Blog of the Archdiocese of Washington
There is an old spiritual that says, “My God is so high you can’t get over Him. He’s so low you can’t get under Him. He’s so wide you can’t get around Him. You must come in, by and through the Lamb.” It’s not a bad way of saying that God is “other.” He is …
Continue reading “One and One and One Are One – A Homily for Trinity Sunday”
I would like to develop something more concerning the Feast of the Ascension, which was celebrated on Thursday (or Sunday in some dioceses). I wonder if many of us have pondered the great glory of this feast for humanity. For indeed, as Jesus enters into the highest heavens and into the Holy of Holies, unto …
Continue reading “Your Love Is Lifting Me Higher, Than I’ve Ever Been Lifted Before!”
This marvelous feast is not merely about something that took place two thousand years ago. For although Christ our head has ascended, we the members of His body are ascending with Him. Because He ascended, we too have ascended. In my own life as a Christian, I am brought higher every year by the Lord, …
At every funeral I celebrate, I spend a good portion of the sermon urging everyone, including myself, to be more intent on preparing for death and judgement. I remind the assembled of Jesus’ numerous parables on this theme. I remind them that no one loves them more than does Jesus, and yet no one issued …
Continue reading “On the Need to Be More Urgent in Preparing for Final Judgment”
During Eastertide we continue to read from the Book of Revelation and meditate on Jesus as the Lord of history and the Victor over sin and death. As Revelation moves to its conclusion, it points forward to the Parousia (the magnificent second coming of the Lord). We do well to allow our imaginations to be …
One of the strong traditions of Scripture is of the great reversal that will one day come for many. I have often been sobered by it when I consider how blessed I have been in this life. I have also been consoled by it when I struggle to understand why some people in this world …
Continue reading “Pondering the Great Reversal Announced in Scripture”
There is something of a hidden quality to the resurrection appearances that has always puzzled me. St. Peter gives voice to this when he says to Cornelius, God raised Jesus from the dead on the third day and granted that he be visible, not to all people, but to us, the witnesses chosen by God …
Continue reading “Why Was the Resurrection Such a Hidden Event?”
There are four different Gospels proposed by the Church for Easter Sunday. Here I offer a homily on the Lucan account of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. I have written sermons and commentaries on two of the other Gospels; they are available here: John 20:1-8 The Journey from Fear to Faith Matt …
Continue reading “My Way Gets Brighter, My Load Gets Lighter – A Homily on the Easter Emmaus Gospel”