Superior Priest

Not New, Yet New (C19E5)

Jesus gives us a “New” commandment to “Love one another”, but that law is already given in Leviticus 19. So why does he say it is new? It is new in its pure application through the example and love of God the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Jesus says “This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another”. In the early church that was clearly true and evident and transformative given by this great letter of Diognetus. Today are we known by our love? 5/19/19

The Worst Part of Mass (C19E4)

Why are we at Mass? To get something out? To listen to the homily? No…the primary reason is prayer. The homily, which is often what is referenced in relation to a good or bad Mass is in fact the least important part of Mass. The Homily you get to talk to the priest, for all the other parts of Mass you are talking to God. God is a better person to talk to. We might not always experience it as “better”, but objectively God is much, much, much better than Fr. Samuel or any priest. 4/12/19

Mass is about Prayer…So Pray (C19E3)

Mass can be a drag, what do you get out of it? Often, we judge it by the homily, but we should judge it by our prayer. We should not ask what we can get out of it, but what we can put in. We talk about prayer a lot, but don’t always show you how. Today I would like to do a simple and quick Lectio Divina. 5/4/19

The God of Mercy…not niceties (C19E2)

What is Mercy? We sometimes equate it to forgive and forget, but it is more complicated than that. There are the Corporal works of Mercy and the Spiritual Works of Mercy. The Spiritual works of mercy should get us thinking a little more about the complexity of mercy. One of the works is “Admonish the Sinner” How is that merciful? There is also: To instruct the ignorant; To counsel the doubtful; To admonish sinners; To bear wrongs patiently; To forgive offenses willingly; To comfort the afflicted; To pray for the living and the dead. 4/28/19

The Demand of Easter (Easter 19)

Easter and Christmas are the two largest Christian holidays. Everyone can get behind Christmas, because it is just a birthday. Easter forces the Christian issue a lot more. Either Jesus didn’t rise from the dead and all our faith is in vain, and Jesus is evil, or Jesus did rise from the dead and it changes EVERYTHING! 4/21/19

The Light of Christ (Easter Vigil 19)

The Easter Vigil focuses on the paschal candle of Easter. What does that represent for our Christian life? 4/20/19

Misery Meets Mercy (Spooner Confession Reflection)

We often don’t understand how God deals with sin. We think that he gets as flustered as we do. In the Woman caught in adultery we see how God deals with our miserable sin. He meets it with mercy. “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more”. 4/10/19.

Priest and Sacrificial Victim (Good Friday 19)

It is and innate desire for humans to choose priests and to offer sacrifice to God. The Old Testament prepares the world for Jesus perfect fulfillment of all desire and prophesy in his perfect act as priest and sacrifice. May we participate in his priesthood and sacrifice of will in love. 4/19/19

Eucharist, Priesthood, and Fraternal Charity (Holy Thursday 19)

Tonight is the institution of the Eucharist and the priesthood. Jesus also gives us a model of how to live out our life. 4/18/19

Hosanna And Crucify Him! (Palm Sunday 19)

Today is Palm Sunday and we oscillate between proclaiming Christ as King and also shouting Crucify him. We are humans that do not fully understand who Jesus is. 4/14/19