| Date |
Speaker |
Feast |
Topic |
| December 18 |
Fr. Lawrence |
4th Advent |
The Annunciation. But in a different context. In Jesus, God kept his covenant – he restored the kingship in David’s line forever. |
| December 11 |
Fr. Lawrence |
3rd Advent |
Gaudete Sunday. John the Baptist calls us to be inspired. Check out the statue of him and the one of Elizabeth in the sculpture garden at the Baltimore Museum of Art. Rejoice! And be inspired. |
| December 4 |
Fr. Lawrence |
2nd Advent |
The first reading is the 44th Chapter of Isaiah – after the captivity. The prophecy refers to John who refers to Christ. The valleys WILL be made smooth and the crooked paths WILL be made straight – in the fullness of time. |
| November 27 |
Fr. Lawrence |
1st Advent |
The first Sunday of the new liturgical year – the year of Mark. It is also the first Sunday of the new translation of the mass texts – which are inconvenient but make us think. Definitely not the best thing since sliced bread or the end of the world. Something to think about as we prepare for the coming of the Lord. |
| November 20 |
Fr. Lawrence |
34rd Ordinary |
In today’s gospel, Jesus give us a heads up as to what will be on the final exam. “I was hungry and you gave me to drink. Naked and you clothed me. Imprisoned and you visited me.” That’s what’s on the FINAL exam. |
| November13 |
Fr. Lawrence |
33rd Ordinary |
Matthew. The parabel of the talents. What do you make of it? It’s worth reading again – Matt 25:14-30. |
| November 6 |
Fr. Lawrence |
Day of the Dead |
Today we remember the entire Communion of Saints – the great saints, as well as our parents, grandparents, friends, and in same cases, our children. We pray to them and for them and with them. We remember everyone, including ourselves. |
| October 30 |
Fr. Lawrence |
31th Ordinary |
Matthew – putting words in Jesus’ mouth to bolster his position in the early church. “The scribes and Pharasees are the “bad guys” Maybe not. Maybe it’s not an either/or situation. |
| October 23 |
Fr. Lawrence |
30th Ordinary |
Matthew. “Love God with your whole heart, with your whole soul, and with your whole mind. The second is like it, love thy neighbor as thy self.” Jesus’ words. To us. |
| October 16 |
Fr. Lawrence |
29th Ordinary |
Matthew. “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” And lets keep our priorities straight… |
| October 9 |
Fr. Lawrence |
28th Ordinary |
Matthew. The parable of the King and the wedding feast. God (freely) invites us in – but we must do something with the invitation (i.e. put on a wedding garment) lest we too be cast outside. |
| October 2 |
Fr. Lawrence |
27th Ordinary |
Matthew. The parable of the vineyard and the tenant farmers who did not give the landlord his due – and killed his son. Layers on layers on layers – which we must wrestle with. |
| September 18 |
Fr. Lawrence |
25th Ordinary |
Matthew. The parable of the master & the workers in the vinyard (“To each he gave the usual daily wage”). This shows us that our God is overwhelmingly compassionate – as an example to us. |
| September 11 |
Fr. Lawrence |
24th Ordinary |
The end of Matthew’s Sermon on the Church. The Parable of the unforgiving servant. Jesus says, “Forgive 77 times.” God’s forgiveness is infinite. Should yours be parsimonious? |
| September 4 |
Fr. Daniel Hendricks, JS |
23rd Ordinary |
“Whatever you bind in on earth shall of bound in heaven.” God wants reconciliation. God wants us to be the reconcilers. |
| August 21 |
Fr. Lawrence |
21st Ordinary |
A continuation of Matthew. “But you – whom do you say I am” The way we answer depends on our image of Christ and is probably true – to some extend – as long as we understand that no image is satisfactory. No image can capture the totality of God. |
| August 14 |
Fr. Lawrence |
20th Ordinary |
The story of the Cannanite woman whose daughter is possessed. “For even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the master’s table.” “OOhh, woman. You have great faith>” Jesus overcame the prejudices of his people and his time to see the faith of this unlikely woman. |
| August 7 |
Fr. Lawrence |
19th Ordinary |
After each time the story of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes is told in the gospels, a sea story follows. This is the story of Peter (the rock) sinking like a stone – because he looked around rather than keeping his eye on the prize (the Lord). His cry “Save me,Lord” saved him as the Lord pulled him into the boat. |
| July 31 |
Fr. Lawrence |
18th Ordinary |
The Story of the Loaves and Fishes. It’s told 6 times in the 4 gospels. Which means it was important to the gospel writers. It should be important to us. |
| July 24 |
Fr. Lawrence |
17th Ordinary 3rd Summer Series |
The Book of Wisdom. The Jewish world in Alexandria in the 1st century before Christ trying to come to grips with Greek philsophy and Egyptian relgion. |
| July 17 |
Fr. Lawrence |
16th Ordinary 2st Apocrypha |
The Book of Tobit. A wonderful bedtime story – from which you might even learn something. |
| July 10 |
Fr. Lawrence |
15th Ordinary 1st Apocrypha |
1st Macabee. A short history of rejection/assimulation. |
| July 3 |
Fr. Lawrence |
14th Ordinary |
Matthew 11:25-30. The core of Matthews gospel. “Take my yoke for my buden is light.” |
| June 26 |
Fr. Lawrence |
Corpus Christi |
This is the last of the “add on” feasts before returning to ordinary time. |
| June 19 |
Fr. Lawrence |
Trinity Sunday |
The Trinity, which is infinite, is beyond human words, which are finite. |
| June 12 |
Fr. Lawrence |
Pentecost |
The “official” end of our Easter celebration (which will go on for at least two more Sundays). |
| June 5 |
Fr. Lawrence |
Ascension |
This feast, Ascension, is not literal; but it is very real. |
| May 29 |
Fr. Lawrence |
5th Easter |
John 17 – the conclusion of Jesus’ prayer at the last supper. John takes a “longer view” than the synoptics. |
| May 22 |
Fr. Lawrence |
4th Easter |
John Chapters 14-17. Savor them via lectio divino. “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Light.” |
| May 15 |
Fr. Lawrence |
3rd Easter |
The paradox – if Jesus was the Messiah, how could God let him be crucified. If he wasn’t, how could God raise him up? |
| May 8 |
Fr. Lawrence |
2nd Easter |
On the road to Eamus – they recognized him “In the breaking of bread…” |
| Easter |
Fr. Lawrence |
Easter |
“Alleluia! He is Risen!” |
| Holy Thursday |
Fr. Lawrence |
Holy Thurday |
Jesus’ Kenosis is our Theosis |
| April 17 |
Fr. Lawrence |
Palm Sunday |
From joy to sorrow – the passion according to Matthew |
| April 10 |
Fr. Lawrence |
5th Lent |
At the tomb – Jesus says “If you believe in me you will have everlasting life…” |
| April 3 |
Fr. Lawrence |
4th Lent |
In the dark – Jesus cures the man born blind – and challenges us to “see.” |
| March 27 |
Fr. Lawrence |
3rd Lent |
At the well – Jesus promises “living water” to the Samaritan women – and to us. |
| March 20 |
Fr. Lawrence |
2nd Lent |
On the mountain – Jesus is “transfigured.” |
| March 13 |
Fr. Lawrence |
1st Lent |
In the desert – stay focused on “reality” |
| March 9 |
Fr. Lawrence |
Ash Wednesday |
Lent is a time to get spiritually in shape. |
| February 27 |
Fr. Lawrence |
6th Sermon on the Mount |
Our attitude toward People. Jesus says “Stop judging…” |
| February 20 |
Fr. Lawrence |
5th Sermon on the Mount |
Our attitude toward “stuff.” Jesus says “Let go of it…” |
| February 13 |
Fr. Lawrence |
4th Sermon on the Mount |
The works of piety – prayer, fasting, alms giving… |
| February 6 |
Fr. Lawrence |
3rd Sermon on the Mount |
The Law – “The Beatitudes are Obligatory Maximums…” |
| January 30 |
Fr. Lawrence |
2nd Sermon on the Mount |
The Torah – “I came not to abolish the law and the prophets, but to fulfill it…” |
| January 23 |
Fr. Lawrence |
1st Sermon on the Mount |
An Introduction – the Beatitudes |
| January 16 |
Fr. Lawrence |
2nd Ordinary |
John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word…” |
| January 2 |
Fr. Lawrence |
Epiphany |
God reveals who Jesus was; so, too, Jesus reveals who God is. |
