The Lukan Jump

Do we practice our faith, with faith? Or do we live it out the same way we "read and understand the terms and conditions" of a EULA?

My homily from a few weeks ago on the feast of Bl. Theodore Romzha, martyred bishop of Mukachevo.

In which I use the Black Knight from Monty Python and the Holy Grail as an illustration of humanity under the grip of sin. You're welcome?

My first homily as administrator of St. Mary's in Weirton and St. John's in Avella. This was recorded when I preached in Weirton.

St. Paul tells us in the Second Letter to the Corinthians that the day of salvation is now. So here's some encouragement to take our spiritual lives seriously today!

The same Holy Spirit who anointed Jesus Christ now dwells in the Church. Are we ready for what that means?

On the feast of the Conception of St. John the Baptist, one thing we can do is examine if we really believe that God can use us to help bring about the salvation of the world.

Being a serious Christian means that we'll be rejected by the world. But the world is a dumpster fire, so is that really a bad thing? This was my homily for the Sunday after the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, preached at St. Pius X Byzantine Catholic Church in the Carrick neighborhood of Pittsburgh. The Gospel reading was Mark 8:34-9:1.

Thoughts on being concerned for the people we're responsible for, as well as for ourselves.

Mark 6:7 says Jesus Christ sent out His Apostles on mission two by two. That means someone got paired with Judas. That might have been awkward a few years later...

My homily on the feast of the Nativity of the Mother of God

On this Sunday before the Exaltation of the Cross, we take a look at St. Paul's insistence that those who have been baptized into Christ are, in fact, dead. Key moments include Fr. Luke getting really excited and almost breaking the church (he thought the podium was attached to the ground, but it wasn't). This homily was preached at St. Nicholas in McKeesport, PA.

A homily on what it means to "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and give to God what is God's." It's all in whose image is stamped on the thing...

A homily on the fact that God wants His human family to expand! Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:7-18; Mark 3:28-35 .

Reflecting on the first call of the Apostles: to be with our Lord. Readings:  2 Corinthians 8:16-9:5 and Mark 3:13-19 . Our Gospel Book at the church included a few more verses of Mark 3 that apparently aren't technically part of today's reading, which is why I refer to things in the homily that aren't on the page I linked to for the readings.

A reflection on how Jesus Christ's prayer life is a pattern for our own. Bible: 2 Corinthians 7:1-10 and Mark 1:29-35 .

A reflection on being re-created in Christ, including a tangent where I randomly mention my own sins! Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:15-21 and Mark 1:16-22 .

A homily for the 11th Sunday after Pentecost on remembering and living based on the mercy of God. I preached this one at St. John the Baptist in Mingo Junction, OH. Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:2-12 and Matthew 18:23-35.

Some thoughts on how our desire to get along with others needs to be tempered by respect for the full truth of the Gospel. Bible: 2 Corinthians 4:1-6 and Matthew 24:13-28 .

My whole congregation was heading back to school in one form or another, so here are some thoughts on that. Bible readings: 2 Corinthians 3:4-11 and Matthew 23:29-39.

Some back-to-school thoughts on 2 Corinthians 2:3-15 and Matthew 23:13-22.

My homily at the anticipated/vigil Divine Liturgy for the 10th Sunday after Pentecost, reflecting on St. Paul's words, "Be imitators of me" (1 Corinthians 4:16/11:1) and the example given to us by the saints. The Bible readings for this Sunday are 1 Corinthians 4:9-16 and Matthew 17:17:14-23.

The feast of the Dormition is one of the greatest feasts on our calendar, but the Bible readings ( Philippians 2:5-11 and Luke 10:38-42 and 11:27-28 ) seem to have nothing to do with the Mother of God! Here are my thoughts on a thread connecting them: humility and obedience to the Word of God leading to glory.

What to do when other people are cooler than we are? We can rip them down out of jealousy, or we can pray for them and share the reward of their awesomeness! The Bible readings for today were 1 Corinthians 16:4-12 and Matthew 21:28-32.

We've had two straight days of feasts of holy deacons saying awesome things as they die! This morning's readings were 1 Corinthians 15:12-19 and Matthew 21:18-22 .