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 These are text versions of the sermons I have prepared for the Sundays of the calendar year. I am a Catholic priest of the diocese of Gaylord (Michigan), ordained in 1997. 

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18th Sunday of Ordinary Time [C]

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  18TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME [C] It’s all about letting the story unfold. Take that Harper Lee story, for example: To Kill A Mockingbird . It was originally released as a novel (1960), and then two years later it was adapted for the silver screen. Imagine yourself buying a ticket, sitting down to watch this highly anticipated film. What do you see as the opening credits begin to roll? You see a variety of objects, being kept within a box. What kind of objects? They list as follows: two Indian Head pennies; two carved figurines; a broken pocket-watch; a ball of string; a medal earned from a spelling bee; a jack-knife; and two sticks of Double-mint chewing gum.  Forget about trying to make any sense out of these objects. It’s too early. You have to let the story unfold. Likewise, forget about trying to make any sense out of the title. It’s too early. You have to let the story unfold. Eventually it will all fall into place. Eventually you will come to appreciate the significan...
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19th Sunday of Ordinary Time [C]

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  19TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME [C] You’re asking yourself: Why do I have to hear about these people who lived during the Old Testament period? Consider this possibility: it’s the Lord’s way of placing you before a mirror. You’re seeing your own reflection when you visualize the Patriarch known to us as Abraham (referenced in Hebrews chapter eleven). He’s a man who receives a number of blessings. And, in addition, he’s a man on the move. He’s a sojourner, or rather, a pilgrim.  Guess what? So are you. It’s all right there in Hebrews chapter eleven. Pay close attention to verses thirteen through sixteen. It turns out that we are likewise on a pilgrimage. We’re advancing step-by-step, drawing ever closer to our final destination, our ultimate home. That explains the appearance of Abraham. His pilgrimage calls to mind the reality of our own ongoing pilgrimage. Meanwhile, what about the Israelites (featured in Wisdom chapter eighteen)? What do they represent?  Similar to Abra...
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Sermon For Trinity Sunday

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  TRINITY SUNDAY [C] We are prepared to observe Trinity Sunday. But are we prepared to go that extra step? Are we prepared to actually celebrate the Trinity? It’s expected of us. But it’s not easy, getting excited about the Trinity. It’s not just a doctrine; it’s something dense; it’s a profound mystery. How do you penetrate the mystery of one God being revealed in a Trinity of three Persons? Perhaps we should begin by picking up a Bible.  Now that your Bible is open, you find yourself being introduced to our God; you’re being introduced to him in the Book of Genesis. You will notice right away that he is a rather busy God. Busy in what way? He’s being an artist. He’s doing what artists typically do: he’s creating. He stands back, he admires his creation, and he pronounces it as “good” (Gen. 1:31). This episode doesn’t resolve all of your questions, but at least it’s a start.  Later on in the Bible, we will arrive at a particular juncture. St. Paul refers to it as “the ...
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