Month: May 2015

May 31, 2015  +  Saint Peter the Apostle Parish Naples, FL

Deuteronomy 4, 32-34, 39-40   Psalm 33   Romans 8, 14-17   Matthew 28, 16-20

The comparison floated through my mind for a long time before I was willing to suggest it publically, and it still seems almost trite to suggest it, but I can’t think of a better way to get some insight into the Holy Trinity other than to propose to you that this feast today is our faith-filled version of the secular/commercial world’s “Valentine’s Day”. I suggest that because this is a feast of love that celebrates a gift we call “grace” and the identity we have as “children of God” and “friends”, as Jesus referred to us during his prayer at the Last Supper. … more »

Saint Peter the Apostle Parish Naples, FL  May 24, 2015

Acts 2, 1-11   Psalm 104   1 Corinthians 12, 3-7, 12-13   John 20, 19-23 

There are two versions of the Spirit’s coming in the Gospels, Luke’s and John’s. We heard Luke’s with the first reading, and John’s with the Gospel. I don’t know about you, but I much prefer the second version from John’s Gospel. That wind and fire stuff is too disturbing and confusing. It distracts me. I would rather be breathed on than face a hurricane or tornado. We are never going to know what actually happened in that fear filled room with doors closed and locked, but here we are again in that room today in both versions. The friends of Jesus are afraid. … more »

Saint Peter the Apostle Parish Naples, FL

Acts 1, 1-11   Psalm 47   Ephesians 1, 17-23   Mark 16,15-20

In my sophomore year of high school, I had Brother Rosaire for Biology. In those days, the Holy Cross Brothers wore black cassocks tied around the waist with a black rope. One day brother walked in to the class room and reached both hands into the deep pockets of his cassock and lifted two live snakes. The brothers rarely had trouble with classroom discipline. The ones I had all had a way of commanding attention and respect. You did not talk to anyone in their class room unless told to do so. Let me tell you, when he pulled out those snakes no one moved and no one talked. … more »

Saint Peter the Apostle Parish Naples, FL

Acts 10, 25-26, 34-35, 44-48 + Psalm 98 + 1 John 4, 7-10 + John 15, 9-17

 There are four words that emerge from this text that when spoken to us ought to stop us cold in our tracks and bring about the most profound change in our sense of who we are and our behavior. Yet my bet is that most of you do not know what those four words are because we have the a habit of listening to the Word of God and hearing the things Jesus says from outside as a spectator or like someone who is listening in. The consequences of taking that position in regards to the Word of God are devastating. … more »

Saint Peter the Apostle Parish Naples, FL

Acts 9, 26-31   Psalm 22   1 John 3, 18-24   John 15, 1-8

 It is the night before his crucifixion when Jesus speaks these words to his disciples. To have these words speak to us we must remember context in which they were spoken. There is a mood of intensity. He senses what is to come. His death is now inevitable, and he probably knows he cannot count on these disciples to do anything about it. True to their previous ways, they probably do not quite get what is happening; but we know how they will be scattered and separated from him in the hours and days to come. He does not want this to happen. … more »