The selection of Saint Matthias to replace Judas reminds us that no one is indispensable for the ultimate carrying out of God’s saving plan—a little like David being selected to replace Saul when the latter proved unsuitable to the task. Nevertheless, although none of us indispensable, as John Henry Newman affirmed, God has assigned a […]
Saturday of the 5th Week of Easter
As we grow towards spiritual and psychological maturity we need to steer a middle course between a self-conscious preoccupation with what others think of us, on the one hand, and a total disregard and indifference to the opinions that others have of us, on the other. In the former we allow ourselves to be determined […]
Fr. James’ Homily for the 5th Sunday of Easter
FIFTH SUNDAY of Easter, YR B, 2 May, 2021: Acts 9:26-31; 1 John 3:18-24; John 15:1-8 In ancient Jewish thought, wellbeing in the Promised Land was represented by every family living on their plot of land sheltered by the proverbial fig tree and vine. We find the fig tree and vine mentioned again and […]
A Word from our Cistercian Fathers
In this wretched and toilsome life, it is essential that Martha be present in our house—that is to say, that our soul attend to physical activities. For as long as we have a need to eat and drink, we have a need to labor. As long as we are tempted by physical delights, we have […]
Abbot Joseph’s Homily for the Fourth Sunday of Easter
Anyone who loves dogs may well have watched with fascination and admiration the amazing skill and effectiveness of well-trained Sheep Dogs as they expertly herd and guide sheep at the direction of their master. But as fascinating and entertaining as this display of skill is, it is surely a very different image of the shepherd […]
Fr. James’ Homily for the Third Sunday of Easter
Third Sunday of Easter, YR B: Acts 3:13-15, 17-19; 1 John 2:1-5; Luke 24:35-48 In recent years, whether in preaching, books or spiritual direction, many people have taught us valuable pointers in owning and working with our doubts. We can appropriate them as positive forces in our spiritual growth. But the unexpected confirmation of […]
Friday: 2nd Week of Easter
Our readings present us with two of the primary reasons for seeking Christ. The first is represented by the crowds who seek Christ because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick. Later, after the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus would tell them, bluntly, I say to you, you are looking for me […]
Tuesday, Second Week of Easter
Like most monastic movements, the first Cistercians drew inspiration from the early Jerusalem Christian community where no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own but they had everything in common. To this end, they would sell all their possessions and lay the proceeds at the feet of the apostles. In our efforts […]
Easter Saturday
It was before their act of disobedience that God gave Eve and Adam dominion over all creation. Sadly, after their turning away from God, this dominion increasingly became domination, exploitation, and misuse of the land of their exile. This, perhaps, accounts for Jesus’ commissioning his disciples to preach the gospel not only to all peoples, […]
Fr. James’ Homily for Easter Day
Easter Sunday, 4 April, 2021: Acts 10:34a, 37-43; Colossians 3:1-4; John 20:1-9 How can I imagine what the resurrection-life is? Scripture doesn’t systematically describe it and theological reflection can only be logical, not experiential. We have yet to live it. It is our hope, not another specimen under a microscope. It is easier […]