Because it appears in all four Gospels, the multiplication of the loaves and fishes – and the Bread of Life discourse that follows it in the Gospel of John – is a frequent homily topic in the summer months.
As I approached the readings this week, I began to wonder: “Hmm… another Gospel parable about sowers and seeds.” Why did Jesus tell two such similar stories back-to-back – thereby leaving summer preachers with the challenge of coming up with two different homilies on what seems to be the same to
“Listen! A sower went out to sow.” Thus begins a wonderful series of stories told by the great teacher, Jesus of Nazareth – stories which, two thousand years later, are still being told as around the world, Christians gather to be formed by the Greatest Story ever told. As we gather on this ho
What burdens are YOU carrying? Stop and think about it for a minute. What aspects of your life – or the lives of those you know and love – seem the most difficult to accept, and to bear? Burdens come in all shapes and sizes. And no matter how rich, how famous, how integrated, how together someone may seem to the outside world – everybody is carrying something.
Questions, questions. We pray, we go on retreat, we come to Mass – in order to carve out some space in our busy lives for God. For many of us, that means talking to God. Sometimes we do so in the formal language of vocal prayers, or through the Scriptures, or some other kind
Divine Mercy / Canonization of SS. John XXIII and John Paul II / Second Sunday of Easter
Fr. Raymond Lafontaine, E.V.April 27, 2014
As we complete our Easter octave, today’s Gospel presents us with the encounter between the Risen Christ and the struggling Apostle Thomas. I have always liked Thomas. I can relate to Thomas. If ever I become Pope (a long shot, to be sure!), I think I would choose to be called Thomas. (Although now that we have Pope Francis – not to mention our two new saints this weekend, John XXIII and John Paul II – it might be hard to make up my mind!)
Mother’s Day / World Day of Prayer for Vocations / Fourth Sunday of Easter
Fr. Raymond Lafontaine, E.V.May 11, 2014
Throughout the whole Church today, we celebrate the 4th Sunday of Easter. This is also known as “Good Shepherd Sunday”, because in the Gospel, Jesus presents himself to us as the Good Shepherd who cares for his flock, who knows each of his lambs by name, who protects them from danger, who gives them “abundant life.”
We have just heard these words spoken by and Angel to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, who on going to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus, found his tomb empty. This empty tomb is the foundation of our Easter hope. Christ is risen, just as he has promised. Because Christ is risen, we share
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