26th Sunday, Year A, 27 September, 2020: Ezekiel 18:25-28; Philippians 2:1-11; Matthew 21:28-32 This short parable recalls to my mind an ancient rabbinic saying: I am not what believe, nor am I what I say. I am really what I actually do. The second son, who replies positively to his father’s request, but doesn’t […]
Memorial of Saints Cornelius and Cyprian
The glorious light emanating from the face of the transfigured Christ on Mount Tabor or the radiant countenance of Moses after descending Mount Sinai, intimate either divinity or divinization. So too, the sanctity of saints has sometimes been manifested by a similar ethereal light radiating from within them. When we think of divinization we can […]
Fr. James’ Homily for the 24th Sunday
24th Sunday, Year A: Sirach 27:30-28:7; Romans 14:7-9; Matthew 18:21-35 In today’s parable, it’s very clear who needs mercy and forgiveness. In our actual interactions with one another, that clarity often vanishes. Isn’t it more usual for both parties to feel wronged, requiring amends from one another? That’s not to say that this […]
A Word from our Cistercian Fathers
… 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 […]