Homily from the Fifth Sunday of Lent.

Why does Jesus weep?

Jesus wept. Why does Jesus weep in the face of the death of Lazarus? He weeps to silence the Great Lie. He weeps because He loves. He weeps in order to teach us to weep.

John 11:1-45

Homily from the Fourth Sunday of Lent.

We need to stop asking "who is to blame?" and start asking "What can God do with this?"

The disciples ask Jesus whose fault it is that the man was born blind. So many of us have a tendency to ask the same question: "Whose fault is this?" While that is a natural question, it is not always a helpful question. There is a better question that we can ask.

John 9:1-41

Homily from the Third Sunday of Lent.

Jesus taught the world how to see the person.

We are constantly facing the temptation to define people by their group or by their shame. Jesus reveals that, while He knows the group or by their shame, He sees the person...the individual...and calls them by their name.

John 4:5-42

Homily from the Second Sunday of Lent.

In teaching about prayer, Jesus offered something no other rabbi could give.

Jesus, the Prototype, reveals His prayer to the Apostles. Every rabbi would teach his disciples how to pray, but Jesus is able to give His disciples something that no other rabbi could offer. Jesus prays as the Beloved Son...Jesus teaches His disciples to pray as beloved children who have been claimed by their Father.

Matthew 17:1-9

Homily from the First Sunday of Lent.

Expect the Trial. Eliminate the Option. Re-Write the Script. Focus on the Word.

We will face trials and temptations throughout our lives. When we follow and study Jesus our rabbi, we learn how to face temptations the way he did.

Matthew 4:1-11

Homily from Ash Wednesday.

The goal of the Christian life is to become like Christ.

As we begin Lent, we often mistakenly choose arbitrary things to give up or arbitrary ways to pray. But the goal of Lent is more than "doing something difficult" or "getting better". The goal of lent is the imitation of Christ.

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Homily from the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time.

The difference between giving up and surrender is one word: trust.

There are so many circumstances in life that are beyond our control. We can easily feel powerless as we realize that we cannot control all outcomes. Christ's words in the Gospel might look like giving up, but they are something vastly different...and far more hopeful.

Matthew 5:38-48

Homily from the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Our hearts are enslaved...exile can be the cure.

There are so many circumstances that are beyond our control. But no matter the situation, one thing that cannot be taken away from a person made in God's image is the freedom to choose how one responds to those circumstances. Our hearts can be enslaved in any situation, but they can also be free in any situation.

Matthew 5:17-37

Homily from the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Do what you would do even if no one is watching.

So many of us have a fear of being different. We would prefer to be like everyone else. But we cannot afford to be the same as everyone else. Not because we are better, but because the world needs what Christians have: Jesus Christ.

Matthew 5:13-16

Homily from the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Do not wait to live. God is using this here and now.

There is real suffering. There is real good and evil. But sometimes, the difference between something that is worthless and something that is worthwhile is a matter of perspective. God can use even our flaws...in fact, he will use everything if we let him.

Matthew 5:1-12