life unfailingly mirrored the truth of the words he spoke. Accordingly, they were left to try and discredit his teaching and, in today’s […]
Saturday of the 4th Week of Lent
Jeremiah’s call for vengeance on those who seek his demise, seems to stand in such contrast to Jesus’ prayer that his tormentors be forgiven, since they do not know what they are doing—a sentiment echoed by Stephen the first martyr with his dying prayer, Lord, do not hold this sin against them. Notwithstanding this obvious […]
A Word from Our Cistercian Fathers
Nothing animates us so much to love of enemies—which is the perfection of fraternal charity—as grateful consideration of the Lord’s admirable patience. By it, the fairest of all the sons of men offered his comely face to the ungodly to be spit on. By it, he subjected to the veil of the iniquitous the eyes whose […]
Thursday in the 4th Week of Lent
During this season of Lent our natural focus is on repenting of our sins and finding healing from all that still separates us from receiving the fullness of God’s love. Thus, like the repentant tax collector, we feel our unworthiness and cry out with him: O God, be merciful to me a sinner. Accordingly, it […]
Fr. James’ Homily for the 4th Sunday of Lent
Fourth Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday), 27 March, 2020: Joshua 5:9-12; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 After decades of listening to today’s Gospel, I have some questions. Has the absence of a mother in this family had a serious impact on them? Did this father wonder whether his younger son demands his […]