Rich Thoughts

At Blessed John XXIII Parish, Knoxville. Combing the Holy Name of Mary with 1 Corinthians 7:25-31 and Psalm 45. (Hint: the readings were NOT chosen to celebrate the feast!) What do we make of Paul's rather strange advice about marriage?

At Blessed John XXIII Parish, Knoxville. Catholics are supposed to engage in the political process, but every party platform contains planks that are not consonant with Catholic teaching. What are we to do? Ephphatha! Isaiah 35:4-7, Mark 7:31-37.

At Blessed John XXIII Parish, Knoxville. Using 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 and Luke 4:38-44 as a springboard to explore the need to encourage "spiritual seekers" to keep growing in their faith.

At Knoxville Catholic High School. Stay awake (Matthew 24:42-51), because St. Paul's greeting to the Corinthians is a prelude to some serious stuff! (Hint: in Roman times, it was not a compliment to say that someone "acted like a Corinthian"!)

At Blessed John XXIII Parish, Knoxville. One of best-known, tragic, bizarre stories of the Bible and world literature (Mark 6:17-29). What does it teach us about Christian discipleship? Perhaps it's all in the timing…

At Knoxville Catholic High School. Hypocrisy in high school, in the Church, and in ourselves (Matthew 23:23-26). Perhaps St. Augustine's Eucharistic theology can help!

At Blessed John XXIII Parish, Knoxville. Recognizing our hypocrisy (Matthew 23:13-22), and looking to St. Monica for guidance.

At Blessed John XXIII Parish, Knoxville. Religion, intellect, and campus ministry. Opening comments and homily directed primarily at incoming freshmen at the University of Tennessee. Scripture readings: Joshua 24, Psalm 34, Ephesians 5, and John 6.

At Blessed John XXIII Parish, Knoxville. What is the Solemnity of the Assumption really about? (Hint: it's not "Up, Up, and Away.") Homily based on Revelation 11:19; 12:1-6, 10 and 1 Corinthians 15:20-27.

At Blessed John XXIII Parish, Knoxville. An introduction to the technicolor visions and actions of the prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1, also references to Matthew 17:22-27).

At Blessed John XXIII Parish, Knoxville. We continue with the "Bread of Life" discourse (John 6), looking at the many-layered sacrament of the Eucharist. Assistance today from 1 Kings 19:4-8, Psalm 34, and Dr. Ruth Queen Smith.

At Blessed John XXIII Parish, Knoxville. Jeremiah's book of consolation (31:1-7), the Canaanite woman (Matthew 15:21-28), and St. Dominic. As Church, are we focused more on inclusion or exclusion?

At Blessed John XXIII Parish, Knoxville. Celebrating one of the Paulist patron saints: Alphonsus Liguori, founder of the Redemptorists and the father of moral theology.

At Blessed John XXIII Parish, Knoxville. Celebrating Ignatius, the founder of the Society of Jesus (a.k.a. the Jesuits). How can his advice on the "discernment of spirits" help us look at Matthew 13:36-43 in a new way?

At Blessed John XXIII Parish, Knoxville. Mustard seeds and yeast are like the homilies of Peter Chrysologus: small but powerful!

At Blessed John XXIII Parish, Knoxville. Our first week of five exploring John 6. (Assisted today by 2 Kings 4:42-44.) How can we help feed others? We can make a difference, even while we're sitting down on the job!

At Blessed John XXIII Parish, Knoxville. Judeo-Christian prophecy: it's not about events in the future; it's about the truth in the present! The importance of Jeremiah's message.

At Blessed John XXIII Parish, Knoxville. The story of James and John's mother and the subsequent quarrel of the apostles (Matthew 20:20-28) illustrates Paul's claim that we are "earthen vessels" (2 Corinthians 4:7-15).

At Blessed John XXIII Parish, Knoxville. Micah's call to do the right and humbly walk with God (Micah 6:1-4,6-8), and how St. Bridget of Sweden lived out that call. She didn't just look for signs!

At Blessed John XXIII Parish, Knoxville. The tragedies that befell the nation of Israel led it to produce the great religion of Judaism. May we Christians accept the wisdom of our Jewish ancestors, recognizing our childlike vulnerability before God!