homiletics
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Tweeting the Parable of the Laborers
The defining characteristic of the social media tool Twitter is the 140 character length limitation. Twitter started on cell phones, and the old messaging systems would only accept 140 characters. Most of what we like and don’t like about Twitter is due to this size constraint. The 4pm Saturday Vigil Mass is very much like… Continue reading
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I AM – the North Star
In the days before Google Maps, kids would learn how to navigate using the stars. You had to find the North Pole Star, and from that you could figure out which direction was the one you wanted to go. The neat thing about the North Star was that it never moved. But, of course, you… Continue reading
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Ordinary 16A at CTK
One of the cable news channels has the slogan, “We report. You decide.” And it – at least the second part – is true. We decide. We decide what news channel to watch, or what show to watch. We decide which book to read. We decide who to follow on social media. And we… Continue reading
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AscensionA at CTK
“I am with you always, until the end of the age.” Here we are in the last days of the Easter season, and the Church gives us readings to prepare us for two different things. We prepare for our life as his disciples and we prepare for his return. With a spirit of wisdom and… Continue reading
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Easter3A at CTK
The Walk to Emmaus is a revered and much preached upon story from the Gospels, especially by our brothers and sisters in Protestant faith traditions. There is something so powerful about the personal nature of the encounter these disciples experienced with the risen Lord. Everyone nods along with the line from the story where they… Continue reading
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The Seventh Word – Into Your Hands I Commend My Spirit
Jesus has completed the making of the New Covenant. The Law written in the books of Moses is now written in our hearts. Jesus has shown his disciples how to live the law within our hearts, how to live in response to the great dignity he gave us in creation. Now he shows us how… Continue reading
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Ordinary 8A at CTK
For those of you who are thinking, “If that deacon doesn’t open with a joke, I’m writing the pastor a note.” Don’t worry. And it’s a joke about pastors and money. Three pastors were comparing notes over lunch, and they turned to the question of how to divvy up the Sunday collection. The first said,… Continue reading
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Ordinary 5A at CTK
I got prayed over by the archbishop yesterday, they gave me some new vestments, and now I’m a deacon. The path to being ordained as a deacon is the path of discipleship. It’s hearing a voice – a call – from God and trying to respond. All of us Christians have heard the call to… Continue reading
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There was a movie a few years back starring Clint Eastwood and some Hmong immigrants that has parallels with our readings from Scripture this week. In the movie Gran Torino, Clint is a retired autoworker featuring all the standard stereotypes: he’s surly and disgusted with the kids of today, he is resentful of the decline of… Continue reading
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Sandal Up
For the readings, please see this link: 14th Sunday Ordinary Time Year C Readings PDF The story from the Gospel of Mark is one of commission. Jesus tells the 72 apostles (the Greek word means “one who is sent”) to go out among the communities and preach the good news. They are not to dilute their… Continue reading
Bound in Love 