Month: May 2022

So far away

A homily for the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord, May 29, 2022

Acts 1:1-11, Heb 9:24-28; 10:19-23, Lk 24:46-53

Years ago, in an episode of St. Elsewhere, the doctor played by Howie Mandel dies on the operating table and opens his eyes in Heaven, where he sees former patients celebrating in a beautiful countryside. 

He asks one of the patients when he would see God, and then Howie Mandel taps Howie Mandel on the shoulder, introducing himself as The Almighty. 

“Everyone sees me differently,” God explains, “because I created each of you in my image and likeness, and to you, I look like you.”

Fascinating interpretation, yes?

Then, back on Earth, the surgeons at St. Eligius Hospital revive Howie’s character and he leaves Heaven. For the time being.

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Teamwork

A homily for the Fifth Sunday of Easter, May 15, 2022

Acts 14:21-27, Rev 21:1-5a, Jn 13:31-33a, 34-35

Professional athletes have a lot of privileges and advantages that we regular people don’t, but maybe the biggest advantage they have over us is: They get to have a preseason.

Before they start their annual campaigns toward winning a league title or a world championship, athletes spend weeks or even months training to get better at their sport.

And then they get to scrimmage or play preseason games under real rules and typical conditions, with scores that are zeroed out when the real season starts.

Wouldn’t it be great if we all had preseasons anytime we started a new endeavor?

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For joy

A (brief) homily for the Fourth Sunday of Easter, May 8, 2022

Acts 13:14, 43-52, Rev 7:9, 14b-17, Jn 10:27-30

The Apostles headed out to spread the Good News, traveling mostly by foot from town to town, telling people they met about everything they had heard and seen during their days with Jesus of Nazareth.

Some people listened and followed. Some people heard but turned away. Some people ignored them completely.

Some people ran them out of town.

No problem.

The Apostles shook the dust off their feet and moved on.

(I love that image, knowing that the dust they were shaking off contained all sorts of mean, nasty, ugly stuff. Much more powerful than rude hand gestures.)

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