Rich Thoughts

At St. Thomas More Newman Center in Columbus, OH. A homily on the fourth element of the Trinity. How do we show love and respect for one another, without worrying if that love and respect will be returned to us?

At St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish (my home parish) in Pittsburgh, PA. (Similar homily preached the night before at St. Pio of Pietrelcina Parish in Harmarville, PA.) Remembering three instances when I received gifts from the Holy Spirit.

At the Church of St. Paul the Apostle in New York City. During the first Mass at which I presided! What do Acts 1:15-26, 1 John 4:11-16, and John 17:11-19 have to say about our friends who are atheists or agnostics?

At St. Paul's College, Washington, DC, as part of an evening prayer service for students and formation directors from several different religious communities. Reflection based on Hebrews 7:24-27.

At Blessed John XXIII Parish, Knoxville. My last homily here as a deacon! Reflecting on the wonderful story of Peter and Cornelius in Acts 10:1 - 11:8.

At Blessed John XXIII Parish, Knoxville. 1 John 3:1-2 and John 10:11-18 inspire the last homework assignment for our soon-to-be graduates: saying goodbye to important people in our lives.

At Blessed John XXIII Parish, Knoxville. On the virtues of doubt. Doubt and faith are two sides to the same coin!

At Blessed John XXIII Parish, Knoxville. Why we wash one another's feet as Jesus did (John 13:1-15), and why it's astounding, humbling, challenging, and beautiful.

At the St. Thomas More Newman Center, Columbus, OH. I preached this reflection on Ash Wednesday 2009 in Columbus, but I preached something very similar at Blessed John XXIII Parish in Knoxville in 2012.

At Newman Hall / Holy Spirit Parish in Berkeley, CA. Thanking you for your support, sharing reflections on Job 7:1-7, 1 Cor 9:16-23, and Mark 1:29-39, and asking for your contributions to the annual Paulist Appeal. Donate at paulist.org/donate!

At Blessed John XXIII Parish, Knoxville. My first homily as the associate pastor at the University of Tennessee! Addressing Mark 1:21-28 and carefully avoiding 1 Corinthians 7:32-35. Fighting the demons that say, "what have you to do with us?"

At St. Thomas More Newman Center in Columbus, OH (where I had served during my pastoral year). Can we bring peace to the earth, or do we need to rely solely on God? Mary's example may give us some ideas. May peace -- and beed -- prevail on earth!

At St. Paul's College, Washington, DC. A reflection given to my Paulist seminary brothers at a Eucharistic exposition service. The Jewish prayers that informed the Last Supper, and how those prayers inform our understanding of the Eucharist.

At St. Camillus in Silver Spring, MD. Short homily (in English) as part of the combined holy day celebration of the English-, Spanish-, and French-speaking communities of the parish. Reference is made to the first reading, Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14.

A la comunidad católica de Langley Park, Maryland. ¡Mi primera homilía en español! Basado en Lucas 11:47-54.

At St. Camillus in Silver Spring, MD, where I served part-time for 3 semesters, first as a student and then as a deacon. Three challenges to our concepts of mercy and justice, inspired by Matthew 20:1-16. Can we hold the two concepts together?

At St. Camillus in Silver Spring, MD. (My first homily as a deacon!) Different perspectives on the same story -- conflict or gift? When we speak up about conflict, are we trying to build community?

At St. Mary's on the Lake, Lake George, NY. Some truly disturbing readings (Judges 11:29-39, Matthew 22:1-14) inspire a reflection on a truly disturbing topic. How are we working to break the cycle of domestic violence?

At the Church of St. Paul the Apostle, New York City. What does it mean to be a "Christian" nation? References to 1 Timothy and John 15.

At St. Paul's College, Washington, DC. Reflection from rosary service for Paulist seminarians during the season of Advent. Do we use the rosary as a way to open ourselves up, or to close ourselves off? Based on Isaiah 2:2-5.