Abbot's Homilies

2nd Sunday of Advent-Cycle C-2018 FIRST READING Baruch 5:1-9 Jerusalem, take off your robe of mourning and misery; put on the splendor of glory from God forever: wrapped in the cloak of justice from God, bear on your head the miter that displays the glory of the...

1st Sunday of Advent-Cycle C—2018 FIRST READING                               Jeremiah 33:14-16 The days are coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and Judah.  In those days, in that time, I will raise up for David a just...

Homily for Christ the King-Cycle B—2018 FIRST READING            Daniel 7:13-14 As the visions during the night continued, I saw one like a Son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven; when he reached the Ancient One and was presented before him, the one like a Son of...

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time  --  Cycle B  --  2018 First Reading                  Daniel 12:1-3 In those days, I, Daniel, heard this word of the Lord: "At that time there shall arise Michael, the great prince, guardian of your people; it shall be a time unsurpassed...

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle B - 2018 FIRST READING                 1 Kings 17:10-16 In those days, Elijah the prophet went to Zarephath.  As he arrived at the entrance of the city, a widow was gathering sticks there; he called out to her, "Please bring me a...

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle B - 2018 FIRST READING            Deuteronomy 6:2-6 Moses spoke to the people, saying:  "Fear the Lord your God, and keep, throughout the days of your lives, all his statutes and commandments which I enjoin on you, and thus have...

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle B – 2018 FIRST READING            Jeremiah 31:7-9 Thus says the Lord:  Shout with joy for Jacob, exult at the head of the nations; proclaim your praise and say:  The Lord has delivered his people, the remnant of Israel.  Behold, I...

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle B - 2018 FIRST READING            Isaiah 53:10-11 The Lord was pleased to crush him in infirmity.  If he gives his life as an offering for sin, he shall see his descendants in a long life, and the will of the Lord shall be...

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle B - 2018 FIRST READING            Wisdom 7:7-11 I prayed, and prudence was given me; I pleaded, and the spirit of wisdom came to me.  I preferred her to scepter and throne, and deemed riches nothing in comparison with her, nor did...

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle B - 2018 FIRST READING                     Genesis 2:18-24 The Lord God said: "It is not good for the man to be alone.  I will make a suitable partner for him."  So the Lord God formed out of the ground various wild animals and...

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle B - 2018 FIRST READING            Numbers 11:25-29 The Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to Moses.  Taking some of the spirit that was on Moses, the Lord bestowed it on the seventy elders; and as the spirit came to rest on...

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle B - 2018 FIRST READING            Wisdom 2:12, 17-20 The wicked say:  Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with...

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle B - 2015 FIRST READING            Isaiah 50:5-9a The Lord God opens my ear that I may hear; and I have not rebelled, have not turned back.  I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; my face I did...

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle B - 2018 FIRST READING            Isaiah 35:4-7a Thus says the Lord:  Say to those whose hearts are frightened:  Be strong, fear not!  Here is your God, he comes with vindication; with divine recompense he comes to save you.  Then...

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle B - 2018 FIRST READING            Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8 Moses said to the people:  "Now, Israel, hear the statutes and decrees which I am teaching you to observe, that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the land...

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle B – 2018 FIRST READING            Joshua 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b Joshua gathered together all the tribes of Israel at Shechem, summoning their elders, their leaders, their judges, and their officers.  When they stood in ranks before...

NOTE:  I will retire as abbot on December 12, 2018.  I have been writing these homilies since the First Sunday of Advent in 1997.  I will no longer write these homilies.  My last homily will be published for the Solemnity of Christ in the King, November 25, 2018. ...

NOTE:  I will retire as abbot on December 12, 2018.  I have been writing these homilies since the First Sunday of Advent in 1997.  I will no longer write these homilies.  My last homily will be published for the Solemnity of Christ in the King, November 25, 2018. ...

NOTE:  I will retire as abbot on December 12, 2018.  I have been writing these homilies since the First Sunday of Advent in 1997.  I will no longer write these homilies.  My last homily will be published for the Solemnity of Christ in the King, November 25, 2018. ...

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle B - 2018 FIRST READING                      2 Kings 4:42-44 A man came from Baal-shalishah bringing to Elisha, the man of God, twenty barley loaves made from the firstfruits, and fresh grain in the ear.  Elisha said, "Give it to...