Its own reward

A homily for the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, February 1, 2026

Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13, 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, Matthew 5:1-12a

Sometimes, a passage from Scripture is so clear, so powerful, so iconic that we might be tempted to smile and say, “Yes, I know that one. It’s so, so inspiring; I love it. I refer to it all the time.”

And whatever we’ve ever thought about those words from Jesus or a letter-writing Apostle or an Old Testament prophet pretty much sticks with us the way we interpreted them the first time.

And maybe that’s OK. We cling to words of comfort and hope; we stay energized by grace whenever God calls us to action.

Yet some passages are so profound that they deserve — they demand! — revisiting. They order us to deepen our understanding of them, commanding us to add to our interpretation more than reinterpreting them.

The passage we know as The Beatitudes, Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount as recorded by Matthew, demands that we break it open again and again.

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Career change

A homily for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, January 25, 2026

Isaiah 8:23—9:3, 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17, Matthew 4:12-23

For many of us, a change in our work situation happens because of one of two scenarios. Either we seek a new job, a new boss, a new location, or any combination of those, or the change is imposed on us by outside forces like the company closing or downsizing or relocating.

Résumé and interviews vs. pink slip or transfer papers.

Something we sought vs. ol’ Damocles and his stupid sword.

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It

A homily for the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, January 18, 2026

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

It.

In the entertainment business notably, but in almost every endeavor, some people have It.

“It” is the essentially undefinable but immediately recognizable quality that makes certain people stand out in a crowd, almost as if they have permanent spotlights bathing them.

In other words, we know It when we see It.

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Membership

A homily for The Baptism of the Lord, January 11, 2026

Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7, Acts 10:34-38, Matthew 3:13-17

According to legend, in the early centuries Anno Domini, when followers of the carpenter from Nazareth were being persecuted and prosecuted for their beliefs, they were cagey about identifying themselves when they encountered strangers.

One Christian might trace an arc in the sand with his foot and then sidle back a few steps, eyeing the scratch with an occasional side glance. Aware, but not obvious.

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Off to see

We’re off to see the Wizard … literally. My family and I are taking a quick jaunt as Christmas and New Year’s gifts to each other.

May 2026 bring peace, respect, prosperity, equality, health and truth to every child of God everywhere.

Yes, we can do it all.

Thank you for your support. My near-heresies will return for Sunday, January 11, The Baptism of the Lord.

Interwoven

A homily for the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, December 28, 2025

Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14, Colossians 3:12-17, Mt 2:13-15, 19-23

When we were little, we were told, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names — or words — will never hurt me.” And as well-meaning as the saying was, we all know it was wrong, because names and words have power.

Our feast today in this Season of Christmas, the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, involves some incredibly powerful names and words, so let’s take a minute or two to think about them. And how they guide our lives.

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Misteak?

A homily for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 21, 2025

Isaiah 7:10-14, Romans 1:1-7, Matthew 1:18-24

We imperfect humans ask a lot of questions about our perfect Deity.

Many of them compare God’s persons and unlimited … everything … to our own limitations.

Nope; God is unnnnn-limited

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Rosy

A revisited homily for the Third Sunday of Advent, Dec. 14, 2025

Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10, James 5:7-10, Matthew 11:2-11

As of this belated writing, medium-size snowflakes are falling steadily but gently here at the Jersey Shore, piling up on cars and railings and bannisters and tree branches so heavily that mourning doves can’t grab the wood with their pink feet. It’s Nature’s insistence that we pause and rest.

And, today, to rejoice.

The other night, spending time with eighth-graders prepping for their Confirmation, I introduced the vast majority of them to the notion of Gaudete. And I remembered this homily from 2020, which I republish with some tiny updating and an apology to folks who don’t fancy reruns.

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Count on it

A homily for the Second Sunday of Advent, December 7, 2025

Isaiah 11:1-10, Romans 15:4-9, Matthew 3:1-12

Dictionary.com recently made a lot of people shake their heads in disbelief when the organization chose a number as the Word of the Year for 2025. Not even a number, really; it’s more of a number phrase, because it’s not pronounced in the familiar way it appears.

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When?

A homily for the First Sunday of Advent, November 30, 2025

Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:37-44

The folks who run Starbucks, Burger King, movie theaters and especially Cinnabon, among thousands of similar outfits, are geniuses.

They have made it impossible for even the most strong-willed among us to pass by their kiosks and shops without pining — yearning! — for their products. Regardless of how bad they may be for us.

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