February 1, 2026 at Saint Peter the Apostle and Saint William Churches in Naples, FL

Zephaniah 2:3; 3 12-13 + Psalm 46 + 1 Corinthians 1: 26-31 + Matthew 5: 1-12

Let’s try that again: Blessed are rich who can take care of themselves. Blessed are those who never know a loss. Blessed are the powerful. Blessed are those who are realistic and compromise their principles at every turn. Blessed are those who demand an eye for an eye. Blessed are the clever alert and seizing every opportunity for gain. Blessed are those bold enough to make war. Blessed are those who do good things expecting great praise. Blessed are those who follow Jesus until it gets tough.

That’s the way most of this world works, the world into Jesus was born and the world in which he first spoke on that hillside. It really has not changed much which ought to make us a little uncomfortable since so many have given their lives to change it, revealing for us those who have God’s favor. If we can believe what Jesus says, the truly blessed are ultimately and actually the gentle, the merciful, peace makers, and the poor.

The Beatitudes are not a code of ethics, an instruction for righteous living, or a list of tasks that once complete will gain God’s favor.  These Beatitudes describe those who have God’s favor, the victims of a society that is far from the Kingdom of God. These are words of hope and encouragement. They acknowledge that God knows the poor, the sad, the meek, the merciful, pure of heart, and peacemakers. God knows who waits for justice and those who are persecuted. They have God’s favor. They are the Blessed ones. At the same time, the Beatitudes are not calling anyone to become victims. They simply call our attention to those who are victims. So that perhaps, we might bless them too with attention, favor, respect, and concern. Perhaps by our willingness to walk with them, share their suffering, and lift them up, we might also begin to know what it is to be Blessed.

Years ago, a parish I was leading began to support, frequently visit, and share what we had in abundance with a large orphanage in Haiti. What we all discovered is that in coming to know them, what we gave was far less than what we gained. They were more of a blessing to us than anything we gave to them. As Cardinal George of Chicago years ago said at a gathering of wealthy donors: “The poor need us, and we need the poor to keep us out of hell.” What we can see through the Beatitudes is a glimpse of what the Kingdom of God must be like and will be like when we truly chose to make it our home.

January 18, 2026 at Saint Peter the Apostle, St Finbarr & Saint William Churches in Naples, FL

Isaiah 49: 3, 5-6 + Psalm 40 + 1 Corinthians 1: 1-3 + John 1: 29-34

There is hardly a more consistent thread running through all four Gospels than the effort to reveal the identity of Jesus Christ. Matthew and Luke begin that revelation by presenting a Genealogy through which they begin to establish who is this man. Midway through Mark’s Gospel after dropping numerous clues, Jesus asks, “Who do people say that I am.” Today John goes straight to the issue in the 29^th verse of the first chapter by having the Baptist announce the identity of Jesus. He is the one on whom God’s Spirit comes to rest like a dove.

Until the identity of Jesus is confirmed, what he does means very little. Until then he is just a man from Nazareth, a carpenter. Yet, he speaks with authority and reveals God with powerful signs and words. His baptism is the defining moment that sets the trajectory of his life and begins his ministry. Not until that moment is it really clear what and how his life and his mission will unfold.

It is the same for you and me. Our baptisms establish who we are and what we are about. Sadly, the reality and the importance of this moment has slid into something that happens just because it’s what we have always done or because Mom and Dad expect it. As a result, our real identity is vague at best, and our mission is never quite clear or consistent.

As a people baptized into the Spirit of Jesus Christ our mission is to become so like him that others might recognize him in us. The only way this is possible is because we listen and learn imitating him with our thoughts, words, and deeds. All of that happens because we come to trust his presence in our lives so much so that we communicate often by prayer, hear his word in our assembly at the Eucharist, and consume his body and blood. As Saint Augustine said: “We become what we receive.”

This day and the Gospel we proclaim is as much about our identity as it is about the identity of Jesus Christ. We are reminded that we too are beloved by God, called by God, with a mission to be God’s presence to those who seek the face of Divine Love. When life confronts any of us with questions and doubts, we know and can proclaim that we are with Christ, in Christ, and for Christ who lives in us. To be his body in this world is the essence of our faith and the joy of the Gospel.

January 11, 2026 at Saint Peter the Apostle and Saint William Churches in Naples, FL

Isaiah 42: 1-4, 607 + Psalm + Acts 10: 34-38 + Matthew 3: 13017

If any of you have had the opportunity and privilege of visiting the Holy Land, you surely saw the Jordan river. Having seen countless holy cards, and paintings of Jesus coming up out of pristine blue waters and stepping onto the lush green grass, I was shocked and a little put off by what I saw. At the place where we stopped, it was little more than a ditch with brown muddy water barely moving down to the Dead Sea. Some in our tour struggled down through the rocks to touch and collect some of that water. Several people waded in to it. I didn’t want to get near that water let along touch it. I have no idea what the Jordan River may have been like 2,000 years ago, but I suspect that what artists imagined might have been true. What we have now is probably a good example of how this earth and its precious water has been treated.

That evening, I reflected on my reluctance to go down to that water, and how willingly Jesus did. It occurred to me that the Son of God left the glory of heaven to come down to this earth and mingle with the likes of us. Willing to touch lepers, be seen with known sinners, and even though innocent, suffer the agonizing death of a criminal.

There is something more to think about, something more revealed than just a conversation with John the Baptist and a voice speaking to all confirming who it is that has come up from this water. Matthew tells us that the heavens were opened. There is new communication between us and God. This is a decisive moment in human history. Not only did I begin to understand that this moment Matthew describes is another way of seeing the Incarnation, I began to see what science is leaning toward, that all life forms began in the water and eventually, came up onto the land.  There is so much more to this story than just a day in the life of Jesus or John. It is an opportunity to see and come to grips with the truth and reality of God coming into human life.

We are all searching for God. If it sometimes seems difficult to find God, it might be that we are looking in the wrong places. Instead of looking into beautiful basilicas or churches, or looking to mountain tops, maybe we should be looking in the ghettos. If Jesus went down into that river, he got dirty. Sometimes, it seems to me, if we really want to follow Jesus Christ, we need to get dirty as well. It could be that when we do, we may be surprised at the beautiful light shining out from where we least expect it.

We may not celebrate the Baptism of the Lord without celebrating and remembering our own baptism, which is a decisive moment in our history. It is the moment when we choose whether or not we shall live as Christ lived or not. How we are to do that is revealed in the readings we heard before this Gospel. They offer some guidance: inspire justice make us open to all people.

January 4, 2026 at Saint Peter the Apostle and Saint William Parishes in Naples, FL

Isaiah 60: 1-6 + Psalm + Ephesians 3: 2-3, 5-6 + Matthew 2: 1-12

In the first four chapters of the Gospel of Matthew, all the names of Jesus Christ are put before us. First the name, “Christ” comes at the end of the Genealogy that centers upon being the anointed one as David was anointed in the Book of Exodus.  Then in dream, Joseph is told to give the child the name, “Jesus”, which means, “God Saves.” Then Matthew reaches back to the prophet Isaiah calling Jesus “Emmanuel” which mean God is with us. With the story we tell today, another name is given: “King of the Jews.” Interestingly, that name will not be spoken again in Matthew’s Gospel until Pilate speaks at a trial. One last title or name is yet to be affirmed, and that will come next weekend.

For now, it is King that matters, and the news that a real king has been born in the royal city of Bethlehem from which came King David, frightens King Herod. There is a threat here because Herod is not a real king. He is a usurper. He has no right to the throne. He seized it by murder, and the presence of someone who does have a right throws him into a spasm of violence. Suddenly, good news becomes bad news. The old order, the old kind of power and authority that uses fear, threats, and violence is finished. A new kind of King who rules by love and whose authority comes from service and the care of others is on the rise. Dark days are fading as light and hope comes from Bethlehem.

For us, there is here a lesson on power and authority, what it should look like if it comes from God, and how it should work. Slowly we have seen our Church embrace this revelation in our own life-time. The days of throwing people out with excommunications, of threatening hell fire as a motive for doing the right thing rather than love have gone. We have seen a new face of authority in leaders who serve the poor, embrace the lost and draw those on the margins into the embrace of the church. One day, we may see this same face of authority and leadership around the world when civil leaders with power and authority set aside threats and fear to reach out, embrace, comfort and respect everyone who stands before them.

At the heart of all of this there comes the inspiration that springs from the prophet who promised Emmanuel. We have sung it over and over again: Come, O Come, Emmanuel, and we have just celebrated as best we can the birth of this child called: “God Saves.” It is almost too much to hope for, to understand, and to hang on to.

For me there is a name and three words that hold up my hope, give me peace, and give me light on the darkest of days. “Emmanuel:” Three words: Godwith us! Think of it, God with us. We have the ultimate companion revealed to us in Jesus Christ as forgiving love and a life-giving spirit. The last words of Matthew’s Gospel are: I will remain with you always.  Then there is God WITH us. Not reigning from an imperial throne or some distant heaven. God is WITH us living, walking beside us, listening, holding, protecting. And finally, God with US. No matter where we are, who we are, what color we are or where we are from, it is us that God has come to be with.

This Epiphany day invites us all to face the stunning reality of Emmanuel. God With Us. This Epiphany day urges us to decide what it is we will follow in this new year urging us to set off toward it with the bold and adventurous hope that can only spring from faith.