There are times in our lives when, with the best of intentions, we foolishly reassure a suffering friend that we understand his/her pain and misery even though we have had no similar experience. And when the cause of a friend’s suffering is extremely traumatic or bears no similarity to anything we have undergone, we have […]
Fr. James’ Homily for the Exaltation of the Cross
14 September: The Exaltation of the Holy Cross: Numbers 21:4b-9; Philippians 2:6-11; John 3:13-17 The Son of Man is first mentioned in the Book of Daniel as a heavenly figure riding on the clouds to ascend further to the very throne of God. And Jesus explains himself to Nicodemus as the Son of Man. But […]
Thursday of the 23rd Week
Jesus’ quoting of the “Golden Rule” according to which we are to do to others as we would have them do to us, is usually the opposite of what we are inclined to do—that is, treat others as they treat us. Thus, a strike on the cheek, is reciprocated in kind, and a curse is […]
A Word from Our Cistercian Fathers
I am now able to see what I must seek for and receive before I may hope to attain to a higher and holier state. I do not wish to be suddenly on the heights, my desire is to advance by degrees. The impudence of the sinner displeases God as much as the modesty of […]
Thursday of the 22nd Week of the Year
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 […]