The readings in Year B focus greatly on the blood of Christ. Let us acknowledge the differences between the ancient mentality and our own, and appreciate their understanding of blood as a sign of atonement for sin.

The dynamism of the Holy Trinity should be reflected in the dynamic action of love in our lives.

"Now, listen up; this is the Holy Spirit talking. Everybody start talking Latin!" This is not the way the Holy Spirit works. Unfortunately, the recent unpleasantness regarding English liturgical texts would lead one to believe that some highly-placed people in the Church do think that this is how the Spirit operates. Today's passage from Acts contradicts them. -- I do have one retraction of something I said. I do believe that God deals with sinners with respect for the sinner's individuality.

After you hear this homily, you may find yourself humming the Beatles' "In My Life." I am.

Where I live, we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord on the Seventh Sunday of Easter. Therefore, on the Sixth Sunday of Easter we can use readings from the Seventh Sunday which we otherwise would never hear. Today I used the Seventh Sunday's Gospel, Jesus' prayer "that all may be one." Catholics need to watch their language when they refer to Christians of different denominations.

Today we consider the image of the vine and the branches, which, if you think about it, may suffer from some inadequacies. We also consider the awkwardness of a former attacker coming over to the enemy.

Even Jesus cannot provide a perfect analogy. It's just the nature of an analogy that it is always in some way inadequate. And in the case of the Good Shepherd, the deficiency is this: WE'RE NOT SHEEP.

My take on The Da Vinci Code. Also, is it true that, after the Resurrection, you still get to eat? This was from the 8:00 am Mass at Auburn (10:15 was First Communion).

I had a little competition at the beginning of this homily. These are some thoughts on the various titles given to Jesus and their meaning. Recorded at the late Mass in Auburn.

The Covenant ... and how it is expressed to its fullest degree in the one who was lifted up and draws all to himself.