Author Archive
Lent: A Season of Pruning and Reconciliation
How’s your Lent going so far? Hopefully, now that we’re a little over a week in, you’re starting to see some fruit from your Lenten practices. In 2016, Pope Francis said, “Lent is a beneficial time of pruning from falsity, from worldliness, from indifference: to not think that everything is ok if I am ok; to understand […]
Continue ReadingArmed with Weapons of Self Restraint
“Grant, O Lord, that we may begin with holy fasting this campaign of Christian service, so that, as we take up battle against spiritual evils, we may be armed with weapons of self-restraint.” Lent is here! This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lenten Season, the time when we are called by Christ to […]
Continue ReadingThe Eucharist: An Encounter with Jesus
This past week, we had our first parent meeting for First Reconciliation! I can’t believe how quickly the year has gone, and it’s amazing that we’re already here! In the talk I gave, I related a story about how when I was very little, upon seeing the priest celebrating the Eucharist, I shouted out from my pew, […]
Continue ReadingHappy St. Valentine’s Day!
Hang on to your hats and wallets, folks, because this Friday is Valentine’s Day, or as my priest friends and I like to call it, “National Celibate Persons Awareness Day.” I’m kidding of course, and while I think Valentine’s Day might be a little over-the-top in its celebrations these days, it’s still a pretty great holiday, […]
Continue ReadingDwelling in Darkness, In Search of Light
This past Tuesday, I received the very shocking and tragic news that a priest of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Fr. Evan Harkins, had passed away, apparently by taking his own life. Fr. Harkins and I lived together at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary for several years before he was ordained a year ahead of me. I didn’t know […]
Continue ReadingWindows of Salvation – The Scroll of Isaiah
You can tell a lot about someone from what’s on their bookshelf. From time to time, I will go to various antique stores in the area, whether to look for things for the parish or myself, and I’ll find myself intrigued by the bookshelves, seeing the wide variety of old books that are for sale. Many times, […]
Continue ReadingWindows of Salvation – The Star of Bethlehem
You might have heard recently that we had the “Super Blood Wolf Moon,” and I don’t know who names these gifts, but what a name! Apparently, the “wolf” part refers to the first full moon of the calendar year, when the wolves are howling most, I guess. And the “blood” part refers to the reddish color of […]
Continue ReadingWindows of Salvation – The Lily
Just the other day, I was taking in the beautiful 70 degree day (you know, the one we got before the 10 inches of snow!) and saw a plant starting to bud out of the ground. It was the middle of winter, but this little plant poking its head out from under the dirt was a […]
Continue ReadingWindows of Salvation – The Ark of the Covenant
The next stained glass window we have is pretty recognizable – the Ark of the Covenant! And I guess there’s a reason it’s so recognizable: the Scriptures are pretty precise in its descriptions. The Ark was to be 2.5 cubits long, 1.5 cubits wide, 1.5 cubits high. And for all you who are asking, a biblical cubit would […]
Continue ReadingWindows of Salvation – The Ten Commandments
A priest friend of mine used to tell a funny story about hearing children’s confessions. As he was sitting in the confessional, he heard a voice from behind the screen: “Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned. I have broken the 6thCommandment.” “Oh,” the priest said. “Can you tell me a little more about that?” “I’ve committed adultery,” said the […]
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