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Time to rediscover the hidden language of God
Homily for Pentecost Sunday “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues… yet each one heard them speaking in his own language.” (Acts 2:1-11) What…
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A new perspective on the Advocate
Between Ascension and Pentecost, the early Church waited with a quiet ache for the promised Advocate. Jesus knew the opposition his followers would face in a wounded world. He refused to leave us…
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The unexpected grace found in Cobh
My wife and I just returned from a ten‑day cruise around the British Isles. There were many remarkable stops, but one place in particular became the clearest moment of God’s presence—not loud, but…
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Seeing a new message in the old white cliffs
My wife and I have begun a ten-day cruise around the British Isles, where we’ll visit iconic sites like Stonehenge, Salisbury Cathedral, St David’s Cathedral, and other parts of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.…
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My new office companion – Our Lady of Silence
I’ve welcomed a new companion into my office—the place where I meet people for pastoral counseling and spiritual direction: Our Lady of Silence. This modern icon was written by Capuchin friar Fr. Emiliano…
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The two voices of the spiritual life
One of the most important—and most difficult—questions in the spiritual life is this: How do I recognize the voice of God? In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives us both comfort and challenge. He says,…
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Finding God in the Liturgical Dissonance
I returned to a beautiful little church in the Blue Ridge mountains after nearly a decade away, and felt a quiet disappointment. The church itself remains as striking as I remembered—perched on a…
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The strange companionship of sorrow and joy
We put our dog Mack to sleep last Friday. It was time—but that didn’t make it easy. I want to share the last lesson he taught me on sorrow and joy. Mack…
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Living the Resurrection in a Broken World
Two weeks ago, at the Strong Life rescue mission for the homeless, I had an experience that has stayed with me. It shaped my Palm Sunday homily, and now, in the light of Easter,…
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When quiet fails, discover God in the noise
I planned to write last week about Saint Teresa of Ávila’s “Prayer of Quiet.” Instead, at 8:30 a.m., the Terminix truck pulled up, someone arrived to install skylights, and a crew of carpenters…
