Coming to deeper self-knowledge and a truer sense of our sinfulness, typically occurs in stages—from being more superficial to becoming more profound. In today’s gospel, Peter comes to an awareness of his sinful condition—depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man. However, this acknowledgment—though sincere—is still only superficial. This becomes clear in that […]
Abbot Joseph’s Homily for the 22nd Sunday
Once of the occupational hazards of being monks who gather seven times a day in this chapel to worship and pray, is that our hearts and minds can sometimes (or even frequently) be beset by such a barrage of distractions that seem to qualify us for Jesus’ rebuke to the Pharisees, namely, that we honor […]
Fr. James’ Homily for the 21st Sunday
21st SUN, YR B: Joshua 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b; Ephesians 5:2a, 25-32; John 6: 60-69 Isn’t it interesting that unlike so many church-sponsored programs, or social media “influencers,” Jesus is not concerned about numbers? He does not attempt to prevent disciples—disciples, not just curious people—from leaving him. He does not bully or bribe people to support […]
A Word from Our Cistercian Fathers
My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.O you whom no one truly seeks and does not find,come within usthat we may go to you and live in you,for surely this comes not from the personwilling, nor from the person running,but from you who have mercy!Inspire us first that we may believe!Strengthen […]
Abbot Joseph’s Homily for the 17th Sunday
Fame, popularity, and the esteem of the crowd can be the acknowledged or unrecognized desire of most of us in our struggle towards self-acceptance and becoming who we truly are—and not who the crowds (or others) say we are. But as long as we crave the esteem and approval of others, so much of what […]
Wednesday of the 17th Week of the Year
The long, arduous, and, at times, seemingly impossible, quest to attain true inner silence is, nevertheless, the only way our hearts become that rich soil—receptive to God’s Word, and thus bearing the hundredfold. It is only when we have acquired this inner silence—and quelled the inner chatter of our restless minds and stilled the insidious […]
Fr. James’ Homily for the 16th Sunday of Advent
16th Sunday, YR B, 21 July, 2024: Jeremiah 23:1-6; Ephesians 2:13-28; Mark 6: 30-34 The apostles return to Jesus excited by their accomplishments, surprised by what they could do. Can you remember the rush of your first adult success that turned out better than you had hoped? The exhilaration of discovering your capabilities? Despite the […]
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
In order to be a just judge one needs more than knowledge of the law and whether or not someone has transgressed the law. Looking both at a transgressor’s motivations as well as any mitigating factors that help understand the transgressor’s behavior are equally crucial to dispensing justice. God shows himself just such a just […]
Tuesday of the 14th Week
There is fundamentally only one category of sin that inevitably separates us from God, and places us outside the ambit of God’s grace; and that sin is pride. All other sins have at least the potential for becoming moments of grace, and a repentant turning back to the God we have offended. In addition, every […]
Fr. James’ Homily for the 14th Sunday of Advent
14th Sunday, YR B, 7 July, 2024: Ezekiel 2:2-5; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10; Mark 6:1-6 We recognize prejudice as a limiting reaction to what or whom is different from our norms. In today’s Gospel we meet another form of prejudice: opposing someone who is too similar to ourselves. In either form aren’t I being defensive, rather […]