Isaiah 56:1,6-8; Psalm 67; Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32; Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28 My wife Terri and I have a seven-year-old long-haired miniature dachshund named Oscar. He is the fourth doxie we have loved in our 27 years of marriage. Oscar has a way of looking at me. You know the look — head tilted, ears perked, eyes fixed on my face like I am the only thing in the world worth watching. I sneak banana or apple to him more often than I would like to admit. He sleeps where he wa

Isaiah 55:1-5; Psalm 145: 8-9, 15-22; Romans 9:1-5; Matthew 14:13-21 MISSION IMPOSSIBLE (INTRO) I love the Mission Impossible movies, are you familiar? If not, let me give you a quick preview. The main character is Ethan Hunt, a super spy who he never acts alone. He leads the IMF (Impossible Missions Force) that uses incredible devices, superb intellect, and special forces like skills, to achieve what often seems like an extremely arduous assignment. The IMF te

Isaiah 44:6-8; Psalm 86:11-17; Romans 8:12-25; Matthew 13:24-30,36-43 Isaiah 44:6-8; Psalm 86:11-17; Romans 8:12-25; Matthew 13:24-30,36-43 Dad's Farm I can say that I personally feel connected to the parable Jesus preached in today's Gospel reading. Jesus taught about "weeds in the field" and was trying to describe the messiness and imperfections of the Kingdom of Heaven. My late father grew up very poor on a farm in East Tennessee, and when he became an adul

Jeremiah 20:7-13; Psalm 69: 8-11, (12-17), 18-20; Romans 6:1b-11; Matthew 10:24-39 "Is there anything I can do for you today?" In the 1993 there was a Romcom movie classic called Groundhog Day and I must admit that it is one of my all-time favorite films. It was the story of Phil Connors a cynical, arrogant, and self-centered TV weatherman who despises his job and looks down on ordinary people. Other characters in the story includes colleagues Rita (producer and focus of his

Genesis 18:1-15, (21:1-7); Psalm 116:1, 10-17; Romans 5:1-8; Matthew 9:35-10:8(9-23) Apostolic Community and the Creeds In today's Gospel, we hear, "These twelve, Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Go ... proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give." "Being Sent" into the world has been the mission of the "People of the Way" fo

Genesis 1:1-2:4a; Psalm 8; 2 Corinthians 13:11-13; Matthew 28:16-20 Mike, Sarah and Baptism For most of my priestly ministry I served as a Canon on a Bishop's staff. However, my most fulfilling ministry was serving God's people in a parish. I loved walking alongside folks in those difficult and liminal moments of life. I especially loved helping young parents prepare for the baptism of their children. I recall one couple in particular whose baptismal journey enriched and