The Scriptural Deacon

Here is a summary of my homily for this Sunday. The readings are from the Eastern Church Lectionary.  In today’s Gospel (Luke 10:25-37) we walk into the middle of a fascinating and earth-shattering conversation between Jesus and a Jewish lawyer. He is one of the experts of the Law and one who would interpret the Law and teach the people how to live properly according to this interpretation. Let us watch and listen to what happens and think about how these words of our Lord himself challenge us as his disciples and the world as a whole. This lawyer comes up to Jesus and asks him an important question, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Now keep in mind what this question means. He is not simply asking Jesus, as some quickly conclude, “how do I get to heaven when I die.” No, he is asking him, “how do I have life in God’s new age.” This is hard for us to grasp at first, but this man wants to know, when God acts in creation and rescues his world...

Yes it has been ten years since my wife Joanne and I were Crowned in Marriage! The Queen of my heart!!! The First Dance around your Holy Altar O' Lord The Kiss as new Bride and Groom All the items needed for the Service - The Crowns, The Candle, The Common Cup, The Ring Holder, The Rope to Bind Our Hands Together   The Ones at the Heart of our Love and Marriage - Picture from our home Chapel The Cross - The very image and center of love. What the sacrifice of marriage looks like in action. The true death of self and the new life with another, all for the glory of God. Also, realizing the great fact that Jesus must be the foundation and at the middle of every marriage.  The Trinity - Another image of Love. Father and Son in perfect union by the Love of the Holy Spirit. The same love that God pours into our hearts, in order that we can love him and one another.  Jesus Christ - The very one who brought Joanne and I together...

Here is my homily from this past Sunday in the Roman Church: The Readings from this Sunday, all in their own way, call us to reflect upon our lives as faithful sons or daughters of the Living God. This requires us from time to time to ask the question, “how are we doing in this task?” If we are falling short, what is the problem? What is stopping us from fully following Jesus on his way and answering his call? Is it spiritual blindness? Is it the love of worldly power or possessions? Are we just simply lazy? And there are many people like this, those who claim to be so “busy” but completely lax in their spiritual lives. Or are we just weak in our faith? Do we often stifle the Spirit that God himself put into each one of us at our baptism? Does our faith become like a fire that one tries to cover to put out instead of letting it burn? Remember what Jesus tells us, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” (Matthew 5:14) These questions must make us ask ...