Today most of the Church is celebrating the Feast of the Epiphany, moved to Sunday so as to make it easier for people to attend Mass. I think this is unfortunate, and that we should celebrate it on its fixed date of January 6, but that's another discussion for another time. Following is an Epiphany homily delivered by Pope St. Leo the Great. ( Read more... )

Before you read my sermon, read this brilliant insight from Robert Farrar Capon in Parables of the Kingdom:"Bookkeeping is the only punishable offense in the Kingdom of heaven. For in that happy state, the *books* are ignored forever, and there is only the *Book* of life. And in that book, nothing stands against you. There are no debit entries ( Read more... )

St. Lawrence is one of my patron saints, whose name I bear as my middle name. St. Augustine preached about him several times, and his sermons on the martyrs are frequently among his best. Since yesterday was the Feast of St. Lawrence I was looking for a good online translation of Sermon 304, but instead I found an audio file from Fr. Z, who ( Read more... )

This week I did two things I never do.

a)  I preached on the Epistle.  (Couldn't get written what I wanted to preach on the Gospel for some reason.)
b)  I told cutesy stories.

( Read more... )

"Unless we say we are hungry, how can we be fed?"

http://www.radiovineyard.com/audio/021008CP.mp3

Today's readings are from Is 1:10,16-20, Ps 50:6-9,16bc-17,21,23, Matt 23:1-12Today's reading from the first chapter of the Prophet Isaiah begins by exhorting us to "Hear the word of the LORD," and to, "Listen to the instruction of our God." Hear and listen. It is important to recognize that these are two different functions. It is first by ( Read more... )

Today's readings are from Gen 12:1-4a, Ps 33:4-5,18-20,22, 2 Tim 1:8b-10, Matt 17:1-9Today's first reading from the Book of Genesis tells us the story of Abram, the man chosen by God to be the Father of Faith of every Jew and eventually every Christian. This reading today displays for us the tremendous trust and faith that Abram had in God. We ( Read more... )

[Note: in the letter I am not trying to replace Jesus with the church. I was reflecting on its status as the forerunner of God’s kingdom, and my new appreciation for it ( Read more... )

Today's readings are from Is 55:10-11, Ps 34:4-7,16-19, Matt 6:7-15This reading from Isaiah, two short verses, in many ways tells us everything we need to know about our relationship with God. We are creatures of the Almighty God, and our very being is the result of His willing it so. We and all of creation are but the echo of His Word. And what ( Read more... )

Today's readings are from Is 58:1-9a, Ps 51:3-6,18-19, Matt 9:14-15.

( An acceptable fast... )