It is likely that most of us, if not all of us, have traveled across country in an automobile. If we are the driver, we might take the time to study a map. We might download directions from the Internet. If we travel a lot, we might invest in a GPS app for our mobile […]
A Reflection on “Family” (Fr. Bob reflection)
With Christmas over, gift-wrap recycled, and holiday cookies nearly gone, we are given the opportunity to celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family. The opportunity lends itself to consider family life in the many and various ways in which we experience it. Speaking for myself, I belong to three families—my birth family, my Dominican family, and […]
Who We Are Becoming (Fr. Bob reflection)
As Christmas Day approaches the stories surrounding the birth of Jesus as well as the nativity story itself are depicted in creche scenes, television programs, school plays, Christmas cards, sacred hymns, and popular songs. But there is much, much more to the stories of Christmas than what immediately meets our eyes and ears. In the […]
Hoping in God’s Promises (Fr. Bob reflection)
I think all of us have watched a child scoot or crawl along the floor to reach an object that has attracted his or her attention. If it is safe, we may cheer the child on and move the object closer. If it is unsafe, we may move the child away or place the object […]
Greater Than Its Parts (Fr. Bob reflection)
I think most of us are familiar with the phrase “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” It was first used by Aristotle in his written work Metaphysics. Down through history, it is likely that other people used the same phrase with their work. A structural engineer may use the phrase to […]
Christ Is King (Fr. Bob reflection)
Most of us remember learning about metaphors in our fifth grade English class. We learned that the use of metaphors is only meaningful when the metaphor comes from a common knowledge and the shared experiences of people. So maybe for us the metaphor Christ the King should be changed. Perhaps we should say, “Christ the […]
Being Grateful (Fr. Bob reflection)
In his book, The Power of Myth, Joseph Campbell writes this about our eating habits. “None of us would be here if we weren’t forever eating. What you eat is always something that just a moment before was alive. This is the sacramental mystery of food and eating, which doesn’t often come to our minds when we […]
What Do We Think? (Fr. Bob reflection)
In today’s gospel we hear Jesus responding to a question asked by a scribe. The passage does not indicate whether the scribe is a Pharisee or a Sadducee. But in the passage before this one, a Sadducee scribe asks Jesus a question about the resurrection in which the Sadducees did not believe. You know the […]
Remembering Our Loved Ones (Fr. Bob reflection)
To be a Dominican is to have great love and care for the dead. For 800 years, Dominicans have religiously carried out customs and practices that focus our prayers on those who have died. No matter how long ago a Sister or Brother died, on the anniversary of their birth into new life, we remember […]
What Do We Value? (Fr. Bob reflection)
In today’s gospel reading, two things are seen as wealth—material possessions and religious-moral identity. I call it religious-moral identity because for Jewish people, at the time of Jesus, there was no distinction between material possessions, cultural practices, and religious practices. They were combined together into one religious-moral self. In other words, this is who I […]
Without Any Bias and Hesitation! (Fr. Bob reflection)
I believe that the scripture readings we hear this Sunday can be used as a self-guided reflection on who we are and who we might become as human beings. In the reading from the Book of Genesis, God first creates a human being and then begins to create other creatures. God asks the human being […]
Many Words of Thanks (Fr. Bob reflection)
ABUNDANT THANKS to Mary Leibl, Linda Rivera, and Karen Thompson who co-directed the Church of St. Matthew Fall Festival. BOUNTIFUL THANKS to the members of the Planning Committee who planned and organized the booths. IMMENSE THANKS to all the generous volunteers who assisted where and whenever needed. PROFUSE THANKS to the members of the Rosary Society and the Men’s […]
Heavenly Wisdom (Fr. Bob reflection)
Today’s second reading from the letter of James describes two kinds of wisdom—heavenly wisdom from above and earthly wisdom from below. The author of the letter points out some important characteristics of heavenly wisdom. Wisdom from above is pure, peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy, and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity. At the same […]
Times They Are a Changing (Fr. Bob reflection)
“Adages,” those brief phrases that express wisdom about the reality we all live with, are a part of everyone’s lives. BE PREPARED is the phrase I repeated, shared, and shouted with friends who were working on projects to earn our scout badges. PRACTICE MAKES PERFECTis the phrase that encouraged me to spend long hours with Latin […]
The Labor of Washing Our Hands (Fr. Bob reflection)
In this weekend’s Gospel we hear about the Pharisees and in fact all Jews scrupulously washing their hands and asking Jesus why his disciples did not do the same. For the Pharisees there were definite and rigid rules for washing hands before every meal and between each course of a meal. First, the hands had […]
Transitions (Fr. Bob reflection)
Several years ago, when I attended an orientation for students who were beginning their doctoral studies, the director of graduate studies recommended a book written by William Bridges called Transitions: Making Sense of Life’s Changes(Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., Reading, MA: 1980). Because everyone at the orientation was transitioning from lives committed to God, family, work, and […]
My Experience (Fr. Bob reflection)
In today’s Gospel, Jesus returns home and teaches in the synagogue. His neighbors and friends knew him as the son of Mary and had heard about his teachings and the miracles he had performed. They understood the truth of Jesus’ words and they acknowledged what he had done. But there were those who had never left […]
Giving Life! (Fr. Bob reflection)
Read a newspaper, watch the news on television, or listen to a talk show on your car radio and you will hear stories about young people. Some of the stories describe pre-teens and teens who have volunteered their time, broadened their education, and responded to an emergency situation. Other stories describe pre-teens and teens who […]
Why the Fuss? (Fr. Bob reflection)
The following is an edited version of a homily for the “Birth of John the Baptist” by Fr. David Sanders, OP who teaches scripture at Blackfriars, Oxford. “Why is there all this fuss about John the Baptist? Why is he so important that the celebration of his birth overrides the ordinary Sunday Mass? We are told […]
Don’t Put God in a Box! (Fr. Bob reflection)
When I made profession in the Order of Preachers back in 1992, I was fortunate to have a classmate in the novitiate who was a classical guitarist and song writer. With his training in music, Marty Gleeson, OP joined with two other Dominican friars to write and perform religious songs. One of the songs Marty […]
Be What You Receive (reflection)
In her commentary for the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ (Celebrations, Sunday June 3, 2018), Sr. Mary M. McGlone, CSJ, invites us to reflect on the religious development of the Eucharist through the scripture readings for the day. Some years ago, Franciscan Friar Scott Surrency composed a poem “Can you drink […]
The Body and Blood of Christ (reflection)
June 3, 2018 – Body and Blood of Christ By Ted Wolgamot In 1594, an Italian Renaissance artist named Tintoretto completed a masterpiece named “The Last Supper.” One of the many remarkable qualities of this painting is that it does not present this most memorable scene as many others have typically depicted it. It does […]
The Mystery of Relationships (Fr. Bob reflection)
I have come to believe that the Feast of the Holy Trinity is one of the most important celebrations in our church year. In a world where we are encouraged to begin new relationships, struggle with existing relationships, warned against harmful relationships, expected to understand our relationships, and have relationships on social networks like Facebook […]
Why Are You Standing Here Looking Up? (Fr. Bob reflection)
Having been born and raised in Colorado, one of the many things I learned while growing up was the names and locations of the fifty-eight mountain peaks that tower above fourteen thousand feet. I also learned to have a deep reverence, respect, and caution when climbing anyone of the “fourteeners” where a person often starts […]
Pentecost and Beyond! Part 4, Constitution and Bylaws of the Church of Saint Matthew
This past weekend we were blessed with the wonderful opportunity to commemorate the 50thanniversary of the 1968 fire from which a community emerged to regroup, rebuild, and resume their faith-filled lives. A sincere and abundant thank-you to Karen Thompson and all the people she worked with who made the remembering possible and “blazing forward” a […]
We Flourish! Part 3, Constitution and Bylaws of the Church of Saint Matthew
The warmth of spring is finally here! People are beginning to dig in their gardens preparing the soil for seeds and plants that will be watched over and cared for as they grow. It is likely this agricultural image that inspired Jesus to proclaim, “I am the vine you are the branches. Whoever remains in […]
Still “Blazing Forward!” Part 2, Constitution and Bylaws of the Church of Saint Matthew
The mid-April Snowstorm of 2018 may have dampened but it did not extinguish the “Blazing Forward” spirit of organizers and volunteers led by Karen Thompson to commemorate the 1968 Easter Monday fire that destroyed the Church of St. Matthew. It is the same spirit that joined parishioners, including many of you, to rebuild a brick and […]
Our Mission: Part 1, Constitution and Bylaws of the Church of Saint Matthew
Over the next few weeks, we celebrate the life-giving resurrection of Jesus, look forward to the eternal promises of Easter, and welcome the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. During this time, I believe it is important for us to take a look at the Constitution and By-Laws of the Church of St. Matthew ratified on April […]
Touched by a Fiery Spirit (Fr. Bob reflection)
One of my favorite Peanut cartoons shows Lucy philosophizing with Charlie Brown. Lucy says, “Charlie Brown, life is like deck chairs on an ocean liner. Some people take their deck chair; face it towards the back of the ship, and think of the home they left, the past, and everything behind them. Others turn their […]
The Light of Christ (Fr. Bob reflection)
Long before there was radar and satellite navigation, the captain of a huge battleship was patrolling the Canadian coastline. His massive ship was moving rapidly through a thick fog. Suddenly, directly in front of him, he saw lights. The captain got on the ship’s radio to the other party and demanded, “You must change direction […]
Unless a Grain of Wheat (Fr. Bob reflection)
As we look beyond the potholes in our asphalt roads, the snow piled along our concrete sidewalks, the snow shovels quietly resting on our front porches, and adjust to daylight savings time, we can hope for signs of new life and new growth that come with spring. Soon grass seed will be spread between houses […]
Light and Life! (Fr. Bob reflection)
During our lives all of us experience some kind of temporary darkness. As infants, our parents likely pulled a blanket over our heads to protect us from the wind and cold. During winter blizzards in Minnesota, it is not uncommon for neighborhoods and rural homes to be plunged into darkness for a moment, for hours, […]
The Scrutinies (Fr. Bob reflection)
On the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Sundays of Lent Catholic parishes who are preparing adults and children to be baptized at the Easter Vigil celebrate what are called the “Scrutinies.” These rites are celebrated at liturgies where the Elect, those adults and children who are preparing for Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation through the Rite of […]
Children & Lent (Reflection)
During this time of Lent, students in our Faith Formation classes and Community of Saints Regional Catholic School are experiencing the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time and our parish is preparing for a Penitential Service to be celebrated on March 4 at 2 pm. I invite you to read and reflect on and […]
Liturgical Ministry—What Are You Called to Do? (Fr. Bob reflection)
This year Lent began on Valentine’s Day which magnifies in a very special way the shape and character of our Christian life. The six weeks of the Lenten journey moves us by stages more deeply into the mystery of God’s love through the dying and rising of Jesus Christ. Christ’s dying and rising, what we […]
