Homily for the Memorial of Saint Peter Claver
September 9, 2024
Theological College of the Catholic University of America
Washington, D.C.
Isaiah 58:6-11
Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4, 6
Matthew 25:31-40
Saint Peter Claver was born in Spain and began life with a very shy disposition. One day, while he was praying, Peter Claver had a spiritual experience of being called by Christ, a vocation. At the encouragement of Saint Alfonso Rodriguez, he joined the Jesuits and received his assignment to serve in the missions of the Spanish colony of Colombia where he was ordained a priest in 1615. In that sense he was very much part of a system of colonization by a European power that included human trafficking and slavery.
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Homily for Monday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time
Mass for the Theological College
September 11, 2023
Theological College
Washington, D.C.
Colossians 1:24-2:3
Psalm 62:6-7, 9
Luke 6:6-11
We listen to the Word of God proclaimed in our midst, the Word whose completion we are entrusted like Saint Paul to bring about, the mystery hidden from ages and generations past. In listening, we hear questions asked and answered, we hear questions curdled into suspicions, we hear answers given and rejected; and we see indifference and denial overcome by charity and the Truth.
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Homily for the Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent
March 16, 2022
Theological College
Washington, D.C.
Jeremiah 18:18-20
Psalm 31:5-6, 14, 15-16
Matthew 20:17-28
Enemies, allies, and friends. This theme that very much dominates our news cycle these days. This is also a theme that our readings offer today for our reflection as we progress in our Lenten pilgrimage towards the mysteries of the Easter Triduum. Enemies, allies, and friends.
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Homily for the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Monday, September 13, 2021
Theological College
Washington, D.C.
1 Timothy 2:1-8
Psalm 28:2, 7, 8-9
Luke 7:1-10
The Gospel today offers us an important distinction for our reflection. It offers us the distinction between the religion born of culture and religion born of faith. First, the Gospel tells us this story, “A centurion there had a slave who was ill and about to die, and he was valuable to him. When he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and save the life of his slave. They approached Jesus and strongly urged him to come, saying, “He deserves to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation, and he built the synagogue for us.”
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Life on the Chrism Trail 