Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. That is some title for the Feast Day which we celebrate on this last Sunday of the Liturgical Year. But was Christ all about kingship and ruling and thrones and laws?
Or was it really something else?
Is this really what the Franciscans had in mind, in the early 20th century, when they asked Rome for a Feast day to honor the Cosmic Christ?
So what is this Feast Day all about? And what does the Gospel tell us about how we will be judged?
More importantly what direction does it give us to live a better life?
Click and check it out
This weekend we hear the Gospel passage recounting Jesus’ journey with his disciples on a 25-mile hike to the region of Caesarea Philippi just so he could put forth one question to his disciples, “Who do you say I am?” And Peter gets it so right…and then gets it so wrong as Jesus calls him Satan. So why the hike to that area? And what is so telling about the dialogue between Jesus and Peter that it just may change the inner voice we currently listen to and therefore greatly alter how we act in the everyday situations of our lives. Check it out…
This Sunday we hear the Gospel of the rich young man, who has followed all of the rules and regulations of his faith, asking Jesus what more does he need to do in order to gain Eternal Life. After all isn’t that what we are all seeking? But it is the wrong question any of us should be asking! What is the right question? And what is the one key word in the response that Jesus gives, that provides us guidance for our own lives? Check it out!
This weekend we heard from Mark’s Gospel two parables of what the Kingdom of God is like. The challenge many Christians have is that we mistakenly think that the Kingdom of God is “eternal life”, or it is where we go when we die. But actually, the Kingdom of God is here and at hand…and it must continue through us, with us, in us and frankly despite us. How? By planting Gospel-based seeds. What does that mean? Check it out…
As a father and grandfather I really enjoy the celebration of the Feast of the Holy Family which allows us to look at how this God incarnate…this Christ Child…this God among us has a direct connection to our daily life and our family. Which raises questions like: How do we as a community of believers share the blessings from this table onto others? How can we help others see God in themselves? How do we bring the gift and graces from the altar table onto the table of our homes? Perhaps a story about a father, his daughter and Mr. Rodgers will shed some light... Check it out…
Today we celebrate the Feast of All Saints and for some reason we get it stuck in our heads that saints are a completely different kind of human being - when instead, they are very ordinary people like you and I. So, while we may all take a moment to remember our favorite saints – what about all those who may have gone before us and are unrecognized as a saint? So, take a few minutes and see how people like Jessica Robles, Jimmy Willmert, Joe Shuba, and my friend Steve DiGregorio have helped open many eyes to what this Feast Day means. See what I mean…
As we light our fourth Advent candle, this season of waiting and hoping and preparation comes quickly to close with Christmas just a few days away. All Advent we have sung Maranatha – which is Aramaic for – Our Lord has come. So how does living a life woven in the fabric of this season allow us to be aware of the Christ who in our lives right now? Perhaps John the Baptist, Joseph of Nazareth and Greta Thunberg can shed light on that answer. See what I mean…
We all have some degree of fear – what does yours look like? A recent poll shows that our top current fears are rooted in COVID, gun violence, health and politics. This weekend’s Gospel of Jesus calming the waters is all about Jesus confronting his disciples about their fear. Why? Because fear has a way of controlling our emotions and leading us to actions that are unloving. For the opposite of fear is not bravery. The opposite of fear is love. Check it out and see what I mean…
On this Thanksgiving Day, as our country and our world continue to climb out of this pandemic, which has gone on far too long, what does “giving thanks” look like? St. Paul gave us all a model called the paradox of gratitude. Why a paradox? And how can a true and personal story of the actions of a small Mennonite Community, post Hurricane Agnes, shed some light on how we are called to actively live a life of gratitude? Check it out…
This weekend we hear the Gospel passage recounting Jesus’ journey with his disciples on a 25-mile hike to the region of Caesarea Philippi just so he could put forth one question to his disciples, “Who do you say I am?” And Peter gets it so right…and then gets it so wrong as Jesus calls him Satan. So why the hike to that area? And what is so telling about the dialogue between Jesus and Peter that it just may change the inner voice we currently listen to and therefore greatly alter how we act in the everyday situations of our lives. Check it out…
This Sunday we hear the Gospel of the rich young man, who has followed all of the rules and regulations of his faith, asking Jesus what more does he need to do in order to gain Eternal Life. After all isn’t that what we are all seeking? But it is the wrong question any of us should be asking! What is the right question? And what is the one key word in the response that Jesus gives, that provides us guidance for our own lives? Check it out!
This weekend we heard from Mark’s Gospel two parables of what the Kingdom of God is like. The challenge many Christians have is that we mistakenly think that the Kingdom of God is “eternal life”, or it is where we go when we die. But actually, the Kingdom of God is here and at hand…and it must continue through us, with us, in us and frankly despite us. How? By planting Gospel-based seeds. What does that mean? Check it out…
As a father and grandfather I really enjoy the celebration of the Feast of the Holy Family which allows us to look at how this God incarnate…this Christ Child…this God among us has a direct connection to our daily life and our family. Which raises questions like: How do we as a community of believers share the blessings from this table onto others? How can we help others see God in themselves? How do we bring the gift and graces from the altar table onto the table of our homes? Perhaps a story about a father, his daughter and Mr. Rodgers will shed some light... Check it out…
Today we celebrate the Feast of All Saints and for some reason we get it stuck in our heads that saints are a completely different kind of human being - when instead, they are very ordinary people like you and I. So, while we may all take a moment to remember our favorite saints – what about all those who may have gone before us and are unrecognized as a saint? So, take a few minutes and see how people like Jessica Robles, Jimmy Willmert, Joe Shuba, and my friend Steve DiGregorio have helped open many eyes to what this Feast Day means. See what I mean…
As we light our fourth Advent candle, this season of waiting and hoping and preparation comes quickly to close with Christmas just a few days away. All Advent we have sung Maranatha – which is Aramaic for – Our Lord has come. So how does living a life woven in the fabric of this season allow us to be aware of the Christ who in our lives right now? Perhaps John the Baptist, Joseph of Nazareth and Greta Thunberg can shed light on that answer. See what I mean…
We all have some degree of fear – what does yours look like? A recent poll shows that our top current fears are rooted in COVID, gun violence, health and politics. This weekend’s Gospel of Jesus calming the waters is all about Jesus confronting his disciples about their fear. Why? Because fear has a way of controlling our emotions and leading us to actions that are unloving. For the opposite of fear is not bravery. The opposite of fear is love. Check it out and see what I mean…
On this Thanksgiving Day, as our country and our world continue to climb out of this pandemic, which has gone on far too long, what does “giving thanks” look like? St. Paul gave us all a model called the paradox of gratitude. Why a paradox? And how can a true and personal story of the actions of a small Mennonite Community, post Hurricane Agnes, shed some light on how we are called to actively live a life of gratitude? Check it out…
This Sunday we brought to a close Ordinary Time of our Liturgical season and through the year we have walked through the Gospel of Mark, using the Sunday gospels learning how to see as God sees. But the question remains whether we have allowed the words to help us see any better? In his latest book release, Fr. Greg Boyle, SJ reminds us that we need to see as a Mystic sees. Jesuit theologian Karl Rahner said, “The Christian of the future will either be a mystic – or (s)he will cease to be anything at all.” We are all called to be mystics? What does that even mean or look like today? Check it out…
I was blessed to have just returned from spending three weeks with my nineteen-month-old granddaughter, Bloom. During our time together she retaught me one of the core lessons we need to be reminded of this Palm Sunday as we move into Holy Week. What did she do and what did she teach me? Check it out…
The Gospel tells us that the disciples had no idea what ‘risen from the dead’ even meant. Do we? Wisdom from Pope Francis…and from children in an African tribe may just open our eyes in a new way so that we can better see how we are connected in our call to make all things new. And that Easter tells us that through the life, death and resurrection of Christ, love wins out over death every time and therefore nothing dies forever and that all that has died in love will be reborn into an even larger love – into the Body of Christ. Check it out…
The Feast of the Ascension brings to mind all the historic art that shows Jesus ascending upward on a cloud, with the disciples looking towards heaven. It makes for great art and reflects the cosmology of those times, but if we stop there, we totally miss the whole concept of what the Ascension means to you and me today. So what is that? Check it all out…
If I go back some twenty or so years, I remember our family and friends gathering back in my wife’s hometown for many weddings, baptisms, and other sacraments. But as time has moved on and age begins to creep up on our generation, it seems that recently we have gathered all too often to mourn the death of one of our loved ones.
And so, this afternoon we remember the life and the love of Vincent. And while Vincent was physically and emotionally dis-abled – when it came to love he had the capacity to be very ‘able’ indeed. Being in the season of Lent while writing this homily gave me reason to pause and to believe that in some respect I think Vincent had an advantage over most, if not all of us.
What was that advantage…and how did he impact the lives around him? Check it out…
The Gospel this weekend has the 12 disciples being sent out to spread the Good News. So, imagine how these disciples were feeling – for they just witnessed Christ being rejected by those who knew him best. So, other than witnessing the words and actions of Christ, they had no real ministerial religious training – and it was certainly long before any dogma and doctrines were ever thought of. For the most part they were simple fishermen – but all called by Christ to be his chosen ones to spread the Good News – and do this by having encounters with others. For true encounters allow us to go directly to the heart of humanity. But the question remains, “How can we better reach this “heart” today?” Check it out…
We hear this Sunday the story of Jesus healing the blind man Bartimaeus. On the surface this seems to be just an extraordinary story that attests to the divinity of Christ. But the Bible gives us so many stories of Jesus opening the eyes of those who are blind, there must be more – and there is. To see the deeper meaning of this Gospel will require us to have our eyes opened in a whole new way. What does that look like? Check it out…
This weekend’s Gospel brings to a close a 3-part story that we have been listening to these past weeks focused on discipleship, evangelization...and rest. But when Jesus takes his disciples off to a deserted place, he finds that many of the followers have taken a short cut on land and have arrived at his destination before him. So, what to do? How to respond? And what does this Gospel show us about the importance of downtime? Maybe some wisdom from Ron Rolheiser, John of the Cross and my dad may bring some light to all of this! Check it out…
Homily: 4th Sunday of Advent in C 2018 James Knipper
Holidays have a way of often bringing to the surface darkness from the past…darkness from hardships and losses…darkness from broken relationships…even darkness coming forth from our own Church…leaving us, at times, blinded to God’s presence, asking, “Where is God in all this?” Allow this Sunday’s Gospel to shed new light on that age old question...
Homily for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary TimeJames Knipper
This weekend we heard how blessed are those who are poor and hungry and woe to those who are rich and well-fed. Once again Jesus is turning our thinking upside down. The Beatitudes always seem to perplex many as to what kind of lives are we being called to.
Using some insight from the soon-to-be-released book by world renowned liturgical music composer David Haas, along with wisdom from Lutheran minister Nadia Bolz-Weber who provides current context for a sermon we have heard so many times may just open all of our eyes to seeing how we can all bring forth the reign of God. Check it out and see what I mean…
Homily: 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time 2018James Knipper
This weekend we celebrated the 33rd and final Sunday in Ordinary Time and over the past year Mark’s Gospel has given us the necessary waypoints for our spiritual journey. And it is these signposts which tell us how we need to see differently and thus leading us to change the way we live.
But what does that new sight look like for us? What changes are being asked of us? And where do we begin? Perhaps another look at the story of Bartimaeus together with the wisdom from Fr. Greg Boyle may lift the blinders that we wear and open our eyes to seeing in a whole new way!
Check it out!
Homily: 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A 2017James Knipper
“Many are invited, but few are chosen” may be one of the most misinterpreted and misused scripture passages ever written. Used by many to divide and exclude, actually when you understand the context of this parable you will see that it is all about how to include and be open to an invitation that is always present for all people.
Sounds confusing? It’s not. See what I mean…
Homily: 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B 2015James Knipper
Today is the 33rd and final Sunday in Ordinary Time. We call these Sunday’s “ordinary,” because they are simply numbered – or, ordinal. But by calling them ordinary, I think we may have tendency to sweep them aside in deference to the other liturgical seasons and thus forget that each of these numbered Sunday’s provide us a critical piece of the road map for our spiritual journey. So how does one sum up the entire year of Ordinary Time and extract exactly what is the Good News that Christ has to share? Check it out…
This is a study of kindness which is one of the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit, and one that we all need, for the world is always in need of kindness. We all love it when we are treated kindly.
Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe: to some degree I think the title of today’s feast day could miss the mark of its original purpose and design. For did you ever notice, nowhere in the Gospels does Jesus say to worship him, much less as a king – he simply said to follow him and to do as he does. The best description of all of this, across all the Gospels, appears in today’s reading of Matthew’s recording of Jesus’ last discourse which indicates kinship seems to be more important that kingship. What does that look like? Check it out…
Homily: The Feast of the Epiphany for 2024James Knipper
For the past 12 days we have heard the stories of the birth of Jesus Christ as God incarnate indeed good news of great joy all people. So, on this Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord we celebrate Jesus revealed as the Christ Child to the magi, who arrive by the light of the star. Every year we listen to this well-known Gospel story of the journey of the magi who pay homage to the Christ Child. But today I invite you to just focus on two lines that appear in the Gospel. What are they? Check it out because…as you will you see, any interaction with this Jesus the Christ, no matter where or how it happens, will change your own journey.
This Sunday we brought to a close Ordinary Time of our Liturgical season and through the year we have walked through the Gospel of Mark, using the Sunday gospels learning how to see as God sees. But the question remains whether we have allowed the words to help us see any better? In his latest book release, Fr. Greg Boyle, SJ reminds us that we need to see as a Mystic sees. Jesuit theologian Karl Rahner said, “The Christian of the future will either be a mystic – or (s)he will cease to be anything at all.” We are all called to be mystics? What does that even mean or look like today? Check it out…
I was blessed to have just returned from spending three weeks with my nineteen-month-old granddaughter, Bloom. During our time together she retaught me one of the core lessons we need to be reminded of this Palm Sunday as we move into Holy Week. What did she do and what did she teach me? Check it out…
The Gospel tells us that the disciples had no idea what ‘risen from the dead’ even meant. Do we? Wisdom from Pope Francis…and from children in an African tribe may just open our eyes in a new way so that we can better see how we are connected in our call to make all things new. And that Easter tells us that through the life, death and resurrection of Christ, love wins out over death every time and therefore nothing dies forever and that all that has died in love will be reborn into an even larger love – into the Body of Christ. Check it out…
The Feast of the Ascension brings to mind all the historic art that shows Jesus ascending upward on a cloud, with the disciples looking towards heaven. It makes for great art and reflects the cosmology of those times, but if we stop there, we totally miss the whole concept of what the Ascension means to you and me today. So what is that? Check it all out…
If I go back some twenty or so years, I remember our family and friends gathering back in my wife’s hometown for many weddings, baptisms, and other sacraments. But as time has moved on and age begins to creep up on our generation, it seems that recently we have gathered all too often to mourn the death of one of our loved ones.
And so, this afternoon we remember the life and the love of Vincent. And while Vincent was physically and emotionally dis-abled – when it came to love he had the capacity to be very ‘able’ indeed. Being in the season of Lent while writing this homily gave me reason to pause and to believe that in some respect I think Vincent had an advantage over most, if not all of us.
What was that advantage…and how did he impact the lives around him? Check it out…
The Gospel this weekend has the 12 disciples being sent out to spread the Good News. So, imagine how these disciples were feeling – for they just witnessed Christ being rejected by those who knew him best. So, other than witnessing the words and actions of Christ, they had no real ministerial religious training – and it was certainly long before any dogma and doctrines were ever thought of. For the most part they were simple fishermen – but all called by Christ to be his chosen ones to spread the Good News – and do this by having encounters with others. For true encounters allow us to go directly to the heart of humanity. But the question remains, “How can we better reach this “heart” today?” Check it out…
We hear this Sunday the story of Jesus healing the blind man Bartimaeus. On the surface this seems to be just an extraordinary story that attests to the divinity of Christ. But the Bible gives us so many stories of Jesus opening the eyes of those who are blind, there must be more – and there is. To see the deeper meaning of this Gospel will require us to have our eyes opened in a whole new way. What does that look like? Check it out…
This weekend’s Gospel brings to a close a 3-part story that we have been listening to these past weeks focused on discipleship, evangelization...and rest. But when Jesus takes his disciples off to a deserted place, he finds that many of the followers have taken a short cut on land and have arrived at his destination before him. So, what to do? How to respond? And what does this Gospel show us about the importance of downtime? Maybe some wisdom from Ron Rolheiser, John of the Cross and my dad may bring some light to all of this! Check it out…
Homily: 4th Sunday of Advent in C 2018 James Knipper
Holidays have a way of often bringing to the surface darkness from the past…darkness from hardships and losses…darkness from broken relationships…even darkness coming forth from our own Church…leaving us, at times, blinded to God’s presence, asking, “Where is God in all this?” Allow this Sunday’s Gospel to shed new light on that age old question...
Homily for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary TimeJames Knipper
This weekend we heard how blessed are those who are poor and hungry and woe to those who are rich and well-fed. Once again Jesus is turning our thinking upside down. The Beatitudes always seem to perplex many as to what kind of lives are we being called to.
Using some insight from the soon-to-be-released book by world renowned liturgical music composer David Haas, along with wisdom from Lutheran minister Nadia Bolz-Weber who provides current context for a sermon we have heard so many times may just open all of our eyes to seeing how we can all bring forth the reign of God. Check it out and see what I mean…
Homily: 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time 2018James Knipper
This weekend we celebrated the 33rd and final Sunday in Ordinary Time and over the past year Mark’s Gospel has given us the necessary waypoints for our spiritual journey. And it is these signposts which tell us how we need to see differently and thus leading us to change the way we live.
But what does that new sight look like for us? What changes are being asked of us? And where do we begin? Perhaps another look at the story of Bartimaeus together with the wisdom from Fr. Greg Boyle may lift the blinders that we wear and open our eyes to seeing in a whole new way!
Check it out!
Homily: 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A 2017James Knipper
“Many are invited, but few are chosen” may be one of the most misinterpreted and misused scripture passages ever written. Used by many to divide and exclude, actually when you understand the context of this parable you will see that it is all about how to include and be open to an invitation that is always present for all people.
Sounds confusing? It’s not. See what I mean…
Homily: 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B 2015James Knipper
Today is the 33rd and final Sunday in Ordinary Time. We call these Sunday’s “ordinary,” because they are simply numbered – or, ordinal. But by calling them ordinary, I think we may have tendency to sweep them aside in deference to the other liturgical seasons and thus forget that each of these numbered Sunday’s provide us a critical piece of the road map for our spiritual journey. So how does one sum up the entire year of Ordinary Time and extract exactly what is the Good News that Christ has to share? Check it out…
This is a study of kindness which is one of the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit, and one that we all need, for the world is always in need of kindness. We all love it when we are treated kindly.
Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe: to some degree I think the title of today’s feast day could miss the mark of its original purpose and design. For did you ever notice, nowhere in the Gospels does Jesus say to worship him, much less as a king – he simply said to follow him and to do as he does. The best description of all of this, across all the Gospels, appears in today’s reading of Matthew’s recording of Jesus’ last discourse which indicates kinship seems to be more important that kingship. What does that look like? Check it out…
Homily: The Feast of the Epiphany for 2024James Knipper
For the past 12 days we have heard the stories of the birth of Jesus Christ as God incarnate indeed good news of great joy all people. So, on this Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord we celebrate Jesus revealed as the Christ Child to the magi, who arrive by the light of the star. Every year we listen to this well-known Gospel story of the journey of the magi who pay homage to the Christ Child. But today I invite you to just focus on two lines that appear in the Gospel. What are they? Check it out because…as you will you see, any interaction with this Jesus the Christ, no matter where or how it happens, will change your own journey.
With the calendar only providing us 3 full weeks of Advent, how have you been spending your time? What, perhaps have you been seeing…or feeling or doing differently? For Advent calls us to be conscious, awake, alert. Advent calls us to be open to how Christ comes to us every day. Advent calls for our participation by opening our eyes to our own brokenness and that of humanity. For Christ is there…just waiting and wanting our active participation. This week’s Gospel provides us three points which may lead us to a better understanding of what we are called to do moving from this briefest 4th week of Advent into Christmas and the New Year. What are they? Check it out….
God’s love is often described as a Divine flow of love and grace - movement that is never restricted. Nothing we say or do changes the love that is poured out upon us by God. It is unmerited in every sense – freely given to all. The only thing we have to do is be willing to accept and trust and share in the flow of that love.
So during Lent we have been examining our lives to see what blocks that flow - in other words, to examine our personal garbage. Thus shifting through our hurts and wounds and addictions so that we can be present and aware and participating in that ever present flow.
And today's gospel gives deeper insight on the fully human and fully divine side of Jesus Christ and his relationship to the community and the importance of our active participation. What does that look like? And what is the ending of this story that is often missed, but key in bringing forth the good news?
As we light our fourth Advent candle, this season of waiting and hoping and preparation comes quickly to close with Christmas just a few days away. Or does it?
All Advent we have sung Emmanuel - God is with us. So how does living a life woven in the fabric of this season allow us to see Christ in our daily lives? And how does John the Baptist, St. Joseph and Nelson Mandela show us the way?
Homily: 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2017James Knipper
“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Really? We have to love those that we fear? Those who are different from us? The ones who are strangers?
In the past few weeks there has been much written about the plight of the refugees. Politics aside, as Christians, we are called to live the Gospel…which is much harder than reading or preaching about it. So what does Jesus say in the Beatitudes? And how can Pope Francis, Brian McLaren and Leonardo DaVinci add some light on this hotly debated subject?
Check it out…
Homily: 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Cycle A 2017James Knipper
The Parable of the Ten Virgins is enriched with a number of metaphorical images designed to drive home the message of always being prepared. But was does that mean to you and me? What does that look like? And tapping into one of today’s Gospel metaphors, what is the oil that we need to be placing in our lamps?
Rather than focusing on End Time what would happen to our lives if we spent that energy living in Now Time, This Time, Present and Presence? See what I mean and check it out….
Homily: 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time Cycle AJames Knipper
“Many are invited, but few are chosen” is unfortunately one of the most misread, misunderstood and misused phrases in the Bible. Then again, so is the parable of the Wedding Banquet where the King acts with anger and vengeance on those who refuse his invitation to come to the wedding.
So what is the meaning hidden within this parable and how can we really look at what seems to be a line of exclusion at the end of the Gospel? Check it all out…
Homily: 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2020James Knipper
This Sunday we return to "Ordinary Time" but for the past 3 months, clearly nothing has been ordinary - forcing us to revisit what discipleship needs to look like. So, taking scripture and current events - what may we be missing in our lives that prevents us from living the Gospel?
In this Sunday’s readings we heard that John saw a “new heaven and a new earth…for the old order has passed away…and He makes all things new.” This sense of ‘making all things’ new appears over twenty times throughout the Bible, with a reminder of our need to let go of our past, to allow room for the new – but what is this ‘’new thing”? And why is it so important that Jesus commands it?! Check it out and see how Ronald Rolheiser, Desmond Tutu and my grandchildren come at this from different angles to shed light on what we are called to do – which will allow us to transfigure the world!
Homily: 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time A 2023.docxJames Knipper
Biblical scholars tell us that this Parable of the Ten Virgins was likely cobbled together from a few sources meant to drive home the message of always being prepared – a Gospel theme we will hear often between now and Christmas. But was does that mean to you and me? What does being prepared look like? And tapping into one of today’s Gospel metaphors, what is the oil that we need to be placing in our lamps? Check it out…
Today’s Gospel may be one of the earliest instances recorded in the Bible of clericalism, for we hear the disciples arguing as to who, among themselves, is the greatest. The second reading warns - “where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice.
Interesting timing for these readings as the Church continues to deal with the fallout from the recent report from the Attorney’s General’s office in Pennsylvania...as well as the public uncovering of some 40 years of abuse by Cardinal McCarrick, known for decades within the Church leadership and left unchecked.
What can we do? The answer Jesus gives us today is focused around – a child. Why a child and what are we called to do?
Check it all out….
This morning we come to the end of our Liturgical Year with the celebration of the Feast of Christ the King as the Church reminds us that Christ is King of all things. But we cannot forget that we, too, are baptized into Christ’s kingship.
But with all this talk about ‘kings,’ when Pilate asked Jesus if he was the 'King of the Jews,' Jesus sidesteps that question and says that he came to testify to the ‘truth.’ But what does that ‘truth’ look like? (Funny, Pilate asked the same thing!)
Looking for clarity on all this? Perhaps Pope Francis, as well as the parable of the Old Turtle can shed light on the “Truth” and better explain what we are called to do with this Feast of Christ the King?
Check it out...
Homily: 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time C 2016James Knipper
Jesus says that he did not come to establish peace, but rather division...and that he came to set the earth on fire, and how he wishes it were already blazing! Was he just having a bad day with his disciples…or hitting home a point that we often miss? Take a minute and check it out and see what Jesus was really talking to you and me about!
So, when there is so much turmoil, so much fear, so much uncertainty, so much unrest in our world and in our lives, it is easy to ask, “Where is this epiphany, this manifestation of the Lord?” I think the answer lies within two key lines of today’s Gospel. What are those lines? And why should we carry those lines with us each day? Check it out…
Homily: The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity Sunday 2024.docxJames Knipper
Countless volumes have been written trying to explain the mystery of three persons in one true God, leaving us to resort to metaphors such as the three-leaf clover to try to comprehend the Divinity. Many of us grew up with the quintessential pyramidal Trinity structure of God at the top and Son and Spirit in opposite corners. But what if we looked at this ‘mystery’ from a different perspective? What if we shifted our language of God as a being towards the concept of God as love? What if we focused more on the relationship within the Trinity versus the persons of the Trinity? What if stopped looking at God as a noun…and instead considered God as a verb? Check it out…
Homily: Second Sunday in Lent, Cycle B, 2024James Knipper
This weekend we heard the famous biblical story of Abraham and his son Isaac, and the angel who stopped Abraham at the last minute from sacrificing his son as God had ordered. While this passage demonstrates Abraham’s unbelievable faith in God – it is a story whose ending is often missed. An ending which turns this story upside down and changes how that culture – and we – need to see God so differently. What is this surprise twist? And how does it impact our spiritual journey? Check it out…
Homily: Feast of the Holy Family 2023 - Cycle BJames Knipper
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family…and tomorrow the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. And I like the fact that this Feast comes hours before the Solemnity for it allows us to really look at how this God incarnate, born of the Blessed Virgin Mary…this Christ Child…this God who came into the world in a family that had its heart and its doors open to love – connects to our daily life and our families. It was Pope Francis who reminded us that, “The family is important, as it is necessary for the survival of humanity. Without the family, the cultural survival of the human race would be at risk. The family. Whether we like it or not, is the foundation.”
In a society where all too often we can easily fall prey to the notion of separating the secular and the sacred, and we close our eyes to what is sacramental, what does it take to build that foundation?
Check it out…
Homily: 2nd Sunday of Advent, Cycle B, 2023James Knipper
As we each walk through this season of Advent, we may just find ourselves in some form of wilderness, thirsting for peace, reconciliation and healing – and thus it’s a time we need to be alert, awake, watchful and vigilant to God’s presence. So, perhaps we take the lead from Isaiah where we spend time seeking how we can better “Prepare the way of the Lord”…of how we can look at the valleys, at the crookedness, and the rough places not just in the outside world, but also in our own hearts. What does that look like? Check it out…
Homily: 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time A 2023.docxJames Knipper
For the past few weeks, we have been listening to Jesus telling parables to the Chief Priests and Pharisees. For Jesus is attempting to get their attention to think differently, choose differently and to open their eyes to his teachings of the Kingdom of God. But they show no interest in listening to his teachings about love and compassion, much less inclusion. Thus, they look to corner Jesus into committing a crime of sedition and thus be crucified, by putting the question to Jesus if taxes should be paid to Caesar or not.
Perhaps a way to phrase this question in the present time would be: is our allegiance with the spiritual or the worldly? Where is our focus today? Since this story appears in all three Synoptic Gospels, this story carries a deeper and more significant message than a Gospel about just paying taxes. What is that hidden meaning? Check it out…
This Sunday we heard the conclusion of the Gospel story that began last week when Jesus said he would build his Church upon the rock of Peter. But a few lines later Jesus calls Peter, ‘Satan’ and he is told to get behind Christ and follow him. So how did Peter get it so right to the point where Jesus will use Peter as the foundation of his Church and then in the next moment Peter gets it so wrong as to be called Satan? The answer and, indeed our lesson, is rooted in the two types of thinking that we face every day. What are they? How do we distinguish them? Check it out…
The Surgeon General of the US, Dr. Vivek Murthy, just announced the ending of COVID-19 as a global emergency. But at the same time declared a new number one epidemic in our country today – one that affects 50 % of our population, and even higher for our kids. What is it? And how does that tie into the Gospel reading from John this Sunday? Check it out…
During these past weeks of Lent, our Gospels have focused on the quintessential theme of life, death and rebirth – or what some call order, disorder, and reorder. However you look at this universal pattern, one thing is for sure – there is no skipping the process. So, on this Good Friday, instead of just focusing on the cross that Christ died on – a death that was for us…what if we spent some time on the deaths that happen to us…to focus on our crosses and on our dying that needs to occur each day? What does that look like? Check it out…
Homily: Third Sunday of Lent A 2023 .docxJames Knipper
This Sunday we heard the gospel that provides the longest dialogue recorded between Jesus and a woman. By breaking with social ‘norms’ Jesus reaches out with acceptance, self-worth and compassion to one who was socially outcast. For this is a Gospel story that teaches us, reminds us, encourages us that in the Kingdom of God there are no outcasts, there are no strangers, there are no us versus them, rather it is a kingdom of only repentant and welcomed sinners – people like you and me. But the core message of this gospel is hidden – and one that opens our eyes to what we already have. What is that? Check it out….
This weekend we hear in Matthew’s Gospel of John the Baptist sitting in a jail cell and wondering if he placed his bets on the wrong guy…questioning if the Lord is anywhere near to him. Then again, when we are faced with adversity, doubt, and loss how often have we questioned “Where is God?” and “Is the Lord anywhere near?” See how a street corner in Louisville and the wisdom of Thomas Merton may just open our eyes to see in a new way so that we can join in the chorus of Gaudete! Rejoice! on this 3rd Sunday of Advent.
Homily: 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time C 2022.docxJames Knipper
This weekend we hear the parable of the widow and the judge. The Gospel writer begins with a summation that the parable talks “about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary.” But if we just left it there, we would miss the secondary and deeper meaning behind the story. What is it? Check it out…
Homily for 21st Sunday in Ordinary TimeT .docxJames Knipper
The Gospel this weekend begins with the question that is asked a number of times across the gospels – and one that each of us may have asked in our own spiritual journey: “Lord, will only a few be saved? Or better said – who is going to heaven and who is going to hell?! To which Jesus answers: “Strive to enter through the narrow gate.” In those days the narrow gates were the side doors of the walled city where you could enter. They were less exposed and less visible allowing occupants to come and go inconspicuously.
So, what does the ‘narrow gate’ look like for you and me today? Once we figure that out, how does that begin to tell us who wins the ticket to heaven and who doesn’t? This complicated Gospel sounds more like a message of exclusion rather than inclusion. So, which is it and what does it mean for each of us? Check it out…
Luke speaks about prayer more than any of the other Evangelists…and in this weekend’s gospel we hear the disciples, asking Jesus to teach them how to pray and he responds with a simple version of the Lord’s Prayer. With prayer being so foundation to who we are, how do you pray? But the bigger question may have to do with how we view prayer. In other words, do we come to prayer as a transactional or a relational activity? Do we spend our time in prayer looking for something from God…or are we desiring a connection with God?
Leave it to my grandson Oliver to open my eyes to what prayer is really all about. Check it out and see what I mean…
Hindered by our language many have resorted to using metaphors to describe the Trinity such as a 3-leaf clover or a harmonic cord. But what if we stopped looking at God as a noun and considered God as a verb? Early Christians described the Trinity as a dance, where God is not the dancer – rather God is the dance itself. See what I mean…
As we gather on this Feast of Pentecost our Scripture focuses on the “what’s next” in our call to discipleship. What does “being sent” & discipleship look like for each of us? What are we called to do and not to do? So how can an African parable, a saintly doorkeeper, a foot massager, and college basketball player help point us to the way, the truth and the light? See what I mean…
If we look at the scripture that addresses the Ascension, it is no surprise that we find several conflicts across the Synoptic writers. But I believe it is John who gives us the line that opens up for us the best way to get to the deeper meaning of the Ascension, when Christ says, “it is good for you that I am going away. For unless I go away the Spirit cannot come to you.” In essence, Jesus seems to be making a connection between absence and presence - that it is necessary for absence to take place before we can be opened to presence. For this Feast Day really teaches us so much more about our life and about our loving God. What is it really all about? Check it out…
I invite you to just focus on the God encounter that takes place in the Gospel story of the Transfiguration. It is when God appears in the form of a cloud which casts a shadow over those gathered – a cloud that, although frightens them, they still entered. What about the darkness and clouds that we face in our lives? For it these types of God encounters where lives are changed - encounters that break you open and rearrange what you think you knew and wanted.
So, take a few minutes to enjoy a few stories that have nothing to do with answers - but more so with encounters. Stories about hiker Trevor Thomas, Franciscan Richard Rohr and my recently departed brother-in-law Vincent – all which, like this Gospel, just may bring light into the darkness you face. Check it out…
The Chakra System in our body - A Portal to Interdimensional Consciousness.pptxBharat Technology
each chakra is studied in greater detail, several steps have been included to
strengthen your personal intention to open each chakra more fully. These are designed
to draw forth the highest benefit for your spiritual growth.
The Book of Joshua is the sixth book in the Hebrew Bible and the Old Testament, and is the first book of the Deuteronomistic history, the story of Israel from the conquest of Canaan to the Babylonian exile.
What Should be the Christian View of Anime?Joe Muraguri
We will learn what Anime is and see what a Christian should consider before watching anime movies? We will also learn a little bit of Shintoism religion and hentai (the craze of internet pornography today).
Lesson 9 - Resisting Temptation Along the Way.pptxCelso Napoleon
Lesson 9 - Resisting Temptation Along the Way
SBs – Sunday Bible School
Adult Bible Lessons 2nd quarter 2024 CPAD
MAGAZINE: THE CAREER THAT IS PROPOSED TO US: The Path of Salvation, Holiness and Perseverance to Reach Heaven
Commentator: Pastor Osiel Gomes
Presentation: Missionary Celso Napoleon
Renewed in Grace
In Jude 17-23 Jude shifts from piling up examples of false teachers from the Old Testament to a series of practical exhortations that flow from apostolic instruction. He preserves for us what may well have been part of the apostolic catechism for the first generation of Christ-followers. In these instructions Jude exhorts the believer to deal with 3 different groups of people: scoffers who are "devoid of the Spirit", believers who have come under the influence of scoffers and believers who are so entrenched in false teaching that they need rescue and pose some real spiritual risk for the rescuer. In all of this Jude emphasizes Jesus' call to rescue straying sheep, leaving the 99 safely behind and pursuing the 1.
The PBHP DYC ~ Reflections on The Dhamma (English).pptxOH TEIK BIN
A PowerPoint Presentation based on the Dhamma Reflections for the PBHP DYC for the years 1993 – 2012. To motivate and inspire DYC members to keep on practicing the Dhamma and to do the meritorious deed of Dhammaduta work.
The texts are in English.
For the Video with audio narration, comments and texts in English, please check out the Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF2g_43NEa0
The Good News, newsletter for June 2024 is hereNoHo FUMC
Our monthly newsletter is available to read online. We hope you will join us each Sunday in person for our worship service. Make sure to subscribe and follow us on YouTube and social media.
1. 23 November 2014 Christ the King Princeton, NJ
Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. That is some title for the Feast Day which we
celebrate on this last Sunday of the Liturgical Year. And to some degree I think the title and
some of the art depicting Christ sitting on a throne wearing a gold crown has given this feast
a connotation that misses the mark of its original purpose and design. So what is this Feast
Day all about and more importantly what direction does it give us to live a better life?
For those answers let’s take a look at: the historical background…then today’s Gospel…and
then end with a story which brings some reality to this Feast Day.
It all began back in 1920 with the Franciscans. It was the end of World War I, the roaring
20’s were in full swing and much ado was being made about the kings and royalty of the
world. Being Franciscans, they saw the need for all of us to be rerooted in our faith – to be
connected to our God and to each other. And they felt that our lives should be focused and
centered around one thing (which is the literal translation of ‘universe’) and that should be
Christ. So they urged Rome for a new feast day to celebrate the Cosmic Christ.
For the Franciscan theology teaches us that at the beginning of time – what some call the
Big Bang, which took place about 14.6 billon years ago - God desired to materialize so that
the invisible was made visible. God said let there be Light! God created and said it was good.
And if we read the prologue to John, or some of Paul’s letters or the first letter of John – it is
clear that Christ in God has existed for all eternity, not just since the birth of Jesus.
Remember, Christ is not Jesus’ last name – rather Jesus, who was born and was crucified
2,000 year ago became the human incarnation of Christ – again God making visible what
was invisible.
And Jesus the Christ knew that his human presence would end and so he promised to send
us an advocate – the Holy Spirit, who would be with us always, so that we could continue his
works. As St. Teresa of Avila wrote: “Christ has no body now on earth but yours, no hands
but yours. Yours are the feet with which he is to go about doing good; Yours are the hands
with which he is to bless all people now.” And as we heard last week - we are called to use
the gifts and talents given to us so that through the Spirit we can be Christ to others.
But how? And is this really all that important? Well…that takes us to the Gospel – which is
one of my favorites because it is the only description of the Last Judgment in any of the four
gospels. It is Matthew’s recording of Jesus’ last discourse before the events of his Passion
begin to unfold. And it is this Gospel that tells us how and where we need to focus. For did
you ever notice, nowhere in the Gospels does Jesus say to worship him, much less as a king
– he simply said to follow him and to do as he does.
1 Deacon Jim Knipper
2. Actually this is the root of what Pope Francis has been preaching and teaching and living.
And it is interesting to hear how some say he is confusing others. Nothing confusing about
being Christ-like – it is just hard work, especially if you are not used to it.
And how important is this? Well Matthew tells us that we will not be judged necessarily how
often we were right or wrong, or on how closely we followed the laws or whether we said the
right words or even how well we followed all the canon laws…. Rather we will be judged on
how well we were able to shed our egos in order to follow him in feeding the hungry,
welcoming the stranger, clothing the naked, caring for the ill, and visiting those in prison – or
in other words – to follow Christ in how he forgave…loved…and cared for others.
This is the change - the transformation – and the human connectedness that this cosmic
Christ calls out to us in the today’s gospel… This, my brothers and sisters is where the
rubber meets the road…this is what Christ did and it is what the gospel calls us to…and the
easy part is that we do not have to look far for the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, or the ill for
it is you and me…our brother and our sister, mother and father, neighbor and co-worker. It is
the face you see in the mirror…it is the faces of Christ disguised in our daily lives.
You see - the paradox of the title of today’s Feast’s is that Christ was not all about kingship –
but rather kinship. So let me leave you with a story from my Jesuit friend Fr. Greg Boyle. For
25 years, he has run Homeboy Industries, the largest gang intervention, rehab and re-entry
program in the world. And as he says in his own words: “It’s a tough sell, but a good bet. I
suppose if we were a decaying Hollywood sign, instead of a sign of hope to gang members,
Los Angeles wouldn’t let us crumble. If we were a center for abandoned puppies, instead of a
place of second chances, we’d never worry about closing. Homeboy Industries is a tough
sell, but a good bet.”
Author of the bestselling book, Tattoos of the Heart, Greg actually wrote this week’s homily in
my book, Naked, And You Clothed Me…and in it he shares this story:
Martha has had a tough life. Abandoned, tortured and abused as a child, she, predictably,
transmitted her pain, long before she got around to transforming it. Gangs, drugs and prison
filled nearly two decades of her life. And, she carries in her addiction that particularly
heartbreaking pain of giving birth, and having the child taken away and raised by strangers.
She works for me and is solid in her recovery now. But the shame and disgrace, which is the
principle suffering of the poor, still weighs heavily.
We talk in my office one day, about, well, stuff and she just begins to sob. She folds her arms
on the front of my desk and rests her weary, weeping head there. I touch her shoulder and
2 Deacon Jim Knipper
3. ask, “Why are you crying?” She looks up and blurts, “I wish you were God.” This makes me
chuckle, “Why?” When Martha can form the words through her sobbing, she says, “I think…
you’d let me into heaven.” Now it’s my turn to cry. I reach across the expanse of my desk,
and I grab both her hands and pull her in close. “Kiddo…I swear to you…IF I get to heaven
and you’re not there…I’m not stayin’.”
Martha has changed my life forever. Knowing her has altered the course of my days, re-shaped
my heart and returned me to myself. Both of us…are diamonds…covered in dust.
She has taught me that I am not somebody, but that I am everybody. And so is she.
Exquisite mutuality. Kinship. It is what’s left, when the margins get erased.
Kingship makes Jesus yawn. Now, kinship…that’s another story.
According to this Gospel there really is no story more important than that. For we are called
to have lives centered around kinship…reaching out to others so that others can reach us.
Thereby allowing us to mutually erase our margins…communally making Christ visible…and
equally sharing in God’s love.
Nothing confusing…nothing needing a golden crown...just answering the call to go forth to
live the Gospel of the Lord.
3 Deacon Jim Knipper