If we were children before the gathering of the Second Vatican Council, we probably learned in catechism that one of the reasons we need to be baptized is to remove the original sin of our first parents, Adam and Eve. Nowadays, we prefer to teach that baptism initiates the non-baptized into a lifelong relationship with Jesus Christ in the context of the pilgrim community . . .  More...

I was a rookie chaplain-in-training at a huge metropolitan hospital. I stepped gently into the room, with my Roman collar on, to visit an elderly ethnic patient prior to surgery. As soon as she glimpsed the collar, she began to wail, “No, no, Father, I’m not dying! It’s just appendicitis!” That was my conspicuous inauguration into the world of pastoral care of the sick . . .  More...

One of the most remarkable things Saint Paul ever wrote was a single word in the second chapter of his Letter to the Colossians. The Colossian Christians were a little confused about their new faith, and Paul worked hard to explain who Christ was and what he had done. One of the most important things Christ had done, Paul said, was to forgive sins. To explain that . . .  More...

“God saw all that he had made, and indeed it was very good.” It is good for us to be here today. We are made in the very image of God. We are made to have close friends, to be in love. So we celebrate today that these two people are entering into the deep and profound human relationship of marriage. They are doing exactly what God intends. They’ve invited us to be part . . .  More...

You are my beloved child. On you my favor rests." That's what God said on the day Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan River. God's favor. God's grace. God's love. Those words and the action of the baptism itself inspired Jesus to begin his mission: to go about doing good works and healing all who were in the grip of the devil, and to be a person of compassion . . .  More...

He popped the question, and she responded with an enthusiastic yes. And from that moment they know a profound joy, the realization of a longing that has been growing maybe from the first time they met. It grew from a simple attraction into a romance as they dated, and blossomed into a young but real love, deepening until now they realize that the time was right . . .  More...

A little girl, about the age of you children gathered here, was asked on the night before receiving her First Communion what was important to know about what she going to do the next day. “To honor and love Jesus in his body and blood,” she said slowly, “and to love one another.” What more do we need to know? I would say she had learned her lessons well . . .  More...

Why are we here today? Don’t worry; I know the reason. But I want to ask that question because there’s an answer we may not realize: the wonderful thing N. and N. have done by inviting us to be part of their wedding celebration. Because a wedding, a marriage, is a lesson in love for all of us. A wedding, a marriage, helps to show us what love is—first of all that “love is from God" . . .  More...

People brought little children to Jesus, the gospel tells us. They sensed the presence of God flowing through this man, and they wanted their children to benefit from the holiness and blessing and protection Jesus brought to those near him. And so you, the parents and family and friends of this child, have brought them here today to be baptized. You have the same desire . . .  More...

There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee—and Jesus was there. But he was not there as Jesus the teacher or Jesus the wonder-worker or Jesus the troublemaker. He was there as Jesus the son of Mary, Jesus the neighbor, Jesus everyone knew since he was a kid. If N. and N.’s wedding today were just like the Cana wedding, Jesus would not be up here like me, all dressed up . . .  More...

would like you all to listen carefully to this very short poem or hymn. It was written in the earliest days of Christianity and was placed by Saint Paul in his Letter to the Galatians. It speaks about what we are doing here today:"For in Christ Jesus you are all children of God . . . . For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek" . . .  More...