HOMILY
18th Sunday in Ordinary Time – August 2, 2026
Catholic Charismatic Renewal Conference Closing Mass
As some of you know, less than two weeks ago, I returned from Spain where I participated in a life-long desire that I was finally able to achieve at age 70! I walked a portion of the Camino de Santiago, the pilgrim’s path to the shrine of Saint James the Apostle located in Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain. Faithful souls have engaged this journey for well over a thousand years – some walking a mere 100 kilometers – the 60+ miles that I walked – and some traversing mountains and valleys for hundreds of miles, beginning in points as far away as southern Spain and France.
The Camino began in its earliest days as a spiritual undertaking to visit the shrine of Saint James in Compostela. According to tradition, Saint James preached the gospel message to the faithful who inhabited the Iberian Peninsula before returning to Palestine where he was became the first apostle of Jesus to be martyred. While most pilgrims still engage the Camino as a prayerful, sacrificial experience, people walk it for all sorts of reasons. Some engage it as a time to reflect upon life and the beauty of creation – others as a test of their physical endurance. … And for many, the Camino is an opportunity to reflect upon what is most important in life, where we are most likely to find lasting fulfillment and meaning, and precisely what God may be asking us to embrace as we walk our own particular journey of life.
In reflecting upon the scriptures proclaimed this afternoon, I was reminded of this reason for walking the Camino that so many fellow pilgrims offered as we walked together and shared our stories.
Listen to how Isaiah the prophet speaks to the search within each of our hearts for the values that last and provide us with a way forward in life. “Thus says the Lord: All you who are thirsty, come to the water! You who have no money, come, receive grain and eat; come, without paying and without cost, drink wine and milk! Why spend your money for what is not bread; your wages for what fails to satisfy?”
These verses offer a foundational biblical passage where God extends a free, universal invitation to salvation. It calls out to the spiritually weary and broken, urging them to stop chasing temporary, worldly fulfillment and instead embrace the free, life-giving relationship God offers to us all.
Through the voice of Isaiah, God beckons “all who are thirsty” and those with “no money” to come and partake of water, wine, and milk. These are metaphors for the life-giving grace of God. And the catch is that there is no catch. God’s grace is offered freely, without cost. Our salvation is not earned or purchased by human effort. No, it is gift – pure gift!
In these hope-filled, familiar words, God pierces our human condition with a profound question: Why do you spend money on what is not bread, and labor for what does not satisfy? Where do you look to find the surest treasure that life can offer? From what do you drink to quench your thirst and what do you eat to satisfy your deepest hunger?
The questions posed by the words of Isaiah carry us to the gospel passage just proclaimed: the story of the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Did you know that today’s gospel that recounts the feeding of the multitudes is the only one of Jesus’ miracles recorded in all four Gospels? Undoubtedly, it is given such a distinction because of the great sacrament that it foreshadows. The first Christians especially cherished the story because they saw the miracle as a direct link to the Eucharist. Indeed, the very actions of the miracle prefigure the actions of the eucharistic meal, as Jesus takes, blesses, breaks and gives the bread and fish to the multitude of hungry souls.
In that eucharistic meal that we will celebrate at this altar in just a few moments, all of the deepest longings of the human heart – the thirst and hunger for meaning and purpose, for human fulfillment and peace – all of these longings are realized through the gift of the Savior – Jesus – his body and blood given for our life and salvation.
But the eucharistic experience doesn’t end solely with my hunger or your thirst being satiated. No, there are other elements of the story of the feeding of the multitudes that also speak to our understanding of the Eucharist and of our lives as followers of Jesus.
Let’s first look at the disciples. Somewhat pessimistically, they approach Jesus to inform him that it’s late in the day, they’re in a deserted place and the crowds are likely getting hungry. Their solution: dismiss them so that they can care for themselves. Frankly, I’ve often wondered if implicit in the disciples’ response was their hope that with the crowds gone, they’d have Jesus to themselves, plus a little peace and quiet.
But that wasn’t Jesus’ plan. “There’s no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.” And as if to prove that Jesus’ plan was folly, the disciples managed to find some food – a mere five loaves and two fish from someone who was willing to share the little that she or he had. “This is all we have, Lord. But what good is this for so many?” … Jesus’ response to the disciples’ disappointing efforts, “Bring them here to me.” … And then he takes, blesses, breaks and gives the bread and fish to the reluctant disciples to give to the hungry crowds – and a miracle happened.
Do you notice something about the dynamic that takes place as this miracle unfolds? Jesus could have fed the multitudes in whatever way he chose to feed them. But he specifically chose to engage his disciples in this process. At first, they weren’t convinced of his plans. They seemed to have been a bit reluctant to follow his lead. Yet, throughout their entire exchange, including using the disciples to miraculously distribute a few loaves and fish to feed thousands, Jesus set the stage for how he presence would endure following his passion, death and resurrection and how the Church would grow. … His disciples – Peter, James, John, Andrew, you and me – no matter how ill-equipped or reluctant, would become his hands, his voice, his heart and his presence in our world.
St. Augustine put it best when he reflected upon the Eucharist – so powerfully foreshadowed in today’s gospel miracle, “Become the mystery you celebrate.” … Become the broken Christ whose life was poured forth for those that he loved. … Become the loving, compassionate Christ who multiplied loaves and fish and fed the hungry multitudes, satisfying not only their physical needs, but their desire to be nourished fulfilled by the God.
In reflecting upon the Eucharist during his recent trip to Spain, Pope Leo offered these thoughts. “Let us open ourselves to this unique encounter with Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. Let us allow him to quench the thirst of our hearts, so that we may then go forth into the paths of life and history, bringing to the people this stream of fresh water, a stream of love, peace, justice and joy. Let us drink anew from this Eucharistic spring, which does not enclose us in private devotion, but sends us out to refresh our brothers and sisters, our families, the poor, the suffering, and those who have lost hope. Eucharistic grace transforms us and makes us protagonists of the transformation of history, a sign of hope for those we meet.”
All that we are as Christians – broken and redeemed souls – and all that we are meant to be – the merciful, loving presence of God in our world – all of this is discovered in the Eucharist, the body and blood of Jesus that rests upon this altar.
Brothers and sisters, Jesus is present. See him here before us. Feel his love poured forth from the cross for you. Know that there is nothing in your past or in your life at this moment that cannot be forgiven and healed by Jesus. So, allow his mercy and forgiveness to envelope your lives and to recreate your spirits. Trust in his promise to save. Open your hearts and let his love fill you with peace. … Receive Christ and then, filled with his life, become Christ for our broken world.
HOMILY
17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, July 26, 2026
Saint Ann’s Novena Closing Mass
What a joy to be together this evening! Praise God for the gift and blessings of this Novena!
Before we reflect upon the Word of God this evening, allow me to acknowledge a few individuals who helped to make these sacred days so meaningful and filled with hope. … First, I know that you join me in offering words of deep appreciation to Father Jim Price, newly elected Provincial of the Passionist community of whom we are so proud, having been born and raised in the Diocese of Scranton in Carbondale and having served in a number of assignments locally. I bet you never realized all the good things that have come out of Carbondale – in addition to the alien spaceship that landed there fifty years ago! … Our gratitude is extended as well to Father Richard Burke, rector, and the priests and brothers of Saint Ann’s Monastery, to Father Jim Paisley, pastor of Saint Ann’s Parish, as well as to the parishioners, friends and benefactors Saint Ann’s for making this time of prayer and worship available to so many of us. … And on your behalf, I especially want to extend our thanks to Father Rick Frechette and Father Jack Conley for preaching this 102nd novena to Saint Ann. You have touched our community deeply with the witness of your lives and the words of faith and challenge that you have shared. Thank you!
We don’t often have the opportunity to hear a gospel like the one that was just proclaimed as we bring this solemn Novena to Saint Ann to a close. While we’re celebrating the Memorial Mass for Saints Ann and Joachim as we do every year on July 26th, the readings this evening come from those of Sunday, of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time. Yet, the message of the Word of God this evening, especially our gospel, are quite providential as we bring these nine days of prayer and preaching to a close, aren’t they?
In the 13th chapter of Saint Matthew’s gospel that we hear today, two short parables are shared. The parable of the buried treasure and the parable of the pearl of great value. In these parables, for as disarmingly simple as they are in their substance, we discover lessons that teach us not only about life but about authentic discipleship and what it means to live as a Christian – a true follower of Jesus.
The gospel reminds us that the “treasures” and “pearls” of God are not found in the things of this world that we so often pursue – the things that we can buy, build, or broker. The gospel implies that we can become so obsessed with creating a lifestyle that we can often fail to embrace the real treasures of life and faith, can’t we?
For Jesus, those treasures, the pearls – the values – that he invites us to pursue, are less tangible and much less measurable than the many passing values established by our world. They are, however, far more substantive in the impact that they have on our lives and in our hearts.
You know those values well. For as much as we struggle to find our way, your presence on this hillside for the past nine days is a powerful sign to our complicated world about where we are willing to invest our lives. And that investment is not made in a place or thing but a person: the person of Jesus Christ.
And what are the treasures that Jesus sets before us? You’ve heard of them all week from the wisdom and faith shared by Father Rick and Father Jack. They’re rooted in the very pattern of his own life: love – selfless love that seeks the well-being of the object of our love as Jesus loved us from the cross, … justice – rooted in the recognition that every life has value and is deserving of respect and dignity, … mercy – that grows through forgiveness and reconciliation, … faithfulness – a trust in God that enables us to seek God’s ways rather than our own, … gratitude – for the blessings of life root in simple treasures, … and peace – the ability to be calm in our hearts through faith, despite the noise and confusion that surrounds us.
Make no mistake, brothers and sisters, there is risk involved in pursuing the treasures that Jesus sets before us. The risk most often involves setting aside our own interests, comfort, ambitions and agendas. The risk can also hurt. It can put us at odds with those we love and respect. It can lead to misunderstanding and confusion for others. But in the end, Jesus’ treasures are the only ones that can provide us with a life of meaning, purpose and peace. It is as simple as that!
Today, as we bring this solemn novena to Saint Ann to a close, we do so on a day set aside by the Church as the World Day of Prayer for Grandparents and the Elderly. Pope Francis established this day in 2021 and directed that it be celebrated on the fourth Sunday of July, closest to the feast day of the grandparents of Jesus, Saints Joachim and Ann. The Holy Father’s intent was to honor grandparents and older adults, to acknowledge the depth of their wisdom and faith, and to celebrate the bond between generations.
I suspect that you would all agree that those whom we honor this day, far from being a burden in any way as our world might suggest, have much to teach us about the values of the gospel upon which we have just reflected for the past few moments – if we are willing to open our hearts to listen to their words.
In reflecting upon today’s gospel and this unique celebration of faith, I couldn’t help but think of my own grandmother who passed from this world 54 years ago on this very day – the feast day of Saint Ann. As I have often shared, my grandmother was an immigrant from Poland who set foot on the shores of this great land in 1912. Like so many of our parents and grandparents, my grandmother along with my grandfather, buoyed by their faith, gave their lives for the sake of their family. My grandfather worked in the mines and my grandmother raised ten children. While they had very little in terms of material wealth and the values that the world set before to pursue, they understood the things that were most important in life – the values that Jesus sets before us – the blessings of faith and family – of forgiveness and love.
It’s funny how we remember certain moments in our lives. I recall like it was yesterday words that my grandmother shared the day before she passed. My uncles helped her walk from her bedroom into the kitchen so that she could look out into the yard and garden that she so dearly loved one last time. As her children and many of her grandchildren gathered around her, for as weak as she was, we heard her share these words clearly and distinctly, “I’m so happy! I’m so happy!” She knew well that her journey was coming to an end. But she was happy and blessed! Her family was together. Her faith was strong. And the bond of love that she sought to plant in her children had born fruit.
Those were the values that brought my grandmother happiness – the treasures – the pearl of great price – that she pursued as she prepared to leave this world and pass over to the next. And those are the same values – indeed, the only values – that will bring us peace throughout our journey of life and at its end.
Brothers and sisters, as we bring these days of prayer during this annual Novena to Saint Ann to a close, may our hearts be filled with gratitude to God – gratitude for prayers answered – gratitude for the blessings of one another in whom God is present and through whom God works so mightily – and gratitude for the wisdom and courage to pursue life’s greatest treasures, found nowhere else but in Jesus and in the Kingdom he has established within our hearts. Amen!
HOMILY
Mass of Remembrance – July 23, 2026
Isaiah 61:1-3,6,8-9; 2 Corinthians 1:1-7; John 14:1-6
Just two days ago, I returned from Spain where I participated in a life-long desire that I was finally able to achieve at age 70! I walked a small portion of the Camino de Santiago, the pilgrim’s path to the shrine of Saint James the Apostle located in the town of Santiago de Compostela. Faithful souls have embraced this journey for well over a thousand years.
While the Camino began as a spiritual undertaking – and still is for most participants – people walk it for all sorts of reasons. Some still engage it as a prayerful, sacrificial experience – some as a time to reflect upon life and the beauty of creation – others to discern what God might be asking of them – and for many, the Camino is simply a time to remember – to remember loved ones who have passed, just as we do this night.
I can’t begin to tell you the number of people whom we met along the way who were only too eager to speak about their loved ones who had passed and for whom they are walking and praying. And something else struck me as we walked through villages and towns in northwestern Spain. The cemeteries that circled most churches were remarkable for the care that was provided not by groundskeepers but quite obviously by family members and loved ones. While we decorate graves at certain times of the year, most every grave that we encountered displayed beautiful, fresh flowers, presumably for most of the summer months and beyond. In fact, if you followed my journey on Facebook, you would have seen that I posted pictures of one cemetery where we encountered an elderly woman walking among the graves to care for the flowers, to water them and to replace those that had withered with new flowers that she carried.
From watching that elderly woman and from reflecting upon words shared by so many pilgrims on the Camino who were walking in memory of loved ones who had passed, something struck me that you may already know. While life goes on – even when the unthinkable occurs with the loss of someone we love – there is always time to pray and remember.
Life does indeed go on when we lose those we love, but it is never the same, is it? Life goes on and is bearable because of that which motivates our presence in this cathedral tonight. And it goes on, whether we realize it or not, because of our faith in Jesus, who, like so many of you carried a cross, suffered and overcame death through the power and grace of God.
Every time we gather to celebrate the Eucharist, we confront two great realities within our lives. We confront the brokenness of the human condition and the immeasurable mercy and love of God. These two great realities, experienced particularly in this Mass of Remembrance, create a bit of a tension, don’t they? The tension that I refer to isn’t rooted in stress or the daily pressures of work or family life. It’s related far more to the struggle that we have as we seek to balance the reality of grief, loss, and death, on one hand, and the hope that is ours through faith on the other hand.
We are all here today because we have faced the worst that life can offer. But we are also here today because we believe that the mystery of our faith – grounded in the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus – can and does speak to the brokenness of our lives and enables our lives to “go on” with a certain sense of hope and even, at times, a peace that we can neither explain nor justify in the face of our loss.
The scripture passages proclaimed this evening, each in their own way, speak to our lives, don’t they? Isaiah announces a year of favor from the Lord “to comfort all who mourn.” Jesus, in the gospel message from Saint John promises to all believers the gift of his peace – so “do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.”
But it is Saint Paul’s’ message from his Second Letter to the Corinthians that speaks most clearly to the reality of our celebration. In just a few verses, Paul speaks of the Lord’s comfort, encouragement and consolation no less than ten times. Paul is able to offer consolation to the Corinthians because of the very consolation with which he himself is consoled by God in the midst of his own struggles and pain. And Paul reminds all of us that when consolation is granted to us, there is an expectation placed upon us. We who experience God’s consolation, in turn, are called to extend such consolation, healing and comfort to others.
Too much to expect of us? Don’t be so sure. For isn’t it so often the case that those people who touch us the most in our suffering and grief are often individuals who have experienced significant loss in their own lives. … They are so often people who have received the consolation of the Lord on their own journeys of life, but who have chosen not to wallow in self-pity. No, they understand the blessing that comes from sharing the consolation that they have received with others. … They are people who have and continue to allow themselves to be instruments of the Lord’s peace, even as they struggle to find it more fully within their own hearts. … They are people who understand the words of Saint Paul: “those who have received the Lord’s consolation, in turn, encourage those who are afflicted.”
Not long ago, the Vatican reported that our Holy Father, Pope Leo, received a letter from a man named Francesco, a father of four, who wrote to the Holy Father about the death of his 12-year-old son, Domenico, from a sudden illness eighteen years ago. Despite the time that has passed, the father – like so many of us who gather this night in our cathedral – said he still felt like his son’s premature death happened only yesterday.
“Holiness, this letter of mine is intended only as a thought, as well as a remembrance for our son, so that God, in his infinite goodness and mercy as a Father, may welcome him into the kingdom of heaven.”
In his response, Pope Leo reminded the father that “the important thing is to always remain connected to the Lord, going through the greatest pain with the help of His Grace, which always comes — even in the darkest moments.” The Pope recalled the light of the love of God, who walks with us throughout our life, starting at our Baptism, and went on to share with the young boy’s grieving father, “Remember, because of this love, death never has the last word! The last word, which opens the doors to eternity and joy that lasts forever, is the resurrection, which knows no discouragement or pain.” The Holy Father concluded his words about the man’s son, who was a soccer player at the time of his death, with these thoughts, “Continue to remember your son, even after all these years. Prayer for him always. For authentic prayer creates bonds and unites us forever, with bonds that go far beyond death.”
Brothers and sisters, we all bring sadness and pain to this moment. And yet, our presence here tonight affirms the fact that life goes on. … Life goes on through the supportive presence of countless numbers of individuals whom God has given to us and whom we, in turn, are privileged to serve in and through our own grief. … Life goes on through the blessing of our faith which, even when questioned at times during our struggles, provides us with the pathway to God’s loving presence. … And life goes on because of Jesus and the power of his suffering, death and resurrection, through which we remember and keep alive all those relationships with loved ones who have passed from this world to the next.
HOMILY
Wedding Anniversary Mass – June 28, 2026
13th Sunday in Ordinary Time
This is a pretty unusual gospel passage, don’t you think? It doesn’t sound like Jesus, does it?. And it hardly seems to be a gospel appropriate for today’s focus upon wedding anniversaries, marriage and family life. Just to be certain, let’s recall exactly what Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” Jesus’ words don’t seem to make sense, do they? In fact, doesn’t the great commandment call us to love God above all things – but to also love our neighbor – our father and mother, our son and daughter, our husband and wife – as we love ourselves?
So, what’s really going on in this rather unique passage? What is Jesus saying to us? I’d suggest that it has nothing to do with insensitivity on his part and everything to do with the urgency of following Jesus and living out our faith through his call to discipleship.
While today’s gospel, on its surface, may sound harsh in tone for such a joyful celebration, at its heart, Jesus speaks of the sacrifice demanded of his disciples – of you and me – and the suffering that we will all endure at some point or another for the sake of our faith. He goes on to remind us that authentic discipleship ultimately means embracing the selflessness of Jesus that led him to the cross – it means welcoming and supporting others when our self-righteousness or preconceived notions about them may prompt us to treat them otherwise – and it means looking beyond our own world, our needs, and our plans in order to respond to the poor and broken who inhabit our families and neighborhoods and whom God weaves into our own lives.
Now let’s be honest – doesn’t this perspective on the gospel sound a lot like what’s required of a couple to engage in a life-giving, faithful marriage and what’s gotten you to today’s anniversary celebration in the first place? Suddenly, today’s gospel begins to make a bit more sense, particularly when we link it to our lives, our relationships and what we celebrate today.
We all carry around a lot of baggage in life, don’t we? Some of the things to which we cling, especially those rooted in our past and in our relationships, can deprive us of engaging life and our faith in a positive manner. … We can hold on to past hurts, mistakes, memories and all sorts of things that, at times, can stand in the way of new experiences, opportunities – and even encounters with God that have the power to bring us peace and consolation.
But there are also many things that God has woven into our lives that can be life-giving – like cherished family members and friends and experiences of authentic, selfless, forgiving love – all of which can be found in married life and can become the seed-bed for a deeper relationship amongst ourselves and ultimately with God.
Brothers and sisters, each one of you who gathers for this Wedding Anniversary Mass today knows the difference between the baggage that can wear us down and those things that can ultimately bring us joy and peace.
My parents were married for 56 years when my dad passed away in 2004. To commemorate their 50th wedding anniversary, my sister and I planned a beautiful Mass and a party to commemorate the event. As I began my homily during their anniversary Mass, I asked my parents if there were any words of wisdom that they wanted to share as they reflected on 50 years of marriage. Although I won’t do that with any of you today, I thought I could get away with it with my parents. First, I looked at my dad, who often got pretty emotional at times. He was already crying and couldn’t say a word. Then I looked at my mother. She rolled her eyes and said, “You know your father.” And then, without missing a beat, she went on to offer some pretty sage words of advice.
“What would I like to share about 50 years of marriage? It’s been an interesting journey. If you start with the early years of our marriage, just following World War II, while we loved each other, they were rough times. We didn’t have very much, and we worked hard to get ahead. We didn’t always agree on things. Then we were blessed with two wonderful children. There were good times but also disappointments and setbacks. But it was never about win or lose – but forgiving, accepting, praying and working hard because we believed in marriage. And look at what we have now. Look what we are able to celebrate today!”
My friends, I don’t doubt for a moment that most of you would share similar words today. As you think about the many years of your marriage, the stories and events that are likely racing through your minds and hearts probably don’t give evidence of a fairy tale notion of an ideal relationship. … To the contrary, your stories and lives likely reflect some of the same sentiments that my parents shared: hard work, struggle and pain, and a selflessness that seeks the well-being of another. … Your marriage has endured not because the years have been perfect, but because you have come to see marriage as part of something much bigger than yourselves – the mystery of God’s love discovered in your lives together.
Pope Leo spoke of marriage so beautifully in addressing married couples recently. “Marriage is not an ideal,” he began, “but the measure of true love between a man and a woman.” Quoting his predecessor, Saint Paul VI, Leo went on to share that marriage reflects “a love which is total—that very special form of personal friendship in which husband and wife generously share everything, allowing no unreasonable exceptions and not thinking solely of their own convenience. Whoever really loves his partner loves not only for what he receives, but loves that partner for the partner’s own sake, content to be able to enrich the other with the gift of himself.”
My friends, what a blessing you celebrate today in your married life! … Now do me a favor. … Look at the person sitting next to you. … Look into his eyes – her eyes. For all that is a part of this exchange at this moment, realize just how sacred your relationship is. … For all that you have been through, realize how blessed you are to have each other. … For as familiar as those eyes are, see through them to discover the face of God abiding within the heart of the one you love. … And give thanks. … Amen.
Previous Homilies 2026
Ordination to the Priesthood June 27, 2026
Catholic Women’s Conference June 6, 2026
Mother’s Day Adoption Mass May 10, 2026
Day of Atonement and Healing April 9, 2026
2026 Lenten Deanery Holy Hour “Finding Peace in Challenging Times”
Solemnity of Saint Joseph March 19, 2026
Saint Patrick’s Parade Day Mass March 14, 2026
Rite of Election February 22, 2026
Ash Wednesday February 18, 2026
Disabilities Mass –5th Sunday in Ordinary Time February 8, 2026