Spoke in Tongues

May 13, 2024

Each day, I reflect upon a word or phrase inspired by the readings of the day. I encourage you to do the same and perhaps incorporate that word or phrase into your daily prayer.

And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. (Acts 19:1-8)

SPOKE IN TONGUES: The concept of speaking in tongues can be confusing. The disciples in today’s reading, and the Apostles at Pentecost, are suddenly able, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to speak the language of whoever may be listening to them.

This is very difficult to understand. I’m sure if I had asked about this as a child, I would have been told, “It’s a mystery” – the catch-all phrase used by adults when they didn’t understand something either.

Perhaps what is really going on is that the followers of Jesus, once given the gift of the Holy Spirit, had the courage to speak the universal language of Jesus Christ, the universal language of love.

When I went to Haiti, I was unable to speak Creole, the native language of the Haitians. But we certainly communicated. They certainly understood a smile, a hand taking theirs, a hug, and a nod acknowledging that we were there to help them.

Filled with the Holy Spirit and motivated by the love of Jesus Christ, we are all capable of being understood. We are all capable of speaking in tongues, as long as it is the language of love.

Homily: You Do This Wall

May 12, 2024 – Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord

Today is the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. I am not preaching today, but the following is a homily I delivered on this Solemnity BACK IN 2014: 

One early August day, my dad called for me to come out to the garage. I can’t remember for sure, but I think I was around 7 or 8 years old.

Half of the garage had been completely emptied out and there was plastic spread out on the floor. A metal pan, a roller, and a brush sat next to an open can of paint.

My dad handed me the roller and said, “You do this wall. I’ll start over here.”

That’s it. That was the extent of my instructions.

It is important to note that I had never held a paint roller in my hand before that day. My previous painting experience included finger-painting in kindergarten and a paint-by-number book I got for First Communion.

My dad was a Marine, so the thought of questioning a direct order never crossed my mind. So I just stared at the wall and tried to decipher his somewhat vague painting instructions: “You do this wall.”

I wondered if Dad had me confused with one of my three older brothers. I’m certain each of them had more painting experience than me. That happened with six kids in the house; Dad got us mixed up sometimes.

I stared at the wall a little longer. I was considering all of my options when Dad stopped his own painting and asked, “Is there a problem?”

“I don’t know how to paint,” I told him. I put down the roller, assuming he would come to his senses and remember I was just a little kid.

Your Joy May Be Complete

May 11, 2024

Each day, I reflect upon a word or phrase inspired by the readings of the day. I encourage you to do the same and perhaps incorporate that word or phrase into your daily prayer.

“Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you. Until now you have not asked anything in my name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.” (John 16:23-28)

Notice that Jesus did not tell His disciples, “…so that your happiness may be complete.”

Happiness has an expiration date. Joy is happiness on steroids. It is not something that we have to search for and it does not depend on anything from the outside world. We do not need to wait for it or hope for it. And no one can take it away from us unless we let them.

Joy resides in our hearts. The source of that joy is the love of Jesus Christ. We can access it at anytime.

We can choose joy. It is simply a matter of accepting the love of Jesus.

Go On Speaking

May 10, 2024

Each day, I reflect upon a word or phrase inspired by the readings of the day. I encourage you to do the same and perhaps incorporate that word or phrase into your daily prayer.

Do not be afraid. Go on speaking, and do not be silent, for I am with you. (Acts 18:9-18)

GO ON SPEAKING: There are many times that Jesus comforted his disciples with the words, “Do not be afraid.”

By saying, “Do not be afraid,” Jesus acknowledged their vulnerability. People don’t like to admit when they are afraid. They prefer to pretend they can handle anything. Yet somehow, when Jesus said “Do not be afraid,” it brought comfort. He was really saying, “I understand that you are afraid, and I am here to help.”

In today’s reading, He said those words to Paul. The Jews Paul was trying to evangelize were turning against him. His confidence was shaken. Paul feared not only rejection, but possibly violence and death.

Jesus gave him permission to be afraid, but He did not want the fear to immobilize Paul. Rather, he wanted the fear and the knowledge that Jesus will be with him to fuel his work, to give him new energy and drive.

Jesus knows that we, too, are often afraid. He tells us, as he did Paul, to go on speaking, and do not be silent, for I am with you. We can roll up our sleeves and get back to the work of spreading the Gospel message, finding comfort in the fact that Jesus will be with us when we do.

Open Letter to High School Seniors

May 9, 2024

Each year around this time, I send a letter to about-to-graduate high school seniors. Here is this year’s letter:

Dear Class of 2024,

You are entering a special time of your lives, preparing to transition from the high school scene to a time of much more independence. I hope you won’t get so caught up in what’s next that you fail to appreciate what you have now. Take time to acknowledge the love others have for you.

Here are some thoughts I like to share with seniors around this time each year, beginning with the time leading up to your departure for college:

• Allow for some parental smothering. Your parents will want to hug you more than usual. You will often catch them just staring at you. Mom will have tears in her eyes most of the time. They will say things like, “Do you have to go out tonight? Can’t you just stay home with us?” and “Come sit by me for a few minutes.” Don’t be surprised if they ask, “How are you feeling about going away to college?” The correct response is, “You have prepared me well, so I am excited to go…but I will miss you guys.” Follow this up with a smile and a hug. (Note: The hugging thing is big. If you’re not a hugger, get over it for the next several weeks.)

Serving God

May 8, 2024

Each day, I reflect upon a word or phrase inspired by the readings of the day. I encourage you to do the same and perhaps incorporate that word or phrase into your daily prayer.

The God who made the world and all that is in it, the Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in sanctuaries made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands because he needs anything. (Acts 17:22–18:1)

SERVING GOD: Does God need us to serve Him?

God does not want us to serve Him because He needs it. He wants us to serve Him because we need it. By serving Him we fulfill our purpose on this earth. By serving Him we grow in faith and understanding. By serving Him we empty ourselves and become more like Him.

Jesus taught us that we best serve God by serving others.

God does indeed want us to serve Him, but for our own benefit and that of our fellow men – not because He needs it.

Advocate

May 7, 2024

Each day, I reflect upon a word or phrase inspired by the readings of the day. I encourage you to do the same and perhaps incorporate that word or phrase into your daily prayer.

“For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” (John 16:5-11)

ADVOCATE: In this sixth week of Easter, we continue to hear readings from John, from Jesus’ discourse with the Apostles at the Last Supper. For the last several days, the readings have alluded to the coming of the Advocate.

This, of course, refers to the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Jesus wants to assure the Apostles that even though He will be leaving them, He will be sending the Holy Spirit to be with them, to guide them and give them a voice. They should find comfort in this. This message should give them the courage they will need.

This message should bring us comfort as well. The human person of Jesus no longer walks the earth with us, but His presence remains and is available to us at all times. We should never feel alone. We have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit. That should give us the courage we need.

Open Hearts

May 6, 2024

Each day, I reflect upon a word or phrase inspired by the readings of the day. I encourage you to do the same and perhaps incorporate that word or phrase into your daily prayer.

…and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what Paul was saying. (Acts 16:11-15)

OPEN HEARTS: The Lord wants to open our hearts, too. It requires a willingness on our part. The Lord does not want to pry open our hearts. He wants free access, which requires us to have a willing spirit.

A heart opened by the Lord makes us attentive to Him. It gives us insights to the Word; it gives us an appreciation for the gifts of others; it inspires gratitude for our many blessings; and it welcomes opportunities to grow our relationship with Him.

The Lord wants to open our hearts. Let’s give Him access.

Homily: Be the Pebble

May 5, 2024 – Sixth Sunday of Easter

Readings: Acts 10:25-48 / 1 John 4:7-10 / John 15:9-17

When preparing my homily, I occasionally assign Carol some homework. After reviewing this week’s readings, I asked her to think of a time in her life when she agreed to do something, but was not expecting much from the experience.

This is what she shared with me the next day: Back in 2000, she was asked to drive six teenagers from St. Pius X to Nazareth Farm for a weeklong retreat. For those who may not be familiar with Nazareth Farm, it is a Catholic community in rural West Virginia. Staff members lead groups through service-focused retreat experiences.

Carol said yes, thinking she would simply be a driver – drive the teens down to West Virginia, relax for a week, and then drive them home. It wasn’t until she arrived that she discovered that she was to be a part of the retreat experience as well.

She would be cutting grass on the farm; she would be helping put a new roof on a home; she would assist in building a handicap ramp; she would be helping to paint a barn, right along with teenagers and adults from all over the country.

The experience transformed her. Service work and mission trips became a part of her identity. She continued to take teens to Nazareth Farm for over fifteen years and even served six years on the Board of Directors for the farm. She later expanded her mission work by saying “Yes” to going to El Salvador. In the past twenty-four years, she has made over twenty-five trips there.

Carol credits that initial trip to Nazareth Farm with being the pebble that caused a ripple in her life of mission work. She thought she was just going to be a driver.

You Do Not Belong to the World

May 4, 2024

Each day, I reflect upon a word or phrase inspired the readings of the day. I encourage you to do the same and perhaps incorporate that word or phrase into your daily prayer.

If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you. (John 15:18-21)

YOU DO NOT BELONG TO THE WORLD: Today’s world stands in opposition to all who try to live a good Christian life. It is a constant battle to stay on the straight and narrow and do what is right. The devil is in our ear, tempting us just as he did Jesus in the desert. This world of secularism, relativism, materialism, and “do what feels good-ism” sets up an ongoing battle for us.

We need to show strength, courage, and perseverance in this battle. We may not be able to control how the world calls out to us, but we can certainly control how we respond.