… he who is guided by the Spirit does not always remain in the same state. He does not always advance with the same facility. “The course of man is not in his control.” It rather depends on the guidance of the Spirit who sets the pace as he pleases, sometimes torpidly, sometimes blithely, teaching […]
Abbot Joseph’s Homily for the 22nd Sunday
(Gospel: Matthew 16:21-27) If we are speaking simply of physical life, then Jesus’ warning that whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, makes little sense. As we know so well, preserving our own life in situations that are life-threatening is instinctual and so reflexive that only with great self-control can we, for example, […]
Friday of the 21st Week: Memorial of Saint Augustine
On this feast day of Saint Augustine, we have an interesting interpretation of today’s parable about the wise and foolish virgins which I share for your personal reflection. Quoting Galatians Saint Augustine begins: So if a person thinks he is something when he is nothing, he is deceiving himself; but let each one prove his […]
Fr. James’ Homily for the Asssumption
Revelation 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10b; Luke 1:39-56 It is easy for me to forget when we celebrate the Assumption of our Lady that her death has been enfolded into the finality of her glorification. As for all of us—as for her Divine Son—death was a part of her life from the start. Certainly, in […]
Abbot Joseph’s Homily for the 19th Sunday
(1 Kings 19:9a, 11-13a & Matthew 14:22-33) Waiting for the boarding call in a busy airport can be quite a challenge amid the usual noise, activity, and boarding calls for other flights departing around the same time. Failure to hear the boarding call does not mean that it wasn’t made, only that the excessive surrounding […]
Friday of the 18th Week
(Matthew 16:24-28) The cross that Jesus exhorts us to take up is not generic but personal and unique. Thus, he doesn’t say that the disciple must take up the cross, but rather take up his cross. This, in turn, highlights the difference between the cross we take up and that on which Christ died. His […]
A Word from our Cistercian Fathers
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. A peaceful person repays good for good, as far as in him lies, and wishes harm to no one. Someone else may be patient and repay no one evil for evil, being even able to bear with the one who hurts him. There […]
Thursday of the 17th Week
Clay in the hand of the potter can only be reworked for as long as it remains moist and malleable. As the clay dries out it hardens and can no longer be re-formed. The human heart when moistened and softened by the tears of compunction and sorrow can also be reworked by grace and re-formed […]
Fr. James’ Homily for the 17th Sunday
Scriptural References: 1 Kings 3:5-7:12; Romans 8:28-30; Matthew 13:44-52 We’ve just heard three parables that are only recorded in Matthew’s Gospel and, very significantly for Matthew, are only told to the disciples. It may be very gratifying to Jesus that, in the midst of his ups and downs with these men, and against the […]
Saturday of the 15th Week
Sins occasioned by human weakness or impulsivity are qualitatively different from sins that are premeditated and more freely willed—what the Prophet Micah describes as planning iniquity and working out evil on their couches. As monks we are right to be distressed and lament our sins of weakness, but we should fear and be ever vigilant […]