What does it mean to hope? We use that word all the time. Someone finds a job opportunity that seems perfect, applies, gets an interview, and says, "I really hope I get it." A loved…
NO GREATER LOVE
A story was told some years ago that after a forest fire at a National Park, some park rangers made their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno’s damage. As they walked, a ranger…
THE HARDEST PART OF PRIESTHOOD
“What’s the hardest thing about being a priest?” It’s a question that’s come up more times in the last few years than in my earliest years of priesthood – perhaps because of the negativity we’ve…
WORSE THAN BETRAYAL
In the gospels we heard on Monday and Tuesday of this week, in the background (but not too far in the background) has been the betrayal of Judas. St. John in the Gospel we heard…
CONFUSION
So many things happen in that Upper Room at the Last Supper that the Church breaks up the accounts of that event. We will hear later this week of those foundational sacramental moments with the…
UNFILTERED
It dawned on me that I’ve not encountered this Gospel passage at Mass - in at least 25 years. This passage is only proclaimed (I believe) on the Monday of Holy Week. Traditionally in our…
A HOLY WEEK LIKE NONE OTHER
Allow me to state the obvious - this is weird. Live streaming Masses from the Newman Catholic Center here at Montclair State has been weird. Seeing a box of palm branches arrive and remembering our…
UPDATE – HOLY WEEK – FAQ
In response to some messages, questions (and my apologies if I haven’t responded directly and personally... it’s hard for me to believe that I’ve been busier now with everyone gone than when everyone was around)…
DIVIDING LINE
Earlier this week, Mike Lindell, who is the guy who’s commercials are on 24/7 about Pillows was in the news. He was at the White House during one of the daily press briefings about the…