Dear Parishioners, As we reach Advent’s midpoint, John the Baptizer asks the question of Jesus that lies deep within our hearts, “Are you the One to come, or should we look for another?” and it is answered, “Go and tell what you see and hear.” What they see are the
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Dear Parishioners, John the Baptizer’s images of desert places and of cleansing fire (Matthew 3:1-12) grasps our attention on this Second Sunday of Advent. At times our lives in Florida, as a result of either a lack or abundance of water, can either be a humid fertile land of abundant
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Dear Parishioners, One of the many rules of my childhood household was this: “You are to be home before the streetlights come on!” Of course, as I grew older and seemingly more responsible, there was a certain amount of resistance. But, my parents always called us, my siblings and I,
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Dear Parishioners, The Jubilee Year of Mercy comes to an end this day with the closing of the Holy Doors around the world and in the City of Rome. Even as the closing of earthly doors symbolizes an end to a special time of grace, we also know that the
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Dear Parishioners, Another tax collector plays a central part in the Gospel of this day (Luke 19:1-10). Like the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector at prayer, an invitation is offered which changes hearts and lives. Zacchaeus is not just a tax collector but rather the chief tax
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Dear Parishioners, The late Pope John Paul I, known as the “Smiling Pope” for his kindly demeanor and also as the “September Pope” for he reigned for only 33 days before his untimely death on September 28, 1978, chose as his motto, “Humilitas.” This word in Latin is not just
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Dear Parishioners, As a young boy, I remember hearing about the incredible story of the battle between the Israelites and the Amalekites (Exodus 17:8-13). As long as Moses held the “staff of God” (which was used for deliverance against Pharaoh) over the battle, the Israelites were successful and when his
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Dear Parishioners, A part of the Liturgy of Ordination to the Priesthood uses the concluding words of our Gospel this day (Luke: 17:5-10), “When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.’” An older translation of
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Dear Parishioners, As the end of the Liturgical Year begins to appear on the horizon, a scene of individual judgment is presented for our prayerful reflection. Luke’s parable of “Poor Lazarus (16:19-31) might easily be construed as an “after-life reversal of roles.” As always, a parable means much more than
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Dear Parishioners, The Lord “rewards” those who serve well and single-heartedly with even greater responsibilities. The parable of the steward (Luke 16:1-13), which tells us that “those who are trustworthy in small matters are also trustworthy in great ones,” demands that the virtue of prudence be a part of every
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