Rich Thoughts

Someone in the crowd in Mark 6 offered their loaves and fish to a vast crowd. John Neumann offered his gifts to the people of Philadelphia. In both cases, their gifts were multiplied by God. What gifts do we have? (St. John XXIII Parish, Knoxville, TN)

Did the magi have an "epiphany moment" themselves after they arrived in Israel? An "everything but the kitchen sink" homily that's bound to provide food for thought! (St. John XXIII Parish, Knoxville, TN)

Mary was declared the "theotokos" (mother of God) at the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD, but it was a very violent episode in Church history. How can we celebrate the World Day of Peace today, too? (St. John XXIII Parish, Knoxville, TN)

A Christmas Eve Mass for those experiencing pain or loss this holiday season. God is with us, even with an unwed mother and her bewildered fiancé. (St. John XXIII Parish, Knoxville, TN)

When Hannah and Mary are favored by God, they each respond with a song of praise. Perhaps a closer study can give us some ideas of how we should relate to God.… (St. John XXIII Parish, Knoxville, TN)

Making sense of all the proper names in the first 17 verses of the Gospel of Matthew! (St. John XXIII Parish, Knoxville, TN)

The kingdom of heaven has "already but not yet" arrived. It is most apparent in Advent, but it is a reality of every day of our lives! (St. John XXIII Parish, Knoxville, TN)

Even in Zephaniah's harsh vision of the Last Day, there is plenty of room for hope and mercy! (St. John XXIII Parish, Knoxville, TN)

St. John of the Cross -- mystic, reformer, and Doctor of the Church who greatly influence Paulist founder Isaac Hecker. Can his insights inform our Advent practices? (St. John XXIII Parish, Knoxville, TN)

Paul and Zephaniah command us to rejoice. But what if we don't feel joyous right now? Reflections on the Hebrew and Greek ideas of joy, and on Pope Francis' exhortation called THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL. (St. John XXIII Parish, Knoxville, TN)

Jews are STILL the chosen people of God, yet Christ is savior of all the world. The Vatican released a new document today, reiterating what the Church has taught for 50 years on Jewish-Christian relations! (St. John XXIII Parish, Knoxville, TN)

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception begins the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy! So much to explain and to celebrate! (St. John XXIII Parish, Knoxville, TN)

Luke's Jesus speaks of being "drowsy from... anxieties." What does that mean? Save us from needless anxiety, O Lord! (St. John XXIII Parish, Knoxville, TN)

Is gratitude a necessary aspect of prayer, or a cop-out when things are bad? Borrowing from medical research and FORREST GUMP! (St. John XXIII Parish, Knoxville, TN)

A reflection on the purpose of the Book of Daniel, on the feast of the Vietnamese martyrs. (St. John XXIII Parish, Knoxville, TN)

A serious reflection on Truth, as expressed in John 19… but our undergraduates still found some places to chuckle! (St. John XXIII Parish, Knoxville, TN)

No! Jesus' recognition of the widow giving her last two coins is not a lesson that "God helps those who help themselves" or to "Give until it hurts"! (St. John XXIII Parish, Knoxville, TN)

My favorite day of the liturgical year! A celebration that WE CAN DO THIS! (St. John XXIII Parish, Knoxville, TN)

A very personal example of how I fight against the temptation to believe that something *CAN* separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus. (St. John XXIII Parish, Knoxville, TN)

Baptism isn't a "get out of hell free" card. It is a pledge to live as Jesus lived, a baptism into his death and into his resurrection. (St. John XXIII Parish, Knoxville, TN)