Pilgrim Priest

St. Francis chose poverty because it made him like Jesus. Jesus chose poverty because it made him like us. Deep down we are really poor. And we can respond to our poverty one of two ways.

Discipline is about teaching ourselves, and others, to put first things first. We first discern what is important. Then we train ourselves to say "Yes" to the good and important things and "No" to the bad and less-important things.

Thank you, men, for coming to Mass today. The world tells you that you should be anywhere else but here: fishing, working, having fun, or sleeping off a hangover. But you know that you can only be a good leader for others if you let Jesus lead you.

God is producing a great play, the "Theo-drama", starring Jesus with Mary as Best Supporting Actress. We each have a special and unique roll, which we discover and live when we let the Holy Spirit direct us.

Listen as Logan Shallow shares his testimony. Jesus is real. We can trust him. "Walk with me," Jesus says. You won't regret it!

The only thing in God's wallet is photos of his kids. Lots and lots of photos, because God has lots and lots of kids. The Catholic Church believes that every person has a dignity and value that comes from God himself, and no one can take away.

I had the privilege of listening to Bishop Barron preach on how Jesus is like the Good Samaritan. My favorite part of the homily is that the Catholic Church is kind of like the inn. We are helping those wounded by sin recover from their injuries.

Like the Jews in Babylon or the Christians in Galatia, we live in a secular pagan culture soaked in sex, violence, gluttony, and material excess. Many are tempted to adopt the lifestyle of our neighbors. But God is calling couples to be missionaries.

Three thoughts on my ordination. 1) I am Blessed to be a Blessing to Others. 2) I didn’t turn out to be the Perfect Catholic Priest, but God only needs my daily "yes". 3) Our individual “yeses” are part of a community, a family of faith.

Was I too vulnerable in my recent homily? I always debate about the wisdom of sharing stories that involve my personal life. I only preached this homily at one Mass but now it's out on the web and anyone can listen. What will people think of me?

When our spirit is led by the Holy Spirit, it can lead the body and mind into a harmony, a human trinity. Christians are members of the Holy Trinity. From within the communion of the Trinity we can recover harmony in ourselves, our families, and society.

You can't force anyone into communion. Imagine a church where every member were set aflame by the power of the Holy Spirit and formed and equipped to share the good news with others. That is my dream!

When Jesus walked the Earth, the Holy Spirit kept him connected to his Father. Jesus ascends and the Holy Spirit descends. Now the Holy Spirit is here with us keeping us connected to Jesus and the Father. The Body of Christ has its head in the clouds!

Jesus is praying for us! He lives every day in deep, intimate communion with his Father. We are called to bring people into communion with God so they can also experience true communion with themselves, others, and creation. Come, Holy Spirit!

"As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.” Many of us nod and smile at these words without realizing what they mean. Jesus is calling us to something far more radical than tolerance, acceptance, and inclusion. He wants us to enter into __

Physically speaking, we live in a very secure country. And yet we seem to be suffering from an epidemic of anxiety. Jesus offers a sense of safety and security that no one can take from us. Join me for an experience of the Good Shepherd.

Captained by Peter, the church is sailing into the Resurrection. Jesus is waiting there with a banquet. Peter is given his job description as the first Pope. Let us pray for a Pope who loves Jesus and will feed and tend His sheep.

Our eyes need to be opened to the ongoing presence of Jesus in our daily life. Most people will come to believe in the Risen Jesus when they see him in you!

If some guy in India died and then rose again, it wouldn't impact you very much. But what if your best friend rose from the dead? That would change your life! Many people experience Easter as just a nice day because they don't know Jesus personally.

Our own Good Friday experiences can cause us to doubt that God is a good father. The Passion reading is full of people acting out of self-protection and self-reliance. Do you live like Jesus, trusting in your Good Father, or like his persecutors?

God is with us! No matter how much we run from him, abandon him, or choose everything else besides him, God is still with us! And he chooses us. May this year's Triduum experience open your eyes, ears, and heart to God's presence.

God the Father calls Jesus to total self-giving love. We were made by love and for love. We only find fulfillment in self-giving love. So why can't we love like Jesus? Fear and selfishness become obstacles to truly loving.

What was Jesus writing in the dust with his finger? Sins? The Law? The names of the accusers? What is clear is that Jesus gives the woman a new life because he pays the penalty for her sin. Jesus has died for you. How will you live for him?

We are not expecting the father to welcome his prodigal son home again. God our Father is always gazing at us with love. Sometimes we are the prodigal son; sometimes we are the older brother. We must learn to live in the gaze of the Father.

We feel inadequate because we are inadequate. The world is too big for us and God asks us to do impossible things. We tend to respond by dominating and controlling or running and hiding. Instead, we can let God lead us.