I was once on the staff of an undergraduate men’s residence hall at another university. It was rewarding work, but there were some aspects of...
First Sunday of Advent, Cycle C (Dec. 1, 2019)
For years, my friend Father Rafael lived at a missionary institute in England. Amongst his other responsibilities, he was in charge of finances....
Thirty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C (Nov. 24, 2019)
When I was an undergraduate, I took a course called “Introduction to English Literature,” from a professor who believed in starting at...
Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C (Nov. 17, 2019)
Imagine that you are a dancer in an internationally acclaimed ballet company. (If I can imagine it, I’m sure you can.) The company is in the...
Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C (Nov. 10, 2019)
If you were to ask a Jewish scholar why God chose to speak to Moses out of a burning bush, you might be told that the bush represents the people of...
Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C (Nov. 3, 2019)
There is something in the human heart that delights in tiny, carefully crafted things. For many people, a toy soldier painted in exquisite detail in...
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C (Oct. 27, 2019)
I am a big fan of English detective fiction. There are few things I’d rather read than a mystery story from the 1920’s or 30’s. My...
Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C (Oct. 20, 2019)
Our Gospel reading today has a modern ring to it. We find it easy to relate to the story of the woman and the unjust judge. Our newspapers and the...
Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C (Oct. 13, 2019)
I am a member of the Congregation of Holy Cross, the religious order that founded the University of Portland. Before taking his first vows, every...