A Shepherd's Post

Whatever Floor Youre On, Jesus is There to Meet You

Jesus Isn't Afraid of You

Leave the Idolatry of Politics for Only in God are Our Souls at Rest

I picked a good week to break from Social Media!

Has Jesus Interupted Your Life?

The Feast of the Epiphany and Being Changed by the Presence of Christ

With God, Everything Is Great

Everything the Lord does is great. Today in the first reading from the Prophet Jeremiah, the Lord reveals his greatness in the form of his anger at the sins of the people. When he looks at our sins, he does so with a great anger and sorrow. His justice is great. When he shows mercy, his mercy is great. In the Gospel today, everything that occurs has a greatness about it. The waves, the wind, the storm have a quality of greatness. The fear of the apostles is great. The exuberance of Peter climbin...

Come and Believe. Don't Go Back.

Jesus doesn't say if you believed in me and came to me then everything will be great. He says that whoever comes to him and believes in him will have eternl life and will never hunger or thirst again. We have to keep coming and keep beleiving. Otherwise, we fall back into the old life of sin and corruption. What's true for the Ephesians is just as true for us.

People Who Throw Bricks at Glass Houses Should Get an Indulgence

When I woke up this morning, I was reminded that August 2nd is the day on which the Portiuncula Indulgence can be obtained. What the heck is an indulgence? Does the Church still have indulgences? Why? More importantly, how do I get the indulgence? As a parish priest, I've discovered that Indulgences actually get people motivated who might not otherwise be so motivated. In other words, Indulgences accomplish exactly what the Church would hope they'd accomplish. People turn away from sin, repent, ...

A Homily for a Soldier Killed in Action

A few years ago, a young soldier from Beverly was killed in Afghanastan and his Funeral Mass was offered at St. Mary Star of the Sea Church in Beverly. This podcast is the homily given at his funeral. I often think of that young man because every Sunday I greet his grandmother on the steps of the church as she arrives for Mass. She is a remarkable woman with a great deal of faith and devotion.

Live A Life Worthy of The Call--Even Unto Prison

St. Paul is a model for today's Christian. We are called to bear witness to Christ no matter what the cost. Faith means that we find our sufficiency in Christ and not in the things that pass.