Fifteenth Week of Ordinary Time

A lawyer stood before Jesus to put him to the test and said,“Teacher, what must I do to inherit everlasting life?” Jesus answered,“What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” The expert on the Law replied:“You must love the Most High Godwith all your heart,with all your soul,with all your strengthand with …

Fifteenth Week of Ordinary Time Read More »

Fourth Week of Lent

Prodigal Son Reflection When I first started teaching in 1955, our pastor was a bit of tyrant and he demanded that every student in the school of about 800 students, learn the three laws of memory and be ready to recite them when he asked…this was kindergarten to 8th grade. In case you have forgotten …

Fourth Week of Lent Read More »

Third Week of Lent

Samaritan Woman at the Well Who is God? What is God like? How do we describe God? Does God change? Today’s readings challenge our concepts of God. With all that we have read and prayed and studied over our lifetimes, today might be an appropriate day to challenge how we think about God. First and …

Third Week of Lent Read More »

First Week of Lent

Lent rolls around every year, but for most Christians, it is less like a birthday and more like a flu vaccination. We know Lent is necessary, that it’s good for us in much the same way vegetables might be. We’ve heard all the preachers’ clichés as to how it makes the joy of Easter possible, …

First Week of Lent Read More »

Synodality in Central Illinois

As part of the great worldwide Synod on Synodality that Pope Francis summoned all members to take part in beginning in 2021, members of Holy Family have formed a leadership team to create a series of listening/sharing sessions for anyone (inside the community and beyond) who wants to participate, particularly those who feel unheard or …

Synodality in Central Illinois Read More »

Fifth Week of Ordinary Time

I’d like to go back in the way back machine to January to January 8, 2022. We celebrated the baptism of Jesus. I spoke of our baptism, of the perks of being baptized.  I would like to repeat a little of my homily that I gave that day, although I know you all remember it …

Fifth Week of Ordinary Time Read More »

Baptism of Jesus

Jesus got baptized? Well, not really.The answer lies in some of the scripture we have heard these past weeks. Remember the second week of Advent when our locust eating friend, John the Baptist was at the river preaching repentance? He was performing the Jewish ritual of mikveh. It was a spiritual cleansing. Once a person …

Baptism of Jesus Read More »

Third Week of Advent

I can’t believe it is the 3rd week of Advent already. Only three weeks left of the year 2021. I’m very happy to be the celebrant of this mass, my first one as a priest. And I’m happy to be celebrating this week because JOY is the theme. The readings are full of joy and …

Third Week of Advent Read More »

Second Week of Advent

In the gospel of Luke, we don’t get much of a physical description of John the Baptist. We get more of his place in history with the description of who was in political power at the time of John’s ministry. Writers Mark and Matthew give us the description, of how odd (to our way of …

Second Week of Advent Read More »