Podcast

“A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed feel on the path and birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground... Some seed fell among thorns… But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit.”(Matthew 13:4-8)What kind of farmer throws his seed on rocky ground? Isn’t that a waste of good seed? These are understandable ques...

“The Lord is faithful in all his words and holy in all his works. That Lord lifts up all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.”(Psalm 145:14) We do look to the Lord to lift us up right now. The experience of the past months has educated us, we know what it means to be fallen and bowed down. And we know what heroism in the face o...

“Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me”(Matthew 10:40) In the bible, the number “seven” refers to completeness and perfection. When Jesus was asked how many times we should forgive someone, he said “seven times 70.”As the symbol of God’s love, which is infinity itself, the notion of “...

“I pray to you, O Lord, for the time of your favor, O God! In your great kindness answer me with your constant help. Answer me, O Lord, for bounteous is your kindness; in your great mercy turn toward me.”(Psalm 69:14)Friend, I wonder if the writer of Psalm 69 knew about Father’s Day. It certainly seems that way.This scripture is the perfect p...

You probably want to know what I mean by “God’s healing math.” I speak not as a mathematician! But as a fellow pilgrim on the same Journey of Faith that you’re on. In my mission experience, the more I give, the more I receive. Acts of charity and compassion create a two-way street with a return address that usually belongs to me. Some call ...

When he wrote his letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul might have been thinking about the rejoicing we were all set to share yesterday on Ordination Day. Well, things got turned around through no fault of our own, and I think Paul would understand why: the unwelcome reality of quarantines and lockdowns.Yesterday Deacon Gregory McPhee was to have bec...

Did you know that today is your birthday—and mine, too? Believers the world over celebrate Pentecost Sunday as the birthday of our Church. Fifty days after Easter, the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles and gave them the gift of tongues. From that day forward, they were missioners of the Gospel, fortified with the Holy Spirit to make discipl...

Some of the most reassuring words in the Gospel come from the evangelist Matthew who tells us that Jesus will be with us always, even until the end of time. The story of the Ascension is our spiritual touchstone—the fulfillment of Christ’s victory over death. Forty days after his resurrection from the dead, and after visiting with his apostles,...

“Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence.”1 Peter 3:15-16Friend,I love Peter’s admonition to witness hope in God with gentleness and reverence. Never impose. Just live the Good News of salvation in Christ each day with joy—and be the example that chang...

Friend,What gift is greater than the gift of life? I can’t think of one.Today we celebrate Mother’s Day, one of the most significant and memory-rich holidays in our calendar. Like you, I can’t help but recall the many celebrations in my home as I was growing up. Making Mom Queen for a Day gave us as much pleasure as it gave her! So we honor m...

How you define “abundant life” depends a lot on your point of view. For some people it’s having security, even though we know security can be an illusion. For others it’s about acquiring things as though material objects are the source of lasting joy.Both of those ideas have little or nothing to do with creating the abundant life you and I ...

Sometimes our eyes are open, but we don’t always see... call it selective vision or just the pace of life getting in the way. Yes, our days can be filled with distractions.Today’s Gospel takes us on the road to Emmaus when two of the disciples, feeling the absence of their rabbi and leader, encounter a man whom they didn’t recognize—not at ...